I was checking out Shotgun News and ran across an add for a company called JG Sales. They have the Mosin Nagant 91/30 rifles for 79.95. I love the looks of these. Is this a joke? I know they aren't overly expensive for the most part. They have good reviews on the site, but I want someones opinion I can trust. You folks on here have yet to steer me wrong. Should I stay away from these?

West-b'gawd Coalman,

I have a MN that has been sporterized, with the bolt turned down, synthetic stock installed, scope added, etc. It will only shoot groups in the 2" range, at 100 yards, largely because the barrel is not in the best condition. If I were in the market to buy another one, I would insist on seeing it first-hand, before forking over even $80.

Keep in mind you can get an H&R for not a whole lot more and then you know for sure what you're getting.

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"For my part, I prefer a sensible median between trying to shoot an animal across a township and getting close enough to ram the rifle muzzle down its throat." - Jack O'Connor

The MNs are a bargain at the price. Yes, they are of an obsolete design, long and clunky-looking for the modern shooter, but they are strong, reliable, and durable in the extreme. Most of the arsenal-refinished rifles on the market have at least Very Good bores -- my two, a 91/30 and a M38, have beautiful pristine bores, and with Bulgarian Heavy Ball surplus ammo or new Sellier& Bellot soft point ammo both will shoot 2" groups at 100 yards with the standard iron sights.

JG Sales is an importer, I believe. Just give them a call but that sounds a out right. Anyway, that will be plus shipping and FFL fees.

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MikeG

J&G have been in business for years in Prescott, Az. Many a tire has been worn down between here and there buying/selling firearms and accessories.

As stated, the M-N rifles look like you could use them for axe handles to split firewood (my favorite expressed usage for the two I have is potential tomato stakes!), but must admit, the 7.62x54R cartridge is almost akin to a .308 Win or low powered 30-06. The rifles CAN be pretty accurate, but remember the military battle sights are regulated for the lowest setting at 300 "paces". The average Russian peasant didn't know metrics or yardage, but knew full well what a "pace" was. They shoot high unless allowance is made at 100 yds.

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"Keep Off The Ridgeline!"

"Firearms only have two enemies - rust and politicans" author unknown

I think I may get one. For some reason I think they're great looking. Hex or round barrell? Which would be best?

Hex is older. Think they switched to the round style to save production costs back in the 30s? I don't have the exact date.

Once in a while you'll get one made for the czar by Remington or Westinghouse, but those will bring a premium (and full well look like they have been dragged through 2 world wars).

Have fun.

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MikeG

The M91/30s are good shooters. Remingtons and Westinghouse are OK, but the best MN varient, IMO, is the Finn M39.

I've dealt with J&G many times with 3 Mosin's 91-30's (2 round and 1 hex), a Yugo SKS and a CZ 82. Very good people to do business with. I got a C&R license just for the purpose of buying these old work horses. Wouldn't buy one without the C&R. The dealers charges for the FFL transfer will almost half the cost of the rifle. It is nice getting a rifle or pistol delivered to your doorstep by UPS.

Wish I could visit them like kdub has suggested.

Greg

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'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.

NRA Life Member

Great piece of history! The barrels are all round, its the reciever that was hexagonal shape and later round. I've got two MN, first is an old 1904 Russian 91 that's been made into a Scout rifle back in the early 90s. Second is a Polish M44 carbine made in 1953 that I pick up NIB in Germany in late 80s. Interesting guns and saw a few this weekend here in Afghanistan.

CD

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De Oppresso Liber

Mosin Nagant rifles grow on you. I surrendered to the temptation on several occasions and have collected a few of them. They have a personality that is unique. A friend of ours shoots them regularly at 200 yards from prone, a fireball comes out and toasts the grass at the muzzle end!

Make no mistake....these are very powerful rifles that have been much maligned.

I love the history connected with them. Hex receivers gave way to round ones and frequently, capture stamps identify where the rifles have been. You can trace the warfare techniques and ideas from huge, long rifles to shorter versions, They are all the same basic rifle components! Imperial government to Socialist changes are all read in the stamps on the receivers.

I had a Westinghouse made MN rifle and that had a slice of history all to itself!You read that correctly....made in the USA.

The rifles are a blast. Please don't pass up the chance to own a dozen or so. When they are gone, that's it.

When SKS rifles were plentiful, we turned our noses up at them. The cheapest SKS I bought was less than $100 and buyers were so sick of them they stayed hanging and lonely on the vendor racks. Now, the prices are much higher and they are harder to find.

Yes....buy some....not one......several.

Flash

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YOU GOTTA DIE OF SOMETHING........ IT MAY AS WELL BE SOMETHING THAT YOU LIKE!

I recently added a 1934 Tula Hex 91/30 to the gun safe. It was gone through by Century Arms and sold through Big 5 Sporting Goods. All numbers match and very good post-war stock. Barrell is very good. $105 out the door. Also scored 560 rounds of Czech silver tips.
Nice shooting gun and accurate enough for my needs. The history and variations of this rifle has kept me reading and checking things for almost a month! The are several very good websites out there also that have more info than you can possibly digest in one sitting. I am extremely pleased with this gun and am looking forward to adding more.
JEFF

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Some people are alive only because it is illegal to kill them.

The MNs are great guns. You need to inspect them for rust but they are very dependable, durable, and I have found to be very accurate. Go for longer guns, they are a bit quieter and I think kick less. As for the 7.62x54R round according to the Lyman reloading handbook:
"This is currently the longest-lived military cartridge around. Originally adopted in 1891 as the Russian mainstay, used through both world wars and continued through post-Soviet era as a light machine gun cartridge. Original ballistics yeilded a 210-grain bullet traveling approximately 2,000 fps. In 1909 it was upgraded to a 150-grain bullet at 2,600 fps. Bullet diameter is nominally .310", however, large variations in groove diameters are the norm here. Some rifles shoot .308" bullets just fine, but some can reach as high as .311 or .312. This can be an extremely accurate cartridge in a good rifle. It's been used throughout Scandinavia as a big-game cartridge and has been necked up and down to just about every conceivable bullet size in Finland."
Personally, I have two MN's and I hunt and shoot those more often than my modern rifles.