RoninSpirit
New member
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
Hi! Interested hearing what you guys think about the Finnish M39 mosin nagant compared to other mosin? I have been looking for one in Canada and they're really hard to come by 
.
.
Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant
- Thread starter RoninSpirit
- Start date
RoninSpirit
New member
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
Thanks for your reply, you're right I have seen a very good one for $2k mark on ####### about two weeks ago. I missed out on that one, and it was sold pretty much same day.
They usually shoot well, depending on "condition"
Just like any other milsurp, when you can pick one up in excellent condition and feed it ammunition it likes, it will usually shoot very well and function flawlessly.
IMHO, the M39 deserves its reputation as one of the best variants, but a lot of the hype out there is overblown.
I've had several M39s go through my safes and onto the gunshow tables because they just didn't impress me enough to hold onto them.
That doesn't mean I don't like them or appreciate the model. I do.
Just don't expect them to be tack drivers with surplus Chinese or any other commercial/surplus offerings.
Over the past five years, I've sold off all of my Finn Mosins, other than an M91 that was refurbed by Tikka in 1942 with a very unique serial number. I kept this rifle because it shoots better than any of my other Mosins, including the sniper versions. It also shoots 308, 310, 311, and 312 diameter bullets with little to no difference or preference, if they're hand loaded to suit it.
It shoots any surplus out of the crate ammo into sub 3 in groups, mostly, depending on the quality of the ammo, or better at 100 yds.
It will shoot hand loads tighter than my old eyes can hold and with a good shooter, hold moa consistently.
I went off topic here to explain that even though the M39s are fine rifles, a lot of the things said about them are hype.
M91 or M91/30 Finn rifles usually shoot very well, as long as they are in VG to EXC condition and they start at $650 for a VG to $1000 for EXC condition.
If you're looking for a "special" Mosin, before buying, get good pictures, including the bore. Most of the Mosins, including the M39s we see for sale have been well used, most well maintained, but not all of them. BE CAREFUL.
Check out gun shows, where you can get some hands-on experience, and check for matching numbers and bore/stock condition.
The Mosins for sale right now are straight out of the storage crates and will usually be clean, but mixmasters with various degrees of wear.
You need to be able to recognize what a worn crown, throat or muzzle looks like. Especially if you intend to shoot the rifle, as all will have a negative effect on accuracy if depending on how bad they're worn.
Just like any other milsurp, when you can pick one up in excellent condition and feed it ammunition it likes, it will usually shoot very well and function flawlessly.
IMHO, the M39 deserves its reputation as one of the best variants, but a lot of the hype out there is overblown.
I've had several M39s go through my safes and onto the gunshow tables because they just didn't impress me enough to hold onto them.
That doesn't mean I don't like them or appreciate the model. I do.
Just don't expect them to be tack drivers with surplus Chinese or any other commercial/surplus offerings.
Over the past five years, I've sold off all of my Finn Mosins, other than an M91 that was refurbed by Tikka in 1942 with a very unique serial number. I kept this rifle because it shoots better than any of my other Mosins, including the sniper versions. It also shoots 308, 310, 311, and 312 diameter bullets with little to no difference or preference, if they're hand loaded to suit it.
It shoots any surplus out of the crate ammo into sub 3 in groups, mostly, depending on the quality of the ammo, or better at 100 yds.
It will shoot hand loads tighter than my old eyes can hold and with a good shooter, hold moa consistently.
I went off topic here to explain that even though the M39s are fine rifles, a lot of the things said about them are hype.
M91 or M91/30 Finn rifles usually shoot very well, as long as they are in VG to EXC condition and they start at $650 for a VG to $1000 for EXC condition.
If you're looking for a "special" Mosin, before buying, get good pictures, including the bore. Most of the Mosins, including the M39s we see for sale have been well used, most well maintained, but not all of them. BE CAREFUL.
Check out gun shows, where you can get some hands-on experience, and check for matching numbers and bore/stock condition.
The Mosins for sale right now are straight out of the storage crates and will usually be clean, but mixmasters with various degrees of wear.
You need to be able to recognize what a worn crown, throat or muzzle looks like. Especially if you intend to shoot the rifle, as all will have a negative effect on accuracy if depending on how bad they're worn.
Last edited:
Good points above regarding the ammo. I handload and replicate Finn service ammo that M39 was designed for (Lapua brass + VV N140 + Lapua D166 bullet). My particular M39 has perfect bore and shoots sub-MOA with my handloads.
They usually do, when they're in the condition you describe with a load they like. N140 and N150, or N550 are all good powder choices fro the cartridge.
RoninSpirit
New member
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
Thanks guys really good info. I definitely ask for muzzle and bore photos when buying milsurps. I'm in Ottawa and plan on attending the Renfrew Gun & Hunting show at the begining of March with hopes of finding one in person.
As for hand reloading 7.62 x 53R rounds with Lapua D166 given you have the appropriately throated barrel, what dies do you use? Are the dimensions close enough to 7.62 x 54R that you can simply use dies for those?
As always I appreciate your time for sharing your knowledge!
As for hand reloading 7.62 x 53R rounds with Lapua D166 given you have the appropriately throated barrel, what dies do you use? Are the dimensions close enough to 7.62 x 54R that you can simply use dies for those?
As always I appreciate your time for sharing your knowledge!
Can age/date of manufacture/refurb, reliably be related to the type of stock finger joints?
Are there "better" guns depending on finger joints.
I understand round joints are pre and during war. Pointed joints are transition during war. Square joints post war. Just what I read on line.
Are there "better" guns depending on finger joints.
I understand round joints are pre and during war. Pointed joints are transition during war. Square joints post war. Just what I read on line.
I have two nice M39's. One is a 1968, the other a 1944 (I think. I don't have them in front of me.). They are, indeed, nice rifles.
All Mosin Nagants are one of the more often underrated, ignored, and under valued surplus rifles. The history alone is fascinating, at least to a person interested in such things. Sure, they aren't beautifully handcrafted pieces of art, like some Mausers, etc., but are functionally a wonder to appreciate. If you are looking for pristine, unfired, all matching, one of a kind rifles, look elsewhere. If you want a rifle that has seen one or more change of hands, country, model designation, and so on - Mosin Nagant are a great subject rifle to own, collect, research and shoot.
All Mosin Nagants are one of the more often underrated, ignored, and under valued surplus rifles. The history alone is fascinating, at least to a person interested in such things. Sure, they aren't beautifully handcrafted pieces of art, like some Mausers, etc., but are functionally a wonder to appreciate. If you are looking for pristine, unfired, all matching, one of a kind rifles, look elsewhere. If you want a rifle that has seen one or more change of hands, country, model designation, and so on - Mosin Nagant are a great subject rifle to own, collect, research and shoot.
RoninSpirit
New member
- Location
- Ottawa, ON
Agree on that history view point! Mosins are rich in heritage and history, battle worn and have a story. Lucky that you have two M39!! Still looking for my first ever
Wow this thread really picked up! Happy everyone joined in!
Is it that or are your eyes having a bit more trouble seeing the sights? Some folks find the sight protector "wings" awkward to use.
The best mosin hands down is m38. Short and light. I find it very easy to quickly point it on target. It will also teach you the importance of good hearing protection in no time. You are probably not going to win a PRS match with one but you will probably make more friends with it. It’s an instant conversation starter. They will usually ask “What are you shooting” after they realize that the bright flash and deafening boom was not someone’s gun exploding. After you graciously let them shoot a few rounds of cheap surplus ammo they will go back to their bench and quietly wonder if it’s really worth it spending your life trying to squeeze out that extra 0.1 Moa out of their hand loads.
What you're describing, is more a leftover from the Cold War period of our history. The same thing but maybe worse was done to denigrate the Japanese Arisaka rifles and with many "uneducated" folks those old "cliche" phrases are still being bandied about.
Another fallacy is the "30-30" was never issued by governments. Most here know that isn't true. They were and of course, so was the ammunition, albeit not in any combat roles that I know of.
Rear guard troops, in North America and the UK, maybe others, issued the rifles/ammo to rear guard troops.
France issued Winchester M1905 semi-auto rifles chambered for the 351 Win cartridge right to the end of WWII and later, to rear guard troops.
Off-topic and I apologize but descriptive of misconceptions.
There was an article by a very good milsurp shooter, David Fortier in a "Best of Shooting Times" magazine describing a test he did at 100/200/300 yds, hits on life-size silhouette targets, during timed fire (most rounds on target in 60 seconds) and for accuracy, using proven surplus ammo they liked and commercial offerings they liked.
The Mosin came out better overall, but not by much and maybe a different shooter could have had slightly different results.
I've done similar tests, with other folks, some of whom would not believe the Mosin Nagant platform could possibly compete with a Mauser 98.
The results were pretty much the same as those in the article.
The only real difference for most shooters is that they are used to the configuration lines of the 98s and other types, so the lines of Mosins don't appeal to them. Some base their preference on ergonomics.
