What turned you on to these rifles?

[Jumperwire]

I was also looking for a hobby. My wife had expressed her disgust of my video game playing. Madden and Sniper Elite were my two favorites. She did not like seeing a grown man playing games On many occasions I say "OH I'm having fun and that's not allowed" so that also aided in my addiction to historical firearms. I often remind her, when she asks me how much I have spent, "That PS3 is sure looking like a good idea now, eh"

[RTFM]

They are an inexpensive piece of history, and it's fun to watch people shoot one for the first time.

[mosinjunkie]

I have to admit that price motivated me to buy my first Mosin. If you think about it, there is really no other high-powered rifle that even comes close to being as affordable as a Mosin.

[tjtM38]

Ever since I saw "Enemy at the Gates" in 2001, I wanted one of these rifles. About a year ago, one of the local gun shops started stocking some nice M91/30s imported through Liberty Arms. I bought two, one 1921 Izhevsk ex-dragoon hex receiver and one 1940 Tula round. Intending just to collect them at first, I found them a ton of fun and inexpensive to shoot. I've acquired two carbines, M44 and M38, since that first purchase in Jan 2011. I'm not looking to acquire these guns in large numbers as some others do, but after shooting them and learning the history of "The Great Patriotic War," I have much more respect for them than I did previously.

[Drago]

Last year, my 11yr old son wanted a M38 or M44 for his birthday. I'm assuming he saw it in Call of Duty or some other game. He was pretty bored with my SKSinitis at that point, so I thought it might be kinda cool to have something different to shoot. I quickly located a M38 in great condition for an equally great price and presented it to my son. Previously, I'd never given Mosin's much of a hard glance, believing they were a more modern flint lock rifle. Boy was I mistaken! After that first trip to the range exactly 1 year ago today, I was pretty hooked. The week following our first range trip, I found an M44 for $125 for myself. That was 2 M44's and 3 91/30's ago, with a Finn 91 on it's way, as I speak. I'd have a LOT more, but my SKSinitis flared up even worse last year and left me with little coin to spend on Mosin's. This is a new year and a new mindset on firearm's accumulation....I love these things!

[dubois9837]

At first, I had no intention of collecting these rifles. I shoot a lot. Usually 1 or 2 times a week and when the price of ammo started to skyrocket back in 2007, I started to have to cut out some of my trips to the range. I just couldn't afford to shoot that much at those prices. I started to reload, which helped quite a bit but was still expensive. Then one day I was looking around Dunhams sports and I noticed they had 440 round tins of ammo for $80. I asked the clerk what rifles were chambered for this caliber and he led me over to a rack that had an assortment of m44 and 91/30 rifles that they were selling for $69.99. That was the first time I ever heard of a mosin nagant or 7.62x54r. I purchased a 91/30 and a tin of ammo for it. Needless to say, it was the first of many more to come. It didn't take long after that and I had my C&R license. I love the history behind these rifles.

[Junk Yard Dog]

They are an inexpensive piece of history, and it's fun to watch people shoot one for the first time.

Welcome to the forum, yes they are relatively inexpensive pieces of history to own if you stay away from the one of and exotic stuff. Cars are much more expensive, a nice refurbished Model A Ford will set you back $16,000- $40,000 depending on the model, then you have to maintain it, and that costs a hell of a lot more than a bottle of gun oil and a rag Collecting coins is cheap is you stick to common date pennies, but get into silver and gold and you will be spending serious money for something you shouldn't even touch much less play with. Makes the $400-$1000 Mauser K98 not seem so expensive by comparison.

[gunsrtools]

1) History.
2) Function.
3) Beauty.
4) Value.

[desdem12]

Welcome RTFM! ANd also welcome to Gunsrtools

[gunsrtools]

desdem12---Thanks. Happy to be here!

[SA1911a1]

I got my first Mosin Nagant rifle because the rifle and I had a lot in common. We are both cheap. I bought my second one because I liked the first one so much. By the time I bought my third one I found the ancestor to this forum and started lurking around. By my fifth, I was getting hooked on the history. Then I really fouled up and joined the forum. JYD recommended a book or two, which I read, and I got as strung out as a crack addict. Some crook here recommended I get a C&R license cause it would save my cheap ass some money. A couple of weeks will be my first anniversery participating on this forum and I now have over thirty of these rifles, with two more on the way. I think I might be coming down with Mosinitis.

My mamma warned me about hanging out with Yankees and other shady characters, but would I listen? Noooooooooooooo.

[Alden]

I have always liked the rifle above all other firearms. The first rifle I bought myself was a bolt action - Ruger M77 .270. Ever since then I think I have liked the bolt action best, mainly for its superior accuracy.

When I first saw a Mosin-Nagant I thought it was a cheap POS.

I have since learned other wise.

The fact that one can buy such a fine rifle for so little money, and with all that history, is amazing.

[smacneighill]

Well, for me, it all began 26 years ago. My dad heard Sears was selling Mosin's and SKS's. He loaded my brother and I up in the car, and we headed out to Sears. We came home, each with an M91 and an SKS. I still have it today (actually, I still have both). I was lucky enough to get a 1915 Tula "Peter the Great". Now, as for my interest in them, that didn't begin until I literally learned about the rifle's history, somewhere around 8 years ago. Well, obviously I love shooting . . and the majority of the time I end up going with my friends. Of course, they all poke fun at my "big, old gun" . . at least until I show them what she can do . . and the only response I usually get is . Now, most of my friends are buying them.

Personally, being a history freak (especially military history), I love the fact that I own a piece of history. IMHO, these are beautiful rifles. I'm an "old fashioned" kind of guy, when it comes to firearms (in essence, I love the older stuff, LOL). So, these rifles are a natural fit for me.

[sclinesr]

I'd guess you could put me on the cheap bastard list. In reality it's all I can afford. I Love shooting and couldn't do so otherwise. Their symplicity reliability and their history is a major plus compaired to more modern expensive weapons. My first was an SKS paratrooper and recently added the MN. Patiently waiting for the next Milsurp import.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I'd guess you could put me on the cheap bastard list. In reality it's all I can afford. I Love shooting and couldn't do so otherwise. Their symplicity reliability and their history is a major plus compaired to more modern expensive weapons. My first was an SKS paratrooper and recently added the MN. Patiently waiting for the next Milsurp import.

You could afford to collect stamps, but collecting milsurps beats the hell out of that, you ever try to shoot a stamp? I did but it kept blowing off the target

[WeldonHunter]

I had no interest in Military rifles when I got my first one 12 years ago. I was at Big5 with a friend while he looked for a .22 rifle for his kid. I walked out with a Polish M44 and a VZ24 Mauser, well after the waiting period (California). For years I knew nothing about them, that is until last year when I joined this forum. Now I find myself watching intently for soldiers carrying weapons in old war movies and trying to make out what they're carrying. I saw a PBS show the other night about the battle of Stalingrad. Wow! It was the most intense and deadly battle ever fought. Now when I see these films I think about the 11 Mosins I own and wonder if one of them was at that battle. So much history in these rifles. It's amazing. How can you not love these rifles? Or any other military rifle for that matter. They were the tools that shaped our future as well as the men and woman who carried them.

[Miller Tyme]

I'm not anal-retentive enough to collect Garands or Mausers...........

[Scratch]

Second childhood syndrom. (pos third)

[sclinesr]

I'd guess you could put me on the cheap bastard list. In reality it's all I can afford. I Love shooting and couldn't do so otherwise. Their symplicity reliability and their history is a major plus compaired to more modern expensive weapons. My first was an SKS paratrooper and recently added the MN. Patiently waiting for the next Milsurp import.

You could afford to collect stamps, but collecting milsurps beats the hell out of that, you ever try to shoot a stamp? I did but it kept blowing off the target

Nope just golf balls. Seriously I've loved shooting since my dad gave me a pellet rifle when I was 8. This way I get something I can afford and a bit of history as well.

[mark1616]

I do not actually own one yet, but that will soon change. For me, the long barrel and the powerful round has been most appealing. The price of the ammunition is also a great attraction!