I'm half considering picking up a nice old bolt-action to setup for long distance shooting. Something as a big-brother to my .22LR bolt action with 10x scope. In my search I came across the Mosin Nagant 7.62x54 rifle - or more importantly, the price of the MN. Less than 100$ for unfired war surplus items, packed in grease with the original maintenance kits.
Anyone have any experience with them? I know the corrosive ammo issues, aside from that are they worth picking up for the price? If I got one I'd want a long-barrel to mount a scope, so accuracy is important. Supposedly they were prized as sniper rifles in the war, but with Soviet build quality...? 7.62x54 is overkill for the kind of shooting I'll be doing, but getting a piece of history for less than 100$ sort of compensates.
I've shot a couple.
Helluva kick, and a louder bark.
Problem with most Nagants is the bolt. On every model, except for some 91/30 rifles, the bolt will interfere with a scope. There are kits available out there to modify the bolt handle to work with a scope, but they are tricky and can f up the bolt. I have looked at buying one, and if I do, I'm going to find a gunsmith to do the bolt mod for me.
If you are looking, here are the ones I spotted. 80$ a pop for M44 models.
http://www.the-armory.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/Russian_M44_Rife.html
i've got a 91/30.
it's a fun gun to shoot. haven't had a good chance to give accuracy a real test, but with decent ammo it's probably pretty good. for a scope you'll probably need to look into a turned-down bolt, as has already been said.
as for the corrosive surplus ammo... hope you're a fan of cleaning, 'cause you'll be spending some time doing it. :P
A few things to ponder. The 91/30 is the one to get if you can only have one. The longer barrel is a plus. If you get one and shoot it with corrosive ammo you must use soap and water or a product like windex. These neutralize the corrosive salts. Then use your normal solvents afterwards. The 91/30 reciever will have to be drilled and tapped to take a scope mount and need the turned bolt kit to function correctly. It's not woth it in my opinion because a 60 year old battle rifle is just that...a battle rifle. I can pop people sized targets and gallon jugs over open sight's all day long with it. Even with a scope your not going to be shooting real precise because the rifle is just not capable of "great" accuracy. They are however cool, reliable and simple guns. I love to put the big pig sticker bayonet on it as well and yell at the (pretend) fascist scum.
Quote from: NeufUnSix on July 20, 2008, 01:04:54 PM
If you are looking, here are the ones I spotted. 80$ a pop for M44 models.
http://www.the-armory.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/Russian_M44_Rife.html
In the green and yellow box, doesn't it say "out of stock"?
I've decided I'll pass for the time being, as was pointed out this supplier is sold out and all the other MNs I've see were over 200$. 80$ is a no brainer and I'd be willing to overlook the flaws, 200$ is not such a great deal.
What I really wanted was a 1891/30 factory sniper, but those are rare and expensive.
So instead I'm going to dust off my .22 to do some modifications and get a new scope. Check the barrel float, polish and lube the action and bolt, etc. With some match grade ammo it should shoot nicely. (I know I haven't mentioned what kind of .22 it is, because I actually don't know. I got it as a 16 birthday present and I haven't used it in over 5 years, but I think it's a Savage or a Savage copy. Has a 10 round banana box magazine and the stock is identical to a Savage Mark II design)
(http://www.savagearms-europe.com/images/MarkIIG.gif)
This Mueller scope is definitely what I'll pick up. Reviews are good and the price is unbeatable.
http://www.whitefalls.ca/products/mueller-optics/mueller-apv-4.5-14x40-matte-black.html
Double checked, it's a Savage-Lakefield Mark II, built in Ontario for the Canadian market I guess.