The Good, The Bad, and The Overrated...What are your experiences?

**AMF** · Posted On: 4/21/2010 11:05pm

Originally Posted by Hooded Justice

Out of curiosity is there any reason you are choosing a Mosin over any other bolt action?

Not really, read and re-read Scrappers write up on it and decided it sounded good to use for big game out to longer distances.

And I wanted a project gun.

**Cy Q. Faunce** · Posted On: 4/21/2010 11:33pm

Originally Posted by Scrapper

The Bad:
The price of a name-brand 1911. It's ridiculous. While a wonderful weapon, it's still just a a full-size SA auto with an 8-round mag (most of the time). More practical guns go for 1/3 the price of most name-brand 1911's.

I think the magazine capacity gripe is absolute bullshit, but I agree about the inordinate cost of the name-brand 1911's. Their workmanship pales in comparison to what was available in this model from the 1920's to the 1960's.

I own a Sistema 1927 that rivals any modern custom gun for hand craftsmanship. $350 for the gun, $200 in modifications...and it outshoots Kimbers, Springfields, and all the rest.

The .45 is a low-pressure cartridge, so older models in that chambering can be considered without prejudice. I would examine older 9mms, 7.63mm Mausers, Tokarevs, and the like with something that could detect metal fatigue, like a magnetic flux device or a CT scan.

**Mr. Machette** · Posted On: 4/22/2010 11:52am

Originally Posted by AMF

Thanks for all the info and you sold me cold on not altering the Mosin.

I still want one just to shoot and for historical sake; but it will remain as is unless it is in poor shape and it becomes a safety issue to shoot it as is.

I have a Weatherby 30-06 BTW, it has slain it's fair share of game and I will probably use it when I go hunt the bigger game.

Nice! Enjoy it man!

They can be found at Big 5 sporting goods pretty regularly.

Check the serial numbers on the bolt and the receiver. If they match, you've got a good chance at having proper head space.

Here's a website that will help you read all the arsenal stamps, and "decode" the rifles history. Some of these have been around!

http://www.mosinnagant.net/

There is the off chance that you might come across a Soviet sniper rifle that was rearsenaled into a standard 91-30 postwar. This was the fate of many of them. These will be drilled and tapped to except this particular scope mount: http://www.kalinkaoptics.com/pu-mosi...ews-set-1.html

Kalinka can sell you the scope to go with it as well. The holes will be hidden by the rifle stock though. Ex-snipers can be identified by this Cyrillic "C N" marking:

If you can find one of these, then you've got your scoped Mosin. And the real deal to boot! All you'll have to modify is the stock to make space for the scope mount, and invest in one of these:
http://www.buymilitaria.com/mn_htm_f..._bolt_body.htm

If you use the bolt head that came with the rifle, your head space will stay true, even with the new bolt body. (with extremely rare exception...)

Props on the Weatherby too man. That's classy!

**Robstafarian** · Posted On: 4/25/2010 1:48pm

Mister Machette, that was beautiful (this coming from a man who still mourns the burning of the Library of Alexandria).

My own take on this theme is extremely short, as I'm not very experienced, but I couldn't resist chiming in.

The Good:

Rock Island 1911s: I paid $395 for my NIB GI, not counting FFL transfer fee, and it's all I need. It is my own fault for not checking out GI sights prior to purchase, however, so I'm willing to go the expense of adding sights I can see. Damn, I'm tired of being reminded how much I need range time (I haven't fired this weapon in almost a year). They have a lifetime warranty, almost anything made by Armscor (the parent company of RIA) can be ordered by calling Ivan at the US offices in Pahrump, and the primary gunsmith (the world famous Arnel) is available for custom builds.
Rossi Revolvers: Scrapper reviewed one of these in his Budget Gun series, and my father has one. It was cheap, excluding the dealer's markup my father should've known to avoid (a look at the rest of the store's inventory gives a clue regarding the percentage), and it's very smooth all the way around. I can decock that thing without having to think about it, whereas my 1911 shoots smooth and I have nightmares about decocking it.

The Bad:

The sound of someone firing .44 Magnum two stalls over (indoor range). I have even more reason to go back to the range now that I have my own hearing protection (NRR 30db).

The Overrated:

Glocks: I grant you that they're reliable, but that's about all I grant you. I hate the grip, I hate the weight (I prefer heavy to light), I hate the trigger pull (I almost popped a boner the first time I fired a 1911, which was years after I fired a GLOCK 19), I hate the lack of a manual safety, and I hated the way the slide was released every time I inserted a magazine. Other than that, I hate the way Glock refuses to change. The interchangeable backstraps seem to be, if anything, a response to Beretta's PX4 (I think the 90-TWO has the feature as well). If a new generation of Glocks get an "A1-style" overhaul, I'll have more respect for the company. Until then, their "perfection" slogan is worth less to me than Scheisse.