Looking to buy first Mosin Nagant. Need input.

[MachineHead155]

Well I'm looking to get my first rifle from the J&G sales website and I need help on a decision. I know the hex receivers are the more desireable ones, but there's no "hand select" option for that one at J&G like on the round receiver rifles. Do you think it would be better to get the hand selected round receiver or the non-hand selected hex receiever? Can't make up my mind. :(

[husker51]

That sounds like about a 50/50 proposition to me! I like to get a hands on experience with what I am buying if I can. Boy I don't know which way to tell you for certain but I think I would take the hex if it were me. Hope that helps! Good luck!

[Repawn]

Are you located somewhere that would have a sporting goods store that sell Mosin's? If so, that would be your best bet. Here in WI I was able to go to Fleet Farm and choose from 5-6 of them. I ended up with a 1929 Tula with hex receiver.

[MachineHead155]

None of the gun shops in my area have Mosins in stock unfortunately.

[MachineHead155]

On the J&G website, it says "Arsenal refinished in very good condition". I don't know if that means anything.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Welcome aboard, I never used special select, I couldn't shake the feeling that the packer was going to shove the first rifle to come into his hand into the box no matter what I paid extra. If for an extra small fee they would let me do the picking myself then maybe OK. Hex or round? Get one of each of course

[Junk Yard Dog]

On the J&G website, it says "Arsenal refinished in very good condition". I don't know if that means anything.

It means that it is an arsenal refurbished ( by the USSR) Mosin rifle, they are all in pretty much the same condition when they get done being refurbished.

[Junk Yard Dog]

None of the gun shops in my area have Mosins in stock unfortunately.

You have your own FFL, or are you running the transfer through a local gunshop?

[husker51]

I am reasonably sure that you would be happy with the hex top. Do you get 3 days to check it out and send it back if you dont like it?

[clayshooter2]

Hand select there isn't usually what a buying collector would necessarily would pick. I would go for the hex receiver. Better chance of getting something a little less common. That's just me though.

[bunkysdad]

Hi machinehead. I bought my first rifle from J&G but it was so long ago that they were 59.95 & I got a round receiver with no hand select. I got a great but common 1943 Izhevsk, but at that time I did not know what that meant. It didn't matter though. It was, and still is one of my favorites. I would probably rather get a older gex receiver first, but since there is no hand select that makes me think that they are running low. I would call them, and tell them what you are thinking and get their input. They have a return policy if you don't like it, and they don't want to get it back. Good luck and welcome to the forum.

[MachineHead155]

Wow. So many replies in such a short amount of time!

Well here's the full story. It's actually going to be a christmas gift from my dad to me. As I mentioned, buying online is the only option for me and after going through various websites, J&G seemed to be the best one to buy from and it's going to be transferred to a local FFL dealer. I had to tell my dad which website to go to and how to have a firearm transferred to a local dealer. One person mentioned that maybe they don't offer the hand select option anymore because they might be running low. Well, according to the website, it says there are 99+ in stock. So I'm still confused as to why they don't have that option anymore. Your guess is as good as mine on that one.

Thanks a lot for the help guys. So the hex receiver version really is THAT much more desireable. Huh.

[dou44]

go with the hex most i have bought were in vg shape and you might get lucky and get a early one.

[pacolo90]

I would also go with a hex... What about gun shows? its a good way of getting some hands on the rifle and maybe a better deal?

[mosinjunkie]

They're all refurbs. They will all be decent shooters. Some will be better or more desirable than others. It's a crapshoot, and paying extra for "Hand selected" may or may not get you anything of value. "Hand selected"almost always means that the warehouse guy pulls five or so rifles out of the crate and spends a couple of minutes looking at them. He picks the one that appeals best to him. Maybe a shinier stock, or prettier bluing. Nothing of clear real value to you.

If you can't get something concrete that really counts, like being able to specify a Tula vs an Izhevsk, or a preferred range of dates of manufacture (something other than 1943 Izhevsk, which is the most common), or one with a better bore condition, or overall fit, save your money.

Hex receiver or ex-sniper or Tula manufacture will usually cost ten to twenty bucks extra. Not necessarily a better rifle, just a bit more desirable one.

[catcracker]

I wish more people would put their location in the account information. Then when a question comes up like this, and we are in the area, we could help with local sale deals that we may know about.
There are a ton of Hex MN in my area, as I have said in some posts. (mostly refurbs) Maybe when I get my C&R license, I can help pass them along to those looking for them.
As for what I would get, it would be a hex as well. I get the feeling I should get them first, as they may run out first years and years from now. Good luck.

[MachineHead155]

If you can't get something concrete that really counts, like being able to specify a Tula vs an Izhevsk, or a preferred range of dates of manufacture (something other than 1943 Izhevsk, which is the most common), or one with a better bore condition, or overall fit, save your money.

As I mentioned in my other post, this is going to be a christmas gift from my dad to me.

catcracker: I live in Orlando, Florida.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Go with the Hex receiver then, these have the most history in them, and I like the older markings. Whatever you end up with should be something nice no matter what year it was made.

[audadvnc]

OTOH a rough finished, round receivered war rifle has its own share of stories to tell... and not necessarily for faint hearts or weak stomachs. There's a fairly good chance that any given Mosin you pick up has blood on it - either the gunner's or his target.

[desdem12]

GIve J&G a call when ordering. They are real friendly and nice to talk to and will help you out if they can. You migh be able to ask for a specific year on the fone and they might do it. If so i would ask for a hex in the early to mid 20s. Other then that they are all nice. I have some of both and my best shooter is a 42 Tula ROUND reciever.