What's the fascination with non-collectors and Mosin Nagants?

Cheap, indestructible, and functional. Ammo is widely available and even as on May 2014 880 rounds of Russian Surplus ammo is $240.00. That = out to $0.27 per round which for a rifle this powerful is dirt cheap. ( not counting Tax mind you )

*** EDIT *** Reading Burger's comment about how much he spend for the surplus ammo, I am located in Florida where it's very gun friendly. Some places have the ammo twice as much as other places. Shop around for best deals ;) I picked up a crate that has since been pretty much diminished over a year blasting away at gallon jugs of water and paper targets.

Check out Mosin Nagant torture test on You Tube by Iraqveterran8888, they just about do everything short of sticking TNT into the gun to destroy it and it keeps trucking along.

Now that said and what I purchased in the picture over a couple years... They are not great rifles. I'm not a 'rifle guy' so I just wanted something fun to shoot. Never intended to use them hunting which their are lighter and more accurate rifles around for that.

2 are for history, kept in the safe 100% stock and all matching #. The other 2 black ones are just mine I painted up for actually shooting and not worrying about.

And before you ask, I regret doing the scope mount, lots of trial and error that cost to much for a only so so accurate rifle.

That's why I bought them. Dirt cheap, available affordable ammo, and they will still function and shoot 100 years from now if kept oiled.

They go "bang," and they're cheap. That's enough. Most new American-made rifles these days don't look to me like they're worth having, either, but I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford better rifles.

I have several Mosin's, all but one is a Finn. Those of you who do not understand the Mosin appeal never will, regardless of the reasons you may hear. I don't like Glock's, and no matter what anyone says I never will. That doesn't mean Glocks are junk, it just means I don't like them. The same with you Mosin snobs, just because you don't like them doesn't mean they're junk. Live and let live. If it doesn't float your boat and it doesn't harm you in any way then why are you worried about it? Some people like Mosins, and for a lot it's all they can afford. The way I see it for every new shooter that buys a Mosin there's one more PRO GUN RIGHTS supporter in our ranks. I am not comfortable alienating these people and am surprised that some of you are comfortable with it. Now more than ever before are our gun rights under attack by our own "government". We need a solid unified voice to tell those miscreant bastards NO! This means biting your tongues and keeping your gun snobbery to yourselves. Accept all comers into the ranks, we need them as much as they need us.

I am fascinated that Mosin Nagants are one of the very few rifles sold that are truly appreciating in value. Inflation and "bama" fear has driven up the prices for tactical type weapons and handguns but the fear is wearing off and the hunting style dealers are sitting twittling their thumbs at gun shows.
The ever famous M-1 Garand is hovering around the same price as two years ago. They were the Mosin Nagants of 1963 with a price tag of $89 and only have risen in price around $900 over the last 50+ years as an inflation hedge. Even compared with a lot of other things they are lagging behind. Don`t get me wrong....I have plenty of experience with a M-1 because I was issued one as also the M-14. Both are great rifles but facts are facts. I am a regular at gun shows and average at least three a month. You can dispute my claim if you please but gun prices are my livelihood since retirement. Mosin Nagants are gaining in value because the supply is drying up and people are still buying them.

DeWitt said it-
They are cheap and available, and a lot or new people are joining the "gun owners" group.

I'm in the same boat as you. I've been shooting and hunting for decades and decades - and nobody I know or has ever met owned or did anything with a Mosin Nagant. Hell, I couldn't spell Mosin Nagant until I started to hard this Hunting Section.

I think people who do not know squat about guns - are attracted to them because of the price. Kinda like that those screwdriver sets that cost $.99 cents for a pack of 5........ somebody must buy those, and break them or loose them allot. Meanwhile the rest of us have nice Craftsman and Snap On screwdrivers that last us a lifetime. Like anything else in life - if you are ignorant an don't know the difference between crap and craftsmanship..... you will buy crrap because you cant justify the cost.

Mosins sell. The end. I am a trades day dealer at a very large and well known trades ground between Dallas and Shreveport.
My significant other was an auctioneer for years and collected Swiss K-31s. He left me over 30 of them when He passed. I tried to sell K-31s at $400 and they just did not sell. I offered to trade 1 K-31 for 4 mosins with no trade. I dropped down to 1 for 3 and had a few takers and the mosins sold in one day bringing me more money than for out the rack K-31. That deal soon fizzled and dropped to 1 K-31 for 2 mosins and still did not set the world on fire. I said to heck with it and now just buy mosins outright for whatever I can talk them down to and turn them quickly. I know the K-31 is superior in every way to a mosin and unique as it is just dont win a place at my tables. I do not try with the mosin like the M-39 because they are out of price range for the buying crowd. I do buy and sell the M-44 because the younger crowd seems to be fascinated with the folding bayonet and the World War 2 factor.

Absolutely NO appeal to me, either....and I can't see anyone BUT a collector getting one of these. Like a lot of things, they are initially "cheap" to buy but they are an antique pos that never seems to work right. They are old, heavy, inaccurate and not worth the time or effort to put money into them. You would be further ahead to get a new rifle in a better caliber....but to each his own....but I just can't see it. However, I managed to track down the mythical M/N Graveyard....

The mosin nagant was the first non 22lr rifle I purchased. It's hard to beat a rifle and 440 rounds for $200. It mainly sits in my safe, but really is pretty accurate and wouldn't be afraid to go hunting with it with the right round. Much like pot is the gateway drug. The mosin is the gateway to the rifle world imo. Now the hubbub. After shooting one it is a no frills rifle. Simple iron sights, internal magazine box, and for the most part crappier triggers. So people want to make them better and customize them. And with approximately 17.5 million made a lot of people are going to want to customize.

I have several types of Mosins from carbines to M39 Finns and a few PU snipers. I shoot all of them. The ammo is cheap and the ones I have are fairly accurate. Sub moa with PUs and 1-2+moa on most of the others. People like them people hate them. Some people pay big bucks for 500lb hookers. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

The main reason I know of is because they are one of the cheapest guns you can get. I have seen them for $110. They also seem to be quite reliable and the ammo isn't totally expensive for them even though it is pretty high power. There are also quite a few cool kits for them that can make them like a bullpup and quite a bit shorter as they are quite a long gun.

If I found one for $100 and I didn't have something better to spend that money on, I'd certainly buy one. It wouldn't be my favorite, but it would be something I'd take to an outdoor range from time to time.

But realistically, my .270 Win has much better all-around performance than any Mosin-Nagant, and I can actually find good hunting ammunition for it.

I just wish I hadn't sold my SKS.

I chalk it up to a lot of young boys raised by single mothers. Not having a Dad, extended family of Uncles and cousins to teach them anything of value or practical skills they simply go out and try to be Bruce Willis on the cheap

They want a gun and don't know a cotton pickin' thing about guns, woods, critters, or anything else in life. The like loud noises and think pain is what shooting is all about.

I hear ya... and have nothing against the MN as a firearm (for what it is)... but when you have a ignorant buying public and all this Russian yardsale crap out there for $179 your bound to sell a butt load to the gullible.
30 years ago you could still find .303 British and .30 carbine ammo (surplused) by the pallet... and guess what the hot surplus rifles were then...

So ... a few of you will get all butt hurt... and maybe a few of you will get some sense....

i once owned a savage .30-06 (forgot what the exact model name was but it had a free floating barrel, a detatchable 5 round magazine and polymer stock and it wasn't the shitty axis model) my awful vision made aiming down the scope at 100 yards impossible. i traded a mossberg 500 turkey gun for a (in my opinion) nice, well worn mosin nagant m44 carbine. from what it seems, its only more wealthy people who rag on them. if you cannot afford much they make a great rifle and the ammo isnt all that expensive either. i only target shoot with mine but others have used it well for hunting. everyone has a right to their opinion but if you really want one, as long as you inspect it and make sure its still safe to fire (sadly some are really beat up to the point of being unsafe but the majority are not) you wont regret buying it.

Its the cheapest way to get a large caliber center-fire rifle that makes a big bang and a puts a big hole in paper targets.

I wouldn't be caught dead using a Nagant for any purpose more important than putting holes in paper, and since I already have a 10/22 that does just fine for paper punching, I've never seen any reason to spend money on a Nagant.

It's been my experience that many new people to the sport of shooting who don't have a deep pocket book will often "horde" military surplus rifles of one type or another, because they get more "bang for their buck"---no pun intended. Twenty five years ago you could get SKS rifles for around 100 dollars. These days it'Mosin-Nagants and the like. There are some military surplus rifles--such as the Yugoslavian model 48 Mauser--that are durable, well-made, and accurate.

I remember going to a public range around eight years ago and seeing three rag-tag guys and a young woman come to the range. They brought out a small arsenal of guns--most cheap. Their collection included an SKS and a Mosin-Nagant with a budget scope on it. And they were there to just heat up the barrels of their guns by seeing how fast they could pull the trigger.

I would agree with John de Witt concerning American firearms. There are some firms where quality matters, but other companies are interested in mass-marketing guns at wholesale prices. When I was growing up, even an inexpensive single shot .22 was equipped with a walnut stock. Theses days, a .22 is made to be "disposable".

Frankly I have no use for Putin's house cleanings. They by volume have flooded the surplus market. The supply of Mausers, Enfields, Springfields, Garands, Etc. is dying off. The Swiss K-31 is a choice, but a oddball gun & round. Gun bans on re-importation of M-1 carbines & Garands from South Korea seem to still be holding.
Overall, I think your comment about the cheapest gun in the store is the driving factor.

Only thing I see with surplus of the like is well, better then a BB gun cause they go bang at least. Personally see them at our outdoor ranges, but, not even interested enough I have even touched a Mosin. Now the SKS sell off, at least the rifle does merit interest, for $56.00 each, and $99.00 for a case of a 1000 rounds of fresh production Wolf to feed it.

Given the choice I would STILL choose an SKS over the Mosin every time. Prefer the SKS to most AKs also. Unless the AK is milled, and a heavier quality made gun.

Mosin Nagants

You are holding a piece of history. The 91/30 is the oldest continuous production rifle on planet earth. Millions upon millions have been manufactured and they are still being produced. They make a very versatile hunting rifle and are virtually indestructible. I have one with a fiberforce stock I use for hunting; and several dozen more in original configuration just to round out my collection. I even have an 1893 model from the French arsenal production run.

Buy a decent 91/30 for $100-150. Buy a 440 round spam can of ammo for $100. Bring the combination to the range and spend the afternoon shooting offhand at 50 and 100 yards. If that isn't fun for you, then you probably need to take up another sport.

If you're at the range to pose, then you probably won't enjoy bringing out a Mosin. If you're there to shoot, I really don't know how you wouldn't enjoy yourself.

I know several people that bought them. This winter Gander Mountain had a whole rack of them for $145 each. Cabelas $159. The people I know bought them because they (and the guns) are cheap.