Ammo To Go and Cheaper than Dirt probably have stock at reasonable prices. Check at gun shows also, as I have gotten lucky once or twice and found some at a very good price there.
Posted on 03/14/2015 6:27:53 PM PDT by Rides_A_Red_Horse
This morning I bought a surplus 1942 Mosin Nagant Russian made Sniper Rifle. The purchase included a double leather pouch with a weird device for oiling the rifle, a cloth ammo pouch that attaches to the butt stock (stashed in the double leather pouch), a bag of assorted metal pieces (I assume tools) and a bayonet.
The seller had inspected the rifle and removed some of the cosmoline (there's still a LOT left) and made sure it was in good working order.
I downloaded a manual and I'll break it down, clean it and oil it as soon as I have some free time. Meanwhile I was wondering if anyone has any special tips or tricks that might be of use. I also wouldn't mind if someone directed me to a reliable source for reasonably priced 7.62X54R Cartridges.
Well when the NSA accumulates and indexes the data, EVERYONE who ever posted that they bought a weapon will be known to them.
Just sayin.
I don’t think that there will be a full scale roundup, but you never know.
Find a place close to your home to shoot and learn to shoot your rifle. Youtube has a lot of good information on most everything you would ask. Hopefully you have a knowledgeable friend to help you out at the range. If not the guys at any range will be more then willing to help you. Just ask.
Don’t dump a lot of money into that gun. It’s a bare bones gun, keep it that way. Some of yhe older .762x54 had corrosive primers so make sure you don’t end up with any of that.
I wrapped mine in a bunch of old towels and put it in the back window of a spare car sitting out in the sun all closed up for a couple of hot days and the greese melted into the towels. I then sprayed it with a household degreaser and then hosed it down. Then I cleaned and oiled it up real good before shooting it. Don’t bother with the oil can or cleaning stuff that came with it just use a good modern day rifle cleaning kit. Make sure to not use any ammo that does not say non-corrosive, and if you do make sure to clean it good after using it. For the price it is a good gun. Thank the Russians for making so many of them that they can be had so cheap.
Mine’s a 1942 also.
For ammo, I go to the local Academy Sports and buy the Monarch ammo at about $11.00 w/tax for 20 rounds. It’s non-corrosive Russian made and works just fine!
The first thing you need is a Limb Saver recoil pad — the Mosin kicks like a goosed mule and that steel butt plate can do serious damage. I figure it was designed for a heavy wool overcoat.
For me the stock was too short (I’m 6’ tall) so I switched to a poly-whatsit Monte Carlo style stock off of Amazon for about $80.00. That reduced the discomfort of firing considerably, since the butt is a different shape and has a rubber pad — didn’t need the Limb Saver after that.
Owing to a change in vision, I was forced to add a scope — about $100 for the Picatinny rail and scope. (PM me if you want details)
Oh yeah, the stock sights are set at 300 meters so you’ll be a foot off at 100 yards.
My daughter still didn’t care for the kick, so I added a muzzle brake. Last time at the range, she grabbed it and put about 40 rounds through it with no complaint!
Long and short — I’m hitting a 2” circle at 100 yards (1 MOA deviation from aim point)
If you paid $159 for a genuine Mosin Nagant sniper rifle, you got a cinderella deal! They are often faked up- real ones are going for >$600.
Try www.7.62x54r.net for info. There are also a number of Mosin Nagant groups of Facebook (I’m in two of them) that can help you find out all kinds of info.
There are as many ways of removing cosmoline as there are shooters- I favor low odor mineral spirits and an cut up t-shirt. Be sure to clean the chamber thouroughly- old cosmoline and the laquer on the shells can mix with the heat of firing it, which is the cause of the “sticky bolt” syndrome you’ll be hearing about.
Cultist ping
If you are a Buyer’s Club member at Sportsmans Guide they have the 440 round “Spam Cans” for around $90-$95 before shipping. Considering the increase in ammo prices in the past three years that is not a bad buy. I have seen them advertized for those same prices around the Internet but I can’t remember which stores as I get a lot of ads in my e-mail inbox.
I bought a few cans before 2012 at a gun show and got them for $65 per can when I purchased them two to a crate. We will probably never see those prices again.
You are correct! The new three letter code: B S S ———
Buy, Shoot, Shutup!
We made customized pads for our rifles in Afghanistan. I’ll probably do the same for this one. I’ve shot one of these but I’ve never had to “modernize” one.
Here in Virginia the carriers leave my ammo at my door step. Convenient but not very secure.
He doesn’t deal in these and wanted to sell it quickly. I was definitely blessed in this deal.
“Then.... bada bing*. . You got her.”
Yup. That approach almost always works. :)
One of those classic military rifles, I’ve always wanted to shoot (or own), but never got the chance. Congrats. A rifle, that in its moment in time (actually about 30 years I think), it was as combat rifle equal to any other in use.
It’s a piece of history.
Thanks!
Sometimes old, reliable technology is best.
Ammo To Go and Cheaper than Dirt probably have stock at reasonable prices. Check at gun shows also, as I have gotten lucky once or twice and found some at a very good price there.
FYI
Mine’s a 1942 also.
For ammo, I go to the local Academy Sports and buy the Monarch ammo at about $11.00 w/tax for 20 rounds. It’s non-corrosive Russian made and works just fine!
The first thing you need is a Limb Saver recoil pad — the Mosin kicks like a goosed mule and that steel butt plate can do serious damage. I figure it was designed for a heavy wool overcoat.
For me the stock was too short (I’m 6’ tall) so I switched to a poly-whatsit Monte Carlo style stock off of Amazon for about $80.00. That reduced the discomfort of firing considerably, since the butt is a different shape and has a rubber pad — didn’t need the Limb Saver after that.
Owing to a change in vision, I was forced to add a scope — about $100 for the Picatinny rail and scope. (PM me if you want details)
Oh yeah, the stock sights are set at 300 meters so you’ll be a foot off at 100 yards.
My daughter still didn’t care for the kick, so I added a muzzle brake. Last time at the range, she grabbed it and put about 40 rounds through it with no complaint!
Long and short — I’m hitting a 2” circle at 100 yards (1 MOA deviation from aim point)
Nice! Now, stock up on ammo!
“Wife Freaks”
Just wait until she smells it in the oven at 125 degrees warming the goo off. And the parts soaking in kerosene in her favorite pan. (NOT in the oven though!)
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