As for recoil on MN's it really depends on the load, my personal loads are quite pleasent but full MILL-BALL an begin to wear on you after a while. For comarison the M-1917 is close (but it is a heavier rifle)
If you reload try the S&B 7.62x54R it is NON-CORR and Boxer primed most of the russian stuff is Corrosive and I still dont trust their hunting loads that say thery are NON-CORR but proper cleaning will solve(ent) that problem
I recently purchased a Sako Mosin-Nagant M39 with a 1942 reciever and matching bolt, and I have found the accuracy to be quite good. The prairie dogs and rabbits can verify that.
It is my understanding that they don't ship them out unless they can shoot a 1.5 inch group at 150 meters.
I plan on adding a Mosin-Nagant carbine to the collection. It comes with the bayonet, and I'm seriously thinking about mounting it on the wall under the picture of George Washington praying at Valley Forge.
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John/az
"When freedom is at stake, your silence is not golden, it's yellow..." RKBA! www.cphv.com
[This message has been edited by John/az2 (edited June 08, 2000).]