Romanian PSL or Mosin Nagant Sniper?

[Igneous]

Hello everyone! I'd like to say that all of the goodness found on this site has helped fuel a small craze, so much that I need to buy another!

I've whittled my choices down to the Romanian PSL and the MN sniper (original, NOT repro). I'd like to know opinions of people who've shot one or both. Specifically I'd like to know if there is a significant difference in accuracy, reliability, and fun-to-shootability. My thoughts so far:

On the PSL: Pros are larger mag capacity, looks great, I like the PSO type reticle. Cons are takes only light ammo and parts will be hard to find.

On the MN Sniper (again, not a repro): Pros are I also like the three post reticle, bolt action can be fun, will shoot any ammo thrown at it. Cons are an even lower-powered scope, smaller capacity, and the only ones I can find seem beat down (Rguns).

So, now that you know my thoughts a bit, is either one significantly more accurate, durable, or fun than the other? I'm all ears.

Oh, and thanks for allowing me on your site!

Igneous

 

[Quiet]

My $0.02...

Get a Saiga-308 and a good scope.
AK reliability, better choices in ammo, more accurate than the Mosin-Nagant & PSL.

If you are intent on the 7.62x54mmR, then get the Mosin-Nagant.
You can run all types of 7.62x54mm ammo through it (no need to limit yourself to light ball ammo) and it'll keep on running.

 

[stubbicatt]

I truly believe the light ball myth for the PSL to be a fallacy.

I've shot 180 grain hunting loads through mine, and no signs of battering of the rear trunnion. In fact, no sign ever that the carrier impacted the trunnion.

All that said, I prefer the Mosin Nagant myself.

 

[wizzegun]

I would say PSL. Trying to find a REAL Mosin sniper that wasn't repro'ed to look real will be tough. Lots of fakes and easy to make. Another option for the mosin would to rebuild and ex-sniper. Again time consuming looking for the right parts and that would require gunsmithing.

I would say a Mosin sniper could be more accurate. A buddy spent 2 months working up loads for his repro sniper that would rival any remchesterby with modern optics. I just throw Czech LB thru mine for 2-3 moa.

The PSL is about the same accuracy but the cool factor at the range helps alot! I also shoot 180 gr thru mine will no ill affects.

 

[TIMC]

The PSL is a lot of fun and has decent accuracy. I had mine for several years but sold it last year mainly because I just lost interest in it, probably because it could not compare to my M1A or AR-10.

A 91/30 sniper is a world of difference but also a fun gun. I have a repro that is very nice and a great shooter. I still own this rifle and it will be joining me this afternoon at the range. I guess you have your reason for not wanting a repro but there is nothing wrong with a good one, mine has been great.

 

[Igneous]

Thanks for the input. The Saiga .308 was on my list, just not quite what I am looking for. I do already have a Mosin Nagant too, a 1929 Izhevsk 91/30. It is fun, but not too accurate, despite its good condition. I figured an actual, original sniper would be more accurate.

Would either the MN sniper or PSL be able to pull double duty and be a suitable once every year or three white tail deer rifle?

 

[WardenWolf]

PSL. Real Mosin Nagant snipers are rare and expensive. It was also the product of a different era. Different tolerances. The PSL is going to shoot about as good as even the best Mosin Nagant snipers you can get today. Maybe not as good as the best ones when they were new, but in today's condition, the PSL is better. You're getting a new rifle built on modern machinery versus an old, well-worn rifle. The Mosin Nagant is a piece of history, and it's worth owning one, but it's really not worth the extra cost to get a sniper if what you're really looking for is a shooter.

The PSL will work just fine for deer. Just feed it some PRVI Partisan 150 grain soft points.

 

[grimjaw]

A (replica) Mosin Nagant sniper would be my recommendation. Easier to clean, still boatloads of fun.

jm

 

[TIMC]

I do already have a Mosin Nagant too, a 1929 Izhevsk 91/30. It is fun, but not too accurate, despite its good condition. I figured an actual, original sniper would be more accurate.

Mine is a 1943 91/30 and sports a very nice tight bore with excellent rifling so you can make a very nice repro sniper out of a non-sniper 91/30. This afternoon at the range I put a 100 yard 5 shot group at just under 2" with handloads, one round was dead center in the bull and the others not too far from it. This is not bad for a 66 year old rifle and a 3.5x scope combined with my 49 year old eyes. A repro can be had for about $600, that's what it cost me to make mine.

 

[oldFred]

I have to disagree with ya Mike, I have a 1938 Tula refurbed 91/30. The barrel had the date completely stamped out. The reason why is because it was an unissued one. So YES it is new and shoots MOA @ exactly 100 meters with open sights. Worse case scenario is 1.5-1.7 moa. I also had another shooter with me who sat down with it to verify I wasn't just getting lucky.

Theres a lot to be learned with a battle rifle that lived 17 million copies. Proof is in the pudding so to speak. Oh and the Mosin Nagant is DEFINTELY BOATLOADS of fun. Every person who has shot her has an ear to ear grin. Actions are louder than words...

This is a great start to a great thread Igneous. I just got back from looking at a repro PU sniper AND a couple of Romak PSLs. Since both were very close in price I would have to say the PSL would be nice for semi-auto capability, but it's flaws may sour your pudding.

Since I have a NEW 91/30 I will be lurking for a good deal on a SVT-40.

 

[sarduy]

get a .308 Saiga with a 20'' barrel and a skeleton stock

 

[stubbicatt]

The hardest thing about shooting the nagant sniper which you will not experience with the PSL is the necessity to keep the front sight centered on the vertical post within the scope to eliminate parallax. Once you learn to do that, your groups become downright respectable.

 

[Igneous]

Thanks for all of your help. Another thing I thought of that may sway my decision some. Do you have to remove the scope and mount every time you clean the PSL? If so, will the mount/rifle still hold zero when you put it all back together? If I have to re-zero every time I go shoot and clean, that sounds like a bit of a hassle. Thanks in advance.

 

[southwest1]

I echo most of these thoughts. The MN is a blast (and a big one at that). It is by far, my favorite gun.

 

[Funderb]

if you shoot surplus ammo, or intend to....


THE MN WILL BE WORLDS EASIER TO CLEAN.

This doesn't seem bad now. but oh man, does that corrosive salt get everywhere.

 

[stubbicatt]

I removed the scope on my PSL when cleaning. Usually it returned to zero pretty close.

IIRC, to not remove the scope the top cover doesn't want to come off nor the innards to come out for proper cleaning. It was a neat rifle in many respects, the glass from IOR was fantastic. --The glass on the M.N. is sort of cloudy, especially in the middle where the reticle is.

To me the test of a rifle is prairie dog shooting. I've used both on prairie dogs and coyotes etc., and found the Snayperskaya Mosina to be more accurate with surplus ammo when the little buggers are hunkering down in their burrows... It will shoot through the dirt sometimes for a solid hit.

I haven't noticed cleanup to be any easier really on either rifle. The Mosin bolt is a bit of a puzzle which should be disassembled and cleaned well when shooting surplus, and the PSL should also be taken down and cleaned well when shooting surplus. Using Mpro7 on either seems to dissolve the offending salts, as I've not suffered corrosion on either.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

A repro can be had for about $600, that's what

Classic arms is selling them for $450, about 3/4 of the way down the page.

 

[zoom6zoom]

Actions are louder than words...

and the Nagant is louder than just about anything!

 

[WardenWolf]

Both its boom and its action. . .

 

[Babarsac]

If I'm not mistaken Century is running a special on the Mosin Sniper. I don't have a login to their site anymore but I think they're asking about $375.