93EXCivic
93EXCivic SuperDork
5/6/11 10:18 a.m.

Ok I had a few questions about the Mosin Nagent. One how hard is the recoil on these guns (I have heard everything from the same as an AR15 to 30-06)? Two how hard is it find ammo for these guns? Three is using Russian surplus rounds really that bad?

spitfirebill
spitfirebill SuperDork
5/6/11 10:21 a.m.

They kick like a mule and spit fire like a dragon. polly going to be like a 30-06. The rifles are cheap and the ammo is cheap (for a centerfire). Some ammo is corrosive, so learn to love to clean the weapon.

cwh
cwh SuperDork
5/6/11 10:22 a.m.

I understand that they are unusually accurate for a cheap surplus rifle.

foxtrapper
foxtrapper SuperDork
5/6/11 10:45 a.m.

The gun is heavy, which negates a lot of the recoil. It's no toy, but my shotgun on slugs kicks far harder.

slantvaliant
slantvaliant Dork
5/6/11 11:08 a.m.

How bad the recoil is depends on several things, including what you are accustomed to shooting. I happen to like bolt-action service rifles, and don't find it bad at all.

The impulse is similar to other military rifle cartridges in similar rifles of the WWI era: 8x57, .303, .30-06, etc.

One major factor in perception of recoil on the MN is the sharp-edged metal buttplate. Swap that for the 1" longer rubber pad available for cheap, and it's much nicer. Of course, that puts the bolt knob that much further forward, making a rapid-fire bolt stroke awkward.

Most if not all of the Commblock ammunition has corrosive primers. Shoot all you want, but clean and lube very well shortly afterward.

My experience is that most of the surplus ammunition is not very accurate. I know the Russians can make good ammunition - they used MN's in some pretty serious target matches way back when - but that's not what we're getting.

Handloading would bring out the best in the beast, but it's hard to justify with expensive reloadable brass vs cheap loaded ammo.

pilotbraden
pilotbraden HalfDork
5/6/11 11:10 a.m.

It recoils similar to a 30-06 of equivalent mass. Shoot surplus and clean it well.

N Sperlo
N Sperlo Reader
5/6/11 11:27 a.m.

Makes my 308 feel like a butterfly. Fun rifle and the 7.62 x 54 are not expensive or hard to find. Don't pay over $200. They are not hard to find. I've seen decent ones for $120.

Dr. Hess
Dr. Hess SuperDork
5/6/11 12:52 p.m.

I paid a bill even for mine, made in 1943, at a pawn shop. Ammo is cheap and corrosive from the big vendors like JG Sales. I put a slip-on recoil pad on it.

joey48442
joey48442 SuperDork
5/6/11 4:32 p.m.

I say mine was definitely intended for a guy wearing a heavy parka...

Joey

Rumnhammer
Rumnhammer Reader
5/6/11 5:21 p.m.

Depends on which Mosin Nagant you get, the full length ones are not too bad, kick a little harder then .308, but a little less then 30.06 which is exactly the size of the bullet.

7.62x54 is some of the cheapest centerfire ammo you can buy. Most is corrosive, but some of the more modern manufactured stuff is not. Also there is a great variance in Make as well. The really good stuff is the 7N1 round that is shot out of the SVD. Very Accurate.

The Mosin is actually one of the most accurate surplus rifles you can get for the price. I've seen really nice ones go for between $120 to $130 and they come with the bayonet, sling and cleaning kit.

The best ones are the Finnish made ones, these are the ones used for sniping, they usually come with turned down bolt, scope mount, combloc scope, and are made to a higher quailty spec then the average infantry models. These run around $350 to $400 range.

The basic models come in Hex receiver (prewar) and round receiver (late war) both are about the same really with the price only being about $20 for the earlier models.

The Mosins you want to avoid are the shorter length carbines and cut down versions. These kick like the worst Russian Mule that you ever felt, they are not as accurate and really punish you with the recoil and muzzle blast. They also shoot about a 3 foot fireball out the end of every shot. You will not want to suffer through a box of ammo with these.

I'm actually thinking of picking up a Mosin pretty soon, mostly to do Curio and Relic shooting with, as even with Iron sights they are pretty accuate shooters. Even though they are a little long, they also make great deer rifles.

Chris Rummel

Osterkraut
Osterkraut SuperDork
5/6/11 11:27 p.m.

Just don't pay more than $100 for one.

dogbreath
dogbreath New Reader
5/7/11 12:02 a.m.

Great rifles, I've been mastering one for a long time. They don't kick hard enough for someone who has shot rifles to be afraid of, so just practice normal gun safety and you'll be fine!

BobOfTheFuture
BobOfTheFuture HalfDork
5/7/11 12:03 a.m.

Thread needs more porn.

And yes, that requires a chin weld.

PS- The kick is fine, and totally controllable with a limbsaver if need be. Buy two.

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