Wartime Mosin Nagants Good, Bad or Ugly?
Just picked up my first Mosin for 89.00 at Big 5. All serial numbers match, bolt is a little loose, heavy tool marks on the top of the reciever. Last one they had sould I have passed? What can I expect other than removing cosmoline?
Wartime ones were just a little rough cosmetically, Ivan didn't try to polish out tooling marks.
Other than the looks it should be fine, unless s/n don't match you might have headspace checked
but I never have on any of mine, and never have had issues.
During the first few years after Germany invaded the Russians had only one question. Can it shoot? They seem to have kept the mechanics u[ to snuff bud didn't give a darn about looks. I have a 1943 Izhevsk sniper rifle. It has never been refurbed. With the right ammo and a good shooter (not me at the trigger), it is sub MOA. I this know becasue I have shot shot about 1 MOA with it using Privi Partizan 150 grain SP ammunition. I had a 3 shot group at 50 yards that you could completely cover the hole with a dime.
I had a 1942 IZZy that i sold to a neighbor that looked like it was rushed rushed rushed to the front. Tons of rough machined parts all through the rifle. Especially the Receiver walls. It functioned fine and it was a great pieace of history, but sold it to fund some Nagant upgrades. (MO/53 Tula, and All matching +Bay HEX 1933 TULA non-Refubed.)
TO OP:
Where are you going to find a sub 90$ Rifle, with history, and character.
Not likely, keep it and grab another one!
One of my best shooting 91/30s (actually, my main everyday shooter) is a '43 Izhevsk with a receiver that looks like it was carved from a bar of soap with a wooden spoon. It's all cosmetic.
Originally Posted By AKJP:
One of my best shooting 91/30s (actually, my main everyday shooter) is a '43 Izhevsk with a receiver that looks like it was carved from a bar of soap with a wooden spoon. It's all cosmetic.
LOL, apt description and good to hear. I haven't fired my '42 yet.
If you can find a 43 Izhevsk that is all original and not redone, it will likely have a bolt handle that is not even round, and roughly formed on a belt sander or grinder. I have a couple where you can see the die separation mark from the forge. Most of the rebuilds have either a new postwar "nice" bolt or possibly a reworked and polished original bolt.
War times are hit and miss, they only way your going to find out if it is any good is to take it out and shoot it.
