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Just looking for more info about my Mosin Nagant

3K views 24 replies 12 participants last post by  Big Coulee 
#1 ·
I bought a Mosin Nagant today and I was looking to see if anyone knows any information about it. Here are the pictures of it:
 
#2 ·
That's a very vague question. Looks like it's a 1940 from the Tula Arsenal. I'm not an MN guy, although I do have a couple. Hopefully someone will be by soon that can tell you more. My guess is that ammo is corrosive so best not let it sit too long after firing. Can you be more specific with what you'd like to know?
 
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#6 ·
I don't know it is possible to determine if your rifle saw wartime service, several million were manufactured. There were surpluses stored away during the war that never saw the light of day until the end of the cold war. I also read that some war surplus were refurbished and sold to importers who sent them to the US, and some were sold to third world countries where they were used in military service after WWII. The accessories that came with yours are commonly sold with them and not unique.

I have a Tula Hex marked 1931 and was very clean when I purchased it. They are not super rare, so I decided to dress mine up. I stripped the old finish and refinished it with linseed oil. There was some very pretty wood under the finish, including the factory dovetail butt stock addition. I replaced the front sight post with a taller one I found on eBay. The original sights were set up for 300 meters or something along those lines and I was constantly shooting high at closer ranges. You can also improve the trigger by installing a trigger slack spring found on eBay as well.

The surplus ammo that you have uses a corrosive primer and kicks like a mule. It is important that you clean your rifle after you shoot it to prevent corrosion. If you don't reload, this would be a great cartridge to start with. You can reload some really light loads that are accurate and don't punish your shoulder.
 

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#15 ·
Good call Mac. My RCBS dies came with two differently sized expander balls.....and wouldn't you know it, I have two MN's and need to use them both.
 
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#25 ·
2fish is right there seems to be a "cult" like following developing for Mosin Nagant rifles & carbines. I'm fortunate enough to have two M91/30's, one M91 and one M38. I guess due to their economical price tag and cheap ammo availability a lot of shooter type folks are picking them up pretty fast. After every shooting session using corrosive ammo I strip the rifle down, scrub out the bore of each rifle I shoot with hot soapy water and rinse with near boiling water. The same goes for metal parts of the action, including the bolt. After things have cooled down I oil lightly with Hoppy's gun oil. The M91 & M38 both have almost perfect bores. That is the way I want to keep them.
I bought reloading dies for 7.62X54R cal. and will start reloading commercial brass soon. I'll keep the nearly 800 rounds of corrosive ammo I still have on hand for use of "if and when" or barter material for maybe a can of pork and beans if it should come to that.
I carry the M38 in a case on my ATV. In the remote part of Montana where I call home black bear are very common. There are two wolf packs within a 20 mile radius of my home. On foot or on my ATV I don't believe I could out run either wolves or b. bear if I were to encounter them on an old logging trail. So anyone who might have one or more Mosin Nagant arms, hang on to them. They are an almost ideal survival weapon. Big Coulee
 
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