First things first. I am new to this site and looking for advice about my mosin nagant. Im 18 years old and want to start shooting longer distances for fun and maybe LR competition later in life. I was wondering if it is worth it to put some money into my mosin to make it shoot longer distances. Ive been looking at some websites and things to buy but and really pretty lost on things i can do to it, if anything. I tried searching for some information on the forum and couldnt really find specifics. thanks for the information in advance!
Questions about my Mosin Nagant
- Thread starter JoshDonovan
- Start date
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
This probably isn't the best forum for this question and you'll likely receive a lot of the stereotypical responses, here. However....
This depends on how far you want to take it. Are you talking about a complete customization, or keeping it "old school"? If customizing it is your intention, check out the "Workbench" forum at Gunboards. There are a lot of guys who have modernized them, there. If you want to keep it in an original style configuration, drop me a PM. I currently have twenty five of them, including twelve original snipers which I shoot on an almost daily basis. These rifles have more potential than most people give them credit for, but they also have some hurdles to overcome.
This probably isn't the best forum for this question and you'll likely receive a lot of the stereotypical responses, here. However....
This depends on how far you want to take it. Are you talking about a complete customization, or keeping it "old school"? If customizing it is your intention, check out the "Workbench" forum at Gunboards. There are a lot of guys who have modernized them, there. If you want to keep it in an original style configuration, drop me a PM. I currently have twenty five of them, including twelve original snipers which I shoot on an almost daily basis. These rifles have more potential than most people give them credit for, but they also have some hurdles to overcome.
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
It can be done but that rifle is not the best of equipment. Old rifle, old design, most of the ammo you can buy is old MG ammo. Barrel is wrapped in cheap wood, bolt lock up is poor, trigger is a joke. Scope mounting is difficult and the end result is pathetic. Irons are already pathetic.
There are people who have made Nagants accurate however, a LOT of work needs to be done just to make them equal a modern factory rifle.
Cheapest and best bet is to grab something like a Savage Stevens or whatever modern factory bolt action rifle you can afford. Try looking for a .223. Cheap ammo that is good to around 600 yards. Get a decent scope. Don't need a Nightforce, just something in the $300-600 range would be great and affordable.
ETA: Since I only know your age, I want to add that if you somehow are sitting on a lot of money, buy quality stuff the first time around. Something like one of the Savage model 10's or Remington 700's and a nice scope for around $1000.
It can be done but that rifle is not the best of equipment. Old rifle, old design, most of the ammo you can buy is old MG ammo. Barrel is wrapped in cheap wood, bolt lock up is poor, trigger is a joke. Scope mounting is difficult and the end result is pathetic. Irons are already pathetic.
There are people who have made Nagants accurate however, a LOT of work needs to be done just to make them equal a modern factory rifle.
Cheapest and best bet is to grab something like a Savage Stevens or whatever modern factory bolt action rifle you can afford. Try looking for a .223. Cheap ammo that is good to around 600 yards. Get a decent scope. Don't need a Nightforce, just something in the $300-600 range would be great and affordable.
ETA: Since I only know your age, I want to add that if you somehow are sitting on a lot of money, buy quality stuff the first time around. Something like one of the Savage model 10's or Remington 700's and a nice scope for around $1000.
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
i have to admit, i started out in your shoes. they are fun, but know that there is a limitation to how well the rifle can perform. it is definitely a great way to get involved in the shooting sports for a low price, and you can get used to large amounts of recoil. oh, and dont cover it with ATI garbage. leave it in stock form, i hate myself for the things i did to mine!
i have to admit, i started out in your shoes. they are fun, but know that there is a limitation to how well the rifle can perform. it is definitely a great way to get involved in the shooting sports for a low price, and you can get used to large amounts of recoil. oh, and dont cover it with ATI garbage. leave it in stock form, i hate myself for the things i did to mine!
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: treymchattie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
</div></div>
Except it's only 1400 meters! I forget what the measurement is called but it's only 28" increments not 40".
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: treymchattie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Except it's only 1400 meters! I forget what the measurement is called but it's only 28" increments not 40".
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XAK0LiefaYw"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XAK0LiefaYw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FwwZwTplEiM"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FwwZwTplEiM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hLFTfEYrORg"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hLFTfEYrORg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XAK0LiefaYw"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XAK0LiefaYw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FwwZwTplEiM"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FwwZwTplEiM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>
<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hLFTfEYrORg"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hLFTfEYrORg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
I'll differ in opinion from the above...
IMO, if you want to realize the accuracy potential of the rifle, the last thing you want to do is leave it stock...
FIRST, you have to make sure you've got a decent shooter. Good shiny bore with crisp lands. You can't put lipstick on a pig.
Like any other rifle, glass bed it. Boyd's stock...
Put in a Timney trigger. A quality trigger is essential for accuracy.
Scoping can be done, fuhgedabout scout mounts and LER scopes for long range. There are a few good options, including a couple of d&t mounts and one that's not...
This one loves to shoot steel at 600 yards ...
I'll differ in opinion from the above...
IMO, if you want to realize the accuracy potential of the rifle, the last thing you want to do is leave it stock...
FIRST, you have to make sure you've got a decent shooter. Good shiny bore with crisp lands. You can't put lipstick on a pig.
Like any other rifle, glass bed it. Boyd's stock...
Put in a Timney trigger. A quality trigger is essential for accuracy.
Scoping can be done, fuhgedabout scout mounts and LER scopes for long range. There are a few good options, including a couple of d&t mounts and one that's not...
This one loves to shoot steel at 600 yards ...
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
I might be wrong, but a good bedding with .310 ammo would be two things that will help with accuracy. We had one tapped and drilled for a weaver rail, but it hasn't been bedded and it gets 3-4 moa with a cheaper bushnell scope and old Yugo mil surp. Unfortunately, too many factors are against the accuracy in that build at the moment.
I might be wrong, but a good bedding with .310 ammo would be two things that will help with accuracy. We had one tapped and drilled for a weaver rail, but it hasn't been bedded and it gets 3-4 moa with a cheaper bushnell scope and old Yugo mil surp. Unfortunately, too many factors are against the accuracy in that build at the moment.
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
Classic Arms had some heavy barrels for mosins that were less than $100.
Classic Arms had some heavy barrels for mosins that were less than $100.
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: treymchattie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
</div></div>
This pic is some ignorant shit. There was a reason all rear sights on Soviet weapons were virtually identical; they were designed originally for machine guns...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: treymchattie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
This pic is some ignorant shit. There was a reason all rear sights on Soviet weapons were virtually identical; they were designed originally for machine guns...
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VYD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This pic is some ignorant shit. There was a reason all rear sights on Soviet weapons were virtually identical; they were designed originally for machine guns... </div></div>
Actually, it's for "volley fire", which can be quite effective on an exposed troop formation.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VYD</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This pic is some ignorant shit. There was a reason all rear sights on Soviet weapons were virtually identical; they were designed originally for machine guns... </div></div>
Actually, it's for "volley fire", which can be quite effective on an exposed troop formation.
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Joop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Actually, it's for "volley fire", which can be quite effective on an exposed troop formation. </div></div>
Exactly, a volley fire with a machine gun at very long distances. Ask Giram Maxim.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Joop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Actually, it's for "volley fire", which can be quite effective on an exposed troop formation. </div></div>
Exactly, a volley fire with a machine gun at very long distances. Ask Giram Maxim.
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VYD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Joop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Actually, it's for "volley fire", which can be quite effective on an exposed troop formation. </div></div>
Exactly, a volley fire with a machine gun at very long distances. Ask Giram Maxim. </div></div>
Volley fire is a concept that goes back a lot further than machine guns (some would say thousands of years, using archers). Also, that rear sight was designed and calibrated specifically for the 91/30. It's not a machine gun sight.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: VYD</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Joop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Actually, it's for "volley fire", which can be quite effective on an exposed troop formation. </div></div>
Exactly, a volley fire with a machine gun at very long distances. Ask Giram Maxim. </div></div>
Volley fire is a concept that goes back a lot further than machine guns (some would say thousands of years, using archers). Also, that rear sight was designed and calibrated specifically for the 91/30. It's not a machine gun sight.
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
No one is talking about history of military concepts. The very original rear sight didn't have the exact look as we see today.
Heck, it wasn't even metric until the 1920s. The development of spitzer types of bullets and the WWI influences/experiences changed a lot of things.
No one is talking about history of military concepts. The very original rear sight didn't have the exact look as we see today.
Heck, it wasn't even metric until the 1920s. The development of spitzer types of bullets and the WWI influences/experiences changed a lot of things.
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
... and back on topic.
I feel I was in your shoes back many moons when I was 18. Day after my b-day I walked into my local big-5, grabbed the first RC k98k off the wall and bought it for $89.99. 10 days later (damn CA) I picked up my rifle and a box of ammo, and headed to the range. Shot pretty well, for what I could do with little time behind the trigger. The rifle was soon packed away until 2008 when I got out of the Army over a decade later. Knowing what I do now, I am amazed I got what I did.
A 91/30 is going to set you back about $100 when all is said and done. By a box of cheap heavy ball whatever, and take it to the range. A few hours of shooting 4" groups and you will put the rifle up, or start fixing on it to get those groups down. After a stock, bedding, scope, smith work (if you don't DIY) you will have another $200 sunk into the rifle. You will still be shooting meh groups, because ammo selection is crap, and you have little time behind the trigger. Now you have a $300 bubba'd 91/30 that has little to no resale value, and a great dust collector in the back of your safe/storage cabinet/closet. Much like my K98, just sits in the back corner and is fired once every blue moon.
I may be way out of line here as a n00b, but my advice to ANY beginning shooter who wants to learn the ways of LR... pick up a decent bolt action .22lr (Savage MKII, Remington 5xx, Mossberg M44, hell I started with a Remington 41) I would personally avoid the semi-autos as they promote ammo expenditure over accuracy (even with me). Find yourself a used or new Bushnell 3200 10x40 Mildot, and mount that up. You will learn a whole lot more about LR shooting with a .22lr at 100-200yrds than you will ever learn with a 91/30 at the same range. The money you save in ammo costs can be saved to buy a decent center fire bolt rifle.
When you have $500 saved up, go to your local pawn store and dicker them down on a used Stevens 200 or Savage 10 short action (larger aftermarket), try for .308 as it's the most common, and has the most amount of data out there. I see these at the pawn for $300 all day long. Take that scope off your .22lr, and swap it over. Start at the 100yrd line and shoot until you can put 5rds under a quarter EVERY time you pick the rifle up. Them move out to 200yrds and do the same thing. Wash and repeat until you have reached the maximum accuracy of your rifle. By this time you will have learned the finer points of LR shooting, and possibly reloading some. You will know more of what you want in a rifle, and caliber, and make an informed decision on where to go next. IF you choose to buy a new rifle, go ahead... or you can just spin off the factory barrel from your Stevens/Savage, and spin on a new pipe, change out the stock, and have a totally new rifle for under $500.
So..
Buy an accurate .22lr bolt rifle, and some decent glass for it
Shoot that until you can stack the rounds on top of each other.
Buy an accurate modern bolt rifle, and swap over your glass
Shoot that until you can stack the rounds on top of each other.
Buy what ever you want based on what you have learned during the previous stages.
... and back on topic.
I feel I was in your shoes back many moons when I was 18. Day after my b-day I walked into my local big-5, grabbed the first RC k98k off the wall and bought it for $89.99. 10 days later (damn CA) I picked up my rifle and a box of ammo, and headed to the range. Shot pretty well, for what I could do with little time behind the trigger. The rifle was soon packed away until 2008 when I got out of the Army over a decade later. Knowing what I do now, I am amazed I got what I did.
A 91/30 is going to set you back about $100 when all is said and done. By a box of cheap heavy ball whatever, and take it to the range. A few hours of shooting 4" groups and you will put the rifle up, or start fixing on it to get those groups down. After a stock, bedding, scope, smith work (if you don't DIY) you will have another $200 sunk into the rifle. You will still be shooting meh groups, because ammo selection is crap, and you have little time behind the trigger. Now you have a $300 bubba'd 91/30 that has little to no resale value, and a great dust collector in the back of your safe/storage cabinet/closet. Much like my K98, just sits in the back corner and is fired once every blue moon.
I may be way out of line here as a n00b, but my advice to ANY beginning shooter who wants to learn the ways of LR... pick up a decent bolt action .22lr (Savage MKII, Remington 5xx, Mossberg M44, hell I started with a Remington 41) I would personally avoid the semi-autos as they promote ammo expenditure over accuracy (even with me). Find yourself a used or new Bushnell 3200 10x40 Mildot, and mount that up. You will learn a whole lot more about LR shooting with a .22lr at 100-200yrds than you will ever learn with a 91/30 at the same range. The money you save in ammo costs can be saved to buy a decent center fire bolt rifle.
When you have $500 saved up, go to your local pawn store and dicker them down on a used Stevens 200 or Savage 10 short action (larger aftermarket), try for .308 as it's the most common, and has the most amount of data out there. I see these at the pawn for $300 all day long. Take that scope off your .22lr, and swap it over. Start at the 100yrd line and shoot until you can put 5rds under a quarter EVERY time you pick the rifle up. Them move out to 200yrds and do the same thing. Wash and repeat until you have reached the maximum accuracy of your rifle. By this time you will have learned the finer points of LR shooting, and possibly reloading some. You will know more of what you want in a rifle, and caliber, and make an informed decision on where to go next. IF you choose to buy a new rifle, go ahead... or you can just spin off the factory barrel from your Stevens/Savage, and spin on a new pipe, change out the stock, and have a totally new rifle for under $500.
So..
Buy an accurate .22lr bolt rifle, and some decent glass for it
Shoot that until you can stack the rounds on top of each other.
Buy an accurate modern bolt rifle, and swap over your glass
Shoot that until you can stack the rounds on top of each other.
Buy what ever you want based on what you have learned during the previous stages.
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
Check out this guys mosin. I know him and this is a shooter, he has about 450 into it with the new trigger and he is waiting on the stock to come back in stock. It shoots about 1" @ 100yds and that is with surplus ammo. I am thinking about starting to reload for him and see if we can get this thing to shoot better.
http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/157335-Heavy-Barrel-mosin-almost-complete-(pics)
Check out this guys mosin. I know him and this is a shooter, he has about 450 into it with the new trigger and he is waiting on the stock to come back in stock. It shoots about 1" @ 100yds and that is with surplus ammo. I am thinking about starting to reload for him and see if we can get this thing to shoot better.
http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/157335-Heavy-Barrel-mosin-almost-complete-(pics)
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
174 SMK's over 43.5 Varget gets me minute of angle...
Not a match rifle fer sure, but surely worth the few hundred I've got into it...
174 SMK's over 43.5 Varget gets me minute of angle...
Not a match rifle fer sure, but surely worth the few hundred I've got into it...
Re: Questions about my Mosin Nagant
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RugerSlinger</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Check out this guys mosin. I know him and this is a shooter, he has about 450 into it with the new trigger and he is waiting on the stock to come back in stock. It shoots about 1" @ 100yds and that is with surplus ammo. I am thinking about starting to reload for him and see if we can get this thing to shoot better.
http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/157335-Heavy-Barrel-mosin-almost-complete-(pics) </div></div>
two weeks ago me and my buddy took out the Mosin with some brown bear ammo and were shooting groups at 260 yards iron sights first groups we shot were around 6". then my buddy got a 3.5" 3 hot group. I was pissed, then some how I was able to get my next 3 shot group just a cunt hair under 2.6", Sub MOA with iron sights at 260? I doubt I could do that again!
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RugerSlinger</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Check out this guys mosin. I know him and this is a shooter, he has about 450 into it with the new trigger and he is waiting on the stock to come back in stock. It shoots about 1" @ 100yds and that is with surplus ammo. I am thinking about starting to reload for him and see if we can get this thing to shoot better.
http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/threads/157335-Heavy-Barrel-mosin-almost-complete-(pics) </div></div>
two weeks ago me and my buddy took out the Mosin with some brown bear ammo and were shooting groups at 260 yards iron sights first groups we shot were around 6". then my buddy got a 3.5" 3 hot group. I was pissed, then some how I was able to get my next 3 shot group just a cunt hair under 2.6", Sub MOA with iron sights at 260? I doubt I could do that again!
