I just bought a Mosin Nagant, what are some tips for keeping it clean and able to fire.

Question

Can i get some tips on wich ammo to use....were can i find 7.62/54. Should i use non-corrosive or corrosive??

Answer 1

Nice purchase, I think the Mosin Nagant is a great value.

Go to any sporting goods store or gun shop and ask for a .30 calibre cleaning kit. They even have them at some K-Marts and Walmarts. The kit will come with some solvent, patches, a cleaning jag or loop, and of course, the cleaning rod.

As for non-corrisve ammo, it seems like everything surplus and cheap is corrosive. Please do not let this bother you, as it wont harm your Nagant if you clean it thoroughly after shooting. I always wipe the bore with Windex with Vinegar after shooting any corrosive powder, including black powder.

Answer 2

go to the super mkt. and buy a shotgun news at the magazine rack. there are tons of places to buy ammo in it.  you can get a cleaning rod and brush at the hardware store, just ask.  

Answer 3

You can get ammo anywhere. Its cheaper than the cardboard box they pack it in! But when firing surplus, make sure you clean the rifle well. If you do that corrosive ammo won't be a problem.

Check out this website, particularly the article on cleaning:

http://russian-mosin-nagant.com

Answer 4

The 'gant is an easy to care for rifle, simple and reliable even under the worst of circumstances.

Clean it really well first w/ a good quality commercial gun cleaning kit, swab w/ solvent, scrub w/ a bore brush (I like the spiral kind, less likely to cause damage) swab again w/solvent and once more to dry. It's okay if you cant find a 7.62 brush, anything from 7mm to 8mm will work. (Even 9mm in a pinch, but you will ruin the brush and risk damaging the bore)

Clean the balance of the weapon w/ a tooth or gun brush removing any remaining grease, cosmoline, etc. and apply a thin layer of gun oil to moving parts. (BTW, the cleaning rod on the rifle will not fit modern US gun cleaning accessories, only the vintage Soviet ones)

After that, cleaning is as simple as running a solvent soaked swab once through the barrel after firing, I don't bother even cleaning mine unless I run 1000 rounds or more through or am using old corrosive primed rounds.

As far as 7.62X54R ammunition, it is fairly easy to find. Newly manufactured rounds from Wolf and others is non-corrosive and inexpensive, any gun shop or bigger sporting goods store should carry it- if not go to www. cheaperthandirt.com for bulk ammo at discount prices.

Older military surplus ammo is often the only time you will find corrosive primers, but it's no problem,swabbing the bore with hot soapy water removes most of the acids, and the 'gant is more than up to the task of suffering a little neglect if you can't get to cleaning it any further right away.