Fleet Farm Mosin Nagant M91/30

[Philo]

Mills Fleet Farm has Mosin Nagant rifles on sale until tomorrow. $90, including bayonet, cleaning kit, oil bottle, dog collar sling, and ammo pouches. I couldn't resist and bought one this morning. It is a 1943 Izhevsk arsenal-made rifle. The outside of the receiver is crudely machined, but I understand that is because the Soviet's were struggling supply enough arms to their troops fighting the Germans. I am very happy with the purchase.

The rifle is just caked with cosmoline, so I am going to have to disassemble it and give it a good cleaning. This is going to be a fascinating project.

[forcefed]

Congrats on the purchase! What do you mean by project? Cleaning off the cosmoline?

[Grayskies]

My brother says all the serial numbers need to match on those guns, but thinks it is a good price.

[Spike]

My brother says all the serial numbers need to match on those guns, but thinks it is a good price.

I picked up a 91/30 from FF a month or so ago and all the numbers matched on it so if you're into that, you have a chance with what FF is selling. When I got mine, they let me inspect it before buying it.

If you just want a shooter, then don't worry about the serial numbers matching.

- Spike

[Grayskies]

Thank you old rifles are not one of my strong points. :S

[Philo]

Congrats on the purchase! What do you mean by project? Cleaning off the cosmoline?

A small project... Learning how it is put together and how it works, AND, cleaning off cosmoline.

All the serial numbers on mine match, so I guess it is bonified.

Fleet Farm let me inspect the gun before I bought it. They had maybe 12 rifles in the cabinet to choose from. When I was satisfied, the clerk took the one I picked in the back and boxed it up with all the accessories, did the paperwork, and walked me up front to the register to pay for it. I didn't get to look at the accessories though, but I was pleasantly surprised to see what I got when I opened up the box at home.

[Grayskies]

Very nice!

Which FF did you got to?

[SparkyJeff]

Lots of good info on the Mosin Nagants here

http://7.62x54r.net/

[dismal]

Got mine today, a beautiful 1943 Tula. Rough around the edges yes, but with so much history. That, and enough grease to repack the bearings on my trailer.

[RobD]

If anyone gets one of these... look for a Tula Receiver.. They are generally considered higher quality...

Tula proof marks will have a Star and/or hammer on the receiver and/or bolt assembly.



It's also better to try and find one pre-1940...
In 1940 the Russians started boosting production, and quality control got a little more laxed, as they rushed.

A quick (although not 100%) way to determine the time and QC put into the gun is to look for Hexagonal receiver, compared to a rounded one.

After looking through 10 rifles a couple months ago when FF had the last sale, I found a sweet 1936 Tula with Hex receiver.

Took it out to the range... and was completely impressed.
Here is my first time ever shooting my nagant, benchrest, 50 yards, straight out of the box.

[wrench]

Just a little warning on these, though...
they are kind of addictive. One leads to two, then three. Before you know it, they're stacked under the beds and you have no room in your closets!

[Pezhead]

No room in the closet isn't neccessarily(sp) a bad thing.

[Philo]

Very nice!

Which FF did you got to?

Winona.

Lots of good info on the Mosin Nagants here

http://7.62x54r.net/

This website is awesome.

....That, and enough grease to repack the bearings on my trailer.

They really caked it in, didn't they? I will have to get a bucket and a quart of mineral spirits to clean it out.

[forcefed]

Just a little warning on these, though...
they are kind of addictive. One leads to two, then three. Before you know it, they're stacked under the beds and you have no room in your closets!

+1. I started with one. Now I have a surplus rifle crate full (also doubles as my coffee table), some in the gun safe, some in the bathroom, some under my pillow. All flavors too, Russian, Polish, Finnish

[dismal]

Am just a little bummed, no stripper clips were included.