[Irish]

Hey everyone I am looking for any and all opinions on an M91/30 Mosin? I have a chance to do some trading and wondering what its worth is it a good bolt action? Do you have one or have you had one?

I dont know anything about them really but am definitely curious and interested! I have done "some" reading but really just curious as to all my Prepper friends thoughts on this beast.

 

[Smitty901]

They are a budget weapon with a lot of history. Also some major hype. not bad to shoot . Do some home work some year model are better than others.
But so low priced hard to go wrong.

 

[Infidel]

The 91/30s are great rifles if your on a budget, they are generally pretty accurate but will probably need some sight adjustment. Mine will shoot 4" groups at 100yds with cheap surplus ammo from a spam can and iron sights which is about as good as I can expect with my eyes getting worse every year. Ammo is cheap so stocking up on it shouldn't hurt your wallet too bad. Just remember almost all of that spam can ammo is corrosive and you will need to be diligent with your cleaning after shooting it. Shortcoming of the Mosin 91/30 are it's overall length, the safety sucks, bolt handle is short and doesn't offer a lot of leverage to open the bolt, and stripper clips will require some practice to get the rifle loaded (there's also a specific way to load the stripper clips to avoid rim lock). Make sure if you buy a Mosin that you find a rifle with a good bore and check the crown to make sure it's not banged up. I don't own one of the carbines yet but either an M38 or M44 might make a better choice if portability is a concern. I think everyone should own a 91/30 even if it's just to make you appreciate a more refined bolt action rifle, no collection is complete without a Mosin or 3.

-Infidel

 

[Irish]

Yeah I wont be spending any cash at all if I get it it will be in a trade. Ive got other things I want to spend cash on.

 

[Denver]

I really like mine. Mine is stamped 1943. I love to explore the history of all my guns. Even the Glock has a very interesting story. The company not the gun. Any way back to the Mosin. I like to imagine some Russian soldier standing gaurd with my rifle. Freezing his butt off, but protecting his homeland from the nazi hoard. Hmmm kinda like us very shortly from the socialist hoard. Maybe in 70 years some old guy will imagine a similar fate of my AR-15. They go bang every time and are fairly accurate. Ammo is still reasonable and avalible. Another cool thing is most come with numbers matching stock, reciever, bolt, and bayonet. Never be collectable,but still cool that its all original after 70 years.

 

[LunaticFringeInc]

Back when they were selling for well under 100 bucks they were an awesome deal! Now a days not so much in my opinion even though thats the closest selection I could find in the poll.

Today they are getting hard to find for under 150.00. Even then they are shooter grade rifles at best 95% of the time and well worn and used with very ho-hum accuracy. Yes there are a lot of things one can do to improve the accuracy but by the time you do most of those things you could have went out and bought a decent budget modern made bolt action with accuracy thats a bit better in most cases. Hence the reason I dont have as high of an opinion of them as I once did.

In their stock form if they will serve your needs adequately and in most cases they still should, they are quiet the bargin still today!

*They are built like that proverbial brick crap house! If you break one its becuase you were most likely straight up abusing it...not just shooting it. They are a very simple and rugged design and just the cats meow for hard use in extreme conditions, yet capable of continuing to chug along no matter how down and dirty things get. Im not sure any of my Remington 700's can keep up that pace for as long as Mosin Nagants have. Robust is the Mosin Nagants middle name, I am sure of that!

*Accuracy is still plenty acceptable in all but the most extreme cases. Most that are capable of hitting a paper plate consistently at 300 yards can usually be tweaked a bit one Saturday afternoon and perform like a champ Sunday at the range. Thats MOD (Minute of Deer) or MOBG (Minute of Bad Guy) and aint that what we really bought it for if we are on a tight budget, like that of a struggling college student trying to prepare these days or someone newly entering the work force that doesnt have a corner window office yet?

*The 7.62x54R is a hard hitting round very comparable to milder 30-06 or hot loaded 308 winchester. Its quiet capable of turning most things that would other wise be concealment into cover! For those that are reloaders, the bullet weights available range from 123gr all the way up to 200grs. That covers a lot of territory and a lot of situations. Yes there are brass boxer primed cases available although its not as cheap as other brass. But you dont normally reload it to near the intensity that most modern day rounds are loaded too so a bulk pack of 500 cases should last you a good while. Surplus ammo is still available and until the current ammo shortage in very good supply and at very reasonable prices! That bulk surplus ammo usually comes in sealed tins making them easily stackable and are perfect for long term storage!

*If your looking for a hand out rifle then this one is hard to beat. For what one AR would cost before the current gun scare and price gouging I could have bought 4 or 5 Mosin Nagants. Its not as sexy as a AR but if you have 4-5 people shooting at you while your trying to assualt their position then you my friend will have your hands just as full as if there was one more additional person armed with a AR. Worse yet if you are the assualter, you now face 4-5 advesaries not just one that has to be neutralized. Thats a lot of pressure to put on an attacker, this was proven to me in Iraq and 'Stan by poorly trained insurgents that often ambushed us and made us have to launch a counter attack!!! Not fun! It looked a lot cooler on the Sands of Iwo Jima with John Wayne than it did in real life.

The Mosin Nagant aint all that and a bag of chips...but it aint no chump either! Dollar for dollar its still a damned good buy for the money. If you need better than 3 inches at 100 yards though, you might want to invest your money in something else. If you want to mount a scope on it, then I think you could better spend your money else where on something with a little more accuracy potential, thats more conducive to having a scope mounted on it.

 

[punch]

most of the deaths and injuries inflicted all over the world are by rifles in the $50 to $100 range. Just as I as a kid knew how to use Kentucky windage with my trusty "Red Rider" BB gun, these shooters know their weapons abilities and limitations. If I were to be caught up in an invasion situation and all I could scrounge up was an SKS $50 Woolworths clearance special. I would make it work. During the day I would smile and be compliant and at night it would be... unpleasant. I can be somewhat inconsiderate when properly motivated. I'm kinda funny that way.

punch

 

[D"artagnan]

defetnatly plan on having it sportized
D"

 

[Ripon]

Here in CA they are getting $300 for them now; its crazy. I have never owned one; as I've been a fan of the AR-15/M4 platform for many
years since the govt. taught me that one. A few years ago I was building them with the cheapest parts for $550 so I couldn't see spending
$125 on a bolt action like the Mosin. Now the AR's out here are $1200 and up so the $300 Mosin is all some can afford. I've been told by
fellow preppers they aren't bad at all for burying with some ammo - for that I chose an SKS.

 

[yzingerr]

They are accurate and awesome!

 

[yzingerr]

Love mine. Here is about what it looks like (changed a few things since then like removed the rear sight, duracoated bolt handle...)
Paid $114 for mine OTD.

 

[Infidel]

I haven't been to a gun show recently to price them, there's a show next month so I'll see what they're going for then. My gut feeling is even at $150 it's still a bargain, what other rifle are you going to buy at that price? There's aren't very many bolt guns in the $150 range, you might be able to come up with a beater rifle at that price or a fixer upper but I doubt it'll be as trouble free as a Mosin. Would it be my first choice as a SHTF gun, absolutely not, but I certainly wouldn't feel under gunned with one in an emergency. I have better bolt guns that if needed would be called to duty before the Mosin but the Mosin would due in a pinch if I needed it. Personally if I were in a situation where I thought I needed a rifle for defense, I'd grab my Mini-14 or the SKS if the Mini were not available.

-Infidel

 

[rice paddy daddy]

I have a variety of military firearms, it's a hobby of mine. Included are a 1943 91/30, and a 1948 M44. The Mosin Nagant is a robust, accurate, military rifle of war. In my humble opinion it should be left as-is, original.
Guns Magazine did a test last year, authored by Mike Venturino and one of the head guys at Hornady ammunition, testing original WWII sniper rifles, with original optics, using original WWII issue ammo. Tested were a 91/30, a Springfield 1903A4, a Mauser K98k, and an Enfield No4 Mk1 at ranges from 100 to 1,000 yards. While some rifles performed better than the others at different ranges, the most consistantly accurate and the best over all was the lowly 91/30.
The results suprised everyone.
Get a 91/30 and leave it alone, you will be happy. For what you would spend to Bubba it, I mean "sporterize" it, you could just buy a budget Remington or Savage.
I shoot current manufacture Wolf and Bear ammo, but have put away about 1,000 rounds of 1954 Bulgarian surplus for hard times.

 

[rice paddy daddy]

Myself and a group of guys I worked with bought a case of them around 1985......Total junk.....I would never spend another nickel on one.....basic bolt guns by Savage, Marlin, Ruger do not cost much more money and you get way better of a weapon....

How so? I'm curious, why did you find them to be junk?

 

[shadownmss]

They are great my son has gotten really good with his. he can hit a disc off of an old plow from 200 yards with the iron sights.

 

[Infidel]

Total junk might be a bit strong, remember that most of these rifles were built at a time when Russia needed arms of any sort and these were quick to produce. They are not refined rifles, often the fit & finish leaves a lot to be desired of. They are functional and accurate enough for their intended purpose which was taking opposing forces off of the battlefield. Certainly there are rifles that are more accurate or more refined but in this price range you'd be hard pressed to find a better rifle for this purpose. The rifles are robust and could probably double as a hammer or canoe paddle if it came right down to it. Accuracy issues in these rifles can usually be traced to a bore that was not taken care of or a crown that was banged up. A lot of people hate these rifles and up until a year and a half or so ago I wouldn't have given one a second look let alone space in my safe due to a bad experience with one that a buddy owned when I was about 18. That rifle was beat, the bore was pitted and dark and the crown was all but destroyed, firing caused keyholing 10" groups at 100yds. Last year I got the bug to give them another try and I'm glad I did, I paid $109 for it and it shoots great for what it is. Unfortunately the $100 Mosin is quickly becoming a thing of the past so if you're going to buy one, do it now.

-Infidel

 

[yzingerr]

I have a feeling that drt doesnt own a mosin.
as a person who owns both a ruger american in .308 and a mosin, i can tell you all about them in comparison.
The mosin is solid and nearly as accurate, but weighs probably 3 * as much as the American does.
the American is nice, especially at the price point but it definitely is a price point budget rifle. This stock is polymer and of the 6 I looked at in the gun store, every one of them was not evenly gapped around the barrel.
The action is far from smooth on the american, but better than the mosin.
You have to compare apples to apples.
it's hardly fair to compare an 80 year old military rifle that has seen two wars compared to a modern sporting rifle.

 

[yzingerr]

And on the subject of as if "your life depended on" the weapon....doesnt get much simpler than a bolt action.
People bet their lives on ARs all day, and they have 10x more parts than a bolt action and inherently less reliable...

 

[coyy2k1]

Wow, don't know what to say .... Just kidding, buying a rifle is like buying a car, some like ford some like Chevy, a rifle is the same. Just ask anyone who shoots. I personally have 6 Mosin's and each is different, from the 1928 to the 1944 model some being carbines and others long rifles, some with bayonets some not. They have one hellavu kick and are fun to shoot. Would I use them for defense of my family and home, most defiantly, if need be. Are there other weapons that are better, I would say so after 70 years of war. I will say this, it's better to have and not use than not have and need. The ammo is inexpensive, and for the weapon you get they are as well, I have shot all six of mine and they all shoot well one is even. A Finnish capture and retooled, love it as well. Last, weapons are a personal pref and it all depends on what you can afford. I just say its better to have something than nothing at all. Good luck.

 

[Infidel]

Exactly......a gun from a bygone era.......IMO why would anyone want a relic when you can have a modern rifle that is way better, especially if your life may depend on it...I bought a Ruger American rifle in 308 after reading a few reviews after they came out.....$357 dollars......shoots 3/4 inch groups with handloads at 100...less than 3 inches at 300 if I do my part.....everything about it is light years ahead of a Mosin....accuracy, balance, weight, adjustable trigger, scope mounting,modern calibers....a win, win and worth buying up to.....save and buy better, you will be glad you did.

My point exactly, the Ruger American is $200+ more than a decent Mosin, if you're looking for a budget weapon this is about as low budget reliable as you're going to find. It would make a great last ditch weapon, oil it up real good vacuum seal it with some ammo with a food saver or similar appliance put it in a PVC tube and bury it, 50 years from now it'll still be functional and if you never need it you can leave it there for future generations and never lose sleep over wasting the money burying a rifle. Now if money is not an issue then by all means buy a better quality of rifle for your bug out scenario, the new Ruger GSR would be a great candidate for this role, .308 Win with iron sights and a forward mounted rail for a scout scope along with 10rd detachable mags make this rifle a no brainer. Not sure I'd want to bury a GSR in the dirt though, I'd have to shoot it quite often, looks like a lot of fun.

-Infidel