The Russians had turned out over a million Mosin-Nagant rifles by 1922 and we’re now seeing the surplus here in the United States.
J&G sales has the Mosin-Nagant 91/30 listed at a whopping $79.95 and 7.62X54 ammunition for $89.98 for 440 rounds sealed in a tin for long-term storage.
Sure it’s cheap but is it any good? My main beef with this rifle is it is long, 48 inches long.
Once you get it outside in the open its fine, but if you are forced to maneuver in close quarters, like inside a house tactically turning corners would be nearly impossible.
I have a gun rack bolted to my wall in the bedroom of my trailer and the Mosin-Nagant hangs over into the doorway leading into the room. I keep it standing in the corner of the closet.
The M 44 is shorter, handier, and in my opinion the better choice. But keep in mind with the carbine you will also get more flash, blast and recoil compared to the M91/30.
The military trigger is long and slow, but can be mastered with practice. The bolt sucks; it sticks straight up in front of you when you work it, partially blocking your field of view and is slow and clumsy to operate.
The safety is horrid and noisy even for a mass-produced military rifle. Not to mention that the rifle is butt ugly.
Would I recommend this rifle? The simple answer is yes.
If you are on a tight budget and have no way of getting hold of a Enfield or better, short of selling the kids and pimping out the wife or husband the Mosin-Nagant will serve in a pinch.
It is dependable, accurate, powerful and tough as nails. You could literally throw it off a cliff and run it over with a truck and it would come out shooting. For the price one would be hard pressed to do better.
What do you think? Would you recommend the Mosin-Nagant as a budget survival rifle?
{ 58 comments }
As a beginner rifle you can’t beat it. My little brother is a broke college student who lives in an apartment. As soon as he turned 18 I started to educate him, and help him get prepared. His current battery is an M44 and single shot shotgun, two budget guns that shouldn’t be overlooked. for around the price of a Hi-Point boat anchor/pistol he has a means of defense and food. And if all else fails you have a heavy spear/club with that HUGE folding bayonet!
Yes, but only because the cost of Swiss 7.5 ammunition is so high. Between the two, the Swiss K31 is far more accurate, loads faster and is better built (Swiss built – no surprise there). It shares the longish profile / heavy pig iron weight of the M/N. But that centerfire ammunition cost – can’t beat that 7.62×54 with a stick, especially nowadays. If you were starting completely from scratch and don’t have much of a budget, the M/N is a best buy. Best get a shoulder pad and a good set of ear muffs if you are buying the carbine, its quite a flamethrower.
And for pistol, the Tokarev TT33 is a bargain as well. That 7.62×256 ammunition cost is a large reason as well. Thanks M.D.
It’s on my shortlist – I do recommend ‘em. (Gotta get my Saiga out from layaway first!)
The Mosin’s are great rifles, tough as nails and accurate as heck! I have both the 91/30 and the M44, love to shoot em both and there is not much that will stop the 7.62 x 54R round, I have shot thru some pretty thick steel plate with it, just for giggles!
Take care, great blog!!
I’ve got three of them. Rugged, easy to keep clean, with cheap hard-hitting ammo. What’s not to like? At almost a third the cost of a surplus Mauser or K31 (my absolute favorite “gun-geek” rifle for its straight pull mechanism) you really can’t go wrong.
If you do not already have a centerfire rifle and you do not have much money, the Mosin-Nagant is a good choice along with a single shot 12 guage and a .38 pistol. The Mosin-Nagant is also a good choice for reserve rifles for adopted members of your group who arrive with no weapons.
However, if SHTF or BHO bans foreign ammo imports, you better have enough 7.62x54r ammo stored up, because there won’t be much to be found anywhere else, and not very many people reload it.
I have some weapons in common calibers, but all my new weapons purchases are either .22 or U.S. military calibers – 5.56/.223, 7.62/.308, or 9mm. Military calibers will always be available either on the open market or black market and .22 is cheap enough to store thousands of rounds.
My current strategy for anyone who arrives at my house without a weapon is to buy used .22′s from gun shows, flea markets, yard sales, etc. My main reason .22′s are cheap; if someone doesn’t have a gun, they probably don’t know how to shoot a gun so a .22 is about all they can handle (a Mosin would scare them to death); and I can have tons of .22 rounds stored if I have to share.
I think you are spot on with the military calibers. Thats a big one for me too. I actually am in the process of getting rid of all my non military calibers for those reasons exactly. I would add 45 to your list though.
Used to have a 91/30. Liked it, but it is LONG. But keep in mind it was designed for mass bayonet charges, and it worked until the Maxim gun changed the face of warfare. Since I live in Suburbia now, I passed it on to my Father to use on their little farm in the hills of Southern Ohio. But since he was born and raised in Hungary in the 30′s, when he reached draft age, that was the first rifle the Commies allowed him to use. Using one in the Hungarian Revolution, he liked it a lot, and kept “nudge-nudge-wink-winking” me to give it to him for Father’s Day a couple of years ago. But I digress. The M-44 is better because of its length, but that bayonet can slice your hands up. I would look for an M-38 version. Shorter, no bayonet, only a little bit more expensive.
However, there is one other problem that applies to ALL bolt action battle rifles, and that is the support gear for the weapon. Today, one can buy combat vests to support M16s, AKs, FN-Fals, etc. But try to carry 100 rounds on stripper clips in your jeans! Here’s a cheap way to help: 1) Get a Garand belt. Although it will hold only an 8 round en bloc Garand clip per pocket, it was originally designed to hold 10 rounds per pocket for the Springfield rifle. 10 pockets, 5 per side, 100 rounds total. 2) WW2 originals are pricey at gun shows ( militaria collectors), plus 60+year old dry-rot is setting in, so get a Chinese knockoff for @$40. 3) Use a surplus ALICE Y-strap harness to hold it up. Although designed for WW2 straps, Y-straps are MUCH cheaper, MUCH more available, and are much more durable. Yes, the hooks will go through the little grommet holes on the belt, and trust me, it will be a lot more comfortable to carry the ammo, a canteen, fighting knife, butt pack, etc. 4) Buy LOTS of stripper clips. They have a nasty tendency to disappear while in the field, and are not easy to fabricate. The good thing is that Moisen-Nagant clips are cheap compared to feeding the Springfield. 5) Although using slightly larger bullets, 30-06/ 308 cleaning kits will work just fine, bur the cleaning rod (if its still on the rifle) has a different thread than most American bore brushes 6) The stock may be a little short for the Modern American Male, but is fine if you wear heavy winter clothing/ body armor. You can always buy a slip-on recoil pad, and the sling is a little funky, using slots in the stock instead of studs as on modern rifles, so you may want to modify it to suit your needs. 7) If you want to bury your guns in a cache, the above set up would be a good way to go, or you can use them to set up your TEOTWAWKI Survial Squad and defend yourself against the thousands of MZBs that just so happen to know where your retreat is, but no living human can find. (Bad joke, I know!).
In all honesty, now that I think about it, maybe I should get a couple of M-38 Moisen-Nagants, “Just-in-Case”. Let me see, when is the next gun show…. Hope this helps, “Bubblehead Les”.
They’re better than nothing. I wouldn’t suggest them to anyone for home defense, though. I would never tell anyone that they’re “good enough”, either. If you can save up enough to afford a mosin then do it. If money is tight then save up enough to buy another one or two and sell the first one so that you can afford something like an SKS or an Enfield. I’ve picked up a few mosins over the years just because they’re so cheap. In my opinion they have a lot more drawbacks than bonuses. It’s a gun which trumps not having one and anyone can afford one. They’re also arguably the most simple, durable firearm that you’ll find. Unfortunately, they’re also bulky, akward, poorly crafted and they kick so hard that most shooters can’t handle them….especially after firing a few rounds.
Usually, when I go camping my buddies want me to take my nice guns so that they can shoot them. Lately I’ve started bringing a mosin along with me. If they can put 5 rounds through it then they can shoot my nicer guns. The last few times we’ve gone out we haven’t done much shooting. They have paid for themselves just in the cost of ammo that would have been shot up.
Myself I have 6. 2 x M44, 2 x M38 and 2 x 91/30. They are fun to shoot, cheap to buy, and ammo is still cheap. And its a MBR caliber. All mine have more than acceptable accuracy.
Yea the carbine’s might be a little much for some people to shoot. But over all on a price/point scale, Mosins cant be beat. What completely changes the shooting experience from “wincing” to pleasurable is a slip on Limb Saver Recoil Pad. Its like night and day.
One tip, both my M44′s were post war manufacture and in non issued condition. So if your looking for a Mosin like new, that would be your best best.
Quite frankly, I hate the Mosin-Nagant rifles. I grew up shooting a Remington M-700 and I just can’t wrap my eyes around these things, or my arms for that matter. They are ugly and unwieldly, and about the only thing I can say good about them is that they are man-stoppers. But so are clubs. I would only own one as a last resort, as they are better than nothing, and that’s about it. Truly, one of these things just makes it more difficult, as you have to make room for another calibre of ammo to buy and store in quantity, as ammo will not be available after the SHTF.
It’s not worth the bother, and one would be better off buying a rifle that shoots a round you already store, such as a bolt-action .308. Many rifles are available in the used market that are very reasonable in price, and shoot as good or better than the Mosin-Nagant. If you want to stock up on a few of these as trade goods, the availablility of ammo will drive the price down. Invest in something else.
I have an M38 (M44 without the bayonet) and a couple of Finnish M39′s. They’re all fantastic. The M39 has a very heavy barrel and can group in a MOA, or would .
The M39′s also have a dent in the magazine that forces loaded rounds to the rear. A fantastic innovation which stops the rimmed cartridges from overlapping and jamming.
The only problem is the ammo. The east bloc milsup stuff will not just corrode quickly, it’ll dissolve a barrel in no time.
Plus, the screwy bolt is actually usable by a left-hander.
I bought a Mosin a couple years ago and I love it because as you pointed out MD, it is a very rugged rifle. Mine is also accurate even without the scope that the sniper version has. It is also heavy and quite long.
Maybe the Mosin-Nagant’a action / safety is noisy and it is not as accurate as some rifles, but it is no way butt ugly. I have one. The wood has a rich deep finish. It is a long beautiful rifle. It’s a wonderful piece of history. That won’t help me survive but it sure is nice to look at.
I had one of the carbines about a decade ago. I think they are priced about the same now as they were then. If only I could say the same about AR’s.
I’d recommend the rifle and the carbine. Where else are you going to get a large caliber, rock solid reliable weapon for this price and have the benefit of inexpensive ammo to go with it? Even an ugly, heavy, ungainly weapon is better than no weapon (or a great weapon that you can’t afford ammo for).
Hi M.D.,
I agree. While they aren’t pretty, 91/30′s are inexpensive and sturdy enough to be a good, simple rifle. I enjoy mine. I’d hope to not need for in-home defense, for the reasons you’ve mentioned. I do have other choices there. But for a more-or-less straight forward simple rifle, they’re fine. Oh, and AIM surplus often runs sales on them too.
I have ten of them. Grand old work horses. AND….beautiful.
This was the first gun I bought after I got my C&R. Plan on buying a few more. I broke the rules and sporterized it though. Bought a synthetic stock (don’t forget that when you have a C&R, you can get dealer pricing on the extras like stocks, ammo, and other accessories). I got an ATI stock that was 80 bucks in the store for less than 40 using my dealer status. The gun is a fun gun to shoot and works nicely as a deer rifle. As for using it as a main battle rifle, I would suggest for those on a budget an SKS (of course for the prices that they are bringing now, I have seen AKs for not much more, so it would come down to money). As for banning import ammo, if it is TEOWAWKI, chances are foreign troops will be here anyway, so choosing between AK and AR may not be that big of a deal. I am sure the black market will be full of stuff coming through the southern border. Food and bullets will be the new currency of choice here in Amerika.
“Today, one can buy combat vests to support M16s, AKs, FN-Fals, etc. But try to carry 100 rounds on stripper clips in your jeans!”
I picked up a magazine pouch made for PSLs and SVDs for this very purpose. It has pockets for 4 magazines, and a very big all-purpose pocket at the rear. The pockets for the magazines are perfectly sized to hold three loaded stripper clips, so you can fit 60 rounds into them. The all-purpose pocket can hold cleaning gear, more loaded stripper clips, whatever.
http://www.oquirrharms.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69_75&products_id=641
don’t waste your money…save a few more dollars and buy a cheap, but common modern rifle…such as a mossberg or savage
My Mosins serve a number of purposes for me:
1) Large caliber training guns that I can afford to shoot. I can’t afford to shoot lots of .308.
2) Hunting rifles.
3) Backup weapons, useful for arming others cheaply in an emergency.
4) Fun guns. They’re very enjoyable to shoot.
The history is neat too. Three of mine almost certainly saw action in WWII. I plan to (one day) pass them down to grandchildren.
The M38 with laminated stock is a peerless pickup truck rifle. With all the negative comments regarding the aesthetics, crude trigger, etc. of the M-N, remember that it was the rifle with which the Russians ran the Krauts out of Stalingrad. That was the most demanding field laboratory for durability one can imagine. Any rifle that kept on running under those conditions will work in any situation I am likely to encounter. In my opinion this makes it a fine survival rifle.
If it was good enough for millions of Russians, it’s good enough for me. It is accurate but loud and comes with a very sturdy bayonet – perfect for home defense!
Would I recommend it to a new shooter on a budget? In a word, no.
If they were an inexperienced shooter, and they only had $100 or so to spend, I would recommend a .22 rifle. They don’t come much cheaper than a .22, they’re very easy to learn to shoot well, they are fun, and arguably more useful than a centerfire for most people. And in a pinch, they can kill people if you need them to. If they didn’t need to learn marksmanship and were more concerned with home defense, I would recommend a single shot shot gun or used shotgun of 20 ga or larger.
If someone had more than $100 and wanted a centerfire, I would recommend a modern Mossberg ATR, Remington 770, or Savage Edge in a more common caliber. All of these guns are more accurate, lighter, shorter, more ergonomic, and easier to find ammo for at non-gunstore retailers, like Wal-Mart. Many of these come with scopes, and while I much, MUCH prefer sights, it will be easier to inspire confidence in a new shooter with a scope than it would with open sights alone. $300 can buy you an awful lot of gun these days.
Back when I was in High School (2001) Mosin Nagants were going for the same prices through J&G, but I bought a Columbian Model 1950 “Short Rifle” in .30-06. These were built in the K-98K/Yugo 48 pattern and was made by FN for $90 at a pawn shop. That was my first rifle, and I still have it. M98 style rifles have lousy sights, but they are decent at everything else, at least comparable to the Mosin Nagant, and at the time, there were more accessories available for them.
I looked to purchase one at Cabelas some months ago but another customer talked me out of it. He said I could get’em cheaper then $149.00,he was right,it went down to $79.00 and I jumped at it. I also ordered a ATI polymer stock from Cheaper Then Dirt. I haven’t installed it yet but no way I’m shooting it with that metal plate on the butt. I also was a Cabelas today and the prive has went back up to $149.00.
Never shot a Mosin-Nagant before. How would this rifle compare to a Springfield M1903A3? I’ve shot that one several times and love it.
Hey N.D. Due to the curved stock, probably a little more uncomfortable than an Springfield, but each persons reaction to recoil is a little different. But since the 7.62x54r in 180gr comes out around 2580fps vs 2700fps for the 30-06 ( at least according to my old 1996 issue of the Gun Digest, page 262) it could be little easier for you. But since you can handle a Springfield, it shouldn’t be a problem. I figure if anyone can handle these old bolt guns, then going from an Enfield to a Mauser to Springfield, etc is just a matter of personel preference. But what makes the Moisen so appealing to those on a LOW budget in these days of $1.00 a round for 30-06 is the practice you can get from it. As you can see from what Mr. Creekmore posted for the price of a spam can, one can get 4X the practice in per shot, plus the initial cost of the rifle. And when TSHTF, being able to to hit a human-size target with one well placed shot out to 400 yards using iron sights is a good skill to have. Seemed to work for all those Red Army snipers during WW2, didn’t? Of course, I would love to own a pre-64 Winchester 70 in 30-06, but when I can spend the same amount on a couple of Moisens, several spam cans of ammo, and still have money left over for a Grain Mill, a Berkey, some Mountain House… hope this helps. P.S. My Army buddy reminded me than he says to use Molle 2 Hand Grenade Pouches ( NSN 8465-01-465-2093) if you can’t get a Garand belt. He says he’s getting 25 rounds per pouch to support his FN-49 8mm, which use the same ammo/stripper clips as a K-98 Mauser. They will also will hold 3 15 round magazines for the 30 carbine. Amazing little pouch! Try http://www.battleboysurplus.com as a source. Take care, Bubblehead Les.
Thanks Les, very insightful. I’ve been itching to burn some money on a new rifle – the Mosin-Nagant may be the one. I told myself I would stick to .22, .223, .30-06, .308, and 9mm but for the price it’s hard to resist.
I personally love my 91/30. I would prefer to rely on my other rifles for main battle rifles or home defense, but for keeping bears out of the beehives I wouldn’t choose anything other than my Mosin-Nagant. It is also the weapon I carry when I go for walks in the woods.
I like it that the ammo is available reasonably priced in a sardine can, negating many worries about future availability.
My main problem with the M-N, which I haven’t seen anyone mention so far, is the incredible pain in the butt it is to load with the stripper clip. I have practiced and practiced and still sometimes screw up loading the magazine. I keep thinking someday someone will come up with a workable, affordable detachable mag that will work around the integral trigger guard, but I’ve never seen anything but homemade jobs on the ‘net so far.
I would recommend obtaining the rubber butt pad though. You will thank yourself for the investment.
I seen on YouTube where a guy showed you how to load it by titling the strips. It seemed to work for him. I said I was going to try this technique.
ITS A FAIR RIFLE…I RECOMMEND IT..FOR PRICE AND ITS DURABLE TO ABUSE…
What’s the effective range for the 91/30?
Hey Oscar. Referring to my old 1996 copy of the Gun Digest, page 262, on the ballistic table it says that at 400 yards the 180 grain bullet has a -28.5 inch drop while traveling at 1820 fps, delivering 1100 ft-lb. of energy. According to the same book, a 180 grain 30-06 goes 1846 fps, drops -27 inches, and delivers 1362 ft-lbs. Of course, your mileage may vary, and I would expect some reduction if you used a shorter barrel carbine. But the bullet characteristics might explain why the Russian Army still uses the 120 year old bullet in its Dragunov sniper rifles and PKM machine guns. Now if “Big Army” would only bring back the 30-06….anyway, just think of the practice you can get using a full powered rifle with 30-06 ballistics at one-fourth the cost of ammo. Hope this helps, Bubblehead Les.
The Mosin Nagant is an excellent rifle, but it’s not everything all-in-one. It’s not for in-door/close quarter fighting; not for beginners, not for taking small game; not for a fast-moving fire-fight. It is for long-range, accurate shooting. For survival purposes, it’s the reach-out-and-touch-someone from far away rifle that everyone in your group can have (have a carbine for in-close scenarios).
Anyone who says they’re not accurate either has a very rare dud or a case of user error. Add a scope and it’s an excellent long-range rifle for a fraction of what you’d pay for a .308 or .30-06 (the 7.62.54R ballistics fall roughly between those two rounds, at about a half to a third of the cost per round). Saying whatever rifle brand/model is generally more accurate is probably an inaccurate statement – once you get to a certain point, it’s up to the shooter, and Mosin Nagants put the ball in the shooter’s court. Go YouTube videos of guys hitting 1,000 yard (yards, not feet) targets with a stock Mosin Nagant and cheap surplus ammo.
Pay $10 extra for one of the older (1930s and earlier) models with a hex receiver and you’ll get much better fit/finish, and the stocks are nicer.
And this is probably the last surplus rifle deal you’ll see at this price; after the bolt action era and Garands, the rifles are selective fire and won’t be sold to the public. Buy some now, b/c in 10 years they’ll be several times the price. Just like the SKS.
Amen brother, amen. Too bad the price of ammo is so high that one has to use Moisen-Nagants to practice and build the muscle memory of shooting full power bolt guns. When I recall how much 308 we used up just plinking while I was in the Navy in the 70′s, then I go price some today, well,… anyone have a time machine with a BIG cargo bay they’re not using? Take care, Bubblehead Les.
i personal think it a desent rifle with half a$$ed accuracy
i own 2 there esentaly my “just in case throw-aways” if you get whut i mean
Thanks for the replies. Think I’ll put it on my “to get list”
You can tell the rookies from the truely informed, educated and experienced. The rookies are the ones that are saying NOT to buy a mosin… Well here is a quick fact for them… Fresh modern ammo is now being manufactured in the US for them due to their popularity… Any idea what that means? I’ll tell you… Even the manufacturers of the ammo consider them viable choices!
Well, this rookie has spent years training totally inexperienced shooters for a living, shooting M16 and 9mm, on high speed electronic and manual ranges using teams of trainers and safety personnel in good weather and bad. Good luck trying to teach someone how to shoot a Mosin after SHTF, when you’re trying to maintain noise discipline, the shooter has never even seen a gun before, you don’t have any long distance shooting ranges, and the FedGov has stopped all civilian sales of any ammo. Yes, occasionally there are some domestically made 7.62x54r for sale in local stores, but it is as expensive as 30-06 or 30-30, so there’s no real advantage. The only advantage of the Mosin is that it’s a cheap long range, hard hitting weapon that experienced shooters can learn to use very well and there’s cheap surplus ammo available today. Most people won’t want to shoot a Mosin more that 5 times at a setting, and a lot wouldn’t shoot it more than once. If your entire group is made up of poor men who have lots of experience with weapons, and you have time and money to train now, then Mosin’s all around might make sense. Other than that, a Mosin is an in-expensive piece of history that is fun to collect, shoot, etc. but only has a place in survival for the poorest individual.
Thank you, Jack, for making my point. I just got off the phone with a great friend who owns a gun shop, and he doesn’t stock ammo for the Mosin-Nagant. And he knows of no one in this entire county who does. Enough said on availablility of ammo.
I encourage anyone who needs a battle rifle to save their money and get something worthwhile, and not in any way depend on a Mosin-Nagant. There is a great reason these things have been replaced by modern rifles. They are obselete. If you want to collect these things for historical reasons, or find militaria to be interesting, so be it, but you should acquire a modern weapon first, and have modern backup for them, and have your beans and bullets settled before using resources for Mosin-Nagants.
Not to brag, but 2 bronze at Camp Perry with an off the shelf mosin and 50 year old czech ammo. I recommend it without reservation!! NO I don’t spend most of my life at the range, the rifle is good and nearly indestructable.
Templar and Jack, dont try to turn this into a pissing contest. As a firearms professional I can smell your BS all the way across the internet. The simple fact is it is easier to teach fire control discipline with a bolt… So that prroves Jack dont know Jack, and templar, well his comments simply dont need rebutal, they fail on thier own merit. You two are a pair of wannabes at the finest…
Both the gun shops I sometimes visit in Northern VA have domestically produced ammo for the Mosin Nagant. The ammo advantage right now is in surplus, which can be had at ~$0.18/round (a few cents more for heavier bullets), while the cheapest .30-06 is ~$0.59/round (prices as of last month). Not sure what part of that isn’t crystal clear. When that dries up (may be awhile since the round is still in service in several countries), the price advantage will be gone, but the accuracy/quality is still there.
Also, bolt action rifles are not main battle rifles, but they are NOT obsolete for hunting/sniping. Again, the Mosin Nagant is best for long-range shooting, especially with a scope. Know what the tool is appropriate before berating it.
I can afford to buy a nice .303 Enfield (had one) or .30-06 1903 Springfield (brother has one), both awesome rifles I’ve shot a lot of. But why pay 4-8x more for the same performance and ammo similarly expensive? I’m sure there are lots of reasons, just not very many good ones.
For those who insist on misunderestimating the rifle; keep at it! Don’t buy one! Keep demand/prices lower for as long as possible for those who know better!
Having never shot a Mosin-Nagant (until this upcoming weekend – excited) the price is what lures me in.
I have access to rifles that are according to the comments above superior to the Mosin-Nagant but why would I take a $1000+ rifle with expensive ammo deer hunting and risk damaging it when I can carry the Mosin-Nagant and risk a rifle that only costs 1/10 the others.
If I only used the Mosin-Nagant in a SHTF situation for utility purposes and hunting I wouldn’t need a significant amount of ammunition (who wants to get in a fire fight with a bolt action.. anyone?) and I wouldn’t be wasting my semi-auto on a non self-defense situation.
Scott, you’re a “firearms professional” in your own mind, no doubt about that, of that fact I’m sure. And who said anything about not having a bolt-action rifle in the inventory or about fire discipline? If you had bothered to read my previous posts, I specifically mentioned a bolt action rifle, the Rem. M-700, so I don’t really understand what point you are trying to make, other than that you’re a smart ass. That point was well made, sir!
As for the Mosin-Nagant, my points were articulated, and are my opinion. That’s all. And opinions are like assholes, I know, everyone has one. And that’s all I said. Accusing me of being a wannabe…a wannabe what? I don’t make a living as a firearms expert, and I really doubt you do either, scott. But, if you do, so be it, but my guess is that people here advocating the Mosin have dozens of firearms, and the Mosin makes a cheap extra. And that’s good…even great…and I’m all for having as many firearms as possible.
But you crossed the line, scott, with your personal attack. You need a rest, Mr. Firearm Professional, and better manners.
Scott – Why all the anger & name calling? Mosins have a place and are a interesting piece of historical militaria. If you want to depend on yours for survival after SHTF, more power to you.
Though for the average survivalist who’s not a “firearms professional”, I’d agree with M.D.: “Would I recommend this rifle? The simple answer is yes. If you are on a tight budget and have no way of getting hold of a Enfield or better, short of selling the kids and pimping out the wife or husband the Mosin-Nagant will serve in a pinch.”
Fortunately, I don’t have to settle for a Mosin, so I’ll go with something more modern that uses ammo that matches U.S. military calibers.
PND, get ready for a battering if your Mosin doesn’t have a good recoil pad. LOL. But that’s ok, the old Mosins are fun to shoot, but unwieldly to the extreme for a shorter person like me. I would really enjoy tagging along with you. Oh, well! Mayhap scott will invite me to his firearms training academy!
I have seen, (and purchased) Indian Enfields, built in 1968 for under $200.00 in .308 at the local shows. Great rifles and built just like the Mosins, like a tank. Combine the .308 caliber and they are one magnifice addition to any collection and SHTF situation standby.
Hey everyone. After reading all the comments, we should put things in perspective:
1) If I knew when TEOTWAWKI was scheduled to to appear, I would make sure to bring something that held more ammo and shot faster than any bolt gun.
2) Since I don’t know when it hits the fan, I need to be as well trained with plenty of practice as I can be.
3) Economic circumstances can reduce ANYONE to barely putting food on the table and keeping a roof over their head.
4) A LOT of people out there did NOT grow up hunting, fishing,farming,serving in the military etc. and they are SCARED about the future.
5) I consider a Moisen-Nagant as the next step up for POOR people (such as I have been, and may be again) who have been using 22s and NEED to FEEL what happens to them when they pull a trigger on a full-power rifle.
6) As a PRACTICE weapon, with the availability of ammo here at the end of May, 2010, I do not know of any other weapon system out there in the full power rifle range (i.e., 8mm, 30-06,7.62 Nato, 303,7.62 x54R, etc.) that new person can get into UNLESS they already have a rifle in one of those calibers (probably a pass-down from Grandpa’s estate).
7) If they get a Moisen, shoot some rounds, and don’t like it, then it can be set aside for emergency use and/or trade it off towards another weapon system.
8) If you do get a Moisen and like it, then you have the ability to get a lot of practice on a cheap cost per shot basis.
9) Another way to look at is this: Most kids when they get their first cars usually get an older beater (if their parents have any sense!) and work their way UP. Some of those kids will make it to the level of a BMW. Very few will get to the Ferrari level, but most of us can get to a decent Ford, Chevy, Dodge, what have you. But some of us will only make it from one beater to another. But look what you have to go through if you have NO car at all. YOU are now dependent on the GOVERNMENT for your daily transport. If you had a the choice between the Moisen-Nagant (BEATER) and 911( NO BEATER) to defend yourself and could AFFORD nothing else , well , how is that 10-15-20-25- minute response time working out for you?
And if you get into (God Forbid!) Katrina situation or worse, being w/o a firearm of any kind is just too scary for this old sailor.
10) Remember what Col. Cooper taught us about gunfights: “Rule #1, HAVE A GUN!”
But all the above is just my way of looking at this topic Mr. Creekmore posted for us, based on my knowledge and experience and training. But since Uncle Sam is no longer giving me M-14′s, Remington 870′s and 1911′s to shoot as much as I could sneak into my various commands training schedules with, I just have to use what I can afford. Wonder if that kid wants to sell me my HK 91 back to me, since he can’t afford to shoot it enough to get decent practice in. I know where I can get an M-38 for $85 and make a trade….. Everyone enjoy your Holiday on Monday, and remember all the U.S. Military Veterans who died so that YOU are free to enjoy it. One last thing: Saw on the news that the U.S. military KIA went over 1,000 this week since we started to fight in Afghanistan back in ’01. Wonder how many of them came home in a box after being taken down by some Taliban scum using an obsolete Moisen- Nagant, Enfield, or other bolt gun? Think about it. Bubblehead Les, U.S. Navy, 1976-1986.
I have a M91/30 and a M44. The M91/30 is fun to shoot, and is in the process of being refinished. The M44 is pristine. I enjoy the M44 so much that I’m afraid to leave it at the retreat. Either one is capable of taking a deer at 100 yards and due to the length, the M91/30 is a bit more accurate, but unwieldy. In a pinch this can serve as a battle rifle, but it is an inconvenient (to say the least) bolt action and surplus ammo will be difficult to come by. This is a great deer hunting rifle and is a good inexpensive choice for SURVIVAL. If you plan on playing Rambo, you would be better served by a modern semi-automatic in a common caliber. Mine will be used for hunting.
A kid in our office just purchased a Mosin-Nagant for $78 with tax. On ebay he bought a new composite stock on ebay for $60 and a scope rail mount for the barrel for $14. It’s like a whole other gun.
I have a pic if anyone wants to see.
i would like to see that pic
i love my mosin nagant its the 1st gun ive owned and it was an amazing find i absolutely love it ,how can u ask for more when you buy a rifle for 100-150$ and can get a kill shot a 1000yds away?
“What do you think? Would you recommend the Mosin-Nagant as a budget survival rifle?”
If I am not mistaken this is the question which stirred all of the debate.It would seem that many who are commenting here have missed the point.The question was not whether or not the mosin-nagant is a good “battle rifle”,or even whether or not you would take it into combat,but rather if it is a good “survival rifle”. In a word (and my opinion) Yes. It is reasonably accurate,undeniably hard hitting,utterly reliable,inexpensive,and currently cheap to feed.It will put food on the table when there is no regular supply available.It will demand very little attention from you to keep it firing.Provided you do your part it will hit what you aim it at.Anything you accurately hit with it short of a large grizzly will die.I have many weapons,I build class 3 for a living,I am not an instructor of firearms use but was an infantryman in the army and have a good degree of knowlege in the application of firearms for combat and survival.I would not like to take a mosin nagant into combat if I had the choice of something else,but I would,unhesitatingly,rely upon one in a survival situation.The real point is,can you shoot the weapon accurately,not can you shoot it a lot.A survival situation is more dependant on reliability and the weapons ability to knock a target down.If you can shoot and maintain this weapon in a competent manner than it can be used by you to survive.I agree that there are many other options available,many of which are better made and more modern designs.That siad there are more of these rifles out there than anything I can think of and the service history of the weapon speaks for itself.It will keep you alive,reliably,without protest or failure,but it is only a tool.The real key in survival is your mindset,not your equipment.Bottom line is that if you are comfortable with the rifle and know how to use it you have as good a chance as any in a bad situation.And for the record,I would rather go into combat with a level-headed man armed with a mosin nagant than a moron packing the latest in military gear. But maybe thats just me.
Survival Weapon, YEP!
As the sole weapon in your battery, sure if its what you are comfortable with. As a combat weapon, hey the 91 in its title is the date it was adopted. And it was kept and used into Vietnam and after. So a good 80 plus years of combat use. Are there better combat systems today? You bet!
As everyone else has said,
It is:
Cheap
Ammo is cheap
Has Punch
Rugged and Reliable
Has Range and decent accuracy
Draw Backs:
The full sized is BIG and Heavy
Muzzle Flash, it will blind you at night and give away your position
Report; same as above. Even with mickey mouse ears, the concusion felt light a slap in the face. Similiar to that of my .44 with mangnum loads
Recoil; As a freind once said, “Its a punishing weapon!” This can lead to new shooters becoming afraid and develope bad habits such as flinching and anticipating the recoil. ALL bad for accuracy. For seasoned shooters it can lead to shooter fatigue.
But, is it something a person on a budget should get in their arsenal?
YES!!!!!
No one rifle does everything, but this will do alot of what is needed. Provided you know how to use it. And of course, be willing to use it should you have to. A person can have a huge arsenal of high speed weapons, but if they don’t have the knowledge, skill and will, someone with a Nagant will end up with all of their toys.
A Nagant is good for:
Putting large game on the table!
Deterent to bad peoples
Will put bad peoples down!
Will defeat ALOT of modern body armor, and penetrate most civilian vehicles.
To employ it, use its advantages, use it at range. Learn to engage at targets in excess of 300m, engage at 400, 500 and 600. Most training today forcuses on 200 and 300. If you can fire one or two well placed rounds at 500m, you now have time to move. Movement means safety! Remember, distance is an advantage of the weapon even over the more modern autoloaders.
Deterence; in a Katrina or L.A. Riot type event, just the presence of a rifle could force looters and such to move on. Of course be ready to use it if you have to.
Remember, learn to use your tool, learn its benefits and use them to your advantage. Learn its limits and stick within the limits. But, most of all, learn to use what you have.
the mosin i like it. for one its cheap part of history good power good for long distence. if shtf well i would take it along with me with about 1,000 rounds thats it. because i would mostly use it for hunting. because if people that want to hert u are say 3 or 4 hundred yards out try to sneak by you know if they dont know your their dont bother shooting save ammo and your life or some one ealses life. if you absolutly have to make that kind of shot do it and do it good. but the gun i would have out in my hands the most is my ak-47. i can move around good in buildings with it and i can shoot great with it. if usa was getting taken over most likly the enamy will be using the ak so pleny of ammo lol. the only reason the dam usa dont like ak well most dont but is because they think its the bad guys gun well its not the gun thats bad its the a holes that use them that kill people. well u know whay they use them because they are smart its a great gun. i think their would be more ak rounds them .223 and the ak will last longer in a fight they wont break down and jam as mutch. so i stick with ak because i love it and i would go with mosin because cheap good for hunting can take a enamy down long distence at long range. o and the new rifles lke rem and sav and all them ya they work good but wont last as long as mosin did so i go with mosin.
I bought one for my son at big 5 a few years ago. It is a good rifle not as good as his girfriends tika t3 in 243 but It is a valuble spot in his arsenal.It is a p. o. s. compared to my old a3 but, different army. Steve
I hope to get a mosin when i can and
i acnt dicide if its better than a spingfield in Alaska
so if you could help me out that would be great
O would you guys ever recomend an M16 also for a defencive weopon?
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