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• Mosin Nagant
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The Russian Mosin Nagant Bolt Action Rifles and Carbines

* For iron sights when scope is dismounted. Maximum sighting range for the telescopic sight on this weapon is: PE scope-1400 meters (1540 yds); PU scope-1300 meters (1420 yd.).

** Soviet 7.62mm rifle and ground machine gun rimmed ammunition

The Model 1891 is the first of the Russian Mosin Nagant rifles. It was developed by Colonel S. 1. Mosin of the Russian Artillery and by Nagant, a Belgian. Mosin developed the action and Nagant the magazine. Mosin's name has been transliterated as Mossin, Mouzin, Moisin, and Mossine. Original M 1891 rifles varied in many details from later production. They had no handguards, had sling swivels on the front of the magazine and on the upper band, and the rear sight was graduated for the round-nosed M 1891 ball. Early drawings of the 1891 show the rear of the trigger guard continued beyond the rear tang screw and formed into a small finger rest under the small of the stock. At some time beween 1891 and 1908 a handguard was added to the M 1891 and the rear sight was changed to one graduated for the M 1908 light pointed ball. All Russian rifles manufactured prior to 1930 have their sights graduated in "Arshins"-an arshin is equivalent to .78 yards. These weapons are also known as the "3 line rifies"-a line being an old Russian measurement equivalent to about one-tenth of an inch-3 lines = .30. After the revolution, Russian adopted the metric system and the sights for the M 1891/30 and later carbines are graduated in meters.

The Model 1891 was first made in quanitity at Chatellerault in France; it has also been made by SIG in Switzerland and Steyr in Austria. It can also be found with a bayonet lug sleeve mounted on the barrel. This work was done by the Germans in World War I to enable them to use their Mauser-type knife bayonets on the Mosin Nagant. The Model 1891 has a hexagonal reciever.

The M 1891 Mosin Nagant was made in the United States by Remington Arms at Ilion, N.Y. and by New England Westinghouse at Sprinfield, Mass. These two firms produced over 1,500,000 rifles whick were delivered to the Imperial Russian and the Kerensky governments durning the period 1915-17. The United States government brought 280,049 of these rifles, mainly for training purposes. A rather unusual fact that is not commonly known is that some od these American made 1891s were used on active service by American troops. The American expedition to Archangel, Russia in 1918 carried these rifles. These troops were sent to Russia to help protect Allied supplies stored in that port during the Russian Civil War. Some publications refer to the American made Mosin Nagant as the M 1916. Many publications refer to various models of the Mosin Nagant which, insofar as Russian publications are concerned, don't really exist. Many variations may be found amoung Mosin Nagants, especially the M 1891s, the offical Russian model designations are as given in this book.

Later models are the following: (click here to read about all the later versions of the Mosin Nagant and see what they look like!)
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CZ 52 Rifle

7.62 Model 52 Cartridge

Czech 7.62mm Model 52 Rifle

Note: Model 52/57 has the same characteristics but is chambered for the Soviet 7.62mm M43 (7.62 X 39mm)

This weapon is a combination of several foreign designs added to a few Czech ideas. The trigger mechanism is similar to that of the U.S, M1 rifle, the gas system is similar to that of the German MKb 42 (W) and several earlier Walther rifle designs. The bolt which is a tipping type with frontal locking lugs appears to be a native design. The Model 52 is an "intermediate" size but is not interchangeable with the Soviet 7.62mm "intermediate" sized cartridge. It is slightly larger and and has a bit more power than the Soviet cartridge.

The Model 52/57 is basically the same as the Model 52 but is chambered for the Soviet 7.62mm M43 "intermediate" sized cartridge. The adoption of this cartridge by Czechoslovakia gave the Sino-Soviet bloc complete standardization of small arms ammunition.

The magazine of the Model 52 and 52/57 is loaded with two 5-round chargers (stripper clips). The operating handle is pulled slightly to the rear and released and the bolt carrier and bolt go forward chambering the cartridge. When the trigger is pulled the sear releases the hammer which pivoting forward strikes the firing pin, and the firing pin strikes the cartridge. After the bullet passes the gas port, gas enters the port, driving the sleeve to the rear. The sleeve transmits this blow to the sheet steel piston which in turn passes it on to spring-loaded tappets mounted under the rear sight base. These tappets strike the bolt carrier, which moves to the rear carrying the bolt out of its locked position. The bolt and bolt carrier continue to the rear, compressing the rocoil spring and cocking the hammer. When the bolt and bolt carrier reach the rear of the receiver the kinetic energy developed in the recoil spring forces them to return to the battery position, picking up and chambering a cartridge as they travel forward. If the trigger is pulled again this cycle will be repeated.

The gas system of this weapon, as that of the Walthers on which it is patterned, is somewhat unusual. There is no gas tube to channel the gas rearward. A ring mounted forward of the gas port prevents the gas from escaping forward; the movable slide, also a rign encircling the barrel, is free to move to the rear under the pressure of the gas. The piston, a semi-circular piece of sheet steel, transmits the blow of the slide rearwards and engages the tappets. This is a rather complex system although it should be easy to clean and maintain, since all parts are exposed. A metal handguard is used; this handguard probably heats up considerably in sustained fire.

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SKS

7.62mm SKS Carbine

The SKS is chambered for the same 7.62mm "intermediate" sized M43 cartridge as is used with the AK-47. The SKS was adoped before the AK. It is a gas-operated, semiautomatic rifle and might be referred to as a miniature version of the outstanding 14.5mm PTRS semiautomatic antitank rifle used during World War II. Because of its light recoil, 35 r.p.m. of aimed fire can be achieved.

Unlike its predecessor, the Tokarev, the SKS features an instantly dismountable gas system. The gas cylinder is an integral part of the handguard and contains the piston rod, tappet rod, and tappet rod return spring. The front end of the combined gas cylinder and handguard fits over a gas port housing pinned to the barrel approximately 7" from the muzzle. The rear end abuts against the rear sight. The latch located on the right side of this sight serves to lock the handguard-gas cylinder assembly into place. Its removal for field maintenance takes less then three seconds.

When the rifle is fired, gas enters the gas port housing under pressure to thrust the piston rod back against the short tappet rod. In moving back, the tappet rod slides through a hole in the rear sight base and a corresponding one in the top of the receiver to strike the bolt carrier. The claw-like arrangement of the bolt carrier cams the rear end of the bolt upward, unlocking it completely after 7/16", of rearward travel. The kinetic energy imparted to the bolt carrier upon being struck by the tappet rod is sufficient to cause the bolt and bolt carrier to travel together 3 7/8" rearward to extract and eject the fired case and to compress the recoil spring. The compressed recoil spring forces the bolt and carrier forward to strip a cartridge from the magazine and chamber it. The camming surfaces within the carrier force the rear end of the bolt down into locked position. The lower rear end of the bolt then butts up against a crosspiece set in the receiver.

The bayonet of the SKS is attached to the barrel and folded back under the barrel when not in use. The stock and handguard of laminated beechwood are given a hard, clear lacquer, waterproof finish. The butt contains a combination cleaning tool and cleaning kit. The receiver, bolt carrier, bolt, and trigger group are closely-machined parts.

The magazine group is unusual and consists of a stamped and welded sheet metal housing, stamped sheet metal floor cap, and sheet metal follower. Both the follower arm and floor cap are hinged to the forward end of the magazine body. A coil spring set at the hinging point furnishes sufficient pressure to the follower arm to insure feed of cartridges. The weapon can be loaded from above with l0-shot stripper clips for which a guide groove has been provided in the forward face of the bolt carrier. It is important to exert thumb pressure against the cartridges as close to the clip as possible since pressure applied farther forward makes it difficult to strip the last three rounds. The stripper clip is a one-piece, spring-steel stamping-very sturdy and efficient. The magazine can also be loaded with single rounds.

When unloading the weapon for field stripping, rapid emptying of the magazine is accomplished by holding the hand under the floor cap to catch the loaded rounds as the cap drops open upon pulling back the magazine latch. After clearing the chamber, swing latch on right side of rear sight upward to the first stop. The gas cylinder-handguard assembly can be removed by lifting up at the rear and withdrawing it from its forward contact with the gas port housing. By swinging up the latch to its second stop, plungcr and spring can be released easily provided thumb pressure is maintained against tappet rod.

To dismantle the bolt assembly, swing latch pinned to the receiver on the right of the rear sight until it is upright and pull out as far as possible. Raise rear end of receiver cover, pulling back and out. Recoil spring can now be removed. By pulling bolt carrier up and out to the rear, bolt will be simultaneously extracted. Push safety lever into safe position. With point of bullet, press pocket of spring catch directly behind triggerguard and push forward. Trigger group will become unfastened and jump outward; swing out and pull back to remove. Pull magazine group down and to the rear. Gripping receiver latch pin, lift receiver up and out of stock. Pull handle of bayonet towards blade; pull bayonet down. Remove cleaning rod from under barrel.

By reversing these steps, the weapon can be reassembled. However, the following precautions must be observed. Reseat fore-end of stock properly within barrel band. When replacing the magazine, its forward end must engage the lug extending from the rear sight beneath the barrel. Hinge magazine upward and hold in position, while guiding projecting pins OD trigger group into receiver lug. Apply pressure; if trigger group does not click into place, brace gtin with one hand and, with the palm of the other, deliver a sharp blow against the triggerguard to insure full seating.

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Nagant Pistol

Tokarev

Tokarev

CZ 52 Pistol

Makorav
Lee-Enfield #4 Mark 2

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