Mosin Nagant M38 for outdoor protection?
- Thread starter JasonGTA
- Start date
Short barrel 12 guage pump with tritium night sights. Load up the tube with 00 buck for the first "panic" shot (bit of spread, more likely to hit), then 3 slugs to really lay it on.
You can rack rounds with a pump WAY faster than with a bolt. A slung 12.5" shorty is handy and easy to carry. If you miss, you don't have to worry about the round hitting a random camper a mile and a half off.
For hunting, an M38 or M44 is a great choice in the bush. For everyday carry/bear protection, a pump 12 guage is a better choice.
If you have $$ to throw at it, a good 45/70 lever in a short "Guide Gun" configuration would be my second choice. A pre Remlin Marlin Guide Gun, or one of the many custom/small manufacture ones out there (be prepared to pay... a lot... for one of those) is a go-to choice for a lot of northern outfitters who have to contend with Polar Bears - which are considerably bigger and tougher to drop than even grizzlies.
That's my opinion, there are many others.
You can rack rounds with a pump WAY faster than with a bolt. A slung 12.5" shorty is handy and easy to carry. If you miss, you don't have to worry about the round hitting a random camper a mile and a half off.
For hunting, an M38 or M44 is a great choice in the bush. For everyday carry/bear protection, a pump 12 guage is a better choice.
If you have $$ to throw at it, a good 45/70 lever in a short "Guide Gun" configuration would be my second choice. A pre Remlin Marlin Guide Gun, or one of the many custom/small manufacture ones out there (be prepared to pay... a lot... for one of those) is a go-to choice for a lot of northern outfitters who have to contend with Polar Bears - which are considerably bigger and tougher to drop than even grizzlies.
That's my opinion, there are many others.
Costwise the M38 is good bang for buck.. but it is a heavy rifle with a punishing recoil and report if you don't have safety gear on, as you are not likely to have on while hiking.
Lots of better options on the market if you you are willing to put out a few extra bucks.
Lots of better options on the market if you you are willing to put out a few extra bucks.
I've enjoyed shooting my M38 and would be confident using in the role the OP is asking about, though it would be just one of several other good options available to me.
If planning on using the M38, I would probably suggest making sure that the action is smooth, it doesn't suffer from Mosin sticky bolt (that can be fixed) and that it's been fired enough to confirm that rounds feed well off of the magazine. When I first got my M38 out to the range, she'd become awfully hard to cycle after firing and I even had to replace the extractor after it broke trying to tap the bolt open, but after cleaning her out as recommended on various You Tube videos she now handles just fine.
Though an SKS might suffice, I'd prefer the 7.62x54R cartridge when faced with bears.
If planning on using the M38, I would probably suggest making sure that the action is smooth, it doesn't suffer from Mosin sticky bolt (that can be fixed) and that it's been fired enough to confirm that rounds feed well off of the magazine. When I first got my M38 out to the range, she'd become awfully hard to cycle after firing and I even had to replace the extractor after it broke trying to tap the bolt open, but after cleaning her out as recommended on various You Tube videos she now handles just fine.
Though an SKS might suffice, I'd prefer the 7.62x54R cartridge when faced with bears.
safehunter
Regular
- Location
- South Western Onterrible
It must be late cause I can't see jack in that pic. That's why my vote would be the 12 gauge pump (or semi) with lots of buck and slugs.
- Location
- West Central Alberta
Get something with a decent safety so you don't shoot yourself..
BeaverMeat
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nanaimo, B.C.
Agreed. The M-N safety isn't the greatest design for safe and quick disengagement.
Chefhunter
CGN Regular
- Location
- Maple ridge
Is that a sasquatch?
Fixed it for you...
Where's the thread where the guy tested a bunch of high velocity slugs for bear defense... and they failed. I'd rather have the M38/44, personally. X54r round is quite potent against almost anything.
- Location
- Not really sure.
My m38 comes with me when I go hiking/camping on crown land in the Rockies. I love my m38's and it's my go to rifle.
I find the recoil quite manageable to be quite honest, it's compact, hit's like a truck and plenty accurate.
I find the recoil quite manageable to be quite honest, it's compact, hit's like a truck and plenty accurate.
Love my M38 and the cartridge is suitable for the mentioned application; although as mentioned the safety is not conducive to emergency deployment where speed is needed.
I also would not really want to carry around a locked an loaded mosin action slung over my shoulder with the barrel next to my ear. In a war, sure but not while hiking alone in the bush. Unless the rifle will be carried muzzle forward in the ready position.
A 30-30 lever gun would be optimum, but I feel the OP is not looking to buy a new gun for this and would rather use an existing one that he already has.
I also would not really want to carry around a locked an loaded mosin action slung over my shoulder with the barrel next to my ear. In a war, sure but not while hiking alone in the bush. Unless the rifle will be carried muzzle forward in the ready position.
A 30-30 lever gun would be optimum, but I feel the OP is not looking to buy a new gun for this and would rather use an existing one that he already has.
safehunter
Regular
- Location
- South Western Onterrible
I think you are talking about Brobee's gel test thread. It shows some slugs are better than others and some slugs are fail at penetration. Pick the right slugs, aka brenneke. I like 54r too and no denying the power but I can't see myself being split second accurate lining up a black front post with the black rear notch at the black bear in the black night. That bolt better cycle like butter as well, something mosins ( including mine ) are not known for.
My shotgun sports a red dot and a flashlight. That and a mag of brenneke slugs with some buck in the saddle and I'm confident of overcoming a blackie in less than ideal conditions. It's what I hunt them with, after covering myself with in turkey fryer oil and bacon fat.
But I thought that ruthlessly attacking the character of people who disagree on the ultimate bear defences was a mandatory initiation right to CGN. God knows the endless numbers of people who'd have already been eaten had it not been for these threads telling them that their rifles and shotguns were woefully inadequate! I think that I'll start carrying my 9.3x62 for bear defence if only to urge everyone else to upgrade to a real calibre, not some measly 7.62x54R.....
