Nagant revolvers

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I don't own one, but they are quality revolvers from what I've heard and read. The only issue is finding 7.62mm Nagant.
 
the only issues revolve around physical ability of the shooter and the ammunition.

Nagant revolvers have a notorious, wether deserved or not, reputation as having incredibly strong springs to work the action in DA. That may or may not excerbate carpal tunnel issues you may have.

The real issue is that the majority of the ammunition available falls under "not so high velocity Russian produced target ammo" and Fiochi brand ammunition loaded to similar velocities.
Conversion cylinders can be had, but they just about always require alot of adjustment to get it to work. So youd need a gunsmith or the know how and the time.
 
Mine shoots .32 H&R magnums just fine. Cases bulge to fit the cylinder, but that's not a problem.
 
I have a minty 1928 and a really nice refurb 1939,I have the RCBS 3 die set to reload the original brass,but I mostly shoot .32 H&R hand loads through it.The trick with the hand loads is to size the .314 bullet down to .311,and then size that bullet down to .308...the bullet from the Nagant cartridge is supposed to be .295,so you want to size it down as much as you can.How those .32 auto cylinders work with a .314,I don't know,but they do.A tribute to a tough ,versatile little seven shooter,I guess!
 
I'd be interested in a way to lighten the trigger pull, now that I have a C&R license... :D

BHP FAN: It's my understanding that the bore is actually .312 (in general, and keep in mind I haven't personally slugged one), but that the bullets are both smaller and hollow-based.

This allows the brass to extend just slightly into the breach (a recessed area, IIRC) and form the gas seal these things are supposed to sport (YMMV, greatly), and still let the bullet out, and the hollow base to then flare for a proper seal.

Lead may otherwiser be fine, but don't think a .295 bore would much like the FMJ .314 so many people shoot.

So, reloading to 7.62 Nagant specs would need a hollow-based .295 bullet, but the standard non-recessed rounds would be fine with .314, .312 preferably.
 
I have one. The DA trigger has got to be 25lbs, but it's not bad in SA. It's a goofy piece, and fun to fire on occasion.. but ammo is scarce and expensive.

Then again, you can buy one for about $80, so you can't really go wrong.
 
I have 2-- a '32 and a '36-- both looked unfired when I got them, but they were probably rearsenaled--

7.62 Nagant ammo works them best, but is pricey, and harder to find around here, so I shoot mainly .32S&W Longs-- I obtained a goodly amount of it for a song ($50 for about 800 rounds) from a cousin who thought all .32s were the same (he was looking for .32 ACP)-- his loss was my gain. Anyway, the .32SW Longs shoot fine- and I can live with the minor case bulging, as I don't reload yet. I still have around 600-650 of it left, and will probably not shoot the Nagants too much more, thus saving the ammo for a .327, if I ever get one.

Ok guns, with a God Awful DA, but the SA isn't too bad...and yes, I got mine for $69 each last summer, so all in all they are worth it..
 
Great conversation piece, but as a shooter, that trigger is just aweful. People say the Kel Tec P11's trigger is bad? Well, I can hit well with the P11. It takes two fingers on a Nagant and don't even THINK about hitting anything DA. They're well made, but all the crap that goes on when you pull the trigger makes it impossible to control. My buddy has several of 'em. His index finger got cut off by a table saw and he uses his middle finger to pull, might be the reason he likes it, LOL! I really ain't that averse to a barrel cylinder gap. I'll trade .004 or .005" gap for a decent trigger.

Another thing I don't like about 'em is the fact that they're not real easy to reload for. The ammo is weird. Does anyone actually make dies? Nah, I'll stick with my .38s, .357s, .45 Colt, and rimfires. Hell, my Ruger OA cap and ball is a lot better even with the reloading procedure. Danged thing shoots like a modern weapon and the trigger is light and crisp.
 
Yes, the correct ammunition can be a bit pricey...

Yes, the trigger pull is a bit tough

Yes, it is a great plinker, fun to shoot, surprisingly accurate

Yes, it would make a good garage, truck, tackle box, etc gun.....

I keep meaning to buy one; pretty soon they will be gone and I will have missed out
 
With the prices of ammo now, the ammo for the Nagant isn't as bad as it used to be.

And yes, it is better to shoot in single action mode. The double action pull is about a guzillion pounds! :D
 
Checkout the 'M1895 Nagant' specific sub-forum on gunboards.com for more info on the Nagant and it's care - and feeding. Stickies on lockwork dissection, too.

Don't use .32 S&WL, as the cases are soft and will bulge and may split. Don't use .32 H&RM - same results and they are too hot - spitting will occur.

I resize modified .32-20 brass with a carbide .30 Carbine sizer, then load Meister 100gr LDEWC (.311-.312") over a small charge. Fun plinker - and you can re-use the cases, as they are too short to bridge the b/c gap - and thick at the mouth, preventing the tearing the short-lived Starline cases and reloaded Fiocchi, etc, brass experiences. The short-cased reloads don't gas-seal at the b/c gap, so some spitting can occur there as well. Lee did have a specialty 1895 steel die set - with a 'proper' sizer. I use that with the carbide .30 Carbine sizer I mentioned.

If I were getting an 1895 Nagant, I'd find someone with the Serbian 'Hot Shot' Nagant ammo - and stock up - it runs $24/50 up these days - sadly, not much over what .38s are!

The heavy DA pull can be slicked a bit - below 20# is actually good. A good cleaning helps. The SA is a bit better - but it's no S&W! Fun - but not the first thing I grab when I want to plink...


Stainz
 
With the Nagant revolver the trigger cams the cylinder up to make a seal with the barrel. Getting a good double action trigger out of it is not very easy and it will never match a Smith or Ruger. I think it was meant to be fired single action and double for emergencies. Mine has a very nice single action pull.
 
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