on a side note, when lookin at a rack of Mosins in the store, how to pick the one to buy from the litter ???
Phantom Lord:
First off: Lose the appellation “Gun Nuts”. That’s lib-speak, and they use it in a seriously derogatory fashion to paint us as dangerous and unbalanced. Even in jest, its not good to use the enemy’s language. Truth be told, THEY’RE the F***ing lunatics - you have to be able to hold 180 degree diametrically opposed beliefs to be a lib (OK to execute an unborn child, not OK to execute a convicted serial killer, etc., ). If THAT’s not unbalanced, I don’t know WHAT is...
Second: The Mosin-Nagant M38 / M44 is a fine carbine, and packs a serious punch from the full size 7.62mmx54mm round - they’ve been using that round since late 1890s and it still does the job. Left many a frozen Nazi corpse on the Steppes to attest to that (as well as many freedom-loving Patriots from other countries being overrun by commie hordes).
Mine is a 1945 vintage Russkie model; it’s light, handy, and does NOT look like an “evil assault rifle” so you can throw it in the truck and keep it handy (same thing with the No.5 Enfield Jungle Carbine, and that has a 10 round mag). When I bought it many years ago, I got it for 75 bucks at a gun show. Excellent condition. Spam-can ammo packs last a LONG time, too.
My only bitch is the 5-round integral mag and the straight bolt handle, but what the hell, it was designed a long time ago, and that was the state of the day back then. Keep lots of stripper clips handy, and watch the ammo - some of the older milsurp stuff is corrosive, which is not too big a deal if you’re fastidious about weapons cleaning but can be bad if you’re lazy about it.
Third: It will do in a pinch. First rule in a gun fight - have a gun. It WILL get you a better one. Much, much better than a “Poin-ted Stick” (from the old Monty Python episode).
Gilbo buddy - thanks for the ping!!! Love gun talk!!!