Oh my Mosin Nagant!!!

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chrisslamar

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So I finnaly realize why all the Mosin Nagant fans are as crazy as they are about those rifles!! I went to the range today with a friend of mine who his Finnish Mosin, and it had to be the most fun gun I've ever fired! Now I must have one. So any Mosin freaks out there got any suggestions for what I should look for? I'm thinking I want a 91/30 for my first. So here are my questions: first, if I find one that I may purchase, what things should I look closley at to make sure I'm getting a decent one? And second do any of you know anywhere online that sells decent ones at reasonible prices? Last and least important, if any of ya like in the northwest suburbs of chicago, do you know a local gun shop that may have quality ones?

Thanks for all the responces, in advance.
 
My suggestion is to stay away from WW2 years unless they've been rearsenaled. You have to decide if you want a full length rifle like the 91/30 or a carbine like the M38 or M44. Only difference between M38 and M44 is the M38 had no bayonet and the M44 has a folding bayonet (that can be unscrewed and removed) and permenantly mounted bayonet lugs. Also, some claim that the carbines are louder and they definately have a bigger muzzle flash.

Matching numbers on bolt, barrel, floorplate and buttplate are a big plus and increase the collectability of the rifle. M44's are plentiful these days, most are Russian, but you can find Polish, Hungarian, Romanian...and the odd Chinese type 53 Mosin out there too. Lets not forget the Finns..regarded by most as the ultimate Mosins and usually have exceptional barrels. Expect to pay a premium for Finns however.

Mosins are an interesting rifle, many variants, dripping in history. There are many Mosin resources for information as well. Some must-reads are:
www.7.62x54r.net
www.surplusrifle.com
www.mosinnagant.net
www.russian-mosin-nagant.com
 
I love my M38!!! Its cheap to shoot and has a HUGE muzzle blast.

I dont know if you have them in Illinois, but stay away from BIG 5 stores. I went ther looking for a 91/30 for a friends B-day, and they were selling them for 190 dollars:what: :barf: :mad:
 
Check out the good folks at aimsurplus.com. They have taken really good care of me. They have some Finn long rifles in that they are in the process of grading right now. Including some US manufactured ones! Don't expect them to be cheap though, especially the US models. The Finn's are recognized as the high point in the Mosin hiarchy. Regardless of what your first one is, more are almost sure to follow!

-jagd
 
I don't know about Illinois, but the BIG5 stores in Washington state will take those same $190 rifles and put them on special one or two days a week for ~$90. Keep your eyes peeled.

jmm
 
A lot of the sellers on the auction sites state "Matching Numbers" but when I ask about "Line out" or "Electro-penciled" they either tell me the numbers really don't match or they never respond. There are a few distributors who will give you the option of having origional matching numbers for about twenty bucks extra.

A 91/30 is a good choice but if you like muzzle flash, a loud bang and recoil go with a carbine. M-44's in almost un-issued can be readily found. The bayo is permanantly attached and they shoot off to the side if you shoot with the bayo folded (Something to do with barrel harmionics.)

Either way if you want an accurate shooter get one of the Finn's.

It's been said that Mosin's are habit forming; betcha can't buy just one !

HAVE FUN !:D
 
I bought my first for $39 at a gun show
!942, dark bore and weak in the furniture department. I love that gun

I now have three more all 91/30s

SOG has been very good to me
Spend the extra $10 for hand picked pre war , the difference is noticable.

SOG is selling them for about $65 plus hand pick, Hex are around $75
 
M44

The best M44s I've found are from Poland and made in the 50's. They look brand new, not reconditioned. The finish and fit is the best, but I can't find where they came from, found these in a pawn shop. Look on the top of the receiver to see what year the rifle was made.
 
I'd suggest getting a Finn, as they are quite rare and rather inexpensive right now but prices will be going up. The Russians and Soviets made over 25 million Mosins, whereas most Finnish rifles were issued in the tens of thousands. I'd suggest an M-39 if you don't mind the heavier stock or a late model Finn M-91 or Tikka 91/30 if you want something lighter weight.
 
Whatever you buy, take a bore light. Check the bores carefully. No pitting, etc. And make sure to get the one with the clearest-cut/deepest grooves--the barrel is still good, and will be accurate. My 91/30 is2 MOA gun--probably more accurate if I benchrested it, that was standing:what: :D .
 
The local Big 5 here is pretty good

They have a nice 91/30 for $190 and a really nice M38 on sale for $89. When I bought my second Enfield from them it was listed at $199 but the salesman gave me the sale price of $149. It is a Savage No. 4 MK I that I have not been able to shoot yet but the bore looks perfect and the wood and metal is in great shape. Might be worth it to ask the guy if it is on sale and see what they say.

Don
 
"Check out the good folks at aimsurplus.com. They have taken really good care of me. They have some Finn long rifles in that they are in the process of grading right now. Including some US manufactured ones! Don't expect them to be cheap though, especially the US models. The Finn's are recognized as the high point in the Mosin hiarchy. Regardless of what your first one is, more are almost sure to follow!"

You must tell me more about this, Comrade. How did you come into this knowledge? What models are being made available, the 91/30 variant, the M39, others?

Thank you!

Edit to add:

Big-5 is great, but you have to watch the sales, and plan on going in on Sunday or even Saturday evening, to get the best pickings (the sale tags go up on Saturday, normally, but the sale starts on Sunday- sometimes they'll honor the sale on Saturday, though) of the ones they have. Don't be afraid to ask to see what they have in the back. In fact, if you don't like the look of the one on the rack, insist on it. Bring a borelight, and if you're picky, a 30 caliber boresnake or portable bore-cleaning kit, and you might plan on some nitrile or latex gloves. The bores on these rifles are usually goobered with cosmoline, as is the exterior. Check for a good bore with sharp rifling and as little pitting as possible. No pitting is great, but take what you can get unless you want to wait for the next sale cycle. The exterior is a secondary concern unless you don't care how it shoots- of course, that is a catch-22; you may have an excellent shooter on your hands with a nasty-bored rifle, but you won't find out until you shoot it.
 
get a C&R license.....

Mosin Nagant rifles are well under 100 bucks from the dealers now. Best 30 bucks you will ever spend......and spend......and spend.......on more guns.....chris3
 
Koobuh, I am typically at AIM twice a month or so. I had read about AIM getting in another batch of Finns on the internet and Bryan(the main man)comfirmed the rumor. I gather they are m91 and m91/30's. I didn't ask about m39s. They are typically really busy, so time to BS is usually on the sparse side.

-jagd
 
My personal knowledge of the Mosin is as follows:

1) At least with the Russian models, the ones dated later in WWII (1944, 1945) can easily suck. They were pumping them out of the factory too fast for decent quality control. There are plenty of earlier models and I'd advise going with those (as far as I know, this ONLY applies to the Russian models)

2) The 91/30 has an awful big flash and goes BOOM louder than almost anything. Almost anything, that is, except for the Mosin-Nagant Carbine. The shorter barrel does make a difference. It is, in my opinion, cooler looking but won't be as accurate as the 91/30. They bayonet is available on the Carbine, though --if for some reason that tickles your fancy.

3) If you want to add a personal touch, "sporterize" it. You can add the black synthetic stocks or --as I've seen done-- remove the wood components under the barrel to make it exposed. A friend of mine has his like this and it looks like an old safari rifle now.

TRL
 
Nothing is more fun than firing the M38 at night, and they make great scout type carbines. I perfer the full length 91/30 however for its much reduced recoil and its a classic surplus design.
 
My M38 from AIM.

This is what I received from aim a couple weeks ago for 89 dollars. It was dark and almost a burnt red. What ever was on it was peeling everytime I touched it,, so I took it off to see what was under it...

Before...




After...


I Really like it now. LOL... :D
 
or --as I've seen done-- remove the wood components under the barrel to make it exposed. A friend of mine has his like this and it looks like an old safari rifle now.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it DOESN'T really look like an old safari rifle now. Friends don't let friends take hacksaws to old rifle stocks :D

Grab a Finn or two while you can. The Soviet 91/30's will always be around.
 
Hehehe. He bought it that way, but from whats left of the stock its a gorgeous piece. If your wood is nearly destroyed, its a nice way to modify it (at least in my opinion)... unless youre going for the old-school commie look, that is :evil:

TRL

P.S.- I've never disassembled the wood off a Mosin, but it looks like you just take off the rings and wood off the barrel and don't put em back on. I'm not sure, perhaps someone here has more experience sporterizing them than I do?
 
it looks like you just take off the rings and wood off the barrel and don't put em back on. I'm not sure, perhaps someone here has more experience sporterizing them than I do?
Click to expand...
You can remove the upper hand guard like that, but you have to cut off the lower guard

91/30 replacement wood is about $30
 
I was surprised what was under all the gunk. :)

It can be displayed in the safe now instead of the box. LOL!!!
 
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