Mosin Nagant
by CmdrFenix on Apr.04, 2009, under Firearms Review
Just got back from the gun show in Concord, NH today. I picked up a new toy, but I am guessing you already know what it is… 
Right now my head is stuffed and I feel like poop, so this review will actually have my thoughts and feelings toward another Mosin Nagant rifle that I fired this past week or so. Mine is still packed with Cosmoline and I am no shape to clean it. My friend Dave bought one a few weeks back and we finally got his to the range. I absolutely loved that rifle.
Originally designed and produced in 1891 (yes, that is not a typo) as a general purpose rifle in Russia. It saw service in WWI and WWII up until the SKS and AK-47 (another VERY big favorite of mine) came out. At one point in 1916, they were even produced here in the US and exported to Russia up until the Soviet revolution! 17 million of these rifles were produced during WWII alone and that is a major reason why they are so cheap to own today. After WWII the Soviet Union stopped producing them in lue of the SKS and AK-47s, but every Soviet Bloc nation used and issues Mosin Nagants at some point. The rifle Dave bought was made in 1926, I think. Mine was made in 1943. Both have the Soviet seal stamped on them. The action is smooth and due to their long barrel length, they are extremely accurate. Yes, I did get the full kit and Bayonet with mine. 
I found a website that sells all sorts of accessories for the Mosin that I plan on trying out. I want to get a bi-pod and scope mount for the rifle at some point. That should enable me to do some really nice long distance shooting.
Anyhow, we warmed up at the 25 yrd range and it was awesome. The rifle kicks pretty hard, mostly because of it’s all wood stock. I plan on picking up a rubber end for mind first. Next we took it free standing at 100 yrds with no problems landing hits on target; all iron sights. It is very accurate, easy to maintain and clean, and the ammo is cheap. All good things in my book.
A note on ammo, the primers used in the 7.62×54R are usually corrosive, so you should bring Windex or a plain Ammonia out with you to the range in order spray it down after use. You can clean it later on at home, but this is recommended from several reliable sources. As soon as I find a good cheap supplier I trust, I’ll post a link here.
Anyhow, the rifle, cleaning kit, and bayonet ran me $110 at the gun show. Yes, just $110 to own this piece of history. I will also update once I’ve taken mine to the range, but I doubt I’ll be sorry. I must now go drink vooodka (fake thick Russian accent) and crash for a bit. Take care!
Update: 4/8/2008: Just a note, while the Mosin was fun that day at the range, my friend Chris’ Remington 30-06 with scope was king of the day. I was able to lay my first shot with it a few cm above the bulls eye at 100yrds. 
April 30th, 2009 on 4:17 pm
how much did the mosin nagant cost
April 30th, 2009 on 5:02 pm
It was $110 at a local gun show.
May 4th, 2009 on 11:23 pm
lucky, cheapest i found was one for $135 (tax included) at the local gun show in San Antonio, cheap compared to the pawn and gun shops here wanting $200+. guess i missed out on the days of a mosin for $79.99, but still, $135 is still a small sum for owning a piece of history
May 11th, 2009 on 5:13 pm
J&G sales still has them for 79$, plus a 440 round can of ammo for another 79$. Shipping and FFL transfer, it comes out to about 200$. I just got my ammo today, the rifle in a week or two. I already have an M44 Carbine and it’s an excellent shooter, if you dont mind the huge fireball everytime you take a shot. I can hit the 300 yard steel plinker 3 out of 4 times with those old sights. I’m hoping the 91/30 I ordered shoots as well!
May 11th, 2009 on 10:01 pm
Oh it will. I installed the rail/scope on the my 91/30. Absolutely love it. I want to get a more powerful scope, but the one I got now is pretty darn nice. The hardest part for me was getting the pins holding the rear sight out so I could install the rail, but some elbow grease and some new push pins from Lowe’s helped.
May 12th, 2009 on 7:33 pm
I’m kind of a marksmanship purist. I’m not a huge fan of the scope. I’d like to find a peep sight that I can use with it. I spent four years in the Marines, and could hit a 24×18″ target at 500 yards 10 for 10 with open sights with my dialed in M16A2. I’m going to see you if you make it to Concord this weekend, I may have my M44 if I’m brave enough. If not, a 1911A1, a Walther PPK, and possibly a 1914 WWI Luger P08 will be strapped on somehow. See you then!
May 13th, 2009 on 2:53 pm
I sir am not nearly as good as you then.
/bows
I have plans on buying another Mosin, when the deal comes up, that’ll keep with the stock sights. I had fun with it at the range.
I posted a pic of my finished work in the gallery.
I’ll definitely be there Sunday. My only question is do I wear my new shoulder holster with my second 1911, or do I go with my full tac vest… >.>
May 13th, 2009 on 8:13 pm
I was a lowly Sergeant when I got out, but they trained us well in the ways of marksmanship. We never fired closer than 200 yards.
I wouldn’t wear the vest. I think the point of the OC pickup isn’t to freak people out, but just to have nicely dressed normal people out picking up litter with firearms.
We’ll have to go to the range sometime. I’m kind of a military surplus rifle collector. I’m in Concord and a member of a range with a 0 to 500 yard rifle range located in Canterbury. You need to shoot an M1 Garand, it doesn’t get any better. My 10 gun safe wont hold any more rifles…….
June 10th, 2009 on 9:20 pm
im lookin for one. where can i get one? and isnt that the same caliber as an m60?
June 10th, 2009 on 11:22 pm
Just picked up a Mosin exactly like the one pictured on your post, complete with the sling, oil can (or whatever that is), ammo pouch and of course the bayonet. Its in good condition and got it for 119.00 last weekend. I shot a 1944 Carbine a few weeks back and its an impressive weapon. This one has the long barrel like yours. A scope would really make it a great shooter at long distances. I got it home and ran a bore brush and some oil through and it looks good as new. I can’t wait to get it to the range.
June 11th, 2009 on 11:45 am
Mouse, The caliber of this is 7.62×54R (R for rimmed and not Russian as is commonly mistaken). The M60 fires a 7.62×51 NATO cartridge.
July 3rd, 2009 on 9:26 pm
i can get one or about $60 simple
November 30th, 2009 on 8:32 pm
hell yes its accurate lol just baught one this weekend with all the same stuff for around 90 same year as yours to i think 1943 i dont have a clue how to mount a scope tho
November 30th, 2009 on 9:26 pm
Raymond,
Removing the rear site is pretty easy. Just soak the pins that hold it on in penetrating oil over night. Get some $5 push pin set from Lowes. Smack those pins out and the rear site just comes out.
Pick this up from Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Mosin-Nagant-2-7×32-Scope-91/dp/B0022U6GDG/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1259633904&sr=8-8
It mounts right into the same spot and uses the same pins. Just make absolutely sure you get some good thread locking compound for the two man screws. It acts as a shock absorber when you fire it and keeps them from easily coming back out.
I got this:
http://www.amazon.com/PRO-THREAD-LOCKING-COMPOUND-GPMR6060/dp/B001BHLSF2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1259634059&sr=8-1-catcorr
Works like a champ.
-Jon