Which Mosin Nagant?

[Edgemont]

I have been watching the market on Mosin Nagants. In general, I'm seeing high prices. However, I am still keeping on eye open for a few.
But I've never had any experience with them.
Which model should I get? Leaning toward the carbine models. Actually, I will definitely get a couple carbines for easy storage, but in general, which model is ideal?

[protus]

yeah cheap they are not anymore.
I have a m44 and a 91/30. M38's are good if you can find one..again...cheap aint the word anymore.
I like the m44. imho its the fat chunky brother of an AK with a spike bayo LOL. Least how it feels to me ( sight wise etc).
the 91/30 while longer, will also shoot better. And imho dont feel heavy like you think they would. I have some older mausers the same length that ""feel" heavier, but arent. iirc the 91's still go for around that sub 150$ mark.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

If you don't hit them when you shoot at the bad guy, you'll scare them with the flame thrower.

[rice paddy daddy]

I've got an M44 and a 91/30. Both are excellent rifles. I wish I had picked up an M38 while they were still less than $100.
Edgemont - you really can't go wrong with a Mosin Nagant that is still in unaltered military trim. Stay away from "sporterized" examples, especially those that were modified by Bubba.
The most definitive site I have found is http://7.62x54r.net/
Here you will find many pages of facts, history, specifications, etc.

[Grinnan Barrett]

I formerly collected the Nagant. When my collection grew too large I started to thin it out. Really these guns are pretty good in whatever form you get them. the only thing about some models is you need to know they are sited with the bayonets fixed in place. The 91-30 is a great example of this. When the Russians put these weapons in the field in the second world war a soldier was given a pouch of ammo on stripper clips and told to stand behind the guy with the gun. When he got killed you picked up the gun and used the bullets you had been issued. If you were not killed and you ran out of ammo you used the bayonet as your last line of offense. The guns were sited with the bayonet extended. You will generally find that most of them are off target if you do not put the bayonet on them. The Model 1938 or 38 was never intended to have a bayonet. The Model 44 has a side folding bayonet and when fired it is truer when the bayonet is extended.

The early pattern receivers were octagonal in design. the later receivers were round. the late war receivers were very rough on the exterior but the workings were just as good as the others. Look at the front site of any nagant and be sure the front post is dead center. If it is set off to one side that means the barrel is probably off and was corrected to shoot at 100 or 200 meters.

When you clean your Nagant be sure to use Dawn (or similar detergent in hot water to first run through the barrel and the bolt head. Most ammo for the Nagant is very corrosive so you want to neutralize it up front and at the time you shoot. Do not wait a couple of days since your gun will be in really bad shape if you do. After the Dawn clean as you normally would.

I will tell you the shorter the barrel the more kick you will get. Do not go out and customize these guns. I am not a purist. i am a realist. Customizing a Nagant rifle is like putting fins on a FORD Pinto. Do not waste your money. Buy the gun and shoot it as it is. GB

[Not_Yet_Prepped]

That round 7.62x54r has been around forever and a day and yet machine guns are still being made to use it. Alot a guys look down at it but that round works! And can be had at 1/3 or less than the cost of .308 or 30.06

[Edgemont]

Thanks guys. That helps!
I figured the m44 & 91/30 is what I'd end up with, considering that's all I've been seeing. Thanks for the tips.

[rice paddy daddy]

Don't waste too much time. Obama is moving forward aggressively on the UN arms treaty, which will stop imports into this country.
Get what you want now, just in case the Senate ratifies this treaty.