The Gateway... it all starts with an SKS

Hovenator

Hovenator

CGN Regular
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BC Fraser Valley
So this is how it all starts I guess! I bought an SKS a little while ago. 1955 Russian. What a well built rifle for really an unbelievable price.
So now I find myself looking at the Mosin Nagant. I'd like to have a little more accurate longer range shooter. I'm still quite new to this sport of shooting so I'm not sure if this a a reasonable way to go to achieve this. Would I be better off looking at a newer hunting rifle?
My ultimate goal is to do some accuracy shooting practice without breaking the bank.
I do like the look and feel of the Red Rifles though.

Opinions?
 
It depends on what you want it for, the Mosin are great for longer range shooting, but if you want it for hunting I'd probably look at other choices.
Mosins are rather heavy and long, for walking in the bush they will be awkward to get around.
 
Hovenator said:
No hunting. Just target shooting.
Would ammo be cheaper as surplus for the Mosin or as off the shelf stuff for a modern rifle?
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Surplus is always far more affordable, let around the rifle was designed around that ammunition.
 
Mosins are nice as I have two myself . But if you are looking for a long range rifle , just about any modern bolt action hunting rifle with a scope would probably be better.....maybe in 223 or 308 . If you are planning to do a lot of range shooting , the 223 may be best due to the lack of recoil.....just my opinion...
 
For the price get a mosin. You won't lose more than $20 when you sell it and they are fun full powered plinking.
I wouldn't say they are more accurate than an sks though. Depends on the gun and there are lots of sewer pipes out there. Mind you my sks is exceptionally accurate - for an sks. There are also exceptional mosins. The usual milsurp quality spectrum I guess.
Mosins are easier to clean than a sks. No gas tube and Pistons. Just pull the bolt, rinse and patch.
There is always the k31 if you are after milsurp accuracy, but ammo and gun are easily double the cost.
223 isn't a bad suggestion. A savage (cough axis since budget is a priority) would be more accurate and easier to scope.
 
If your new to shooting you'll really benefit from getting lots of practice. The Mosin is a great way to do this as the ammo is cheap and typically the Mosin is fairly accurate. When picking one out try to find one with a nice bore and a good trigger or be prepared to watch some YouTube and do your own trigger job. They're easy to work on.

There's no better deal on shooting a .308 sized round with some real power behind it.
 
MuthaFunk said:
If your new to shooting you'll really benefit from getting lots of practice. The Mosin is a great way to do this as the ammo is cheap and typically the Mosin is fairly accurate. When picking one out try to find one with a nice bore and a good trigger or be prepared to watch some YouTube and do your own trigger job. They're easy to work on.

There's no better deal on shooting a .308 sized round with some real power behind it.
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I like this opinion the best ^^ because he gave reasons and mentioned all the positives except the cool "antique" factor.;)
 
I like simple and easy to work on! There is just something about using a well built peace of history that appeals to me. I guess as I get older I see the value of the well made things of the past vs most of the cheaper stuff made these days. My folks still have a working fridge in their house that was made in the 50's!
 
Hovenator said:
I like simple and easy to work on! There is just something about using a well built peace of history that appeals to me. I guess as I get older I see the value of the well made things of the past vs most of the cheaper stuff made these days. My folks still have a working fridge in their house that was made in the 50's!
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I hear you! Back in the fifties, they had all the technical stuff figured out but they had not gotten around to making things intentionaly obsolete yet.
 
Umka said:
Mosin's ammo is more expensive than SKS's, but you will shoot it less :D
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Lol, that wasn't the case for me. I shoot my mosin and svt a lot more than my sks. I found I like the x54r round a lot more than x39, just opened up a new crate of x54r.

To the op, grab a mosin, you won't regret it if you get a nice shooting specimen. It will fit the bill for what you want it to do, or a 223 with a scope would be another good call.
 
If you want a real blast (literally), find a Mosin M38 or 44. The fireball is amazing. However, if you are at all recoil sensitive, the Mosins pack quite a kick. The metal buttpad and boney shoulders don't go well.
The ammo is cheap but I can't say Mosins are accurate as a whole. There are some that are super tight and others are terrible. QC wasn't a priority back in the good ol' war years!
If you want a milsurp with some history, may I suggest a Israeli Mauser rechambered in .308? Made by CZ. They show up on the EE regularly. Consistently more accurate than a Mosin. Recoil is very manageable even with the metal buttpad. Better quality and .308 ammo is versatile and you can handload also.
And you still have a .30 cal round!
 
I would add, not only does it start with an SKS, after many 10's of thousands of dollars on other guns and years later, I find myself buying more again.
They're not only low priced still, but offer amazing reliability and exceptional accuracy with Barnaul. I am seriously considering having Dave at Hical build me one on an aluminum chasis with his 10-round XCR pistol mag system and a quality red dot... would be a fun range toy!
 
Robert Nicholson said:
I hear you! Back in the fifties, they had all the technical stuff figured out but they had not gotten around to making things intentionaly obsolete yet.
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This is so true. You could even say by 1900 they were making better firearms than they do today........unless of course you get into the 2500$ range, but even some of those are junk.
 
Philthy1 said:
This is so true. You could even say by 1900 they were making better firearms than they do today........unless of course you get into the 2500$ range, but even some of those are junk.
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The $2500 range is really not even the starting point anymore for a well-made rifle of heirloom quality.
 
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