Mosin Nagant- how can you not like it

[swc007]

i bought a Mosin nagant 91 30 a while back... i have to say that it is just a fun shooter for me... i bought the surplus ammo and shoot it all the time... i take it deer hunting with me in case i see a hog so i can try it open sight haha...(haven't jumped into bow hunting yet) was wondering what everyone else thinks of it... can't go wrong with the price and mine is very accurate even with surplus ammo... only thing that is annoying is getting all that storage preserving oil off of it

[dicion]

It's called Cosmoline, and it is actually your friend!

Without it, most of these old guns would be piles of dust in some storage locker somewhere, as most of them were not stored in low-humidity, temperature-controlled storage XD

You can read more about cleaning it out here:
http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/edu23.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[kragluver]

Cosmoline can be a pain, but as said above, it is your friend. My method for removing it is to detail strip the firearm and then soak all parts in Mineral Spirits for several minutes. Scrub the parts with an old toothbrush, dry, lightly oil and re-assemble. Make sure you get all cosmo off before shooting the rifle. Make sure you re-oil the parts as the mineral spirits will strip all the oil off the metal.

The MN's are fun, after you get past the hard-working bolt and pain in the neck safety. I have a Model 38 carbine that is a right handy little rifle and is a hoot to shoot. I kept it full military except to remove the rear sight and replace it with a short rail (see Darrell's Scout mount here: http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsfo ... iew/id/116" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). The Darrell's is an excellent rail and you don't have to modify the rifle in any way - its easily returned to its full military configuration if you want.

I topped that off with an inexpensive red dot sight and it has become a good hog rifle. Its really quite accurate too. My barrel was counter-bored, but it will hold 2" at 100 yards off the rest - definitely minute-of-hog My accuracy was mediocre with surplus ammo but I was able to dial it in with handloads.

[texjames]

yep

[RECIT]

I have bought and sold a Mosin or two. I had the full length and carbine versions. Shot both and liked both but neither fit a roll needed in my arsenal. Ammo is certainly cheap enough, but bolt guns are not really my thing when a semi can do it all and better. They are cool to have around and definitely a good truck or hog gun...

[swc007]

Cosmoline can be a pain, but as said above, it is your friend. My method for removing it is to detail strip the firearm and then soak all parts in Mineral Spirits for several minutes. Scrub the parts with an old toothbrush, dry, lightly oil and re-assemble. Make sure you get all cosmo off before shooting the rifle. Make sure you re-oil the parts as the mineral spirits will strip all the oil off the metal.

The MN's are fun, after you get past the hard-working bolt and pain in the neck safety. I have a Model 38 carbine that is a right handy little rifle and is a hoot to shoot. I kept it full military except to remove the rear sight and replace it with a short rail (see Darrell's Scout mount here: http://parallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsfo ... iew/id/116" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;). The Darrell's is an excellent rail and you don't have to modify the rifle in any way - its easily returned to its full military configuration if you want.

I topped that off with an inexpensive red dot sight and it has become a good hog rifle. Its really quite accurate too. My barrel was counter-bored, but it will hold 2" at 100 yards off the rest - definitely minute-of-hog My accuracy was mediocre with surplus ammo but I was able to dial it in with handloads.

Cosomoline haha thats the stuff... wasn't sure what it was called but it does its job because my rifle had like two spots of rust on... i think its very accurate as well... i get 2" grouping with it at 100yrds lol but everytime i took a shot at something i missed it...i need to get a range finder so i can mark distances haha

[threoh8]

My son bought one - with a hex receiver and a laminated stock. Pre-WWII. Reasonable quality. Good cartridge. Potential for accuracy, I think.

What's not to like? Ergonomics.

The biggest problem I have is that the bolt handle is way too far forward for my arms, and a bit short. I can't work the bolt rapidly in position, at least compared to the various bolt guns I've shot in matches over the years. I'd like to try it with a longer doglegged or swept bolt, but it's not mine to tinker with.

We replaced the sharp-edged metal buttplate with a 1" rubber version. That helped take the sting out of recoil. The push wasn't bad - typical .30 caliber service rifle cartridge in a long bolt rifle - but the edges hurt. Unfortunately, the added length doesn't help with the bolt.

The split bridge makes scope and receiver sight mounting more ... interesting.

A long eye relief scope is next up for testing.

[paynewp]

Love the Mosin Nagant. I originally bought one for my 12 yr old, he is into WWII and when I brought it home and showed him he actually informed me on some of the history. He was involved with stripping it, cleaning all the cosmoline out and putting it back together. He likes to shoot it but had a hard time with the surplus ammo so I have started to make a new load with Trail Boss and he is very good at 100yrds and he can go all day with the reduced recoil. I get to use all the surplus stuff for me

[atticus]

I have had good luck removing cosmoline from wooden stocks by wrapping the stock and handguard in paper towel, then putting it in a black trash bag (and tying that all up with rubber bands or string). Then I put the wrapped stock on the dashboard of my pickup for several days. The heat generated inside the car causes the cosmoline to seep out of the wood and into the paper towel. You may have to repeat the process.

I have a LER scope (about a 4x) on a 91/30, and it works real well out to about 150 yards. I can keep both eyes open on this one.

Soft point ammo in 7.62x54R is available for hunting.

my 2 cents.

[NcongruNt]

The 91/30 was my first gun, and still my favorite range gun. Get lots of practice shooting it, and it's a good deer gun as well. I shot my first deer with mine, after a couple thousand rounds of practice at the range. I like to put a bunch of clays on the berm behind the 100y target spots and pop them off. It makes for transition and target acquisition practice.

As for good sights for longer range, I would recommend Mojo Sights. They're tandem aperture sights, and work VERY well on the Mosin-Nagants. I'd recommend getting the MicroClick SnapSight set and the Aperture pack, putting the .120" on the front and the .090" on the rear. It will tighten up you sight picture, and make 100y shots relatively easy with practice.

Here's me with my first deer, taken with my 91/30. I caught it running perpendicular to me about 40 yards out:

Picture removed

For hunting ammo, I'd recommend Sellier & Bellot 180 grain SP. It's very accurate and consistent, and seems to expand nicely. The deer above had an entrance wound between the ribs, with an exit would significantly larger that broke 2 ribs on the way out. I get mine at Cabela's, but it can be found multiple places.

http://www.sellier-bellot.cz/rifle-ammu ... roduct=524" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[EDIT] Sorry to the mods, forgot that hunting photos are relegated to the hunting photos area. You can view the photo I'd previously posted on the following older post over in that section:

viewtopic.php?f=78&t=21469" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Weg]

You asked , so here it is.... how can I not like it... trigger is horrible, on both the ones I have... It cocks on closing increasing lock time...I hate post front sights.. What I can say good about it... It always goes bang, and is reasonably accurate, for the money it is a good rifle... my preference...1903 Springfield, or the gun it was copied from, the Mauser 98.

[NOS]

You asked , so here it is.... how can I not like it... trigger is horrible, on both the ones I have... It cocks on closing increasing lock time...I hate post front sights.. What I can say good about it... It always goes bang, and is reasonably accurate, for the money it is a good rifle... my preference...1903 Springfield, or the gun it was copied from, the Mauser 98.

I have two of them and have to agree that a trigger job (smoothing and shortening trigger pull, and sear adjustment) is the first order of business. In truth, you can't really complain about the gun, considering that it was the first military rifle developed exclusively around a smokeless powder cartridge. Times have changed and even with new developments in the industry, the Mosin's still hold their own. I do all of the custom work myself with great results on these guns. With a little work they are very accurate (depending on the condition your barrel is in). I've even cut some down and made "modern tactical" style rifles out of them with above average results (This takes a lot of work and more money than most are willing to spend on a gun that originally cost $70-100).
The Mauser 98 and the 1903 Springfield are both great guns that have proven themselves over many years. Usually with these two types of guns, the specimens you find usually have bores in much better condition than the Mosin's, thus the improved accuracy and better reputations.
There is nothing wrong with a Mosin Nagant 91/30. The design and function of the gun is very reliable and is not likely to fail. Are most newer guns better? Of course they are better newer models on the market. However, for $70-100 to get a decent, hard hitting rifle, that can shoot with accuracy to several hundred yards, is a heck of a deal IMHO.

[threoh8]

... trigger is horrible, on both the ones I have... It cocks on closing increasing lock time...I hate post front sights..

The triggers are bad on a lot of rifles, but the Mosin Nagant's can be cleaned up without too much work. There are replacement triggers that might help.

Cock on closing isn't as bad as some seem to think. There's nothing about it that necessarily slows the lock. It's mostly the long firing pin fall. Lots of cock on opening rifles - including '98 Mausers and '03 Springfields - have long lock times as well.

My favorite NRA Highpower rifle was my '96 Mauser (from which the '98 is copied! ), cock on closing and all. Sure, my '03 had a slicker bolt, and my 70 Target had some really nice features, but the Swede was as accurate as the 70 and more accurate than the '03. It wasn't the bolt design that held me back.

Post front sights have their place. I prefer them for shooting standing in the wind in matches, and for general purpose field shooting. The nice thing about posts is that the shape and contrast of the target isn't as important as with an aperture.

[swc007]

haha yeah the gun isn't my primary hunting rifle... BUT COME ON its a gun thats costs under $100 bucks and it shoots pretty well to me...its def not gonna shoot like a sako or browning... as far as price for the rifle and the cost for surplus ammo ya can't beat it for the price... yeah ya gotta put a little muscle into the bolt action... im a left handed shooter and i work it just fine...i mean if you think about it a person can pick at and find problems with any weapon But i spent around $200 bucks on a rifle and 300-400 rounds of ammo (however much comes in the surplus can)... all i was getting at is i think its an awesome rifle for how much money i had to take out of my wallet lol

[chartreuse]

I found this comparison of Mosin Nagants, ARs and AKs to be entertaining.

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinHumor.htm