Russian Nagant Revolver

4

41special

New member
Ok, I've been seeing these mil surplus M1895 Russian Nagant revolvers. I've seen the ammo for sale as well. They look brand new-ish for 125.00

Gun - http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=28163448

Ammo - http://www.ammobank.com/cgi-bin/cshop/store/detail.tam?xax=898344&item.ctx=FC762A

My question is does anybody have one ? Are they fun to shoot ? Are they safe ? What's the deal ?

I need one like I need a hole in the head, but their so weird and I'm a revolver nut, so I'm thinking about.

Thanks,

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An old west lawman once said when asked why he carried a .45, "because they don't make a .46"
 
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Yes, they are safe and fun to shoot. They are also mechanically interesting as the cylinder actually moves during the firing sequence, eliminating the gap between the cylinder and forcing cone. I have been toying with the idea of having a suppressor made for one.

Another feature is you can buy a replacement cylinder for around $50-$60 that converts it to .32 ACP.
 
How do they shoot ? as far as accuracy.

Thanks for the info. They are cheap but money is money, so I did'nt want to waste it.

____________________________________

An old west lawman once said when asked why he carried a .45, "because they don't make a .46"
 
SOG had them for $75 each over the holidays. You can find them most places in new condition for $99 or less. As usual gunbroker is higher than normal.
 
I just got mine and can't put it down. The only complaint I have is the front site is off, 6 1/2 inches to the right at 15 yards. The dang thing is stuck so I have it soaking in penetrating oil and will run a bit of heat over it to break it loose. The surplus ammo is kind of expensive and corrosive. Others, including myself, are loading up resized Starline 32-20 prass. If you want to get one and start reloading for it, pickup the LEE 7.62 Nagant die set, resize your Starline 32-30 brass and load with .32 cal bullets. Most are having great luck with Berrys HBWC (what I use) and Meister DEWCs. Even with me having to aim at the edge of an 8 1/2 x 11 target, I still got just under 2" groups at 15 yards. Should be a lot better when I get the site adjusted. I do plan on ordering another 1 or 2 from SOG next week........
 
Sog ?

I searched for the SOG website but i cant find it. Could someone pass on the link please?

___________________________________________________

An old west lawman once said when asked why he carried a .45, "because they don't make a .46"
 
Thanks,

I think when uncle sam pays me next week, I'm going to pick one up!

Donkee, are you using the 7.62 Nagant data to reload ?

Are compents avalible to reload the 7.62 as is ?

_________________________________________________________

An old west lawman once said when asked why he carried a .45, "because they don't make a .46"
 
41, a lot of people, myself included, use the Lee "hybrid" .32-20/Nagant 3-die set. They are/were sold by MidayUSA as a special run from Lee. These are intended to be used with .32-20 brass (Starline is a good choice).The sizer die takes the shoulder out of the cartridge, and makes it a taper wall cartridge just like the Nagant, but shorter. So you will not have the gas seal feature, but you will not be sacrificing a great deal of velocity. Anyway, the Nagant revolver is more of a recreational gun (in my humble opinion).

I have one, and I love shooting it and reloading for it.

Go to this web forum for lots of info, including load data for the Nagants . . .

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=21
 
A shooter on the highroad/revolvers. "Tell me about the .32 long" mentioned his hybridized 32-20 loads for the revolver. The round doesn;t enter the barrel like the factory rounds but seems to work very well for him.

I shot one of these revolvers a few years ago when they first showed up. One hand at 20 yards produced a 4" group about 6" high. This was with standard gas seal factory loads. The russians considered the Nagant very reliable. a short barreled version was used at Lubyanka Prison to kill prisoners.
 
I have seen and shot a few. I almost bought a box of them for $50.00 that included cleaning gear in plastic holsters and a variety of grips and action types. At the prices some are asking, maybe I should have. I have used their 7.65 Nagant rounds, .320 Webley, 32 S&W short and 32 S&W Long in them. The 32-20 hybrid seems a lot of trouble for little return. The socalled gas seal feature is a coincidence. The real reason for the forward moving cylinder was to ensure proper bore alignment in the harsh Russian winter. The 32 ACP cylinders are a hit/miss exercise in frustration. The Nagant is a decent revolver for field carry. It works fine for home defense. It is a good fishing kit revolver. For less than $80.00, they are a nice revolver.
 
I think you guys have definately made up my mind. I don't want it for anything other than fun, so hopefully it is that. I doubt I'll fool with the reloading either the ammo really is not too expensive.

Is there any other neato surplus revolver's out there? That's the first one I've seen.

Thanks,

___________________________________________________________

An old west lawman once said when asked why he carried a .45, "because they don't make a .46"
 
There were black powder Orbea S&W clones. They looked exactly like 6" S&W M&Ps. IIRC, they went for $90.00. A few Royal Hong Kong Police S&W M&Ps and Colt Police Positive Specials show up sometimes. I found a few RHKP M10-7s recently by S&W had been imported. You really have to be alert to pick up any surplus revolvers. The Israelis did let some Webleys and Enfield 38 S&W revolvers go a couple of years ago. British war surplus breaktops. I hear rumours of USAF M15s becoming available. The Iraqis don't want them.
 
41, I got the laod data from the gunboards site. We/I are using HBWC seated flush with the case mouth and any RN bullets seated deep enough to clear the barrel when the cylinder is rotated. I heard some are using .32 H&R reloading data. Attached is a shot from one of the guys on the gunboards forum.....
 

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I've got one made in 1913. It's surprisingly accurate with .32S&W Longs. I bought a .32 ACP conversion cylinder second-hand. The conversion cylinder sometimes doesn't cycle forward, dropping the hammer on the same chamber twice. For a fun gun that doesn't bother me.
Note: make sure you tell friends who you let shoot it that there are 7 rounds! I had one violate a few of the safety rules, had an ND marveling at the reciprocating cylinder, which almost got ugly!
 
For fun, try shooting double-action groups with the .32 ACP cylinder. Anything under six inches at seven yards shows serious talent. ;)

The socalled gas seal feature is a coincidence. The real reason for the forward moving cylinder was to ensure proper bore alignment in the harsh Russian winter.
Click to expand...

Not sure about that, since the fact that the case obturates to the forcing cone has nothing to do with said winters.
 
Donkee, it is so cool to see one of my photos transplanted here. Thanks for showing it! That is a Berry's plated HBWC seated in a .32-20 shell that was resized in a Lee "hybrid" .32-20 Nagant die set. Notice the bullet is seated conventionally, not deep into the case as a normal Nagant would be. Believe me, the absense of the gas seal is no big deal. Remember, this is a recreational revolver. Let's not kid ourselves.

Speaking of photos, here is an old Russian military shot of men firing Nagant revolvers . . .

nagantruskies.jpg


ps: owning a Nagant is definitely a good enough reason to get into reloading ammo. Then you can moce on to .32 H&R Magnum, on your way to .38 special and beyond.
 
Not to hijack

but the history of these and mechanical uniqueness is reason enough for me to own one.
The suppressed version comes up often enoug, but no one has been able to positively show the insides of the suppressive device.
They were also made on 22LR by the swedes I believe.
I was thinking of getting Ace Dube to make up some 22LR-in-7.62x38R chamber adapters, and then paying the tax to have one suppressed. Or else paying a class II manufacturer to make up at least an external replica of the suppressor and then ogling my tres cool cold war russian assassination pistol.
In other words, they are fun.
C-
 
I am thinking of buying a pair and shooting CAS with them. They are period single action legal main match revolvers. You need a Ushanka instead of a Stetson though.
 
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