mosin-nagant

[efdavila]

Does anyone own this rifle?  The M38 and M44 look really interesting, especially for the price.

[n-1911-TERRY]

You might check with "Armoredman", I believe he's a Mosin fan.

[DWARREN123]

I have a M44 and M91/30. Very interesting firearms and fun.
Cheap mil-surp ammo, inexpensive rifles, lots of shooting.
The carbines do have a large muzzle flash especially at night.

[Walt-Sherrill]

You need to join one of the Curio & Relic forums, if you want to know more.

I've had several, but have none now.  I will get a nice M39, one of these days.

The saying about the M/N:  "barks like a dog, kicks like a mule."

If you're thinking about getting one, remember that most of the milsurp ammo you can buy is corrosive, and the gun should be cleaned thoroughly after each use.  It will rust badly, quickly, otherwise.

Sellier & Bellot and others make non-corrosive ammo.

(Some guys who shoot milsurps carry a bottle of of Windex with them to the range and run some through the chamber and barrel after each range session, followed by a Boresnake, etc.  They claim it simplifies later cleanup and keeps corrosion to an absolute minimum.)

[Unregistered(d)]

Mosins are one of the best deals in a bolt action rifle going. The rifles are inexepensive, and usually rearsenalled to excellent condition. My M38 was rearsenalled, counterbored, (creating a new muzzle crown about 3/4 inch inside the muzzle, worn from steel cleaning rods), and an M44 stock. It will give me 3 inch groups at 100 yards with Wolf ammo. I love it. Do NOT buy one with lots of visible wear, those have NOT been rearsenalled, which is done at the factory in Russia.
   You should be able to pick up the Mosins for under $100 for any of the common ones, the M38 or M44 carbine, (only differance is the M44 has the permanantly attched pigsticker), and the long 91/30. All will give reasonable accuracy, known in the circle as "minute of nazi". The M39, M28, or other Mosin derivatives from Finland, tend to be very accurate, but are also about 3 to 4 times as expensive.
   Ammo is DIRT cheap, and since the 7.62x54R, the longest serving military round ever, is still in production, we can STILL get surplus ammo! A bunch of Czech 1980s LPS steel core just came in, the succesor to the Czech Silvertip. To put it in perspective on price, the 20 round box of surplus Silvertip ammo, (always the most expensive way to buy), runs $1.49 at J&G Sales!!
   As mentioned, surplus ammo is corrosive, which really only means I run a couple of patches down the bore, and along the bolt face, with ammonia Windex, to help kill the corrosive "salts". No corrosion I can find yet!
   For $100, you should be able to get an M44, mucho ammo, and one other item I find absolutely neccesary - a slip on recoil pad.
   Picture an M-1 Carbine, chambered in 30-06. Thats a Mosin carbine...Uncle Ivan must have been one tough customer...

[efdavila]

Thanks all.  Just the input I was looking for.
I've sent away for my C&R and will pick up a couple.  One I'll keep as is and the other I'm thinking of getting a "sport" stock for.

[weemsf]

I have several Mosin-Nagant rifles.  Walt, I have an excellent grade B-barrelled M39.  The 7.62X54R does indeed kick in these straight stocked rifles, but it bites far more furiously than a dog.  Ask the German army.

[Walt-Sherrill]

I think the Russians learned something about them, too, when they invaded Finland.  If you haven't, read about The Winter War...  

I really want an M39.   Had the name and phone number  of a guy here in town who had one and wanted to trade, and I misplaced it.  Crap.

[rangerruck]

all variants of the mosin are worth the money,  many ammo manfgr are making rounds for it now, wolf, barnaul, jsc, olympic, etc.  the ammo is cheap and effective.  i scored an unissued unfired mosin 38 .  broke it in like i would a bench shooter rifle, then molycoated the bore action.  then did the washer trigger job under the trigger spring lever.  smooth as butta! shoots teeny tiny groups at 100 yds with open sights.  watch out for those 200 grn wolf bullets though, they will definitely rack your bones!

[weemsf]

I am always open to trades.  What would you give for the M39?  email me at pastor@fbcatoka.org

[anuthurgoon]

I have owned three. One 91/30 and two M-39's. Out of all the mosins I have owned and handled I have to say that the M-39 is the best. Compared to other Mosins and even most other military rifles or modern sporters the M-39 is a work of art. I only still have one Mosin, a B barrel M-39 made in '42. I don't know how old the reciever is because I have never had it apart to check the dates.
The bore is tight enough to shoot .308 or .311 bullets out of it so that gives me some extra versatility.
One thing about them is that the safety is awkward.
I have thought about selling my last mosin a few times because it really doesn't add anything to my collection that a Marlin 336 wouldn't do better but I can't seem to part with it.
The craftsmanship and history behind it and the way it handles always convince me to put it back and just leave it as it is.
As for the others, they cost something like $60 in excellent condition. If you think you need another gun or you want something that has some range for cheap they are worth it.
As for the bark and the bite, I also find the stock shape of the M-39 to be more comfortable as far as recoil goes. When I shoot it at the range the muzzle blast is about 18" long and pear shaped. It will blow leaves away with each shot. Not something to be trifled with and about on par with the .308 or '06 for power.

[Unregistered(d)]

The reciever date should be at the top, right before the barrel , 4 numbers with the letter 'r' behind it. Chances are it is a hex reciever with an old date.

[Unregistered(d)]

The arsenal refinished Moisins hitting the market recently have been a good buy.  Tough time tested battle rifles and carbines to be had for $100 or less. I had a M44 but had to sell it a few years back when I did not have a rifle range for a while. Wish I had it back now.  Maybe after the tax refund comes.

[Unregistered(d)]

There was a 1948 marked Russian M44 at the gunshopI had the Enfield headspaced at yesterday....aboslutely pristine, 100% condition...$99.99. If I had had an extra $20 I would have put it on layaway.