What's the deal with the price on the Mosin-Nagants?

[Internetlad]

So i did a quick price check on a Mosin-Nagant rifle, Mainly just as an interest check, and I noticed prices from 129 up to several hundred dollars.

What gives? Is it all to do with quality? Have the lower price units been altered or "decommisioned" in some way? Are they completely different units?

Why is the price range for used, allegedly working Mosin-Nagants so broad?

[stu925]

Prices will vary by variant and model of the rifle. Hex receivers command more than round here, carbine versions cost more than the straight 91/30. Sniper rifles, Remington made rifles and Finn rifles are all going to command more money. A round receiver 91/30 around here goes for around $110-$120 and Hex receivers $150-$175ish. Start with a 91/30 and see if you like the rifle then you can start adding to your collection from there.

Stu

[JackL]

I like Mosin-Nagants, but if somebody's charging 'several hundred' dollars for one it had better be one of the Finnish models, and in pretty good condition.

[.300 Weatherby Mag]

I like Mosin-Nagants, but if somebody's charging 'several hundred' dollars for one it had better be one of the Finnish models, and in pretty good condition.

The Remington and Westinghouse built Mosins command more cash as well...

[kozak6]

It has to do with quantity.

There were about 37,000,000 produced. That's a lot.

And the Russians don't need them anymore. Instead of scrapping them for metal, why not sell them?

[militant]

Buy one, or two, or 10. They are great guns. I got 880 rounds of ammo for mine for 159.00. They are accurate, hit hard and are durable.

[Pezo]

I went to dunhams. Picked up a 1933 hex reciever 91 30 with sharp rifling emaculant bore a bayonet and not one but two packages of the original accesories for $99.00. Just had to de cosmo the beauty. This one is the cream of the crop. I had gone to "gun shows" and saw many sub class examples from $125 and up. One goof had one up for $200. I am in michigan and if you want a mosin nagant 91 30 rifle GO TO DUNHAMS. They also had a nice early round reciever tula but I chose the older hex ishvysk. Could only get one.

[emcon5]

There are a few non-Finn Mosins rightfully in the "several hundred dollars" range.

Chatellerault, Westinghouse, Sestroryetsk and Remington M91s come immediately to mind, as well as an original Dragoon or Cossack.

I would expect very few 91/30s to fall in that price range.

[DE Shooter]

There are usually crates full of them around here, at the bigger gunshows; here being mid-Atlantic area, particularly S.E. PA. I expect to see plenty of them at the Oaks, PA gunshow this weekend. And, they are almost always <$130 out the door for the best of them (re-furbs) with full accessories....with matching numbers, bayo, ammo pouches and cleaning kit. They being M91/30s. There are plenty of other MNs available too, usually, including lots of Finns....$250 to $350 usually.

[Internetlad]

Everything I've read about this rifle is that they're a fantastic bang for the buck, with good accuracy. Any real downsides to these? Factor in that i'm less experienced with firearms as well.

[amx4080]

Mosin Nagants are excellent bang for the buck. Be careful, they are a "gateway drug" for mil-surps!

Regarding prices, you're in the range for a standard 91/30 model. Prices can be all over, and seemingly small marks can boost the price (for example an "MO" is a premium over a 1942 Izhevsk, etc.). Here are recent M91/30 sales data for comparision.

[Rifleman1776]

An ad in the paper this morning has them at $99.00.

[Internetlad]

I think I want to pick one of these up. Has the price been trending upwards or downwards? (i've been looking at handguns recently rather than rifles, I'm looking to do target shooting, not really any hunting.)

The Russian M44 caught my eye, Opinons on that model?

Thanks for the feedback, you guys are really helpful.

[Kreyzhorse]

I think I want to pick one of these up. Has the price been trending upwards or downwards? (i've been looking at handguns recently rather than rifles, I'm looking to do target shooting, not really any hunting.)

Not much of any thing tends to trend downward over time. I paid $79.00 of my Mosin a few years back. If you want one, now is the time.

[Justice06RR]

$89 is about the cheapest I've seen them online; usually around $129 at your local stores or gunshop/shows.

Internetlad, I have the Mosin M44 . Its the carbine model with the attached folding bayonet. so it is shorter than the standard 91/30. It is known to have a big muzzle blast (fireball!) which is pretty awesome IMO!

The M44 is a bit more in price IIRC, I think around $169 online, maybe cheaper if you look around. I think its the best model though since it is more compact and already has the attached bayonet. I would highly suggest the M44 if you can spend the few extra dollars. Otherwise the 91/30 is fine.

[Big Shrek]

Simple economics...the Dollar is dropping like a rock...gas is going up...which means EVERYTHING is going UP!!

Wages rarely keep up with inflation...so buying now is the smart choice...even more important...KEEPING what firearms you have!!
Quality Firearms only go up in value over time...

[tobnpr]

Like anything sold online, prices vary...some dealers are "fishing", hoping you aren't going to spend the time to shop around- like you obviously did not.

$99 at Classic Arms:
http://www.classicfirearms.com/c-r-e...-m91-30-nagant

Still $90 at AIM Surplus, but temp sold out, they'll have more...
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F3MOSIN9130

And $100 at J&G:
http://www.jgsales.com/mosin-nagant-...d.-p-1041.html

Bud's has laminated stock ones- which bring a small premium- for $129 including shipping- so that's a pretty good deal; and I've gotten some really nice ones from them in the past.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...VIP+FAST+TRACK

If you have a C&R, there are even more wholesalers that you can buy from for under a hundred bucks.

There's still containers full of them on both sides of the Atlantic- there were over 18,000,000 of the 91/30's alone made. The hype about shortages and rising prices are just that- by people trying to create that impression to get more for their rifle...

Sure they might go up by ten or twenty bucks, big deal and what isn't these days...

The real issue may become if/when the cheap surplus begins to dry up. While I like the Mosin and have several (one of which has been modded to a long-range rifle), I don't think they've got too much further to go in terms of value as a shooting rifle when compared to modern production rifles- especially if the ammo becomes more expensive.

I don't shoot surplus- but a lot of guys do, and $.20/round for ammo makes for some cheap, high-power plinking. If the ammo dries up, the prices for the rifles will, as well.

When you can buy a more accurate, modern stick like the Ruger American for $300 that's a better shooting rifle that doesn't require a ton of mods to do it- the only attractive thing about the Mosin is the cheap ammo.

[FairWarning]

I've always preferred Mausers, but it's hard to argue with the value of Mosins. Back in the day, surplus Mausers were also cheap, but as the supply dwindles, the sharks (and sometimes outright liars) are moving in pushing them higher and higher due to historic value.

[stu925]

Everything I've read about this rifle is that they're a fantastic bang for the buck, with good accuracy. Any real downsides to these? Factor in that i'm less experienced with firearms as well.

They're a lot of fun and as stated ammo is dirt cheap. The only centerfire cartridges I don't handload for are the 7.62x54R and the 7.62x39, it's just not cost effective for me to load those 2 cartridges. The only downside I can see to the Mosin is they usually tend to shoot a bit high but there is a way to fix that. Recoil can be a bit punishing if you shoot it off the bench at all so my suggestion would be one of the PAST magnum recoil pads for sighting in. Off hand shooting, recoil is not bad at all. Pick yourself up a 91/30 and a couple of spam cans of ammo and start burning up some ammo. Just make sure you clean it thoroughly after shooting the corrosive spam can ammo.

Stu

[Chuckusaret]

I really don't see a large increase over past prices, but I do believe the price increase can be blamed on inflation, cost of shipping, increased import fees etc. When I purchased my first Mosin Nagant for $59.95 gas prices were less than a dollar per gallon vs $3.75 today. Century Arms and a few other dealers still have some for less than a $100 but shipping costs and FFL fees, unless you have a C&R, drive the price up.

[Pistolgripshotty]

Economics......somebodies gotta fix this stuff. Everything is pricey!