There are only a handful of firearms which boast as much history and influence as the Mosin Nagant. The iconic Soviet rifle already has over a century of use under its belt and is now considered a collector’s item. Overall, the Russian rifle was exceptionally accurate, easy and cheap to produce, and incredibly reliable. Now it’s time that we take a closer look at the legendary Mosin Nagant.

Background & History

In addition to its tremendous use in battle, the bolt-action has also been used extensively for hunting around the world. Although the Russia Mosin Nagant can be found throughout Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, it has made its way to the western hemisphere over the years. As one of the largest arms exporters in the world, the Soviet Union is known for their firearm manufacturing capabilities. The Mosin Nagant is just one of several legendary guns to come from the Ruskies, including the AK-47 and the Makarov pistol. The Mosin Nagant was the result of a major defeat at the hands of the Ottoman Empire back in 1877. The Soviet single-shot rifles were no match for the Turkish Winchesters and the result was disastrous.


Eventually, the military rifle was put to the test during the Russo-Japanese War (1904) when nearly 4 million units were manufactured. Surprisingly, American gunmakers got involved during World War I when Russian production was restricted. In fact, Remington and the New England Westinghouse Company combined to construct over 3 million units. This nearly devastated Remington when Lenin took over and canceled the order. Nevertheless, the American gunmakers made due and sold the rifles domestically and to the Brits. By WWII, the Mosin Nagant was the standard issue rifle for the Soviets. They even went on to produce several variants, including the renowned sniper rifle. This adaptation played a crucial role in the Soviets’ attempt to hold back the Germans. However, the rifle solidified its place in history in the Battle of Stalingrad when famed marksman Vasily Zaytsev sniped 225 Nazi soldiers.

Mosin Nagant For Sale

Although not many people are willing to bid with their Nagant carbine, there are a few places you can buy them. For starters, you can always check gunsinternational.com and gunbroker.com for private sellers and auctions. Similarly, budsgunshop.com and Cabela’s are always good places to check out. However, I don’t recommend even bothering with Dick’s Sporting Goods, because you know, they’re dicks.

You may also enjoy our piece on History’s Most Influential Firearms

Mosin Nagant Stock

Mosin Nagant Archangel

You can be sure that there are tons of aftermarket options considering that there are nearly 40 million of these guys out there. The original stocks were famous for their unusually straight grip and short length of pull. The Russian cleverly crafted them this way to make them as universal as possible while also taking into account that their soldiers were often wearing thick coats. There are currently several great modern stock varieties out there that are worth considering. The most popular is probably the Pro Mag Archangel. This drop-in stock is not your standard accessory. Pro Mag manufactures all their products in America and has been supplying law enforcement and civilian shooters with top-notch accessories for several years. In fact, they’re one of the leading handgun magazine manufacturers in the world.

Archangel Stock
Mosin Nagant Archangel Stock

Although the Mosin Nagant is traditional, but that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way. That being said, the MNAR stock is a great way to transform your conventional rifle into a modern marvel. This sweet setup provides users with a solid AR grip profile and overall innovative bullpup design. There are several other popular options to update your Mosin Nagant including several from Boyd’s Gun Stocks. These wooden stocks are decently ergonomic but are primarily known for their gorgeous wooden laminates.

Boyds Mosin Nagant Stock
Boyds Gun Stock With Nutmeg Laminate

Mosin Nagant Ammo

The Mosin chambers the Russian 7.62x54mm round, which closely resembles the classic 7.62x51mm NATO. The Russian round – manufactured in 1891 specifically for the Nagant – is slightly longer. These cartridges are also used by the Dragunov sniper rifle and Winchester Model 1895 lever-action repeater.

Because of their extensive military use, military surplus rounds are the easiest to find. Besides for the solid availability, this ammo is also quite cheap. You can usually find surplus ammo for 25-40 center per round. Just keep in mind that there are some drawbacks to milsurp rounds. These shelved rounds will cause a ton of fouling to your rifle and are not the most reliable. That being the case, I wouldn’t use them for anything but plinking. Otherwise, I recommend Winchester’s White Box Ammo FMJ.

Dragunov
Dragunov Sniper Rifle

Mosin Nagant Scope Mount

The easiest way to convert the Mosin Nagant into a sporting rifle is by adding a scope mount. There are a couple of options to consider, including rails and Weaver-style mounts. I like the Aim Sports scope mount short rail mostly because it’s affordable and easy to install on your nagant rifle. However, I’m a big fan of the Leapers Accushot 1-piece mount. The aircraft aluminum mount keeps your scope as close to the barrel as possible and offers easy installation.

Conclusion

The Mosin Nagant has proven to be one of the most resilient rifles of the 20th century and is still a great buy. Although it can be seen as a historical military weapon, many people are modernizing it for plinking and hunting. In fact, there are tons of accessories and attachments available for folks looking to beef-up the Mosin Nagant. Nevertheless, you should first find out if your model is worth any money as a collector’s item before making any big changes.

Thanks for Joining us here at Gunivore!

Sam M

Sam is an avid firearms enthusiast who loves sharing his knowledge and experience with fellow gunivores.

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