Mosin Nagant and Mil Surp

[Anasazi]

There have been peiods over the years where milsurp rifles (and pistols) have come and gone - you have no idea how much I regret not having bought a Johnson Rifle or a German G-4 (3?) - now the Mosin Nagants are going for dirt prices and if for no other reason than the historical role they played I covet one.

Who else has or wants one and what is there to select for amongst the various offerings? What should one avoid - if anything ?

:tippy:

[BigEd63]

AFAIK, they are all good in general. However,YMMV on individual pieces.

That's one reason I don't bother with getting a C&R is that I like to hand pick them myself.

I've been to stores where they have 4-6 of the M-44's that varied from very rough to very good all for the same price.

But I've even bought a rough one to see how well I could tweak it and was pleased with how well it shot when I was done working it over.

[Lakemonster]

Ive owned probably 20 MN's over my collecting career. Im am down to 10 specimens now.

The thing about the MN is that there was a flood of them a few years ago.. and there were many different models to choose from. Now... I really only see M-44's and 91/30's around.

I personally believe that everyopne should have one of every model and country of origin. So...... the one to avoid? Well..... as a beginner to MN's I fully suggest a 91/30 model..... It is older.... has better accuracy and has much more historical significance.

People used to get M-44's first.... they were cheaper... so thats what they went for. I personally think the M-44 was a less impressive rifle.

Its true that quality is spotty....... ordering one is a crap shoot the better part of the time. In many cases, choosing handpick option is a joke. They choose the best of 5 rifles when they open the case. If all 5 suck ass, you get the one that just sucks.

There are ways to improve your odds. Go with a dealer that is known for doing a good job of handpicking real winners...... or deal with a place that is known for simply having the better stock as a whole.

Consider the ex P/U sniper here, these areally are nice.

http://www.aztecguns.com/Rifles.htm

Otherwise. AIM surplus is known for theyre quality, and service.

http://aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Rifles.html

You might also check ou the M-48 Mausers while you are there. Most of them are brand new...... and the sweetest milsurp stocks...anyhow.

IF you goty some bones to chunk down.. then I would say go ahead and get any Finnish model Mosin you can lay hands on. The supply is drying up... and they are the best built. Hands down.

Lemme see if I can dig up a few pics of mine.....

http://patriotnetwork.net/lakepics/lakesmosins.jpg

The second one from the top is an Aztec Ex-sniper

The third one down is a Finn 39. Those are real nice shooters.

For shits and giggles I put in a pic of my Mausers...... the middle one is Yugo M48.

http://patriotnetwork.net/lakepics/monsmaus.jpg

[Anasazi]

J&G sales on the other side of Mingus has both the M-44 and the 91/30s for the same price - it would be worth it to do my own 'hand-selecting over there and pick up a case of 8mm while it's still cheap.

An MN in the proper date range would go well with my 1942 03 Springfield, and my 1943 bnz 98k Mauser.

None of the milsurp lasts forever and I'm tired of kicking myself for the sin of thinking that it will last. I remember the day I passed up a 20mm Finish Lahti for $99.00.

:rolleye:

[Lakemonster]

I forgot about them.... JG is your best bet.

[wolfeyes]

wonder where one could find a M48 stock?...jh

[Anasazi]

You could start at the 'Mosin & Mausers' forum over at www.assaultweb.net and search their archives or you could email J&G sales since you are in AZ and J&G carries the M48 (maybe they could give you a lead anyway). Then I hear that the Crossroads of the West gun show will be down in PHX shortly - all places to start that kind of search.

:tiphat:

[wolfeyes]

Thanks A. J&G used to have stocks for those $40 turks,don't think so for the M48s.I'll check....jh