Mosin Nagant

[WardenWolf]

+1 for J&G Sales. I've been up there a couple of times. First time my father and I bought our P-64 pistols that have been our concealed carry pieces ever since, and second time I picked myself up a Golani rifle. Remember that if you go in person, you avoid the shipping fee, the FFL fee, and the hand select fee, and you get to look it over yourself and make sure it meets your approval.

As a general rule of thumb, though, if I have to order it, I prefer AIM. AIM generally gives you more for the same price. Take, for example, the WASR underfolder I got. On J&G Sales, it came with the rifle and 2 magazines, plus the other standard things that come with an AK like the sling and toolkit. On AIM Surplus, that same rifle came with 4 magazines and a magazine pouch for the exact same price. I also feel AIM inspects things a little better. They make a real effort to avoid having returns. J&G is a retail store that handles a lot more than just surplus firearms; In contrast, AIM specializes in surplus and niche firearms, and knows what to look for.

 

[ObsidianOne]

I was looking down at the local shop today and saw a couple 91/30s that looked to be in decent condition for $99.99. They said they would hand clean the cosmoline off for $50.00. They also said they have some M44 carbines coming in soon, and the price would be closer to $200.00 for the gun, plus $50.00 for the cleaning. Think it's worth it to pay them to clean it or should I do it myself?

 

[almherdfan]

Do it yourself. It's part of the ritual of owning a M-G. It's oddly satisfying.

 

[towboat_er]

I agree with clean it yourself. You'll learn about the rifle in the process.

 

[T.R.]

I've had great luck with Silver Bear commie ammo. Accurate and hits hard!

TR

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I ordered a 91/30 from AIM and my FFL just got it on Friday so I'll pick it up this week. I was under the impression that the round reciever varients came after the hex, but was actually better built and the troops preferred them over the hex.

What's up?

 

[caribou]

No, troops had no preference, they were issued what they were issued.
More likely they preferred the "Latest", when it was new, as in the M-91/30 variation of the basic M-91, and the outsides of the flats were simply cut with round broaches rather than flats, it saved time and machining. Most all original 91/30's have Round, but some were refurrbed Dragoons brought to spec with new sights and they all had hex type recivers.(The Dragoon was the basis for the 91/30 modle)

The Finns seemd to prefer "Hex" , but other than the machining on the forward part of the reciver, theres no difference in strength.

The Round recivers were after the Hex, but varients were built and rebuilt from salvaged recivers, so you can find 91/30's with hex, but no 91's with round.......

 

[justin 561]

I am actually in the market for 2. Although I am going to be putting some rounds through it, is the laminate stock 91/30 with a hex receiver rare like they say and worth buying for the higher price? Or is this just sales hype. (Im looking for a sit and look at one and one i can put a ton of rounds through)

Edit: The laminated is 150+shipping at classicarms compaired to $80+shipping from J&G

 

[Wylie1]

My best suggestion is to go into small quantities of many different cartridges to find what suits your rifle when you get it. I'm not big on the Wolf brand for anything and mil surp are dirty corrosive cartridges. If you shoot the surplus ammo clean and clean well regularly.
My 91/30 is very fond of mid to late 80s light ball Bulgarian.

 

[ObsidianOne]

Are there any specific problem areas that I should look for rust? Just open the bolt and take a gander?

 

[caribou]

Rust is no friend of man or Rifle......

A a rust pitted ruined Chamber is a ruined rifle. Anywhere else, it most likely wont matter if its not deep on a Russian rifle.......'cept maby the crow, could effect accuracy.
Check the springs as well, rust can effect them to breakage.....

If you use milsurp ammo, wash the bore with boiling hot water to disolve the salts. Its self drying and when used with proper brushing, solvents and oils, you will never have problems with rust, nor a stiff lifting bolt, the sure sign your rifle is needing cleaning, bolt, chamber, reciver.

 

[dnthmn]

The barrel and chamber are the biggies though it doesn't seem like a prevalent issue. I've looked at dozen Mosins, maybe hundreds, and I can't remember ever seeing a rusty one. They WILL rust if you don't clean them properly after shooting corrosive. So don't take that to mean you can ignore it.

 

[Jotobo]

Look at 10 of them, buy the best one or two of them.

The clean up is very easy. Dont worry about rust....if there is none in it when you buy it, its very easy, stupid easy to clean it up after use.

Dont read too much into things online.

Awesome rifle, cosmoline clean up will take 30 minutes at most, buy milsurp ammo in bulk, clean after every session.

 

[stonecutter2]

Bought a hex receiver Mosin Nagant from AIM Surplus, and 880 rounds (two cans) of ammo. Extremely happy with both. I paid $10 for the handpick, got a really sweet rifle.

At 200+ yards iron sights with the first shot, i hit an 18" steel target.

The ammo I got was the Romanian silver tip, the recoil isn't too bad and the rifle shoots really sweet!

 

[True Grit]

Well it finally got the best of me and I gave in... I ordered a Mosin yesterday from Aims Surplus and I can't wait to get it in and hit the range!!!

 

[Lovesbeer99]

I got my Aim 91/30 to today and it looks great. The refinish is assume and the bore is in good shape. All the metal is in good shape and it came with a bayonet, sling, ammo pouches and some small metal parts that I don't know what to do with it yet.

I'll get the cosmo out of it and see if I can run it in the next few weeks. For 69.00 bucks I'm really happy with this.

Anyone know what all the small parts are for?

 

[rellascout]

I have no clue about these rifles. I always see them but never pick them up. One of my go to dealers has some nice ones. Russian Hex recievers 91/30's with all matching numbers including the bayonet. Includes sling, pouch & tools.

Is $109 a fair price?

 

[mister2]

Is $109 a fair price?

Assuming bore and chamber are OK, this price is typical for hex M-91s.

Ammo can make a difference. Non-corrosive, light ball is best, but just light ball generates least recoil.

 

[Phaethon]

109$ out the door is a good price. Considering that buying online would cost you transfer fees, and that Hex Mosins tend to fetch a slight premium, that's about what you'd usually pay.

The markings on that particular specimen indicate that it might have been an ex-Dragoon variant. They had a lot of Dragoon rifles laying around that were the carbines of their day, but which they gutted and updated to 91/30 spec around the time of WWII. 1927r is a common year for some reason. It's Izhevksiy arsenal though; it's generally said that Tula manufactured higher quality weapons.

 

[HighDesert11]

Joined the Mosin Nagant club...

I picked up a 1928 (ex-Dragoon), updated with metric sights. All matching serial numbers, hex receiver. It is in beautiful condition, smooth action. Actually very therapeutic and rewarding to remove the Cosmoline.

While waiting for the mil surplus can of 440 rounds, I plunked down big $ for 20 quality rounds. Took it up to the hills with a buddy of mine today. What an insanely fun rifle to shoot! It was dead on at 100 yards. When the sardine can arrives this week, I'll head out to the big-bore 500 yard range and see how it goes.

I believe I have been bitten by the bug. I might put off my planned purchase of an auto-loading .223 to pick up another nice Mosin if I can find one. $99 out the door at Big 5.

 

[True Grit]

I just got mine in today. I had to do alot of cleaning to get all the gunk off but the more I clean the better it looks! It was dated 1937. Now all I need is plenty off ammo and a day off...

 

[Jotobo]

I left a lot of the cosmoline that was on the outside on the rifle. Im sure more of it has been smeared off by now. Inside is clean as a whistle.

 

[ObsidianOne]

I went to that dealer that supposedly could get the Mosins in great shape and unfortunately he doesn't have access to them anymore. However, my girlfriend's step dad bought three from him years ago, and has two of the 91/30 models. He said they're in great shape and even thinks he hasn't even fired one of them yet. They're already cleaned up (cosmoline) and I'm going out shooting with him tomorrow, bought a 20 round box of 7.62x54r, to fire one and see if I like it. If so, he'll sell it for $150. Only shops in town I've seen are selling them at $99.99, but they look like they've been used to dig a trench and hold up the side of a leaning shack. Big 5 is asking (iirc) $170ish right now.

I figure if I like it, I was looking at the Romanian 7.62x54R 149gr at AIMSurplus, with shipping I can get 880 rounds for about $200.00 (shipping to Arizona is $48.00!) and that seems to be the lowest price. Plus, I get one of those nifty wooden crates and a spam can opener. The only downside to buying the rifle is I don't think he has the cleaning kit or bayonet. Where would be the cheapest place to buy those? I was looking at Cheaperthandirt, but they don't seem to include the cleaning rod in the kit. Stripper clips seem a bit pricey too, for $15.00 for a pack of 10?

Another thing I'm concerned about is I hear that if the headspace or firing pin protrusion is off, you can get a nasty blowback of gas?
What are things that I need to check to assure that a Mosin will operate safely? Anything I should know?

 

[Cdigman]

<<
Another thing I'm concerned about is I hear that if the headspace or firing pin protrusion is off, you can get a nasty blowback of gas?
What are things that I need to check to assure that a Mosin will operate safely? Anything I should know?>>

Most Mosins are sold with a very basic cleaning kit, that includes a crude screwdriver, that has a gauge on it, to measure the firing pin depth. As far as headspacing goes, if the rifle has matching serial numbers on all it's parts, you _should_ be ok. It's the FrankenMosins where that I'd be more leery of.

 

[Hanzo581]

The day I decide to pull the trigger (pun intended) on a Mosin, Buds sells out of them. Is there any easy way to order from AIM? I am spoiled with being able to just select my LGS on Buds site when ordering and that's in.