Customizing Mosin-Nagants

I am convinced the answer is yes! I can remember a time when you could purchase a Mauser M-98 almost anywhere, in every gun shop or hardware store. What’s more you could buy them in any of the models you liked, such as the Kar 98, large ring, small ring, the G 33-40, the Polish Radom or VZ-24 and the Argentine M-1909. You name it, they were available and the cost was only $29.95.

I remember selecting a particularly excellent model M98 and then putting off the purchase because I knew I could come back later and still make the purchase, or better yet, find a finer specimen. Those were the days and I admit that was along time ago.. The point I am making is that while all of the above was true the supply of Mausers eventually dried up.

Today you are indeed lucky to find a decent action for less than $200, and by "decent" I mean an action that is described as "NRA Good" with the caveat "requires a bit of TLC" attached. That brings me to the Mosin- Nagant rifle. A friend and shooting buddy recently showed me one. I was immediately impressed by the condition of the rifle. It looked new. I asked him what he paid for it and he said the sum total was $109, including shipping.

That amazed me and I made up my mind to look into this rifle and I found them advertised in a number of gun publications. Previously, I had ignored them due to the visible magazine hanging out of the bottom of the stock but the more I thought about it the less obtrusive the magazine appeared to me. So I bit the bullet and purchased one. When the rifle arrived I was even more impressed. The stock showed some signs of wear but the barreled action appeared new and the bore was clean and shiny.

Now I was sold and 95 to $399.95 for the sniper rifle equipped with a scope and turned down bolt handle. This feature was very obtrusive at first, but became less so after I got used to it. tried to order another but the outfitter was out of them. I checked online and found another source. This second Mosin-Nagant was even better than the first. The wood was very clean and the bore looked perfect.

I researched this further and discovered that you can purchase Mosin-Nagant rifles in an assortment of models starting with the basic rifle at a cost of $79.95, complete with accessories composed of a spike bayonet, sling, oil bottle and ammo pouch. You can purchase the hex receiver model for $99.95 or the Russian sniper rifle with a PU5 sniper scope and turned down bolt handle for $379.95. There are more models available but this gives an idea of availability.

It reminded me of the good old days when Mausers were available in a similar array of models. I also learned that the Mosin-Nagant rifle was adopted by Russia in

1891, fires the 7.62 x 54R cartridge and is a combination of designs by a Russian, Sergei Mosin, and a Belgian, Leon Nagant. Production of the model 1891 began in Russia but due to slow production a contract was issued to a French arms factory, producing about 500,000 rifles. During WW I contracts were issued to Westinghouse and Remington for 3 million rifles. Remington also supplied ammunition, as did Winchester. In the 1930’s the design was improved and the "new" rifle was designated the 91/30.

Around receiver was developed, replacing the original hexagonal receiver. Many thousands of the rifles were sold or captured by other countries in Europe, with many modifications and changes occurring. As to the cartridge and the availability of ammo, I was again in for a surprise.

I admit I did not know much about the 7.62 x 54R cartridge but my research revealed that it is a rimmed rifle cartridge developed by the Russian empire in 1891 and was used from the latter Tsarist era throughout the Soviet period to the present day. It remains one of the few standard issue rimmed cartridges still in military use and has the longest service life of all military issue cartridges in the world. Berdan primed military surplus is available at a relatively low cost of $3 per 20 rounds.

Ballistic performance of the 7.62 x 54R is roughly similar to the 308 Winchester. They are definitely not interchangeable but .308 can be made to chamber in a Mosin-Nagant rifle. Along with the .22 Hornet, .30- 30 Winchester and .303 British, the 7.62 x 54R is one of the few bottled necked rimmed cartridges still in common use today. As of this writing ammo is available at reasonable prices.

The cartridge was originally designed with a 210 grain round nosed bullet which was replaced with the 148 Grain FMJ Spitzer bullet in 1908, which has been standard issue since. With the increasing popularity of Mosin-Nagant rifles in the US, Boxer primed ammunition and unfired cases are increasingly available. They take large rifle primers. I am convinced the Mosin-Nagant rifle will become the next military rifle popular for customizing.

They are plentiful, inexpensive and all the aftermarket items needed to thoroughly upgrade it into an excellent hunting rifle are available. Timney produces an excellent trigger with a safety and the barrel sights are more than adequate for those whose eyes are young enough to use them. If not, a scope base is available from Rock Solid Industries (rocksolidind.com) to fit the split receiver bridge. Sporter stocks are available from Boyds’ Gunstock (boydsgunstocks.com) starting at $119.

Or, you can go the whole hog and complete a first class custom job using high grade wood, new polish and bluing. Either way, it’s just as it was when Mausers were available. The downside is the split receiver bridge and the magazine which hangs below the stock. There is one other very important caveat. It’s a good idea to have the bore slugged to determine the correct bore diameter.

Apparently, the Russians were not too concerned with that and it is my understanding that bores may vary several thousandths depending on where the barrel was manufactured. Most surplus ammunition is Berdan primed which effectively hinders its use by hand loaders. I think the Mosin-Nagant rifle will become the next Mauser 98 in terms of popularity due to its low cost and availability.

The Mauser 98 will remain the action of choice for customers for whom cost is not a serious consideration but the Mosin-Nagant is an inexpensive replacement that will be available for many years to come. AG