Are LGS wise to the Mosins?

Cool Old Guns · Post by **Cool Old Guns** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:56 pm

I'm new to the forums and MN in general but I wonder if I'm a little late for getting a nice Hex for the same price as a round receiver. I ask this question because I went to my LGS and they had about five Izhevsks with round receivers at $160 but one hex 35 Tula in fair shape for $175. I thought they would all be the same price and was surprised this dealer charged more. Are your LGS charging more for Hex receivers and if so how much? Any thoughts...

BuckeyeSgt · Post by **BuckeyeSgt** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 9:56 pm

One I frequent has always charged more. Most places average about $20 more for a hex. One place I saw charged even more for an ex-sniper.

jimpierce7 · Post by **jimpierce7** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:33 pm

my LGS usually don't deal in MN at all. They don't cost enough.............

target · Post by **target** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:49 pm

The local guys around here always have a few in stock. The only places that mark the Hex guns up are places like Dunhams.

Ironnewt · Post by **Ironnewt** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 1:22 am

LGS vary from shop to shop. The ones that have lots of "Gun Shop Commandos" as I like to call them are ones I avoid when they are present. Some are quite well versed in what they have and others just want to turn a profit.

zeebill · Post by **zeebill** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 1:59 am

BuckeyeSgt wrote:One I frequent has always charged more. Most places average about $20 more for a hex. One place I saw charged even more for an ex-sniper.

They never used to years ago until so non-bright know it all's gave them the information to know a bit more about Mosins to make them think the Hex's were more desirable. These people feed their egos by spouting all the information to make the LGS smarter and we all pay the higher prices for the hex now. I stood right at Dunham's next to an idiot while he spouted information like a bloody idiot and awhile later they started charging more for Hex receivers. Now how do you suppose they found out what an ex-sniper was? Yep the same way!

Cool Old Guns wrote:I'm new to the forums and MN in general but I wonder if I'm a little late for getting a nice Hex for the same price as a round receiver. I ask this question because I went to my LGS and they had about five Izhevsks with round receivers at $160 but one hex 35 Tula in fair shape for $175. I thought they would all be the same price and was surprised this dealer charged more. Are your LGS charging more for Hex receivers and if so how much? Any thoughts...

You know I hate to discourage all you newbies but the price of even the muddled history refurbs is sure getting up there for someone just starting out. If you are very careful and very patient you can pick up decent rifles for decent prices but I know I had little or no patience when I was the age of most younger newbies so why should I expect more from them? Older guys just starting out need to get larger doses of information and then buy carefully so they have a better collection in the safe in the years they have left to collect. Better and more valuable to pass on to their kids as there inheritance. Even after all the years I have been collecting I still enjoy it and hope there are others to carry on the hobby after I am long gone but I do wonder with our present political situation if that will even be possible? Oh Well upward and onward as they say! Just remember knowledge is power and use it wisely! Bill

Greasemonkey · Post by **Greasemonkey** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 2:23 am

Finding a Mosin for sale in an actual gun shop here is like finding a Ford Pinto or Dodge Omni on a dealers lot for sale.

One won't even take them in on trade, Mausers however, he will take any model.

djbuck1 · Post by **djbuck1** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 4:01 am

As I have written elsewhere, in the part of PA where I live, the shops and chains that sell M91/30s know the difference between a hex receiver and a round receiver, and that's about it. No price differential. My five line 1925 Tula, double-date stamped MO, cost me exactly what was being charged for the '41-43 Izhevsks on the rack.

Most of the chain employees are worker bees. Nice enough folks, but talk to them, and their eyes glaze over. The shop owners are all "black plastic rifle" guys. Ditto on the glaze-over. If you're not talking about a paycheck or the coming Apocalypse, it's like talking to a cat. I don't bother anymore.

Post by **Junk Yard Dog** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 6:16 am

After the market has been flooded with Mosins of all sorts for over 15 years now most sellers are familiar with at least the basics. many of them read boards like this one and educate themselves so they know what they have, and what you will pay for it.

zeebill · Post by **zeebill** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:15 am

Soon Molot made to order Mosin's will be available for only $500 at any drugstore!

Bill

TopperT · Post by **TopperT** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:22 am

Top

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Re: Are LGS wise to the Mosins?

Unread postby Junk Yard Dog » Fri Jan 31, 2014 8:16 am

After the market has been flooded with Mosins of all sorts for over 15 years now most sellers are familiar with at least the basics. many of them read boards like this one and educate themselves so they know what they have, and what you will pay for it.

X2

Post by **Junk Yard Dog** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:48 am

zeebill wrote:Soon Molot made to order Mosin's will be available for only $500 at any drugstore! Bill

It's not 2050 yet Bill, give it time. Of course by then it will be one Molot Mosin for 500 pounds of slightly irradiated mystery meat in the cave market just outside the glowing remains of any major city.

Post by **bunkysdad** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 8:06 am

That is right, so get your Molot rifles now.

polymerase2 · Post by **polymerase2** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 8:32 am

Some advice. I like to start with a basic decent shooter. The Molots seem decent. Look for a good bore and crown if you can examine a Mosin. Counterbored is also usually OK. Don't worry too much about the rest of the rifle unless you have a choice of several. I paid extra for a bore select on one Mosin. Take that rifle, break it down clean it up, check the headspace and shoot it, a lot. That is the only way you will get familiar with a Mosin to start. (IMHO). Don't try for a home run at first unless one falls into your hands. I like the Lapin book from North Cape Publishing; it is reasonable and you will read it several times. I think it is like bird watching, the details that determine a deal are subtle. Once you are familiar with the parts and styles of the Mosins then start watching for deals. Read a lot! Shoot a lot!

There are a lot of mechanically minded people on this forum and I think they will agree you don't really "get" a gun until you take it apart and put it back together.
There are fair prices out there. I'm off the Mosins for a while because I'm watching some other WW1 and 2 era bolt action rifles. Doesn't mean I wouldn't jump on a counterbored Westinghouse, or a M38 but I know enough to know a good price.
There are guns going for crazy prices on gunbroker and there are some real deals. Join it and start watching auctions. That will give you more confidence.

Remember you can get a rifle that is reasonably accurate and a box of 440 rounds for $200. What other collectable rifle can you do that with?

And of course, read this forum. Don't forget to really look at the pictures and notice the details that make something an Ex-sniper or a Spanish Civil War. Ask questions, no one will flame you unless you use the dreaded words, drill, strip, sand.

Gsragtop · Post by **Gsragtop** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 9:09 am

In my experience it's hit and miss, some gun stores know the Mosins and other milsurps, others can care less and IF they have one it cause they got it in trade and want nothing to do with it.. I much prefer pawn shops, cause they have zero idea for the most part what they have.. I just picked up a real dragoon for $200 and a super nice Finn 91/30 for $150 (pics to come) both at pawn shops. Bottom line is just keep banging on doors you never know what the next one will have.

Flyin Brian · Post by **Flyin Brian** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 10:21 am

Wise? Heck no. They may THINK they are wise, but I rarely see anything that makes sense at a LGS when it comes to Mosin pricing. I've found uncommon Finns for $100 to $200 that were worth $400 to $500 and I've found 1943 refurb Izhevsk 91-30s for $399, so it just depends on where you go and how much they think they know. As a Mosin collector, I think the best thing we have going for us is the proliferance of cheap refurbs flooding the market. When someone gets a Mosin in on trade or consignment, they automatically think it is worth $150 at the most and price it accordingly. That's when we might find a smoking hot deal and come home with something special!!

Post by **bunkysdad** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 11:02 am

That is why my Westinghouse m91 was marked so cheap.

Gsragtop · Post by **Gsragtop** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 12:11 pm

Flyin Brian wrote:Wise? Heck no. They may THINK they are wise, but I rarely see anything that makes sense at a LGS when it comes to Mosin pricing. I've found uncommon Finns for $100 to $200 that were worth $400 to $500 and I've found 1943 refurb Izhevsk 91-30s for $399, so it just depends on where you go and how much they think they know. As a Mosin collector, I think the best thing we have going for us is the proliferance of cheap refurbs flooding the market. When someone gets a Mosin in on trade or consignment, they automatically think it is worth $150 at the most and price it accordingly. That's when we might find a smoking hot deal and come home with something special!!

THIS 100%, very well said !

desdem12 · Post by **desdem12** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 1:45 pm

Here a mosin is a mosin is a mosin, finn Russian pole what ever, m38 m44 m91/30 what ever. Unless it has a rail and then it is a sporter worthy of 500 bucks.

Lee-online · Post by **Lee-online** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 3:03 pm

Most lgs in this area don't separate the Hex's or the tula's but there is a Mosin seller on the local guns show route who does separate Hex's, Tula's, ex-snipers, MO double date and I am sure any others different ones he finds. He price accordingly.