Mosin Nagant equals
 

I was aware of the Mosin Nagant about 5 years ago, but never took the time to look at one until it was posted on this forum. Then I bought one and love it.
Now I want to know if there are any other rifles that would be comparable to this.
By comparable I mean economical to purchase, simple, dependable, and economical ammo?
thanks,

Re: Mosin Nagant equals
 

Based on your criteria, I'd have to say a Ruger 10/22.....nothing else comes to mind.

Of course a Ruger 10/22 is no Mosin.....and vice versa.

Re: Mosin Nagant equals
 

After thinking somemore, it occurs to me that those Nagant Revolvers are insanely cheap (and you can get a 32 ACP conversion for it to shoot cheap 32 ammo) ,but I've never shot one.

Anyone have any experience with these?

Re: Mosin Nagant equals
 

I haven't shot my new Mosin Nagant yet, but I believe there will be a lot of similarities to my Turkish 8mm Mauser I've owned for several years now. Price is right, surplus ammo is still relatively cheap, kicks like a mule, and I read it could take down an elephant. Fun! :565:

Re: Mosin Nagant equals
 

In days of old.....the SKS.....but now the price is stupid......in the mid-90's the SKS were all under $100....I remember buying one for $69 brand new once!!!

I can't think of anything like a Mosin Nagant these days....

Now you got me interested.....Q: Rifle cost? Q: Ammo cost? What's typical these days?

Re: Mosin Nagant equals
 

Classic Arms has those Yugoslavian rifles chambered in 8mm Mauser. I don't know how the rifles are for accuracy, etc. The ammo is $250.00 for 900 rounds. Looks like the days of ultra cheap 7.62X39 ammo, and rifles to shoot it out of, are over.

Re: Mosin Nagant equals
 

I'd second the Mausers and don't forget the Czech vz. 24 rifles !

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Czechoslavakian_vz._24_8mm_Mauser_Rifle.html

I'd put the 8mm above the 7.62x54r in my book for both distance and accuracy if not just for the shear power alone. Also, the ammo is quite cheap on the surplus market if you don't mine steel casings.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/copy_of_8mm.html

How does 26-cents per round sound ?

:wink:

Re: Mosin Nagant equals
 

I'd say the 8x57 Mauser rifles are the closest equivalent to the MN rifles. I actually enjoy shooting my 8mm more than the MN, there is less felt recoil. "Cheap" 8mm ammo is hit or miss to find.

Re: Mosin Nagant equals
 

The first rifle that comes to mind is a surplus Mauser. Prices have gone up a bit (OK, doubled/tripled) on the once cheap & easily available Turkish Mausers. Waaaaaay back about 6-9 years ago, you could get beat up rifles DELIVERED for 3/$100, or beautiful 95-100% bluing rifles for $82.

If you browse Gunbroker for Turkish Mauser, you might get lucky & be able to buy one for under $100. With the Turk Mausers, many are in good shape (oily, beat to hell stocks). Some, however, have excessive headspace. Watch out for that before buying. CAREFUL with some Turk Mausers, since the wood has been finished with creosote (which will give you a nice skin burn if you get too close & personal with it).

Yugo M24/47 or M48 Mausers are a next best buy. They seem to be running $125-$150 for a 24/47, and M48 rifles a bit higher. Headspace on the Yugo Mausers seems to be less "iffy" than with the Turks. External metal finish seems to be better also.

The only downside to all this is ammo availability/price. Waaaaay back when (notice how I keep saying that?), you could get Turk 8mm ammo DELIVERED for $0.05-0.06/round. I think there's still surplus 8mm ammo available, but nowhere near as cheap.

ONE LAST THOUGHT - You wrote that you bought ONE stinkin' Mosin Nagant rifle. As with Lays potato chips, you can't eat just one. Get some more MN rifles, there, Mr. "6"!

Re: Mosin Nagant equals
 

I picked up a couple of SWISS K-31's about 10 years ago for $79 from AIM. Pristine bores and metal was excellent....wood was not bad...one walnut,one beech. The recievers were made by SIG and the barrels by Hammerli. At that time ammo was not bad.. but it was surplus match ammo. The only reason I mention the gun is because of the price they were being offered at. Otherwise much better gun than Mosin.

Re: Mosin Nagant equals
 

Yes, K31 rifles are NICE. Beautiful workmanship on the metal as well as the wood. Very well maintained by Swiss troopies (or else....they got to pay for repair/replacement of barrels & other parts). Buttstock commonly shows wear/dents/finish loss, due to how they were carried & stacked in the snow (see attached pic).

Ammo "not bad", huh? That stuff started at $0.40 a round, which seemed obscene at the time (nowadays, it seems like .223 ammo is .70-1.20/round!). Not sure how much the 7.5x55 Swiss stuff is now (I've still got a bunch). It has a neat wax "seal" around the bullet/case mouth.

The trigger pull on the K31 is EXCELLENT. It starts out great, with no polishing, and only gets better with a wee bit of work (not that the work is really needed). Bolt disassembly is a bit more complicated than with the MN rifle, but that's probably the case with anything from Switzerland.

One other neat feature with lots of the K31 rifles - if you remove the buttplate, there's a plastic tag with the name/address/birth year of the soldier to whom the rifle was issued. All my K31 rifles have that tag. Pretty neat!

Re: Mosin Nagant equals
 

Damn, that's a nice looking rifle! More aestetically pleasing than the Nagants are. Might have to think about picking up one of those.

Re: Mosin Nagant equals
 

I have a Brazilian M1908 in 7mm Mauser that I bought for $156 in 1990 - not butchered, all matching and in great shape - very accurate if I do my part. Sold an 8mm vz. 24 years ago. Wish I hadn't. Hindsight is 20-20.
Take care,
Mod1