Mosin-Nagant M91/30

USSR standard service rifle from 1891-1945.

This rifle was built at the Tula arsenal, in Tula, Russia in 1936. It has a laminated stock which is probably not original, and added during re-arsenaling later. 1936 was the last year for the octagonal receiver seen at the bottom of the picture above. Some 1936 Tulas have the round receiver. This rifle may have been used in World War 2 by a Soviet soldier, or it may have been shipped to anti-fascist (anti-Franco) forces in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. Lots of Mosins were actually used against the Soviets by former client states. The Finns used Mosins in the Winter War against the Soviet Union.

The magazine floorplate is a replacement marked to match the other serial numbers.

It uses the 7.62x54r cartridge, which is ballistically similar to the quintessential American standard .30-06 Springfield.

Iron Curtain surplus ammo is widely available and cheap, but it is all corrosive, and requires cleaning the rifle with an ammonia solution (Windex) after shooting sessions.

The Mosin is lighter than the US M1 Garand rifle, and perceived recoil is much sharper.