You will know that I'm shooting this regularly when you see ads go up here to help finance my shooting habit. Ouch.
I have to say, though, that it's cool to shoot a rimmed rifle cartridge. It feels so Old School and retro. Of course, if I got a Moisin-Nagant, I'd be paying half as much for rimmed Commie surplus rimmed rifle ammo. With whopping great fireballs at the end of the muzzle.
And you can pick them up for a buck and a quarter. I guess this might be my next addition to the gun safe ...
With your tastes in firearms, it sounds like a C&R is in your future. Cheap & easy to get, & gets you FFL discounts at some on-line retailers.
ReplyDeleteNot to mention store-to-door shipping.
I love my Mosin. But you'll never get the accuracy or smooth action of a SMLE out of one.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree on the C&R. Saves a lot of money.
If you get a M-44, this should be worth reading.
ReplyDeleteFor Don: Mosin Nagant M44 Brake
http://freenorthcarolina.blogspot.com/2011/03/for-don.html
By all means get a Mosin. It's a cheap date for sure, and it's fun to shoot a cartridge that was invented in Imperial Russia and outlived the Soviet Union. If you have any doubts, this comparison chart should answer any questions:
ReplyDeletehttp://mouseguns.com/compare.htm
The C&R license is worth looking into. I just got mine, but I haven't bought anything with it yet. (I'd buy another P-64 pistol or two since they're C&R eligible, but I don't live in a free state. Rifles & shotguns only here.)
I assume you're thinking about a SMLE for the .303. It's a great gun with a smooth action. However, unless you reload, the ammo's a killer.
ReplyDeleteFor the Moisin-Nagant, it's still a great bargain. The M44 is a little handier to shoot. When you buy surplus ammo look for the light ball ammo it recoils a little less and I'd strongly recommend a slip on recoil pad.
+1 on the C&R license. Mine has more than paid for it's self on the wholesale pricing for accessories.
The huge fireballs tend to only come out of the carbine-length Mosins, the M44 and the M38; the full-length 91/30, not so much. The carbines have pretty much been scarfed up, although you can still find them occasionally. The 91/30's are still available in large numbers, but won't be forever, so the days of $69 Mosins will eventually end.
ReplyDeleteClassic Firearms has a good selection of Mosins at a good price, if your local gunshops have a less-than-optimal bunch to choose from.
a slip on recoil pad.
ReplyDeleteYes or like I have, a rubber butt pad that uses the existing butt plate screws.
http://www.combathunting.com/MOSIN_NAGANT-Mosin_Nagant_Rifle_91_30_Rubber_Butt_Pad.html
Since everyone else said get a C&R, I'll say get a reloading press and some dies so you can shoot more .303 Brit. Maybe even cast your own bullets.
ReplyDeleteA C&R was something I put off for too many years. The 303 Enfield is fun to shoot,the #5 isn't much fun to shoot but the other's are pure bliss.
ReplyDeleteReload.
ReplyDeleteIt is inevitable. Do not resist.
I had a C&R, but didn't renew it. Between the wonderful (and cheap) local FFL that I found and gunbroker, I'm able to get any C&R gun I want for about what I'd get with a C&R without any of the hassle.
ReplyDeleteAs for Ammo for the Enfield, try Ammunition to Go:
http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/product_info.php/pName/20rds-303-british-prvi-partizan-174gr-fmj-ammo/cName/303-british-fmj-ammo
Prvi Partizan FMJ for $14.95 per box ain't bad. You can save even more if you buy 5 boxes at a time. They are a good company. I buy ammo for my K31 from them, and lots of other stuff as well.
There is a vendor at the Saxet Gun Show in Austin that sells good Mosin-Nagants. He regularly has dozens of them at the show from $100 out the door to $154 sorted and cleaned with bayonet, sling, cleaning kit, and then $400 scoped Finnish sniper versions.
ReplyDelete