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Posted: 1/25/2017 10:46:37 AM EDT
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So I'm considering picking up a Mosin Nagant before the prices skyrocket to absurd levels. I've got a line on a
Hexagonal receiver 1891/30 with matching bayonet. As much as I'd like one, I don't want to get one just for the sake of having one if it can't shoot for ****. I'm not expecting 1 MOA and I know that accuracy will vary depending on each individual rifle, but on average what can I expect from these rifles? |
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Buy a Finnish one if your looking for accuracy. I've had several model 39's that would shoot a 1" 5 shot group with my handloads using match bullets. Don't expect much from Military surplus ammo.
M-39 |
| Before you buy, check the barrel to be sure the rifling is good and for rust/pitting, that's the biggest factor on how accurate it will be. You can't always judge the condition of a Mosin by how it looks on the outside. I've seen ones that look great, but have crap barrels and I've seen ones that look like they were drug behind a truck down a gravel road that had perfect barrels. |
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I have a Russian built 1943 91/30. It shoots minute of soda bottle, meaning if I do my part, it can hit a 20oz bottle at 110m with spam can surplus ammo.
It kicks like a mule and gets hot enough to fry an egg on the barrel, but it's a good rifle. ymmv, but I'd buy another |
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Owned and shot dozens upon dozens of Mosins esp 91/30's.
Like said expect 3-4 MOA with surplus. I've had Mosins with perfect bores that shot awful groups and ones with dark bores that shot excellent by Mosin accuracy standards. It is just really hit and miss with the Refurb guns as it seems IMOP they just didn't bother shimming and fitting stocks during refurb. Generally you can improve most refurbs by cleaning up the trigger pull and shimming them. |
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Quoted:
I'm not looking to spend $500 on a Mosin, so the Finn is out. I can handle 4 MOA with milsurp as I'll almost certainly reload for it. I just dont want 8-10MOA. I imagine I can cut the 4 MOA in half if I load for it. if you get an average example and are a typical shooter, it could easily be a bit worse than 4 MOA. Surplus 54r ammo is usually not at all accurate, and contributes heavily towards the mosin reputation. That being said 8-10 MOA would mean a particularly bad rifle/ammo/shooter combo. |
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So I found a line on a 1942 Izhevsk made Finn referbished rifle as well for about $70 more. I might at some point modify the rifle to be a faux-sniper configuration. If I do, I understand the HEX rifle would use a PE scope, and the round receiver would be the PU scope. The HEX rifle went thru referbished t in the 50's and seems to have been put in storage afterwards (I'm told it's coated in cosmoline). The Finn I'm told is clean and has a mostly bright bore.
So my question is, considering the above, is the Finn the better rifle to go with? |
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I too have a 1943 91/30 Izzy Mosin. I can get about 4 MOA at 100 yards with the iron sights using silver-tipped surplus ammo. It is fun to shoot, but kicks pretty hard, so I put a slip-on butt pad on it. It was $160 including shipping.
Before you buy, you might want to consider than it seems that the supply of cheap surplus ammo spam-cans has completely dried up. I have not seen it found online anywhere easily. You can buy non-corrosive new factory ammo now as easily as walking into any Academy, but it's about $0.50/rd. So just keep that in mind, unless you reload. I'm basically not really shooting mine much anymore because of this. |
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If it's a Finn rebuilt rifle into a Finn configuration, for $70 more, buy it. Far fewer Finns than Russian/Soviet rifles. If it's a Finn capture and still in Soviet configuration, you're paying $70 for a bit of history - up to you.
I've got a 1917 Remington that someone put a fare-thee-well trigger into, so don't be afraid of the stock trigger - it can be improved quite a bit. Timney also makes a drop in if you want to spend that much. There is a proper scope mount available, but you have to tap the receiver and bend the bolt handle or screw on the replacement. Heresy, I know, but gives a proper cheek weld. |
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Quoted:
So I found a line on a 1942 Izhevsk made Finn referbished rifle as well for about $70 more. I might at some point modify the rifle to be a faux-sniper configuration. If I do, I understand the HEX rifle would use a PE scope, and the round receiver would be the PU scope. The HEX rifle went thru referbished t in the 50's and seems to have been put in storage afterwards (I'm told it's coated in cosmoline). The Finn I'm told is clean and has a mostly bright bore. So my question is, considering the above, is the Finn the better rifle to go with? I wouldnt modify a Finn rifle |
FWIW: I've only grouped 4 of my M91/30's. Of them, ALL shot 4" or better. The two that are scoped shot best (2.5" groups). I suspect the iron sights have something to do with the accuracy of them as anything. Non-surplus ammo really shrinks groups. 182 PPU match ammo gave me 1.25" groups out of one mosin and 1.75" groups out of another. Dunno if a mosin warrents 80 cent a round ammunition but it was fun punching small groups with it 
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| I just took a random Mosin out of the stack and shot it this past weekend . It was better than 4moa but I was using commercial non corrosive 185 ammo . It was much better than I expected I would say 2 moa . . That said it is somewhat luck of the draw . It was a hex in a laminate stock . I have had some that even keyholed. |
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Quoted:
If it's a Finn rebuilt rifle into a Finn configuration, for $70 more, buy it. Far fewer Finns than Russian/Soviet rifles. If it's a Finn capture and still in Soviet configuration, you're paying $70 for a bit of history - up to you. I've got a 1917 Remington that someone put a fare-thee-well trigger into, so don't be afraid of the stock trigger - it can be improved quite a bit. Timney also makes a drop in if you want to spend that much. There is a proper scope mount available, but you have to tap the receiver and bend the bolt handle or screw on the replacement. Heresy, I know, but gives a proper cheek weld. Do not bubba a Finnish Mosin. You will ruin its value quickly. Bubba a Russian Mosin all day long. |
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Get the Finn if you haven't already done so!
Quoted:
Before you buy, check the barrel to be sure the rifling is good and for rust/pitting, that's the biggest factor on how accurate it will be. You can't always judge the condition of a Mosin by how it looks on the outside. I've seen ones that look great, but have crap barrels and I've seen ones that look like they were drug behind a truck down a gravel road that had perfect barrels. My favorite shooter Finn M39 has no blueing left and the stock has been pinned together in a couple different places. Dang thing has the best trigger I've ever seen on a mil-surp and my son (his eyes are a lot younger and better than mine) has shot more than a couple of groups that pushed 1 MOA. In general it seems that the milsurps, and Finns in particular, I've got that have seen use tend to be better shooters then the ones that are fresh out of the factory or refurb. Even the ratty looking 91/30s with nothing more than a [SA] seem to be much better shooters than almost every fresh refurbed one I've had. If the seller will allow it you might want to slug the bore. I've had Soviet era rifles that went from .310 to .319. Needless to say the better shooters all had tighter bores. Bore appearance didn't seem to make difference in bore size either, for that matter. Had 2 with bores that looked brand new that measured over .316, including the one that went .319. |
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