36 replies to this topic

[rott]

For some reason I all of a sudden decided I NEED a 91/30....

I have done so e research last night but thought I would ask here also.  I am looking at Buds, Aim Surplus and Classic Firearms.  They all look to be similar in price by the time they get to me.  (I have my FFL, so no transfer fee for me...).

Question...should I opt for "hand-picked", or for a hex receiver?  I will honestly shoot this probably once per year...I just want one because of their history, availability, price and knock down power.  I cannot see myself keeping this as an investment, so I don't really care about collector value.  I want something safe, durable and fun.

Thanks!

[GarandFan]

If you want a shooter, and just want to own one (your first), just get the plain jane M91/30 with round receiver and no handpick.  The only reason to get a hex receiver is that they are older, and somewhat more rare.  Many folks doubt the utility of opting for "handpick."  Then buy a tin or two of the Russian surplus ammo on the market, and shoot the heck out of it.  Clean appropriately.

[rott]

Thanks GF, I appreciate the feedback.  Looks like I can pick one matching that description for $90+shipping, or if I care about "Tula Manufacture" it adds another $15.  Based on what you're saying, it doesn't sound like I should spend the extra $15.

The thing that makes me think about going with the hex, is this statement on the Classic Firearms site:   "All of these are considered excellent plus condition and all factory stamped matching serial #s on the receiver and bolt."

This is not stated for the round receiver option.  The hex option is only $10....you don't think I need to worry about hex, but should I pay the extra money for matching serial numbers?

[GarandFan]

I am guessing 99% of the round receiver ones are all matching, anyway.  You might check on the nagant discussion boards.

Cheap as they are, you might get three and sell the two you don't want after checking them out and seeing how they shoot!

[rott]

Thanks again...I actually am thinking about picking up a spam can of ammo from PSA quick before the free shipping ends....everywhere else I look at seems to charge about $20 to ship the ammo.

Is it bad to buy ammo BEFORE the firearm?  

I wish I knew someone in Rockford that wanted one...I would buy a couple extra.

[RandyP]

Mine is a plan Ivan '42 Izhevsk 91/30. Round receiver. Nothing fancy but a very nice shooter. Many of them have been through at least one refurb with some force matching of serial numbers, but that does not detract from their value as a great low-cost mil surp, high powered, accurate rifle.

I carry it in a VERY low cost RedHead 52" padded rifle case I got on sale at Bass Pro for about $12.

A terrific web resource for all things Mosin Nagant is:

http://forums.gunboa...Mosin-Nagant-HQ

I also have a Tula Nagant pistol which is a hoot to shoot and another piece of affordable firearm history.

[GarandFan]

Rott:

Even though I still think I gave you the best advice I could ... I just looked at my gun list and of the 11 Mosin-Nagants I own, not a SINGLE ONE is a round-receiver M1891/30!

Mosin-Nagant (United States)    M1891, 1917 Remington
Mosin-Nagant (Finland)    M1891, 1942 Tikka
Mosin-Nagant (Finland)    M1891, 1942 VKT
Mosin-Nagant (Finland)    M1891/30, 1944 Tikka
Mosin-Nagant (Finland)    M39, 1944 Sako
Mosin-Nagant (Finland)    M39, 1942 VKT
Mosin-Nagant (Finland)    M39, 1943 SK.Y
Mosin-Nagant (Russia)    M1891 (ex-Dragoon), 1925
Mosin-Nagant (Russia)    M1891/30, 1932
Mosin-Nagant (Russia)    M44
Mosin-Nagant (China)    Type 53, 1944.4

[rott]

GarandFan, on 28 May 2012 - 03:47 PM, said:

Rott:

Even though I still think I gave you the best advice I could ... I just looked at my gun list and of the 11 Mosin-Nagants I own, not a SINGLE ONE is a round-receiver M1891/30!

Mosin-Nagant (United States)    M1891, 1917 Remington
Mosin-Nagant (Finland)    M1891, 1942 Tikka
Mosin-Nagant (Finland)    M1891, 1942 VKT
Mosin-Nagant (Finland)    M1891/30, 1944 Tikka
Mosin-Nagant (Finland)    M39, 1944 Sako
Mosin-Nagant (Finland)    M39, 1942 VKT
Mosin-Nagant (Finland)    M39, 1943 SK.Y
Mosin-Nagant (Russia)    M1891 (ex-Dragoon), 1925
Mosin-Nagant (Russia)    M1891/30, 1932
Mosin-Nagant (Russia)    M44
Mosin-Nagant (China)    Type 53, 1944.4

I see how you are....keep the hex ones for yourself, and steer the rest of us to the round ones!  Just kidding....I appreciate the info!

[rott]

Any experience with either Classic Firearms or Aim Surplus?  I just read some bad reviews on Classic....and I was all set to order the hex one from them...now I am not so sure.

[bersa380]

I have never ordered a firearm from aimsurplus but I have ordered lots of ammo never had an issue in the probably 5 years I have been ordering from them.

Sent from my MB870 using Tapatalk 2

[GarandFan]

I'd go with AIM.

[abolt243]

I've had several ammo transactions with AIM.  First rate outfit.

AB

[sctman800]

I have no experience with Classic Firearms but have dealt with AIM Surplus.  Everything I have purchased from AIM has been at least what I expected in condition from the description.  I have also bought ammo for my Mosins and K31 Swiss and it has allways been well priced.  I have also dealt with J&G Sales and had a great experience with them.  Any future buying will probably be through the two of them.  One company I was going to buy from was Samco, before the deal was made I said never mind and called AIM.   Hope you have a good experience where ever yopu buy, Jim.

[Lou]

I guess now that I've got my 03 FFL I should buy a few from AIM ..  well just because I can!

[rott]

Looks like I will be contacting AIM....is it weird that I am just as excited abut getting a $90 gun as a $1200 one?

[lee n. field]

GarandFan, on 28 May 2012 - 03:47 PM, said:

Rott:

Even though I still think I gave you the best advice I could ... I just looked at my gun list and of the 11 Mosin-Nagants I own, not a SINGLE ONE is a round-receiver M1891/30!


Mosin-Nagant (Finland) M1891, 1942 Tikka
Mosin-Nagant (Finland) M1891, 1942 VKT
Mosin-Nagant (Finland) M1891/30, 1944 Tikka
Mosin-Nagant (Finland) M39, 1944 Sako
Mosin-Nagant (Finland) M39, 1942 VKT
Mosin-Nagant (Finland) M39, 1943 SK.Y

Somewhere recently I saw a website where some guy had quite a collection of Finn Mosins for sale.  They weren't cheap.

Quote

Mosin-Nagant (United States) M1891, 1917 Remington

My dad has a Westinghouse Mosin from the same period.  Alas, it got sporterized butchered at some point along the way.  Somebody cut a dovetail in the bolt.  (Why????)

Quote

Looks like I will be contacting AIM....is it weird that I am just as excited abut getting a $90 gun as a $1200 one?

New guns are always fun.  And, the MN is kind of a weird funky antique, miraculously preserved into the present day, like a coelecanth.

Edited by lee n. field, 28 May 2012 - 07:59 PM.

[GarandFan]

Lee Enfield:

Yes, I try to pick up interesting rifles when I find them for a good price.  I've been looking for a Westinghouse for some time now, as well as some of the national variants of the M44s.  With time, one tends to encounter interesting pieces, to find goo deals, and to grow a small collection.  It's rather fun I must say!

Indeed, it's sad that folks who didn't know any better (or perhaps just lived in another time and perspective) butchered up pieces of history.  Perhaps only because they thought it was the right thing to do, or perhaps only because they were rather short-sighted.  Such is life.  Such is history.  And too often, we don't learn enough from it.

[GarandFan]

Oh darn ... and I was really wanting one of those post-WWII M91/30s!!

[rott]

My first MN ordered...round receiver from AIM Surplus...should be here Friday!

[bersa380]

Need some help mounting a scope? This guy can help. I could not resist sharing this. http://www.thehighro...d.php?p=8189272
I have not laughed this hard for a quite awhile.

Sent from my MB870 using Tapatalk 2

[lee n. field]

Quote

Somewhere recently I saw a website where some guy had quite a collection of Finn Mosins for sale.

right here.  Like I said, ain't cheap.

[GarandFan]

lee n. field, on 29 May 2012 - 11:04 AM, said:

Quote

Somewhere recently I saw a website where some guy had quite a collection of Finn Mosins for sale.

right here.  Like I said, ain't cheap.

Yes.  But to be sure, his prices are high.  For example, that VKT M39 I got just last year from SOG for $229 plus shipping.  And it appears to be unissued.

[Stavros31]

Classicarms or aim are both great companies. Classic has a really good deal on a Mossberg 500 with an eight inch tube,$269

[rott]

I got my mosin....cleaned her all up and I am pretty happy.  

Of course I have no knowledge of them, but everything looks pretty good.  I told my wife I already want a second one!

Attached Images

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Edited by rott, 01 June 2012 - 07:39 PM.

[vezpa]

rott, on 01 June 2012 - 07:38 PM, said:

I got my mosin....cleaned her all up and I am pretty happy.  

Of course I have no knowledge of them, but everything looks pretty good.  I told my wife I already want a second one!

Properly removing cosmoline is very important.  Some of these mosins are covered in it to the point of being trully laughable.  If it looks clean, clean it again.  If you just clean it by wiping it down to where it looks good to the eye, the first time the gun gets hot it will start oozing or sweating cosmoline from the wood and turn you and your gun case into a big mess.

Get yourself a 4 or 5 inch wide pvc tube that is 50 inches long and sealed shut on one side. Get 2 gallons of mineral spirits, not the eco-friendly milky stuff but the clear old stuff.  Fully Disassemble the mosin.  Stand the tube up outside and fill the pvc tube with both gallons of mineral spirits.

Submerge the entire wooden stock for an hour to get all the cosmoline out.  Take out and rub thoroughly with a terry cloth towel until no sign of residual cosmoline is left.  Then submerge the rest of the metal parts and let them sit overnight.  This will remove all the cosmoline from everything with virtually no work on your part besides maybe a little soft toothbrush action on some of the small parts and run a good bore brush up and down the barrel.  An alternative is to heat the wood in an oven set to 200 degrees and the wood cosmoline will sweat out of the wood that way.  This takes a while and will require many rags to complete the job properly.

I polished the wood on mine twice after doing the above process and it looks GREAT  !

Edited by vezpa, 01 June 2012 - 08:51 PM.

[rott]

Thanks for the tip!

When you say you polished the wood...what exactly did you use?

[pyre400]

Aim - definitely GTG.  Bryan runs a very good business.

[GarandFan]

I certainly clean metal parts in mineral spirits ... but definitely not wooden parts.  For one, the mineral spirits may alter or destroy the finish on the wood.

I have used the warming method for wooden stocks to great effect.  I've also used "stock in black trash bag out in the sun for a while" method, too.

[rott]

I am doing the black trash bag method now...we'll see how it works out as it is not overly warm today....

[GarandFan]

Good.  It doesn't have to be overly warm ... that black bag in the sun will do the job.  You can increase the heat by putting the bagged stock on the dashboard of a closed vehicle, facing the sun.  Get that stock warm enough and the cosmo basically turns into oil, which can be wiped off with paper towels or cotton rags.

Rott, would you be willing to post a picture of the top of the receiver?