Looked at a rifle today but.

Well the price is good but the stock is ruff as in looked like good and used but it is a Russian Military rifle as in a Mosin Nagnat. I pulled the bolt out and can not see light in the barrel as in filled with grease or?? So do I ask the shop owner to clean it out or pass?? He has 2 of them at the same price and both pretty much in the same condition and both pretty much covered with grease to the point you see grease in and on the action. 7.62X54 by the way priced at $150 with a bayonet

(quoted from post at 00:30:20 02/24/13) Russian Military rifle as in a Mosin Nagnat. 7.62X54 by the way priced at $150 with a bayonet

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They're a fun piece of history. The cartridge is 7.62x84R. Some say the 'R' is for the rim on the casing and some say it's there because they're Russian. If you find one with an octagon receiver instead of round grab it for me That model is rare. Do a youtube search and you'll find quite a few videos about Mosin Nagant modifications. One of my son's got one when he was in Texas for under $100 with the bayonet and a cleaning/maintenance kit. If you use the surplus ammo be sure to clean it after use. The primers have a salt that is corrosive. You'll also need a tube of IcyHot for your shoulder.

Probably storage grease. Not hard to clean out. Wipe it and swab it out then use Gun scrubber or spray carberator cleaner(cheaper) I have 2, the 91/30 and the 44. Ammo is readily availaible from various sources, 7.62x54. I got my ammo from a dealer in Prescott AZ that advertizes in Shotgun N3ws. Fun to shoot like most military surplus. But, the 44 kicks harder than most.

A Mosin Nagant right now for under $300 is pretty good. Six months ago you could get a 'new' one out of the crate for around $120, and twenty years ago ou could get them for less then $100. I bought one for my Dad back in '93 for something like $75. They shoot the 7.62x54R, which is a rimmed cartridge, thus the R. It sounds like the one your looking at is 'straight out of the crate', so the bore is probably full of rust inhibitor. Some good degreaser, brake clean, etc should clear the bore and make the old girl look as good as new. Well, maybe not new exactly, but if it's like Dad's a good cleaning, and a light sanding and refinishing of the stock, will turn into a really beautiful rifle, with a bit of character to show for it's age.

I know for a fact they are accurate, and powerful out to 100 yards and beyond, with just the iron sights. I say that because I've put a FMJ round completely through a tree that was nearly 12 inches in diameter at a distance just over 100 yards with Dad's. I believe the muzzle energy on a typical round is anywhere from 2500 ftlbs to 3000 frlbs plus. In other words enoug take down power for anything you might want to shoot.

One problem they do have is that they are a PITA to mount a scope on, and really need a gunsmith to drill and tap the receiver to really get it done right. Even then something else that is typically done when a scope is installed is to bend the handle on the bolt down vs being straight to allow clearance for your hand to make cycling it a bit easier. It's either that or mount the scope off to one side, which would be my prefference as a scop sitting on top of the reciever blocks the bolt preventing you from using a stripper clip to load it.

They are truely amazing rifles but they do kick like a mule, again I can state that from experience. My biggest problem with them is the length of pull is to short, so, unless your a small fellow you need to add plenty of extra lenght to the stock to make it fit. Beyond that all I can say is I am currently kicking myself in the butt for not buying a nice, sporterized M44 a few months back for $175 when I saw it in a pawn shop. Of course I'm kicking myself even harder for not buying the Norinko SKS paratooper, with a factory 20 round star mag, in another pawn shop, again for $175 a year back. Right now a gun like that is selling for nearly $1000........I guess hind sight is 20/20

Provided you can get enough ammo at a reasonable price???? I say go for it......Or even if not at a good price again go for it. Your money your choice

John T

I would think the dealer would be willing to push the cosmoline out of the bore for you. I certainly would!

15-20 years back these and other guns were selling for cheap. Hindsight...it's always 20/20! :roll:

Rich, Did you read where one of our politicans introduced a bill to make it a felony for other lawmakers to introduce a gun bill that would restrict our ability to buy guns? He said he knew it wouldn't pass, but was fed up with the newly enacted gun laws in other states and wanted to open up the politicans eyes in Missouri.

Ya I heard about that one and I was told he did it because of the one HR545 that was going to make it so if you had such and such guns and mags you would have to give them up or be a felon so he did that to maybe try to stop HR545

Ya say 10 years ago you could buy them for $75-100 depending on which ones and now they have doubled or more. The 2 I looked at are the M38 which is the carbine model. I also looked at an M98 which is the long barrel sharp shooter model but it is over $200 I would buy them all if I had the $$$ to do so

Military surplus ammo is easy to come by plus I am set up to reload the 7.62X54. I have one in a sniper rifle set up so also have the ammo on hand

I have and have had at least 5 of those old 7.62X54 and liked them all. Sold 2 of them one because I was stupid and the other because it was shot out because it was sold to me as a 7.35 Italian so wrong ammo shot in it took the bore out. A number of years ago I took down a deer at around 400 years with one and I always said I missed by 18 inches since I was aiming for the heart/lung area and hit it in the head. I know of 3 of these right now. 2 M-38 carbine models and one M-98 sharp shooter model. I would buy them all if I had the $$ to do so but at this time may only be able to get one

Yep I have ammo but then I also have a Finish army sniper rifle based on the Mosin/Nagnat action with a bull barrel one it. To heavy to shoot much but sure can drive a tack with it if you can hold it up and steady

Bet you mean 54 instead of 84 LOL. Years ago I had a hex topped one but it was worn out and you could aim it at a target at 50 yards and maybe hit it. It was sold to me as a 7.35 Italian so it had been shot with the wrong ammo so that sort of messed up the barrel.

Hey Old . 400 years ago?? didn't realize you had senior president on here .LOL. was your supply of ammo that age too? LOU.

went to are local bass pro today have not been their for a few months. It was pitiful they had only about 5 hand guns and the man in the gun department said they got 6 skids of ammo in and by 12 noon it was all gone if your are not their at these stores when they open you cant get any good luck to all hunters and shooters. I have only guns that are hand me downs from family

Years there should be yards but I would think you knew that

So far ammo in this area is not all that hard to find. Ya you may have to stop at 2 or 3 places to get some types of it but you can still find just about any type of ammo you need including it you look good 50cal stuff

I have had a couple of the Nagnat rifles both shoot well and were pretty accurate but my favorite now is I Swedish Mauser that I built last year. Its had the barrel shorten and crowned,custom trigger, bolt turned down to clear the scope, and a Nikon scope mounted. Took one buck with it this year. Everyone laughs at me when I take it out of the case at the hunting camp. They really laugh when they see my model 99 300 Savage with the 4 power Weaver scope but I've take deer with it too. Do a little custom work to one those Mosin Nagnats and you have a good rifle for the money but like the others said they do kick pretty hard

Ya the carbine model does have some kick to it but the longer what I have been told is the sharp shooter has a good bit less but ti is about 4 foot long. I have had a number of them over the years and still kick my self for selling the last one I had

The russian m44 carbine was the first rifle I bought when I turned 16, and I still have it 28 years later. I think it's awesome because of it's size and power and just easy to carry. The thing takes a beating...

Yep and it makes a good deer rifle or most anything bigger game you want to take out rifle and sort of cheap to shoot now days. Back when I got my first one it cost a buck a shot but now a whole lot cheaper

Can not buy one around here at that price all sold out.I am glad I picked up a m38 right after christmas for 100 bucks at gun show.She sure makes a nice fireball with that roar.Looks good in the safe along side my 91/30.Oops now the wife will grumble a little,oh well she says your going to do it anyway.Wait till she figures out there is a shotgun I picked up the same day.Getting spring fever now,all this getting me stirred up going to pull her tomorrow put few rounds down her.Know the feeling when budget is low,just picked up some seed last week it hurts to think about it.Got to be better than last year.Scott

What is real bad is a few months back the same gun shop had boxes of the 91/30 with all the neat stuff that came with them as issued to the troops when new as in sling etc etc etc and that was for a great big price of $139.95 and that included a box of ammo to boot in stripper clips

Rich I wonder how many more times hindsight will catch us before the lord says come home.Scott

Ya I figure if I had invested in guns instead of all the tractors I have I could sell each gun for at least twice what I would have payed for them in 2005 I have one that should have told me that years ago. I picked up an M1 carbine for $160 and could have sold it 20 minutes later for $300 guess it was trying to tell me something back then LOL

Well somethings a person should have 20-20 vision on but hey what we say is good stuff our wives say is junk.When I hear that my last reply was but dear I hauled out a few loads a year ago.Then I get a dirty look,if she says anything I say he who has the most when they die wins.But I can't complain she's a good trooper to deal my hot headed ways.Lol Scott

My wife never complains. She learned years ago I let her have her horses which she never rides and her goats which cost us more then what they are worth so I can buy what I want when I want is I have the $$ to do so. She did get her 38 special not long ago but she can not hit a barn at 25 yards with it LOL. Still working in the sight mounts for the laser sight

Nothing like a good wife ,I have to hug mine now.Have good afternoon Rich.Scott

I've got a crusty M44 and marked sniper M91. I use military corrosive ammo, but if I were to reload, what powerder are you using. I have a few ideas, but I'm less than a rookie.

When I reload I use IMR 4350 and a Sierra 174 grain boat tail match grade hollow point