After handling and firing M91/30s for many years, I've come to prefer them over the carbines. Despite it's length, I find them handy and surprisingly well balanced. The longer barrel cuts down on muzzle blast flash and concussive noise quite a bit. I can fire my 91/30 without hearing protection and it is not overbearing. The carbines? Not recommended!! Also the longer 91/30 gives a bit better velocity for increased penetration and terminal effect and also has a longer sighting radius for better shooting. They also recoil somewhat less do to the increased mass.
But, the carbines are a hoot and people love to see the big fireballs they make at the range! But for combat make mine the full size rifle, even if it is a longer weapon for sure.
Understood... but did you ask for a great, comfortable rifle or a survival rifle?
Survival rifle does not lend itself well to an extremely long rifle. While carbines might not be the best shooting in regards to recoil/noise, it is compact enough to be there when needed. Very similar to picking a 5" 1911 for concealed carry. It will work great, but if it is too much of a hassle/pain to carry... you will go unarmed more likely than compared to a lighter/smaller pistol.
Now look, I'm not trying to see the Mosin is the best combat rifle for 2017. Obviously it's far from it. BUT, with the proper technique and experience and a rifle that is set up properly, they can still do the job.
A Lebel 1886, Springfield Trapdoor, or even an Enfield Musket can fire a projectile at a target. Out of the three, I'd prefer the very obsolete Lebel for actual use... as it is the best of the options. If a Mosin is your best option, then use it. But if you are looking for a specific role... it might work, but may or may not be best for it.
And stripper clips? Many have issues with these. But with proper milsurp clips, not junk Chinese repros, and the right technique it can be fast smooth and effective. Knowing how to set up the clips to prevent rim lock will keep it from happening even on rifles with worn interrupters, of which I've had a few.
Some brass ones on eBay do work good, but need to check the seller's feedback. I keep a set of Soviet ones just for show/to complete the set. There are ways to load them to reduce rim-lock, but loading correctly by hand stops it just as well.
I do understand that Mosin Nagants are older firearms, most seeing hell in World War II... then refurbished after the war. So, many are worn down. But when you consider rim-lock... what is the cause? The rim of the cartridge. Not a problem on .30-06/.308, 8mm, or any other non-rimmed cartridge. The 7.62x54mm came out with the Mosin Nagant... in 1891. It wasn't a great option for semi-autos, and it isn't the best option in a magazine fed rifle.
The guns are generally not as accurate as modern rifles and they don't need to be. They are BATTLE RIFLES, they are generally accurate enough to defeat exposed personnel out to 400-500 meters and beyond and are effective on area targets much further out. The round is still considered to be very powerful and effective with high penetration properties.
While the Mosin Nagant has the range options to go out pretty far, those ranges were for volley fire; groups of shooters lobbing rounds hundreds of meters into groups of enemy soldiers to keep them from moving.
The Mosin Nagant had such a long service life because it works... as long as you pull the trigger and work the bolt, it should fire. Crappy ammo, which might not function a SVT, should shoot through it. Is it accurate? Some are, some are ok, and some were on the far end of being serviceable. Shooting 300+ meters was not the norm... it was usually a sharpshooter/sniper behind the rifle.
A Mosin was my first rifle and in the past decade I have learned to run it properly.
Which kind of lends itself for you putting up on an alter. Is it a rifle that fires a bullet? Yes. But it was designed in 1891, and while a ton of them were made, you don't see current rifles based on the action. Bolt action rifles that are considered to be strong actions are usually based off the Mauser 98 design.
Having quite a few of the rifle designs of that era, I'd put the Mauser as the best/most influential. The simplest... probably the Carcano (minus the clip system; if the Type I was a more produced design, I'm sure it would have gave the Mauser a run for its money). Rate of fire, Enfield... at the cost of strength.
lol