Nagant, Mauser, or SKS?

'75scout · July 8th, 2006, 02:07 AM

I'm looking into getting a cheap beater rifle for my truck. Can anyone comment on the Mosin-Nagant, Mauser 98K, or SKS for this role. Initially I lean towards the SKS because it is semi-auto and shoots a readily available round. But I am also looking into the Nagants. I kinda like the looks, but I've never handled on so I don't know about the quality and ammo availability. I could get a Nagant for under $100 online.

HotGuns · July 8th, 2006, 02:26 AM

I've got several of each.

It depends on what you are looking for.

The Nagants are good for the money. For the truck, you'll want the M44 or the 38 ,they are the carbine version of the longer 91/30. The only difference between the 38 and the 44 is that the 44 has a folding bayonet. Its roughly comaparable to a .308 ballistically, its a pretty potent round. Its a heavy little gun.

The Mausers will proabably take the edge in accuracy, in 8MM its also about like a 308. Its a pretty standard looking bolt action and they are built like a tank.

The SKS is about equivalent to a .30-30. Its less powerful, but it has the advantage of being semi auto and having a 10 shot magazine vs. 5 for the other two. Its not a tack driver, but you ought to be able to keep them all on a pie plate at 100 yards.

The SKS is pretty customizable too. You can get a multitude of stocks for it, 30 round magazines, different sights, and trick it out however you want. The Mosin is very limited in that area, as is the Mauser.

P95Carry · July 8th, 2006, 11:15 AM

Can't say it much better than HG already has!

I have all of these and variants - and while the 91/30 is a great rifle it is yes, too long. I have a re-arsenalled 38 and that is a great compact gun even tho heavy.

A good K98 is worth getting anyways but again maybe a shade cumbersome.

Ti Carry · July 8th, 2006, 11:27 AM

My new to me 1954 Russian SKS showing some of the trickery that can be done with them.

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Ti.

'75scout · July 8th, 2006, 12:48 PM

Whatever I get I'd just keep it stock. The only mod to any one of them would be the SKS and that would be to replace the 10rd mag with a 20rd internal mag. The last thing I need to spend my money on is tricking out a rifle that will sit behind my truck seat. I just want something reliable and cheap.

HotGuns · July 8th, 2006, 02:50 PM

A suggestion...
Notice the length of the standard stock in on Ti Carry's picture,the SKS vs the aftermarkets.

The SKS stock is awful short. If yuou dont do anything else,it would be a good idea to put on a different stock and get another inch or two on the length.

It'll feel alot better.

randytulsa2 · July 8th, 2006, 03:45 PM

I'm a huge Mosin fan; I've got 12 and I rotate them for use in my truck.

They are the least expensive of your options and they shoot well enough my intended "truck rifle" purposes.

But you really couldn't go too far wrong with ANY of the options that you've listed. An SKS is about as reliable and trouble-free as a semi-automatic can be. And you get a lot of firepower for not much money.

A Mauser is a heckuva rifle, too. Pretty cheap, pretty accurate, reliable, just like the others.

Just get whichever you one you want. Or all three.

But for the price of an SKS, you can probably get two Mosins. Depending on the Mauser you get, you can probably buy more than two Mosins. Or a Mosin and a truckload of ammo for it....

copycat · July 8th, 2006, 05:56 PM

8mm ammo can be a little expensive compared to 7.62x54r.

'75scout · July 9th, 2006, 02:52 AM

I'd buy the rifle once and the ammo for aslong as I had the rifle. SO The SKS might be the best choice.

rachilders · July 9th, 2006, 03:13 AM

I like them all, but for a "beater", I'd probably get the SKS. Lot's of accessories and options available and the ammo is cheap and can be found almost everywhere.

I own all three and the Mauser is the most accurate and shoots about like a 30-06. The M-N is similar to a 308, but with a bit more kick, at least in the gun I have. The SKS uses the 7.62x39 and is probably closest to a 30-30 in accuracy and stopping power. The SKS is also a semi-auto, unlike the other two which are bolt actions. It's also not much more expensive than a comparable M-N and the M-N 's ammo is usually harder to find (as well as more expensive).

July 8th, 2006, 02:07 AM	#1
'75scout Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,165	Nagant, Mauser, or SKS? I'm looking into getting a cheap beater rifle for my truck. Can anyone comment on the Mosin-Nagant, Mauser 98K, or SKS for this role. Initially I lean towards the SKS because it is semi-auto and shoots a readily available round. But I am also looking into the Nagants. I kinda like the looks, but I've never handled on so I don't know about the quality and ammo availability. I could get a Nagant for under $100 online.

July 8th, 2006, 11:15 AM	#3
P95Carry Assistant Administrator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: South West PA Posts: 25,366	Can't say it much better than HG already has! I have all of these and variants - and while the 91/30 is a great rifle it is yes, too long. I have a re-arsenalled 38 and that is a great compact gun even tho heavy. A good K98 is worth getting anyways but again maybe a shade cumbersome. __________________ Chris - P95 NRA Certified Instructor & NRA Life Member. "To own a gun and assume that you are armed is like owning a piano and assuming that you are a musician!." If a BG dies as the result of pointing a gun at me, then he has merely succumbed to an occupational hazard of being a thug

July 8th, 2006, 11:27 AM	#4
Ti Carry VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Under Cover Posts: 2,035	My new to me 1954 Russian SKS showing some of the trickery that can be done with them. [IMG][/IMG] Ti. __________________ Train and train hard, you might not get a second chance to make a first impression! I vote for Monica Lewinsky's Ex-Boyfriend's Wife for President.....Not!

July 9th, 2006, 03:13 AM	#10
rachilders Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Longview, TX Posts: 696	I like them all, but for a "beater", I'd probably get the SKS. Lot's of accessories and options available and the ammo is cheap and can be found almost everywhere. I own all three and the Mauser is the most accurate and shoots about like a 30-06. The M-N is similar to a 308, but with a bit more kick, at least in the gun I have. The SKS uses the 7.62x39 and is probably closest to a 30-30 in accuracy and stopping power. The SKS is also a semi-auto, unlike the other two which are bolt actions. It's also not much more expensive than a comparable M-N and the M-N 's ammo is usually harder to find (as well as more expensive). __________________ "... Americans. We're homesteaders, we want a safe home, to keep the money we make, and shoot bad guys." -- Denny Crane

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July 8th, 2006, 02:26 AM	#2
HotGuns Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 5,180	I've got several of each. It depends on what you are looking for. The Nagants are good for the money. For the truck, you'll want the M44 or the 38 ,they are the carbine version of the longer 91/30. The only difference between the 38 and the 44 is that the 44 has a folding bayonet. Its roughly comaparable to a .308 ballistically, its a pretty potent round. Its a heavy little gun. The Mausers will proabably take the edge in accuracy, in 8MM its also about like a 308. Its a pretty standard looking bolt action and they are built like a tank. The SKS is about equivalent to a .30-30. Its less powerful, but it has the advantage of being semi auto and having a 10 shot magazine vs. 5 for the other two. Its not a tack driver, but you ought to be able to keep them all on a pie plate at 100 yards. The SKS is pretty customizable too. You can get a multitude of stocks for it, 30 round magazines, different sights, and trick it out however you want. The Mosin is very limited in that area, as is the Mauser.

July 8th, 2006, 12:48 PM	#5
'75scout Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,165	Whatever I get I'd just keep it stock. The only mod to any one of them would be the SKS and that would be to replace the 10rd mag with a 20rd internal mag. The last thing I need to spend my money on is tricking out a rifle that will sit behind my truck seat. I just want something reliable and cheap.

July 8th, 2006, 02:50 PM	#6
HotGuns Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arkansas Posts: 5,180	A suggestion... Notice the length of the standard stock in on Ti Carry's picture,the SKS vs the aftermarkets. The SKS stock is awful short. If yuou dont do anything else,it would be a good idea to put on a different stock and get another inch or two on the length. It'll feel alot better.

July 8th, 2006, 03:45 PM	#7
randytulsa2 Distinguished Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,448	I'm a huge Mosin fan; I've got 12 and I rotate them for use in my truck. They are the least expensive of your options and they shoot well enough my intended "truck rifle" purposes. But you really couldn't go too far wrong with ANY of the options that you've listed. An SKS is about as reliable and trouble-free as a semi-automatic can be. And you get a lot of firepower for not much money. A Mauser is a heckuva rifle, too. Pretty cheap, pretty accurate, reliable, just like the others. Just get whichever you one you want. Or all three. But for the price of an SKS, you can probably get two Mosins. Depending on the Mauser you get, you can probably buy more than two Mosins. Or a Mosin and a truckload of ammo for it....

July 8th, 2006, 05:56 PM	#8
copycat New Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: colorado Posts: 3	8mm ammo can be a little expensive compared to 7.62x54r.

July 9th, 2006, 02:52 AM	#9
'75scout Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 1,165	I'd buy the rifle once and the ammo for aslong as I had the rifle. SO The SKS might be the best choice.