Was a little surprised to see this rifle in use by Russian forces

[AZAndy]

From a Ukrainian Twitter feed just now:



I've got one of those in my cabinet, though not the scoped version because they were pretty pricey back when 91/30 was cheap and easy to find.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Nothing wrong with the Mosin Nagant. He has the sniper model.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Loot maybe? I don't see other weapons in this photo -- could those white bands signify non-combatants?

I mean, no question the M-N works, but a fixed-power 3.5x PU optic seems a real stretch of the imagination today.

 

[Terry G]

Ukraine Soldiers have similar camouflage, maybe? The Mosin is just more proof that the Russians never throw anything away as far as Military equipment. They probably have T34's and Nagant revolvers stashed somewhere.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Ukraine Soldiers have similar camouflage, maybe?

Good point -- those also look like ssh-68 steel helmets with leather chinstraps under the cloth covers, rather than the current Russian composite job:



I could more easily picture a Ukrainian militiaman still using M-N.

 

[AZAndy]

Loot maybe? I don't see other weapons in this photo -- could those white bands signify non-combatants?

White armbands signify Russian forces. Ukraine uses yellow.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

White armbands signify Russian forces. Ukraine uses yellow.

Another good point.

I did some a bit more searching and found the PU-equipped M-N is supposedly in the supply chain for the United Armed Forces of Novorossiya (Объединённые Вооруженные Силы Новороссии; acronym NAF), a Russian separatist force in Donbass. I guess they would wear white bands too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_...ussian_separatist_forces_of_the_war_in_Donbas

BTW, here's the original uncropped photo:



I can spot a couple of older slung wooden-stocked AKs and some kind of APC in the background.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

Ive seen Ukrainians using SVT-40s lately...

 

[herrwalther]

Grab anything you can when fighting a guerilla war. My unit had a few Martini-Henry rifles fired at us in Afghanistan. Mosins were fairly popular too.

 

[Nature Boy]

I’m taking all things coming out of that region with a huge bag of salt

 

[kBob]

appearently private ownership of rifles and shot guns was more cmmon than most folks think in Ukraine. Before SHTF it was reported that there were about ten privately owned long guns per 100 population with the majority being shotguns, but Semi autos with ten round magazine was allowed. Private persons did gold SKS for instance and M91 series rifles.

The Ukrainian Army uses a 7.62 NATO sniper rifle based on the AR-10 among other things. The also have some .338 Lapua bolt actions of some type. Ammo for either must be a PITA.

The seem to have a fair number of SVD in the original 7.62x54.

They seem to have plenty AK-74 and all sorts of butt stocks for them. I have seen pictures of several with something like a CAR-15 or M-4 stock on them.

lots of “open source” small arms intelligence out there if you look.

-kBob

 

[caribou]

That PU 91/30 is fresh out of the crate.
Ive owned more than a few and my kids too, the varnish/finish on the wood wont last a couple days without serious flaking and scratching.

Maybe Russian backed separatist Ukrainians?


Why do we continue to buy oil from Russia and fund this war?

 

[Laphroaig]

Dang, I'll never understand how people can shoot those things accurately. I've tried, and if your eye is looking through the scope, your cheek is about 3 inches from the stock.

Apparently Russian snipers, many of whom were women, could do it successfully during WWII.

 

[illinoisburt]

Dang, I'll never understand how people can shoot those things accurately. I've tried, and if your eye is looking through the scope, your cheek is about 3 inches from the stock.

Apparently Russian snipers, many of whom were women, could do it successfully during WWII.

Different shooting styles based on gun designs. Squared to target and heads-up with chin on stock is quite common - hence the short stocks.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

Dang, I'll never understand how people can shoot those things accurately. I've tried, and if your eye is looking through the scope, your cheek is about 3 inches from the stock.

Apparently Russian snipers, many of whom were women, could do it successfully during WWII.

My guess is wide (i.e. chubby) Slavic faces.

I’m taking all things coming out of that region with a huge bag of salt

I do agree with the Nature Boy.

Both sides in this conflict are making maximum use of the media that we all know investigate stories
or photos before accurately printing or going on the air with them.
You know, the same media that accurately report stories to us nightly basis on domestic gun violence, M-15s,
and fully automatic semi auto clips that shoot hundreds of bullets.

I would venture a wide variety of guns are being handed out (or being forced into your hands) on a wholesale basis, so
it is natural that not everyone is getting front line equipment.

JT

 

[Chuck R.]

appearently private ownership of rifles and shot guns was more cmmon than most folks think in Ukraine. Before SHTF it was reported that there were about ten privately owned long guns per 100 population with the majority being shotguns, but Semi autos with ten round magazine was allowed. Private persons did gold SKS for instance and M91 series rifles.

The Ukrainian Army uses a 7.62 NATO sniper rifle based on the AR-10 among other things. The also have some .338 Lapua bolt actions of some type. Ammo for either must be a PITA.

The seem to have a fair number of SVD in the original 7.62x54.

They seem to have plenty AK-74 and all sorts of butt stocks for them. I have seen pictures of several with something like a CAR-15 or M-4 stock on them.

lots of “open source” small arms intelligence out there if you look.

-kBob

I was there on an old base outside Lviv in 2016 for 3 months a training mission. Got to spend a day on their range with the Canadians that were working with the Ukrainian snipers, they were equipped with SVDs then. Sent quite a few rounds downrange as they had a boatload of ammo. Accuracy wasn't up to western standards, the Candian trainers considered it an 800 meter weapon at best.

Most of the AKs were worn out 47's the newer 74's stayed with the guys on the front. Overall the trainers said they struggled with basic marksmanship
It wasn't something thier leadership put emphasis on at the time.

 

[caribou]

To shoot the PU, use a Chin to stock hold, not a Cheek to stock hold.

Thats it.

 

[BreechFace]

I’m taking all things coming out of that region with a huge bag of salt

Agreed. Too much globalist agendas afoot these days to trust anything. I do know this Putin is not a globalist from the little I know of the man. Despise him yes, but this whole thing stinks on both sides of the border.

But as to the Mosin, wouldn’t be my first choice but they good be rear echelon soldiers.

 

[mshootnit]

if we remain one step behind in action, we will get to see one up close. or maybe a qbz 95. I wonder what the new southern Democrats will say about "gun violence" then.

 

[sarduy]

That 7.62x54R from that flag pole barrel is going to put a hurting on anything it touches no matter what side of fence it is.

 

[AlexanderA]

I do know this Putin is not a globalist from the little I know of the man. Despise him yes, but this whole thing stinks on both sides of the border.

There is no moral equivalence here. One side are clearly the war criminals.

 

[BreechFace]

There is no moral equivalence here. One side are clearly the war criminals.

Agreed, I just know there is more than meets the eye with this whole conflict, much of which happens above the citizens heads and they pay the price for it all, don't want to wander any further as it is not in the vein of this forum, so I'll leave it at what has been said.

But I do agree with your statement about war criminals.

 

[d2wing]

From a Ukrainian Twitter feed just now:

View attachment 1064382

I've got one of those in my cabinet, though not the scoped version because they were pretty pricey back when 91/30 was cheap and easy to find.

While many of our enemies have been skinny people wearing thin clothes, the Russian wear body armor. A 7.62x54R will penetrate body armor that a 7.62x39 won't. Also it works better against vehicles. If something like that happened here a 30-06 bolt action with AP ammunition might be good to have. Level 4 body armor will stop 3 rounds of 308 but only 1 30-06.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I can hit a man sized target out to 300 yards with the irons on my Mosin 91/30. We have a man sized steel silhouette on the 300 yard line at the gun club.

 

[Beck]

From a Ukrainian Twitter feed just now:

View attachment 1064382

I've got one of those in my cabinet, though not the scoped version because they were pretty pricey back when 91/30 was cheap and easy to find.

They've been used continuously since their introduction, and still today in recent conflicts in the Middle East and now Ukraine. It says a lot about it's design and effectiveness. Timeless!