Where to begin my search for a Mosin 91/30...
- Thread starter CanuckShooter
- Start date
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
OP, don’t discount a wartime production round receiver. Provided it’s got a nice bore, there’s some charm to the way they look. The tool marks and obviously rushed machining add to their history. They can shoot well enough regardless of their cosmetic condition.
CanuckShooter
CGN frequent flyer
Are most of the bores on the rifles you find at retailers sludged up with Cosmo? If they are, seems like that would make it hard to evaluate.
Is counter-boring easy to spot with a light? From what I've read it's on the last few inches of the bore. How common is counterboring on the Mosins still sitting on retailers' shelves at this point?
That depends on which dealer you're looking at.
Counter boring is very obvious, just look down the muzzle.
OP, it sounds like you're procrastinating and beating the subject to death. The longer you hold off on a purchase the more it's going to cost you.
If you don't actually get out there and physically look at what you want, you will never purchase one.
Most local gun shops and several Canadian Tire stores carry Mosins.
If you're purchasing from one of the banner supporters at the top of the page, they will usually look for a decent one.
Don't expect them to clean them up for you, it's time consuming and expensive to hire someone to do it.
I've never bought one online, because they've always been available at the stores if frequent or at gun shows.
They're becoming less available as supplies dry up. Chinese variants are next to impossible to find but they do show up occaisionally.
CanuckShooter
CGN frequent flyer
No procrastinating here. I was just waiting until I had a day off where I'm free to make a trip to a particular shop to look, which will be Monday. I've been to my Canadian Tire to look at what they had. Pretty expensive for what they were. I believe the one hex receiver was like $850. Was nothing special either. Fairly rough. I've been reading up and watching videos on them in the meantime. I don't want to get there and have no idea what to look for/avoid.
I have four 91/30’s. Three are Finnish captures, the fourth is a 38 dated with a counter bore which is capable of 2” groups. Don’t discount them because of being counter bored. Bore was likely damaged from excessive cleaning with a steel rod. The Finnish captures all shoot well. I paid between $125 and $250 for them so you know I had them for awhile. Going rate locally is $450 and up depending on model and condition. The Polish M44 is another option that are easily found in excellent condition. Mine I had for awhile still in excellent condition. Being a carbine they do recoil more. Most of my shooting with them is with cast bullets with lower powered loads. Any I have bought have been private sales due to stores being more expensive.
Why a “retailer” specifically? There are MANY people including myself, who have Mosins for sale, and we all have excellent ratings. Why the need to get something from crappy tire, or a dealer who’s rifle will probably come full of cosmoline and god knows what else? It seems by being determined to buy from a store, you are halfing (if not more), your buying options.
Still it’s your money of course, and you may have a specific reason you want one from a store. Anyway, good luck!
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Been awhile since I’ve looked at any in a store but I have seen them on racks that had been at the least wiped off. So you might find some clean enough to look down the barrel. I’ve ordered a couple online over the years and they have all been in good shape down the barrel. Gun shows might be another good place to look for one.
Snider Shooter, it sounds like the prices in your area are depressed??? I don't remember seeing an M38 priced in the ranges you mention for at least 5+ years, even the mismatched beaters.
At the last gunshows I attended there were two Polish #11 factory M44s that had been issued but were still matching. Both were priced around $800 and they didn't last until noon.
There were also a half dozen M38 types in various condition, from NFA Good to NFA Exc FTRed. They were also priced in the $800 range and they sold fast.
I don't disbelieve that they are available for the prices mentioned, in the circles you associate. Grab them while you can. It's a recipe to make profits.
The 38’s and 44’s are priced higher. Probably should have added that in my post. Still keeping an eye out for a Russian 44. Every time I hear about one it’s sold before I call about it. I may end up selling one of the 91/30’s as I don’t really need 4.
Only 4??? I thought you had a separate safe just for Mosin variants.
That's a very nice sporter. How well does it shoot.
I hunted for a few seasons, about 6 decades ago with an M91 that had its barrel cut back to 22 inches and had large rear ghost ring silver soldered to the rear sight ladder and a different front sight ramp soldered on.
It was a very accurate rifle and took a lot of game. I sold that rifle because "it wasn't modern/pretty enough." I never really missed it, but every once in a while I think back to the times I had finding .310 bullets and cases to reload. Likely that was my real reason for selling it.
Mosins are just now coming into their own again.
Several of my friends and I got together with our ''best'' Mosin/Mauser combinations for a shoot off at the local club range 5 or so years ago.
We didn't limit our shooting to factory or surplus ammo and the rifles had to be Mosin variants, chambered for 7.62x54R or K98s chambered for the 8x57IS
Surprisingly, as long as the rifles were in equal condition, there was no perceptible difference between the accuracy at 100 yards.
Yes, all of the rifles were shot with handloads.
The significance of this little match was that as long as all conditions are equal and the ammunition is suitable there didn't appear to be much difference in the capabilities between the Mosins and K98 Mausers.
Even with timed shots on target and with smoothness of functions.
Very well matched rifles that are still very capable today.
Your stock wouldn't fit me ergonomically but that's just my preference. That's a very nice looking and capable looking rifle.
I hunted for a few seasons, about 6 decades ago with an M91 that had its barrel cut back to 22 inches and had large rear ghost ring silver soldered to the rear sight ladder and a different front sight ramp soldered on.
It was a very accurate rifle and took a lot of game. I sold that rifle because "it wasn't modern/pretty enough." I never really missed it, but every once in a while I think back to the times I had finding .310 bullets and cases to reload. Likely that was my real reason for selling it.
Mosins are just now coming into their own again.
Several of my friends and I got together with our ''best'' Mosin/Mauser combinations for a shoot off at the local club range 5 or so years ago.
We didn't limit our shooting to factory or surplus ammo and the rifles had to be Mosin variants, chambered for 7.62x54R or K98s chambered for the 8x57IS
Surprisingly, as long as the rifles were in equal condition, there was no perceptible difference between the accuracy at 100 yards.
Yes, all of the rifles were shot with handloads.
The significance of this little match was that as long as all conditions are equal and the ammunition is suitable there didn't appear to be much difference in the capabilities between the Mosins and K98 Mausers.
Even with timed shots on target and with smoothness of functions.
Very well matched rifles that are still very capable today.
Your stock wouldn't fit me ergonomically but that's just my preference. That's a very nice looking and capable looking rifle.
I have only shot it out to the 100 so far. With my cast load I use in all my Mosins it will due 1 1/2 groups. I plan on working a load out just to see what it will do. The stock is actually very comfortable, and adjust at butt and cheek. One of the two synthetic stocks I own. I bought it because it was different the price was below what I could build one for.
There was a time when they could be picked up with all match # for $125/crate, those days, just like Wholesale Sports are long gone.
Solely Outdoors has a couple unissued 91/30s in stock that come with bayonet, clip pouch, cleaning kit for $669. But they're doing a moving sale so 15% off online (and free shipping) or 20% off in-store for $643 or $605, taxes included, respectively.
UNISSUED AFTER THE LAST Factory Thorough Repair.
