I am looking into starting to collect WWII rifles. There is a big gun show near me at the end of the month and I'm planning on buying one there. My plan is to find a quality Mosin Nagant 91/30. I've done plenty of research on markings, features, etc. I don't want to spend alot of money on my first rifle for the collection, so I was wondering if this rifle would be the best way to go. I do like some other rifles better, mainly the British Enfield, but they're much more expensive.

8mm Mauser, better cartridge than the 7.62 X 54R of the Mosin. Easier to find ammo. Mauser action is hard to beat. Tons of them out there. They used to go for $25.

Those look alot more expensive, being mostly in the $200-$500 range. The 91/30s I've seen are mostly around $100-$200.

The 91/30 would be a good start for your collection. They are reasonably priced , there's still plenty of them out there, and ammo is easy to find. And, they are a lot of fun to shoot. Go for it.

ANY Mosin is fine. They make some carbines, (Mod. 44?), and the Mod. 39 was made for Finland.

The 91/30 to look for is one with an octagonal receiver. And then you can start looking at Mausers!

My plan was to either look for a hex-receiver 91/30, or one of the converted Dragoon models.

quote:

Originally posted by J.D.Randell:
ANY Mosin is fine. They make some carbines, (Mod. 44?), and the Mod. 39 was made for Finland.

The 91/30 to look for is one with an octagonal receiver. And then you can start looking at Mausers!

The receivers that were used for the M39 were mostly captured from the Soviets during the Winter War.

So OP, how did you do?

There is a lot of history to be found in the old Mosin.

IMO the M39's are the best of Mosins, followed by the American mades ones. The Remington's and Westinghouses are very nice.

Tula is considered to be the best of the Soviet guns, but they were also made in most of the soviet block countries, and china. I've had two carbines, a polish 44, and a russian 38, and both had issues. I've had better luck with their longer, bigger brothers.

Most of the ammo is corrosive, so be sure and clean them, but it is plentiful and cheap.

This is some of the best stuff right here:
http://www.jgsales.com/product..._42/products_id/4431

The 148gr russian ball is the best I've found.

Get a couple, you will shoot them alot, and have some interesting history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragunov_sniper_rifle

Step up too one of these ; Dragunov !

AIM surplus has 'em
http://www.aimsurplus.com/catalog.aspx?groupid=12