mosin nagant questions

[BullRunBear]

There's a huge gun show at the end of the month and I assume it will have its share of mosin nagants for sale. I've been reading about them and how much fun they are. The pressure to get one is becoming too much to ignore. (OK, it doesn't take much pressure to get another gun.)

I'll be looking for a shooter, rifle not a carbine, just for target work. Cosmetics are secondary. I've read that the Finn versions and those with hex receivers are usually more accurate so I would keep an eye open for those.

What's a reasonable price range these days?

Are non-hex/non-Finnish rifles still decently accurate as long as they are mechanically sound?

I like to develop cast bullet reduced velocity loads for my milsurp bolt action rifles. Does the Mosin Nagant lend itself to such hand loads?

Thanks for any help.

Jeff

 

[mookiie]

For a Finn I would say 300 - 400 but that maybe high. For a hex Russian they can be around 150 - 200 but that maybe high too I am on the east coast so gun prices seem to run high of the west. I load for my mosins but use FMJ not cast so sorry cannot help with that, but
http://www.polygunbag.com/index.html
Has a good price on .310 FMJ tracers (so be mindful of grass brush they can start fires) that have worked well in my mosins and enfields.

 

[ShadowsEye]

I paid $89 for my non fancy non hex 1944 Mosin, it does what it does and it was a fun project, but I wouldn't pay much over 100. I don't think the special versions are worth it unless you're starting a collection.

 

[Gottahaveone]

Hi,
I'm not sure there is any correlation in hex receivers and accuracy. I have several of both, and just don't see it. The hex were pre-war and the fit and finish are better.

As far as a shooter, just look for the usual. Good rifling and a good crown. Verify that the bolt and receiver match (and if you try, you can often get an all matching one without it being "forced matched). Not that that makes it shoot any better, but it's a nice touch. Good luck, and I'm betting you evjoy which ever one you manage to take home. If you haven't already, spend some time on these sites before you go. There isn't much that they don't cover....
http://www.7.62x54r.net/
http://mosinnagant.net/

 

[rookorami]

I am right there with Shadows. I bought one about a year or so ago with tax it was $92. I have just been putting the mil surp rounds through it so I can be much help on that. +1 for the 7.62x54r.net . there is a lot of good information on that site!

 

[BullRunBear]

Guys,

Thanks for the info and the links. If I can get a decent shooter for under $150 (which should be possible) so much the better. My other milsurp bolt actions don't look like much but they are darn accurate and well made. If the Mosin Nagant is even close to them, it will be great. And I like putting these pieces of history to use.

Now to see what's available at the gun show this weekend.

Jeff

 

[soonerfan85]

If you get one, also get a nice big pillow for your shoulder. Lord I don't see how those Russian soldiers fired those rifles every day with those metal butt plates! Adrenalin must be a great pain blocker.

 

[hang fire]

RE: BullRunBear

I like to develop cast bullet reduced velocity loads for my milsurp bolt action rifles. Does the Mosin Nagant lend itself to such hand loads?

Hard cast GC boolits up to 2,000 fps, work very good in my two Mosin Nagants. One is a 1942 Sako barreled Finn which bore slugs at 310", other is a 1937 round high wall receiver, it slugs at .3145".

That is the great thing about shooting cast boolits, can size them for best bore fit, which for me is 1 to 2 thou over bore diameter.

 

[hang fire]

For me, just looking for a good crown on a milsurp is not enough. With a bright pen light, I check to make sure muzzle shows square and sharp rifling. I also carry a variety of different caliber bullets of known diameter, to see how far they go down in muzzle in when inserted. Anything significantly past the ogive curvature of bullet, I pass the rifle by.

It is odd, but I have a Turk M37 and checked several other M37 Mausers and have yet to find one with a cleaning rod worn muzzle. I have read the Turks trained the troops to never clean from the muzzle and enforced that order. My Turk M37 is very accurate.

 

[rojocorsa]

I'm not sure there is any correlation in hex receivers and accuracy. I have several of both, and just don't see it. The hex were pre-war and the fit and finish are better.

I concur on both points!



Those Finnish rifles don't disappoint. They'll go anywhere from 250-400 in price, depending on many factors.

 

[minutemen1776]

It's hard to predict the accuracy potential of a Mosin Nagant. I've owned two Finns, a pre-war 91/30, and two M44s, but my M38 outshot them all. Go figure.

If you get one, also get a nice big pillow for your shoulder. Lord I don't see how those Russian soldiers fired those rifles every day with those metal butt plates! Adrenalin must be a great pain blocker.

Heavy winter coats helped a lot, too. It was COLD on the Eastern Front!

 

[rojocorsa]

It's hard to predict the accuracy potential of a Mosin Nagant. I've owned two Finns, a pre-war 91/30, and two M44s, but my M38 outshot them all. Go figure.



Heavy winter coats helped a lot, too. It was COLD on the Eastern Front!

Those little carbines are something else.

 

[tech30528]

Yup.

1) Pen light to check the bore
2) bolt and receiver number match

My project rifle started off as a clean bore 1943 Izzy hex. At the time I went with the hex because it was easier to index for a scope mount but am considering a round one so I can roll the mount off to the left for easier loading. The thing is you want to be able to look at them yourself and choose the best of the batch. Went thru two cases of them for mine, it still only cost me $100 in Georgia. A good brake will lighten up that shoulder injury, plus the already appreciable muzzle flash from one of these bad boys is even more impressive when it's redirected. At this point I'm considering picking up 3-5 more of them for future projects just because they are still readily available . I've seen a few variants I think would be fun from bullpup to skeletal. I have two now, a 1928 Izzy that is unmolested and my project that just recently served me well out to 400 yards and exceeds my own ability to be accurate at longer distances. Who doesn't want a high powered 30 cal that shoots cheap milsurp for less than it costs to fill the tank on a big SUV?