The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Hey!

Here I am, seriously eyeing the purchase of a 91/30. However, it isn't the typical $100 give-or-take rifle that I normally see.

This is why I turn to you. I saw this gun in person yesterday after leaving the Danbury CT gun show (which was meh).

The store is currently selling it on Guns America, which is where the info is pulled from. (Actual listing withheld, cause I ain't tryin to come across as a spammer!) Listing -

RUSSIAN 91/30 MOSIN NAGANT 7.62X54 RUSSIAN CALIBER.
MATCHING NUMBERS.
CALIBER 7.62X54
LONG-RANGE TANDEM SIGHT.
28.5-INCH BARREL. EXCELLENT BORES THAT APPEAR UNFIRED. EXCELLENT SHOOTERS!
THESE ARE REALLY NICE - VERY EXCELLENT WOOD AND METAL FINISH ALL OVER - THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF ALL THE ONES YOU CAN FIND. THAT'S WHY THEY AREN'T THE CHEAPEST.
IN BOX WITH ACCESSORIES (BAYONET, OILER, AMMO POUCH, CLEANING KIT, WRENCH, SLING, LOCK.)

Actual gun -



What ISN'T listed is the fact that it's a hex receiver. Year unknown though, and I didn't have a chance to check the markings.

So here's the thing - the gun was probably the nicest Mosin I've ever seen. Incredibly clean, next to nothing in the way of scuffs or scratches. The guy is asking $179 cash.

Which brings me down to the most elementary question for you - Is it worth it at that price? Also, are there any specific bits of info that may or may not make it worth it at that price?

I appreciate any feedback or information.

First of all.... Welcome to the Forum!

Second, it looks nice but the price is a tad high. Talk him down a bit? Also, I don't see a bayonet included in the picture. A missing bayonet could help in the negotiation on price.

As a side note; That will probably be the average price for those in about 2-3 years.

IMO, just going from that one pic, you can buy one just as nice looking for less. Now if 179 included shipping and transfer fees it would be in the ballpark of what seems to be available in gun shops or shows, but still a bit high for other online merchants.
If you really want it though... then it's worth it to you. I would ask for a lot more pics though.

Welcome here!

In my limited knowledge, it looks like a typical "big box store" refurb. Having said that, it is a nice rifle and an awesome way to get into collecting them. The price is very high, even for a hex (which I desperately want). I paid $100 for mine and its basically the same thing. I have seen them online all the way down to $80.

The good news is, if this is the only one you can get, at the end of the day, $179 isn't that much more money than $100. It's only $79 after all. But, if you're buying it online, then you're going to have shipping and FFL transfer fee involved too.

Before pulling the trigger on this one, I'd check out your local Cabela's, Farm & Fleet, Big 5 or Gander Mountain. You most likely can get one for $100 give or take. If you're willing and able to buy online, check out AIM Surplus among others. As much as I want a hex receiver, I personally would either try to talk the seller down or pass all together.

I may be wrong, but I don't see the bayonet in the photo even though the ad does mention it. That's probably close to $20 in value.

Anyway, good luck...and welcome to the forum!

(Edit: man, you all type fast! Each time I tried to submit the reply, there was another post )

I agree. Even with the $100 ones you still get all the stuff and they will be in about the same condition. I doubt it has anything marked on it that will command a $180. I think $140 would be the high side. Unless they throw in a spam can of ammo.

Thanks for the replies.

The good thing is that I would pick it up and not have to worry about shipping costs....or cleaning off Cosmoline!

Cabelas was certainly one of my first thoughts (currently $150 online), as was Bud's Gun Shop, but factor in the shipping costs and the "pay & pray" aspect, hoping to get a decent and/or interesting one, it made me take pause.

I saw one at the gun show yesterday too....guy wanted $125, round receiver, had a patched-up stock (a number of wood plugs here & there), and generally looked pretty rough. That said, I realize it was probably negotiable, but still, the condition was nothing to write home about.

Which makes me wonder if the excellent condition of this particular one justifies the price premium. I certainly have no issues with throwing some elbow grease into a cheaper one that needs to be de-Cosmo'd and given some TLC, but I appreciate the grab & go aspect of it.

Just a personal opinion, but the gun show beater sounds like a much better deal. Each knick, scratch, gouge and stamp tells a story. As long as they weren't put there by "bubba".

Cabela's are currently $150. They will drop to $99.99 again soon. If you called ahead, I bet you could get one from them for $100 today. They deal with you pretty good like that on their used and military surplus firearms.

Ya, my first one was a $99 Cabelas deal. That and the M91 are what started this whole mess.
I'd go back and try to negotiate a price that you feel comfortable with. Prices get into opinions and we all have them, it comes down to what you think it is worth.

Welcome to the forum, yes, the price is a bit high for a Ukrainian refurb 91/30 with a hex receiver. That said it must be remembered that these rifles are not as thick on the ground here in this part of the northeast as in other places so the prices will run higher if you don't have a C&R FFL to order them yourself. About $150-$165 that seems to be about average when Mosins show up at that show. These guys always have wiggle room, and they expect haggling at a gun show.

Greetings and welcome.
I'm a newb also. Didn't find this forum till after I bought my Mosen.
I paid $148. (Florida) which is pretty much more than most folks.
My Mosin looks pretty much as yours. Its a 1934 hex with brass fittings on clean furniture. The only hex out of eight Mosins at the store. Came with a bayonet, tool kit, ammo pouches, oil container and sling. All in a box like your picture.
Took it apart this a.m. and it was practicaly clean of cosmo inside the stock.
Checked another local gun shop and he was asking $120. He had two not nearly as nice.
If I didn't purchase this particular rifle, I would still be regretting it. (I'm getting too old to garner any more regrets)
Try to get him down to $150.
Good luck.
Scratch

" EXCELLENT BORES THAT APPEAR UNFIRED."

A bright shiny bore with no frost or darkness would be highly unusual for a refurb like that, and would be worth a few extra bucks to me. Maybe even close to the asking price, but pardon me, I'm skeptical.

You never know what you are going to get, I have a series of ex dragoon refurbs from 1921-1928 that have bores that look new. Then again I have a 1943 that is entirely shot out, there is something to be said to having the rifle in hand to inspect before buying.

mosinjunkie wrote:" EXCELLENT BORES THAT APPEAR UNFIRED."

A bright shiny bore with no frost or darkness would be highly unusual for a refurb like that, and would be worth a few extra bucks to me. Maybe even close to the asking price, but pardon me, I'm skeptical.

What he /\ said. As the boss said they are out there but they're not the norm from what I've seen. Here's a list of some of the places selling these. I just added the ones from RGuns. That said AIM is getting some back in on the 28th. They're normally $89.95. I just got 2 from them the last order I made from them and one was a Tula. I didn't pay extra for it either. They actually didn't have an option for it. I was just the luck of the draw.

http://gun-deals.com/index.php?dealtype ... 4&subcat=5

WeldonHunter wrote:

mosinjunkie wrote:" EXCELLENT BORES THAT APPEAR UNFIRED."

A bright shiny bore with no frost or darkness would be highly unusual for a refurb like that, and would be worth a few extra bucks to me. Maybe even close to the asking price, but pardon me, I'm skeptical.

What he /\ said. As the boss said they are out there but they're not the norm from what I've seen. Here's a list of some of the places selling these. I just added the ones from RGuns. That said AIM is getting some back in on the 28th. They're normally $89.95. I just got 2 from them the last order I made from them and one was a Tula. I didn't pay extra for it either. They actually didn't have an option for it. I was just the luck of the draw.

http://gun-deals.com/index.php?dealtype ... 4&subcat=5

Hell, if RGuns gives a choice for 99 bucks, that's great. The hard part is choosing between the three.

Otherwise, if they require an FFL to place an order, how would a non-FFL individual (such as myself) go about coordinating that with a local gun shop?

mberoose wrote:

WeldonHunter wrote:

mosinjunkie wrote:" EXCELLENT BORES THAT APPEAR UNFIRED."

A bright shiny bore with no frost or darkness would be highly unusual for a refurb like that, and would be worth a few extra bucks to me. Maybe even close to the asking price, but pardon me, I'm skeptical.

What he /\ said. As the boss said they are out there but they're not the norm from what I've seen. Here's a list of some of the places selling these. I just added the ones from RGuns. That said AIM is getting some back in on the 28th. They're normally $89.95. I just got 2 from them the last order I made from them and one was a Tula. I didn't pay extra for it either. They actually didn't have an option for it. I was just the luck of the draw.

http://gun-deals.com/index.php?dealtype ... 4&subcat=5

Hell, if RGuns gives a choice for 99 bucks, that's great. The hard part is choosing between the three.

Otherwise, if they require an FFL to place an order, how would a non-FFL individual (such as myself) go about coordinating that with a local gun shop?

You need to find a gunshop/pawnshop that can do the transfer for you and have them fax/email a copy of their FFL to them and then order it. Ask what the shop you're calling wants to do the transfer and call a few of them to compare prices or as I'm sure someone will say here soon if I don't get an 03 FFL C&R license and have them shipped straight to you.

Go down to your favorite gun shop and ask them to help out and they will let you know what it takes. Some places here only do business with the ones they like but you should be able to get them to do it if they like your business. Weldon is the expert in this field though, He has done it like what? 10 times i think? You will have to pay the transfer fee and maybe tax too if you live in Washington anyway.

I'm lucky, have a small local gun shop that sells the hexes for the same as round, $109 with all the accessories. Haven't looked at the St. Louis Cabelas to see what they might have, sounds like a good afternoon treat!

desdem12 wrote:Go down to your favorite gun shop and ask them to help out and they will let you know what it takes. Some places here only do business with the ones they like but you should be able to get them to do it if they like your business. Weldon is the expert in this field though, He has done it like what? 10 times i think? You will have to pay the transfer fee and maybe tax too if you live in Washington anyway.

Ha freakin' Ha. 10 rifles but only 2 transfers. $60 total to transfer all 10 rifles. And Bryan knocked $30 off of my order so that makes it $30. Just wait until I get my 01 FFL. You won't have ol' Mike to kick around anymore, lol!

Hi mberoose, and welcome here to the forum. You have a slight advantage here over most of us in that you are doing your inquiries before buying your first rifle. If you buy it from a gun show table, then you avoid a transfer fee. If you buy it from a auction then you are usually charged a additional transfer fee by the dealer that it is shipped to unless you pick it up from the seller location. That is what a lot of gun shops and pawn shops do, and that way they make money without even selling anything or carrying a inventory. Also are you sure that the rifle in the picture is the exact gun you would receive and the same one you saw at the gun show? That is important to know if you decide to pay 179.95 based on the condition. Typically a transfer fee is the fee the shop charges to receive the firearm, and call in the background check. So if you bought it in person and all you had to pay was tax, or even better if he would sell it lower to at least cover the tax, and you were seeing in your hands the exact rifle and it passed your inspection, then 180.00 might not be too much out of line. If you called up AIM and ordered a laminated stock round receiver for 90.00 bucks, or waited till the hex receivers were in stock for 80.00 bucks, then paid another 20.00 or whatever for shipping, and then another 30.00 (could be more in some places) then you cansave a little for a rifle you have not seen. The good thing is that these guns have been real nice and the guys here buying them have all been happy.
As for a bore that looks like new and almost unfired, if they advertise it that way then I would not be worried. My first rifle, a '43 Izhevsk, and my second, a 1934 Izhevsk hex, had bores that looked absolutely like mirrors.
All the best, Russell

I've only bought two C&R firearms since getting me 03FFl... dang, I'm just wasting this thing, aint I???