Mosin-Nagant
Encyclopedia : M : MO : MOS : Mosin-Nagant
 Mosin-Nagant M1891/30 | |
| Mosin-Nagant | |
|---|---|
| Type | Bolt-action |
| Nation(s) of origin | Russian Empire/USSR |
| Era | late 19th to mid 20th century |
| History | |
| Date of design | 1889 |
| Production period | 1890-1960(?)(Soviet Union) |
| Service duration | 1891-1998 |
| Operators | Russian Empire/USSR, Various |
| War service | Russo-Japanese War, WW1, Russian Civil War, WW2 (Russia/Soviet Union), Vietnam War, current conflicts |
| Variants | see Variations produced in the Soviet Union |
| Number built | 37.2 million+ (Russia/Soviet Union) |
| Specifications | |
| Type | |
| Caliber | 0.33in (7.62mm) |
| Ammunition | 7.62 x 54 mm R |
| Feed system | 5 rounds |
| Firearm action>Action | Bolt-action |
| Length | 1020 mm (40 in), 1318 mm (51.37 in) |
| Gun barrel>Barrel length | 510 mm (20 in), 803 mm (31.6 in) |
| Weight | 3.45 kg (7.5 lb), 4.06 kg (9.62 lb) |
| Rate of fire | |
| Muzzle velocity | 770-785 m/s |
| Effective range | 600 yards or 546m |
History
Because of experiences during the Russo-Turkish War in which Russian troops armed with mostly Berdan single shot rifles engaged Turks with Winchester repeating rifles the Russian Main Artillery Administration undertook the task of producing a magazine-fed, multiround weapon in 1882. After failing to adequately modify the Berdan to meet the requirements a "Special Commission for the testing of Magazine[-fed] Rifles" was formed to test various new designs (such as the Mauser, Lee-Metford, and Lebel). A young captain named Sergei Ivanovich Mosin submitted his 3-line calibre (an archaic Russian measure, 3 linii equals 0.3 inches or 7.62 mm) rifle in 1889 alongside Léon Nagant's (a Belgian) 3.5-line design. When trials concluded in 1891 all units to test the rifles indicated a preference for Nagant's design and the Commission voted 14 to 10 to approve it. However more influential officers pushed for the domestic design resulting in a compromise: Mosin's rifle was used with a Nagant-designed feed mechanism. Thus the 3-line rifle, Model 1891 (its official designation at the time) came into being.Production began in 1892 at the ordnance factories of Tula Arsenal, Izhevsk Arsenal, and Sestroryetsk Arsenal. Due to the limited capacities of these facilities an order of 500,000 weapons was placed with the French arms company, Manufacture Nationale d'Armes de Châtelleraut. By the time of the Russo-Japanese War in 1904 approximately 3,800,000 rifles had been delivered to the army.
Between adoption in 1891 and 1910 several variants (see Variations produced in the Soviet Union) and modifications to existing rifles were made, including changed sights, the inclusion of a reinforcing bolt through the finger groove (due to the adoption of a 147 grain pointed (spitzer) round), the elimination of the steel finger rest behind the trigger guard, new barrel bands, and the installation of slot type sling mounts to replace the more traditional swivels. At this time a handguard was also added.
With Russia's entrance into World War I production was restricted to the M1891 dragoon and infantry models for the sake of simplicity. Due to the desperate shortage of arms and the shortcomings of a still developing domestic industry the Russian government ordered 1.5 million M1891 infantry rifles from Remington Arms and another 1.8 million from New England Westinghouse in the United States. Massive numbers of Mosin-Nagants were captured by German and Austro-Hungarian forces and saw service with both militaries' rear-echelon forces and the German Navy. Many of these Austrian weapons were sold to Finland in the 1920s.
During the Russian Civil War both the infantry and dragoon versions were in production, though in dramatically reduced numbers. Following the victory of the Red Army a committee was established in 1924 to modernize the rifle that had by then been in service for over three decades. This led to the development of the Model 1891/30 Rifle based on the design of the original Dragoon version. Changes include: the reintroduction of flat rear sights and restamping of sights in metres, instead of the antiquated arshinii on tsarist weapons; a cylindrical receiver replaced the octagonal (or "hex" as some call it) one around 1936-37; the blade front sight was changed to a hooded post around 1932-33; and the barrel was shortened 5 mm. Also, a new bayonet with a spring loaded catch was designed for it. By 1945 approximately 17,475,000 M1891/30 rifles had been produced.
The Mosin-Nagant was adapted as a sniper rifle in 1932 and was issued to Soviet snipers during World War II (WW II). It served quite prominently in the Battle of Stalingrad which made heroes of men like Vasily Grigoryevich Zaitsev. They were very much respected then and now for being very rugged, reliable, accurate, and easy to maintain. Sniper-modified models are highly sought after and valued by collectors, especially in the West.
In the years after World War II, the Soviet Union ceased production of all Mosin-Nagants and withdrew them from service in favour of the SKS series carbines and eventually the AK series rifles. Despite this, the Mosin-Nagant saw continued service throughout the Eastern bloc and the rest of the world for many decades to come (see Foreign Mosin-Nagants). Mosin-Nagant rifles and carbines saw service on many fronts of the Cold War, from Vietnam and Korea to Afghanistan and along the iron curtain of Europe. They were used not only as reserve infantry weapons, but as front-line infantry weapons as well.
Recently a large quantity of Mosin-Nagants have found their way into the American market as antiques and collectables and also as a dependable, reasonably accurate, and cheap plinking and hunting rifle. Due to the gargantuan surplus created by the Soviet industry during World War II, these rifles can be acquired today for as little as $80 for a standard model. Sniper models are many, many times more expensive, when they can be found.
Foreign Mosin-Nagants
Austria-Hungary
The Austro-Hungarian Empire captured substantial quantities of Mosin Nagant rifles from the Russians during World War I. These rifles were re-furbished and re-issued to troops in the field. Some were modified to fire the Austrian service round, the 8x50r mm. The Austrians also manufactured various ersatz bayonets for the Mosin.Eastern Europe
With Russia's, and eventually the Soviet Union's, heavy influence on Eastern Europe it is not surprising that many Mosin Nagants found their way into the hands of soldiers in the various Balkan Wars, World War I, WW II, and in the Cold War. The militaries of Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Estonia, Hungary, Poland (see individual heading below), Romania, and Serbia all used Mosins at some point in the twentieth century. Mosins in these countries often underwent various refurbishment and modifications and were usually in use until the 1960s or 1970s as training rifles. Many rifles were also produced locally in the cold war years. Notably, Hungary produced commercial grade, high quality copies of M44 carbines, 91-30 rifles, and PU-scoped 91-30 sniper rifles. Czechoslovakia manufactured the Vz. 57 sniper rifle, based on the 91-30, although it has the appearance of a very modern sporting firearm.People's Republic of China
During the 1920s and 1930s, Chinese Communist forces received Mosin-Nagant rifles from the Soviet Union for use against Nationalist forces during the Chinese Civil War. China began production of the M1944 carbine version of the Mosin-Nagant in 1953, leading to its Chinese designation "Type 53". It's likely that the machinery used to make them was provided by the Soviet Union in the early 1950s, at the height of Sino-Soviet relations. They differ little when compared to Soviet weapons. Though mostly replaced in China's main forces by 1957, the Chinese Type 53 Carbine continued to be in service with provincial militias well into the 1970s and later.Finland
Prior to 1917 Finland was part of the Russian Empire and military units were equipped with the various models of the Russian made M1891. After gaining independence, Finland purchased many more Mosin rifles abroad, primarily Austrian- and German-captured Russian rifles from WW I. These older rifles were usually refurbished; this could be as minimal as a Finnish Army property stamp and a new sling or as drastic as a complete redesign, with new stocks, fittings, sights, triggers, and more accurate barrels. The Finnish Army and Civil Guard designed and manufactured several new models of Mosin Nagants, using original French, Russian, and American receivers. Finland never manufactured receivers, relying instead on existing receivers from its stockpiles of purchased and captured rifles. During the Winter War, 1939-40, and the Continuation War, 1941-44, Finland captured additional Mosin rifles from the Soviets, in huge quantities. Finland also purchased Mosins from Spain, left over from the Spanish Civil War, and from Nazi Germany's stockpile of captured arms. Many of these rifles were simply reissued for use.The Finnish Army continued refurbishing and reissuing Mosin-Nagants well after its wars with the USSR were over. There are Finnish M-39's with barrel dates into the early 1970s when they were issued as officer training rifles. Finland still issues the Kiv. M85, a substantially modified and modernized sniper rifle built on the Mosin Nagant action.
Models of Finnish Mosin-Nagant rifles were identified by numbers: M24, M27, M28, M28-30, M30, and M39. Some were known as Pystykorva rifles, see [fi]. Notable is the fact that some Finnish rifles--M27, 28, 28-30 and 39, were issued with blade bayonets, instead of the Russian quadangular socket bayonet.
Finnish Mosin-Nagants are known for their accuracy and dependability. The famous Finnish sniper Simo Häyhä is widely considered to be one of the most successful snipers in history, and used a M28 "Pystykorva" rifle.
Germany
The German Empire in World War I captured large quantities of Mosin-Nagants. These received various modifications, notably for use with the 8 mm Mauser cartridge. Many were fitted with adaptors so that the issue German Mauser blade bayonet could be used. These rifles were issued to second line units and to the Navy. The Nazis also captured hundreds of thousands of all models of Mosin Nagants in WW II. Some of these were sold to Finland, many were issued for training and guard duties, and used in occupied areas. After World War II Mosin-Nagants were issued to East German border guards.North Korea
Both the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China provided massive numbers of Mosin-Nagants to North Korea during the Korean War. However, given the policy of consummate self reliance still in effect there today it is possible that the North Koreans produced some rifles themselves. There is evidence that as late as 1993 Mosin-Nagant sniper rifles were still in use.Poland
In the 1920's Poland converted about 77,000 Mosin Nagant dragoon rifles to caliber 7.92 Mauser (8x57mm). Many alterations were made — barrels were rebored and rechambered to 8 mm, and cut down to 23" length. Other modifications were done to bolts and receivers to enable the 8x57 rounds to load from Mauser stripper clips and feed properly. Rear sights were modified to fit the trajectory of the 8x57 round. Stocks and handguards were shortened, and Mauser-type front bands and bayonet lugs were added. Mauser style blade bayonets, made by Perkun, were issued for use. Some rifles had the Mosin sling escutcheons replaced by wire swivels. The resulting rifles were designated Karabinek wz. 91/98/23, wz. 91/98/25, or wz. 91/98/26 — each with minor differences.Wz. 91/98/25, et al, were used to equip some Horse Artillery and Cavalry units in the regular army until Polish-made Mauser rifles became available. Beginning in the early 1930's, they were issued to Border Guard and National Guard units.
The rifles are stamped on the knoxform with a small Polish eagle and measured caliber, i.e. "7.91" , 7.93". The eagle and rifle serial number is also stamped on the left side of the receiver and on all bolt parts, and on the magazine floorplate, buttplate and stock. It has a unique and distinct appearance among Mosin Nagant variations, and is easily identified by the Mauser front band and bayonet lug, Polish markings, and 42" OAL.
After World War II the Polish produced large quantities of the M-44 (Kb. wz M48) carbine at the Radom arsenal. Many of these did not go into direct military service but rather were put in storage, in the event they were ever needed. These Mosin Nagants can be identified by an 11 inside a circle stamped on the rifle's receiver. This mark is their "country code" that identifies which Eastern European country it was produced in. In addition to being stored they were produced in ideal conditions on Soviet equipment, making them some of the best examples of the Mosin-Nagant in the world.
Turkey
Like Germany and Austria-Hungary, Turkey captured many Mosin-Nagants during World War I. Many were also acquired through German aid or when Whites sought asylum after the Russian Civil War. These rifles were used during the Turkish War of Independence and again against Greek forces in the Greco-Turkish War.Others
US and Allied military forces encountered Mosin-Nagant rifles and carbines in action in the hands of Viet Cong guerrillas and North Vietnamese Army soldiers during the Vietnam War. These weapons originated from Warsaw Pact countries, the Soviet Union, and the People's Republic of China. A number of Russian M-1944s and Chinese Type 53s were used as grenade launching rifles, equipped with locally made copies of the US M7 grenade launcher. PU-scoped M91/30 sniper rifles were also encountered. Many Soviet and Chinese-made Mosin-Nagant rifles and carbines (along with many Soviet and Chinese-made SKS carbines and Russian Capture Mauser Kar-98k rifles) were brought back to the United States as war trophies by US troops who served in Vietnam.A few rifles were also used by the United States. When the Czar was overthrown in 1917, the US Government cancelled the contracts orignially held by New England Westinghouse and Remington. Rather than deliver the remainder of the orders to the Bolsheviki, all rifles in transit were purchased by the US military. The rifles in Britain armed the US and British expeditionary forces sent to North Russia in 1918-1920. The rifles still in the US ended up being primarily used as training firearms for the US Army. Some were used to equip US National Guard units, SATC and ROTC units. Designated "U.S. Rifle, 7.62mm, Model of 1916", these are among the most obscure U.S. service arms. In 1917, 50,000 of these rifles were sent via Vladivostok to equip the Czechoslovak Legions in Siberia to aid in their attempt to secure passage to France. After WW I, remaining rifles were declared surplus and sold to members of the National Rifle Association for only $3.34 each, beginning the long familiarity of Americans with the Mosin Nagant.
Virtually every country that received foreign military aid from the old Soviet Union used Mosin Nagant rifles at various times. Spanish Republicans bought tens of thousands of Mosins of all types during the Spanish Civil War. It is estimated that almost all of the Soviet production of M91/30 rifles in 1936 and 1937 went to Spain.
During the cold war period, Middle Eastern countries under the sphere of Soviet influence--Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Palestinian guerilla factions, received Mosins in addition to other more modern arms.
The Mosin-Nagant has also seen action in the hands of the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan during the Soviet Union's occupation of the country during the 1970s and the 1980s. Its use in Afghanistan continued on well into the 1990s and the early 21st century by Northern Alliance forces.
They have also been used by Chechen rebels in Chechnya alongside other modern Russian firearms in the ongoing war there.
Variations produced in the Soviet Union
- Model 1891 Infantry Rifle (Russian name: пeхoтнaя винтовка образца 1891-гo года) The primary weapon of Russian and Red army infantry from 1891 to 1930.
- Dragoon Rifle (Russian name: драгунскaя) Intended for use by mounted infantry. 2.5 inches (64 mm) shorter and 0.9 pound (0.4 kg) lighter than the M1891.
- Cossack Rifle (Russian name: казaчья) Introduced for Cossack horesemen, it is almost identical to the Dragoon rifle but is sighted for use without a bayonet.
- Model 1907 Carbine At 11.37 inches (289 mm) shorter and 2.1 pounds (0.95 kg) lighter than the M1891 this model was excellent for cavalry, engineers, signalers, and artillerymen. It was stocked nearly to the front sight and therefore did not take a bayonet. It was produced at least until 1917 in small numbers.
- Model 1891/30 (Russian name: винтовка образца 1891/30-гo года, винтовка Мосина) The most prolific version of Mosin-Nagant. It was produced and was standard issue for all Soviet infantry from 1930 to 1945. Its design was based on the Dragoon rifle.
- Model 1938 Carbine A rifle based on the M1891/30 design that was in service from 1938-1945, though examples produced in 1945 are quite rare. Essentially a M1891/30 with a shortened barrel and shortened stock, this carbine did not accept a bayonet.
- Model 1944 Carbine This carbine was introduced into service in late 1943 and remained in production until 1948. Its specifications are very similar to the M1938, with the major exception of having a permanently affixed, folding quadrangular-bladed bayonet. These were in use not only by the USSR, but also its various satellite nations.
- Model 1891/59 Carbine Existing M1891/30 rifles that were cut down to carbine length. Little is known about them. Some collectors are generally suspicious of this so called "91/59", and feel it may have been produced for commercial sale by arms importers in Canada.
Mosin-Nagants in the media
The Mosin-Nagant series rifles and carbines have been seen in a number of war movies and television shows dealing with World War I, the Russian Revolution, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.One example of a movie in which the Mosin-Nagant was shown on a large scale was the 2001 World War II movie Enemy at the Gates in which the Mosin-Nagant Model 1891/1930 (both the infantry version and the sniper version with the 3.5x PU telescopic sight) was shown in the hands of Red Army soldiers and snipers fighting the Germans in Stalingrad, especially in the hands of the main Russian characters in the film.
The weapon was seen in the 1999 movie Three Kings in the hands of the Iraqi freedom fighters who were helping the main American characters in the movie. The Mosin-Nagants were seen alongside other rifles like the SKS, the AK-47, the Lee-Enfield and the Mauser Kar-98k in the movie.
In the video game Metal Gear Solid 3, an old sniper with the code name "The End" has a customized Mosin-Nagant as his personal weapon which shoots tranquilizer darts instead of conventional rifle ammunition, and comes equipped with a sniper scope, pistol grip, and foldable stock. The Mosin-Nagant also features in the Metal Gear for the PSP, Metal Gear Acid, as well as Metal Gear Acid 2, in which the sniper rifle does very high damage and may put the victim into sleep.
The Mosin-Nagant M1891/30 is in the Call of Duty and video game series with both the standard-issue infantry rifle version and the sniper rifle version being used by the soldiers of the Red Army.
The Mosin-Nagant M1891/30, M38 carbine, and M44 are also portrayed in the video game "" as the basic infantry weapons issued to Red Army Riflemen during World War II. The M1891/30 Sniper Rifle is also issued to Red Army snipers in the game.
The Mosin-Nagant is also in the video game Battlefield Vietnam with the Mosin-Nagant M1891/30 PU sniper rifle being used by the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong.
In America's Army the OpFor equivalent to the American M24 SWS Sniper Rifle is a scoped Mosin-Nagant.
Besides modern-day movies and video games, the Mosin-Nagant rifle has been seen on many occasions in Soviet propaganda posters, especially propaganda posters that were printed in the Soviet Union during World War II with images of Red Army soldiers armed with bayonet-fixed Mosin-Nagants fighting German soldiers. One Soviet propaganda poster has an image of Adolf Hitler being struck in the face with the butt of a Mosin-Nagant rifle in revenge for the Battle of Stalingrad [link]. Another Communist nation that made extensive use of the Mosin-Nagant rifle in their propaganda posters was the People's Republic of China with Mosin-Nagant rifles and carbines being wielded by the soldiers of the People's Liberation Army and by the members of the Chinese People's Militia alongside other rifles like the SKS and the AK-47.
Naturally the Mosin-Nagant appears prominently in various movies set during World War I Russia, and the subsequent Russian Revolution. Famous examples include Doctor Zhivago and films of Soviet director Sergei Eisenstein. A common image in movies, based on documentary photographs and film footage from the times, would show the wielders of the Mosin-Nagant rifles carrying them like walking sticks.
In the PC Game Mafia, taking place in the late 1930s, the player must use a scoped Mosin-Nagant to assassinate a politician from a tower. The rifle has 5 rounds and no extra ammunition.
References
- Military Heritage did a feature about the collectible Finnish version of the Mosin-Nagant rifle--supplies are limited due to the Internet and the limited production runs for the Finnish version (Chuck Lewis, Military Heritage, October 2005, Volume 7, No. 2, p. 26, p. 27, .p 70, p. 71), ISSN 1524-8666.
- Lapin, T.W. (2003). The Mosin-Nagant Rifle 3rd Edition. Tustin, California: North Cape Publications. ISBN 1-882391-21-7
- Doug Bowser. Rifles of the White Death.
- Markku Palokangas. Sotilaskäsiaseet Suomessa 1918-1988. (Reportedly out of print and written by the director of the Finnish war museum, but has an estimated year 2005 cost of US$350 when the three volume set can be found.)
External links
- [Mosin-Nagant.net]
- [7.62x54R.net]
- [Russian-Mosin-Nagant.Com]
- [Modern Firearms]
- [Gunboards.com] -- A message board for collectors and enthusiasts.
- [Global Security page on the Mosin-Nagant]
- [Korean War website - Mosin-Nagant M-1891/1930 sniper rifle]
- [Korean War website - Mosin-Nagant M-1944 carbine]
- [SurplusRifle.Com - Mosin-Nagant M-1891/1930 rifle]
- [SurplusRifle.Com - Mosin-Nagant M-1938 carbine, M-1944 carbine, M-1891/1959 carbine]
- [Head's Bunker Blog feature article - Mosin-Nagant rifle]
| Soviet infantry weapons of World War II |
|---|
| Side-arms |
| TT-33 | Nagant M1895 |
| Rifles & carbines |
| AVS36 | SVT40 | Mosin-Nagant |
| Submachine guns |
| PPD-40 | PPSh-41 | PPS-43 |
| Grenades |
| F1 grenade | RGD-33 | RG-41 | RG-42 |
| Machine guns & other larger weapons |
| Russian M1910 Maxim | DP | SG-43 Gorunov | DShK | PTRD | PTRS |
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