The Mosin Nagant is a bolt-action military rifle in 7.62x54R, used by the militaries of Russia and several Eastern bloc counties. Produced in vast numbers and legendary for its rugged reliability, the rifle served from 1891 until the 1960s in many nations, when the sniper rifle variant was replaced by the SVD.
Another advantage is inexpensive and plentiful ammunition, at least for now. Ballistics for 7.62x54R ammunition falls roughly between .308 and .30-06. Currently 7.62x54R can be had for as little as $0.18 per round (147 grain), while the least expensive bulk .308 (147 grain) is about $0.32 per round, and .30-06 is at around $0.59 per round (145 grain). Disadvantages to this ammunition is that it’s dirty, uses corrosive primers, and the inexpensive rounds aren’t manufactured in the U.S.
In my opinion, this is probably the last great, cheap surplus rifle deal out there. For what you get, these rifles are going extremely cheap, with online prices as low as $69.95 (closer to $100 with shipping and FFL fees). At gun shows I’ve seen them reasonably process from $95-115, and overpriced at $150 and up. Prices vary at gun shops as well.
And a cheap price doesn’t mean cheaply made – they’re rugged and accurate. The video below is of a Mosin Nagant 91/30 using inexpensive Bulgarian surplus ammo, hitting a target at 1,000 yards!
Since everything after the Garand is selective fire for U.S. military rifles, no more surplus there. Most large caches of other European bolt action surplus rifles have been expended with prices high and only likely to go higher. Fifteen years ago I saw SKS rifles in the $80 range, now they’re usually $250 and up. Get one (or five) Mosin Nagants while the gettin’ is good.
A great rifle firing a real manstopper of a round, and still the best bargain going in terms of firearms today. With an 03 FFL (Curio and Relics) you can have one delivered to your door for under $100. Quite a kick, but manageable on the 91/30 (unlike the carbine versions).
I bought a 91/30 in the box with bayonet, tool kit, sling and other assorted goodies at a Cabelas for $99.95 + tax. There are better deals. I like hold and inspect any gun before buying. Personal preference and I know a few $ can be saved buying on-line. To each their own on where to buy.
After shooting my long rifle with only open sights discovering first hand what a bargain these surplus guns are I began to do more research. I was liking the idea of a carbine Mosin but no one locally had them. I walked in a pawn shop one day and there was my carbine, a model 91/59. These were “cut down” from the long rifle 91/30s as I understand. Anyway $100 out the door. The gun had no accessories. This model was not made for bayonet. I suggest one makes sure they get the tool kit with these guns for in that kit is a tool with measuring notches to check the height of the firing pin. There are lots of YouTube vids explaining how to check the firing pin and how to adjust plus good tips on disassembly and cleaning. I’m thinking of getting another long rifle so as to have extra parts, bolt etc. I like this gun lot.
From this link in the article:
http://commanderzero.com/?p=1514
“The most common and cheapest rifle on the market these days are the Mosin Nagant rifles from the old Soviet/Russian/Communist arsenals. The two most common are the flagpole-like 91/30 and the compact and brutal M44 carbines. Both are chambered in the 7.62×54R cartridge…ballistically somewhere between a .308 and a .30-06. The guns are simple, utilitarian bolt guns of varying degrees of quality in terms of finish. The 91/30 rifles go back a ways and are usually huge long affairs with enormous bayonets to turn the rifle into a 6’ pigsticker. Prices have been running all over the place as supply dwindles but expect somewhere between $100-175. If you see one for more than $200 be sure to ask how many hookers come with it”.
“The M44 was a slightly ‘modernized’ version of the 91/30. Instead of being a flagpole, it’s a carbine. The bayonet was replaced with a side folding cruciform-style bayonet…much like an SKS. The carbine is short and ideal for use as a truck gun or leaving at a hunting cabin or other location. It can be a little…stiff…to shoot with that smaller size and steel buttplate. Forced to choose between the 91 and the 44, I’d go with the handier, newer M44. They’ve started to become a bit difficult to find but you can still get them at reasonable prices”.
I’ve not been as excited about a gun as I am the Nagant in a while. Like I said I do have a carbine, the model 91/59 and it is real sweet. The kick does not bother me. I am limited to one hundred shots at my private range and while I have thought about getting a third gun and possibly making the upgrade to a scope its a matter of wanting to invest in a scope set up. I’m hitting ten inch paper plates at 100 yrds consistently with a few odd ball drifts so for recreational shooting I really don’t think I will make the scope conversion, just get another 91/30! I will buy another carbine if I can find one priced right. The carbines don’t seem to be around in my area and I am close to a big city gun market with many dealers. Probably a reason why, the carbine is much less “gaudy” than the long rifle version. I’ve only been to one gun show the past three years so I’m not sure how many Nagants are being offered at the shows. I was at Cabelas today and they have increased their price to $149. Cabelas is normally just a look at stuff retailer for me anyway as they are very proud of their prices. I’m going to another place I know that has the 91/30 with the bayonet and accessories for $89.95 plus + tax. May as well pick up Nagant #3 while they are priced right. I’m shooting Russian surplus 147gr steel core FMJ. I’m currently paying $94.97 + tax for 440 round spam can. That’s 23 cents a round. One can save a few bucks ordering over the internet. I prefer to buy it locally and not deal with on line buying of ammo. It’s kind of a privacy thing having to send a photo copy of my driver’s license to a stranger so to speak. Point is get it while you can. I used to shoot my British .303 but simply cannot justify the cost of ammo for that gun any more. It’s good to keep a few boxes of .303 on hand but basically the gun is cleaned a couple times a year and that is it.
Incidentally, Cabelas had a good number of SKS but boy are people proud of prices on those now! Calelas has theirs priced at $399! I never got around to buying an SKS when they were $80-$100 at the gun shows. A local gun dealer had some at $125 only seven years ago and I passed it up. Oh well. $399…that is ridiculous for a SKS!
Bought a mosin in April 2010. Its a 1891/30 Tula hex receiver. My eldest son and I shoot if often at a local gun shop/range. We shoot paper targets at 25 yds. I shoot brown bear 203 grain soft point ammo. I love the power of this rifle/cartridge, and it seems pretty darn accurate. The bolt takes a little muscle now and then, but it has never failed to feed or fire, and is simple to operate and clean. I like the power of this gun for home defense, and we plan to try deer hunting next fall with it. I enjoy the looks we get at the range when that old mosin goes BOOM!
fallout11,
I agree and can’t believe they’re still online for $70. You’ve given me something to think about with the 03 FFL notion.
Buck,
$100 plus tax for an in-person sale is fair enough. By the time FFL fees and shipping are paid, it’d be about the same and maybe more. Ammo is the same, save a little on price but pay for the shipping, so I think both deals are fair. I just can’t see paying those prices for an SKS, as nice as they are. If you’re still looking, this place has some for under $300;
https://www.samcoglobal.com/1-sks.html
Glenn,
We also got 91/30s with Hex receivers, but have been shooting (and stocking up on) the cheap surplus ammo. A word of caution about the surplus stuff; gotta clean that day and with ammonia down the bore, or hot water, to neutralize/wash away the corrosive residue. A lot of guys also swear by Hoppe’s #9.
Speaking of cleaning…I’ve been using a off brand Windex for initial cleaning. My understanding is water is the key to neutralizing the salts as result of the primers in surplus ammo. I spray “Windex” down the bore from the breech end of course, run a couple of dry patchs through the bore and repeat. Once good and dry I follow up with several patches soaked in Hoppe’s and run some dry patches through then a patch soaked in gun oil followed by one dry patch to clear excess oil. I’m shooting this ammo:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM653-5.html
I’ve read about a product that has been around for many years called Ballistol. What I’ve read about Ballistol is it came into existence around WWI and is a non petroleum product. Supposedly it is ideal for cleaning after shooting corrosive ammo, I read a 50/50 mix with water, and is used as a general lubricant. I’ve not bought any yet but as far as thinking about when SHTF I’m thinking a gallon of this product Ballistol would be a welcome addition as it is also suitable for cleaning wooden stocks, it will not harm plastic, can be used as a leather preservative and of all things does wonders catching mice and rats when a few drops are applied to a mouse/rat trap. I cannot find anyone at local gun stores or on blogs that have a clue what I’m talking about. Ballistol is available for purchase on the Internet.
Suburban Survivalist,
Thanks for the link to the SKS. I’ll keep an eye open locally at some pawn shops.
I am curious if anyone knows a source for Nagant M44 carbines? Like I mentioned I have a model 91/59 and like it. I’m looking around before buying another 91/30 but don’t want to wait too long. Probably should just go ahead and buy several of those 91/30s but would really rather have another carbine.
Cleaning the Mosin when using corrosive ammo
I use windex with ammonia from Wally World. You get a ton of cleaning solvent for a couple of bucks.
Good shooting
To George,
Yep that is a good idea. I buy the “cheap” off brand Windex too. And just to have some around I bought a gallon of ammonia yesterday. That stuff goes a long way. I have not tried the hot water cleaning yet. I’m thinking they are all good methods and not sure one is better than the other. Though Hoppe’s claims to do the trick I’m still of the contention to get some water in some form down that bore first.
I guess no one has had experience with the Ballistol product? It would seem a bit pricey perhaps at about $65 a gallon but what do we pay for gun oil? I bet its close to the same and a heck of lot more when adding up the cost of those small bottles of gun oil. I’m looking at Ballistol in case SHTF. Will I be able to carry a gallon of Ballistol around, no. If it is stored at my SHTF destination I might be glad I have it. From reading about Ballistol it can actually be used to rub wooden stocks down so it is not harmful to wood like gun oil. Mixed with water it is supposed to be ideal for cleaning after shooting corrosive ammo ( it’s origins were during a time lots of corrosive ammo was being used by military ) , the product is good as a leather preservative…just many uses and not toxic. In fact in Europe the product is still accepted by that area’s industrial medical complex as treatment/cleaning of woulds…not approved by FDA in the U.S. If I get some I’ll let the site know what I think of it.
Got a Cabela’s add today. 91/30′s are on sale for $89.95. They had them up to $149. Must be expecting more in and reducing inventories.
Mosin butt plate replacement. I replaced the butt plate with a soft screw on rubber pad and saved the original if I ever sell the rifle. The rubber butt pads are molded to fit exactly one the end of a Mosin. Believe me takes the recoil factor on a M44 to from a 10 to a 2. Also they only add an inch to length of pull
Go on ebay and you can find them for $15 bucks. Happy shooting.
i’ve been shooting a mosin nagant since i was 10. my grandfather was a red army sniper in stalingrad. i have his m91/30 tula pu scoped monster. one side of the stock is covered in notches for each german he put down. i was offered a korean war m1 garand, i turned it down. a 30.06 wont punch a clean drill hole in a brake rotor at 186m. ive hit 12″X12″ targets at 530m. cant beat ammo for $4.50 a box for any other 30 caliber rifle either. thousands of rounds and 60+yrs later and it can shoot circles around any new rifle ive come across.
Dave, have you ever thought about writing a book? “Outrageous gun-shop commando tales I’ve heard”?
Guys —
You’re wasting a lot of money (and time) with Windex and such (the ammonia in which is accomplishing ZERO). You don’t need to attempt to “neutralize” the salts left by “corrosive” primer ammo. The primer compound is potassium chlorate, which when fired, combines with oxygen to produce potassium chloride, which, just like sodium chloride (table salt) is soluble in water, but not in oil. The problem is not that the salts are corrosive themselves, but rather that they are extremely hygroscopic, i.e., they “eagerly” soak up any moisture in the air and that combination rusts the metal. If you’re shooting corrosive ammo in the Nevada desert, it would take weeks or even months before the bore rusted at all, but if you’re shooting it in Florida, it might rust before you get from the range to home.
Yes, I am aware that Hoppe’s says that their product will take care of the salts, but unless you’re using a whole LOT of it ($$$$$), it’s not going to FLUSH the salts AWAY, which is what you really want.
A mixture of Ballistol and water in a 1:7 ratio duplicates the old GI bore solvent (shake well before using). Liberally used, this will FLUSH the salts out of the barrel (and the gas system of a semi-auto); and after you run a couple of dry patches down the bore, will still leave a light coating of the oil component of the Ballistol on the bore to inhibit rust. This is just what you want at the range or “in the field”. When you get home, or back to camp, clean with your favorite gun-elixir (Hoppe’s, BreakFree CLP, Sweet’s, etc.) and then oil as you would after shooting non-corrosive ammo. I’ve been shooting corrosive mil-surp & black powder ammo for 50 years, from MA/CT/NY to AZ to FL and have NEVER had a piece rust.
However, there is an even cheaper and easier way. Even if you’re in FL, if you don’t live more than an hour or two from your range, and assuming you aren’t in a rainstorm, try this: Boil 5 or 6 inches of water in a pot. Set the pot on the ground. Remove the bolt and stick the muzzle in the boiled water, at an angle. Run a fairly tight-fitting patch(es) from the breech down the bore on a loop-type jag and out of the muzzle. Rapidly pull the patch all the way back up the bore and out of the chamber. This will suck the water all the way up the bore and into the chamber. Repeat this a couple of times, and Voila! All the nasty salts have been flushed away and what little water is left on the bore will rapidly evaporate, but if you’re worried about it, run a dry patch through. You probably want to “swish” the bolt-face in the water, too. It just took me about three times longer to type this than it takes me to actually do the job. As always, you then clean & oil as normal. No worries.
Good Shooting!
I thought windex was mostly water with Ammonia. Which being water based would dilute the salts anyway. I am no chemist but I have been shooting mosins in the snow and desert and have never has any rust either. I usually spray windex at the range/field. Huge amounts of powder residue comes out. When I run Hoppies #9 through when I get home I use very little because the windex works so well. Also I have been using Mobil 1 synthetic transmission fluid in lieu of hoppies and Mobil 1 synthetic transmission fluid and it worked Fabulious.
at a local gun store there is a nice 91/30 mosin and the store dosent own it they are showing it off for a person to sell it and he wants $189 for it. it looks pretty bad and but before i buy it i want to test fire it. if anyone can email me or respond to this comment i would appreciate it if you can estimate a price for me because the price he wants for it is outrageous. the more emails i get helps alot
That’s at least $60 too much, at least in my area. At gun shows I see them for ~$115, sometimes more or less from individuals. I’d keep looking.
Ryan,
$189 is stupid high. $115-$125 MAX for a very clean one is tops. Counter them with $189 if they will throw in 440 round tin of Russian mill ball. Then you have a workable deal
I picked up a 91/30 for $125 a couple of years ago. That included shipping.
I’ve since refinished the stock, put on a scout scope and bipods. The gun is a little heavy. However, where can you buy a gun that will hit a 12×12 steel plate at 500 yards for $175. Oh ya, the ammo runs at $.16 a shot.
You can’t make a bad move getting a Mosin Nagant 91/30 or M38 or M44.
I actually shoot mine on a regular basis. No matter what the weather is doing it just does not matter. I try to shoot the lighter ball ammo. I practice with my 91/30 the most and have gotten profficent enough to shoot minute of deer out to 200 yards. The 24 inch sight radius. (most red army soilders did not have access to glasses.) cures a lot of sighting issues.
I have used the rifle in the southwestern desert and what could be better suited to distance shots and rough terrain.
The wide sling is extreemly comfortable for long hikes. I leave the Bayo at home but always take 2 pouches of mil ball surplus on my walk abouts.
Do not underestimate the man who has mastered his rifle.