I shot the Nagant revolver today. THRILLING!

Ballbearing · 11-02-2009, 06:37 PM

The 80 year old revolver functioned flawlessly! It was every bit as fun to shoot as a .22, albiet much more expensive. Very light recoil, and although the trigger pull was heavy, (I can imagine in combat it feeling a lot lighter) It wasn't the abominable trigger pull I expected. Every round went off and went downrange. I shot 50 of the Hotshot rounds. The sights are on, and when I took careful aim, I could hit with them, but they're so small it's ridiculous and a good sight picture is hard for these 40+ year old eyes to put together. I did really well when I fast drew and aimed instinctively like a cowboy, this thing is better when you move. It reminds me of nothing more than an old Colt Lightning. I wish I had a million rounds, it would make such an enjoyable plinker. More than worth what I paid for it. I had fun!

P.S.: This one's getting a nickname, I'm calling her Minx.

rondog · 11-02-2009, 06:42 PM

Cool! Now you need one of these....

YouTube - Silenced 1895 Nagant revolver (NFA)

Ballbearing · 11-02-2009, 07:02 PM

That's interesting alright, but she's not all that loud to begin with, and even though I appreciate the video and the suggestion, I want to save my bucks for more ammo. I'm still jazzed, what a hoot!

rondog · 11-02-2009, 07:32 PM

Yeah, no doubt the price of that can and tax stamp would buy a LOT of ammo. Where do you get ammo for those, anyway? That's the main thing that's kept me from buying one.

Ballbearing · 11-02-2009, 08:02 PM

There's a local pawn shop that carries it. I don't know how long they'll keep it in stock, but while they do, I'm snappin' it up!

jim433 · 11-02-2009, 08:47 PM

whats it cost to shoot?..i've been looking @ them lately, cant beat the price

Ballbearing · 11-02-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim433

whats it cost to shoot?..i've been looking @ them lately, cant beat the price

Unfortunately, the gun is inexpensive, the ammo is not. Until a major manufacturer takes the caliber up, it's probably going to be that way. A box of 40 milsurp corrosive cartridges will run you $20, a box of 50 of the non-corrosive Hotshot cartridges I shoot, will run you $35. I'm saving my empties in case I just happen to run into a reloader somewhere who is capable of reloading this caliber. I'm not holding my breath. I don't know if it's any cheaper if you have a C&R, because I don't have one.

big boomer · 11-02-2009, 10:25 PM

with a set of lee dies and 32-20 brass you can make ammo it does not seal like the nagant stuff but it does work just fine. You could also buy the extra cylinder that shoots 32 acp but the cylinder is almost as much as the gun (65.00)

Ballbearing · 11-02-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big boomer

with a set of lee dies and 32-20 brass you can make ammo it does not seal like the nagant stuff but it does work just fine. You could also buy the extra cylinder that shoots 32 acp but the cylinder is almost as much as the gun (65.00)

Folks tell me it's allright to use .32 S&W Long as well, but I don't want to chance it and blow myself up like Mike82 did.

Cyrano · 11-02-2009, 10:29 PM

Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper in the long run simply to buy the replacement .32 ACP cylinder and shoot .32 ACP, which is easy and inexpensive to find, and for which you can obtain reloading dies if you're into reloading? The cylinder costs $60 from Southern Ohio Gun - or in other words, about the cost of a box and a half of 7.62 Nagant ammo. The big differences are that the .32 ACP does not seal and thus you lose about 75 fps. For ready availability of ammo and ammo that costs half as much as 7.62 Nagant at that, I would have to say it's worth it.

Ballbearing · 11-02-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cyrano

Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper in the long run simply to buy the replacement .32 ACP cylinder and shoot .32 ACP, which is easy and inexpensive to find, and for which you can obtain reloading dies if you're into reloading? The cylinder costs $60 from Southern Ohio Gun - or in other words, about the cost of a box and a half of 7.62 Nagant ammo. The big differences are that the .32 ACP does not seal and thus you lose about 75 fps. For ready availability of ammo and ammo that costs half as much as 7.62 Nagant at that, I would have to say it's worth it.

I might do that, if it's a drop in. I don't want to do it if I have to take it to a gunsmith. They're as rare as hen's teeth around here and the one really good one we have is backlogged til' doomsday.

Iron_Colonel · 11-03-2009, 01:09 AM

Congrats on finally getting out to the range! I liked shooting mine, thats for sure. They are fun as hell guns, but the only downside is the ammo is a little pricey. So it might be a couple times a year shooter. But I'll stock up on that hotshot while I still can.

gandog56 · 11-03-2009, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballbearing

Unfortunately, the gun is inexpensive, the ammo is not. Until a major manufacturer takes the caliber up, it's probably going to be that way. A box of 40 milsurp corrosive cartridges will run you $20, a box of 50 of the non-corrosive Hotshot cartridges I shoot, will run you $35. I'm saving my empties in case I just happen to run into a reloader somewhere who is capable of reloading this caliber. I'm not holding my breath. I don't know if it's any cheaper if you have a C&R, because I don't have one.

I'm getting the Hotshot online for 21-25 bucks. But I also reload.

gandog56 · 11-03-2009, 01:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballbearing

The 80 year old revolver functioned flawlessly!

Hmmm, mine is only 72 years old.

Ballbearing · 11-03-2009, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gandog56

Hmmm, mine is only 72 years old.

Well, if the date on my gun is right, that being 1931, then:
31 to 41
41 to 51
51 to 61
61 to 71
71 to 81
81 to 91
91 to 01
01 to November of 09 which is damn near 2010
So my gun is technically 78 years old missing 80 by just 2 years.

It's kind of like that scene in "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" when the Con's realize they're going to get extra time added to their sentence for escaping. "I'll be.....84 years old." one says, and then the other smiles and his face lights up and he says "I'll only be 82!"

Big Dog · 11-03-2009, 09:07 AM

The Lee dies will run you about the same as a box of Hotshot ammo. Ditto for 100 .32-20 brass. Bullets are fairly inexpensive, and I find the cheap Magtech .312 lead roundnose to work fine. Small Pistol primers might be a bit tough to find, but they are 'out there'.
Lee has an good inexpensive single-stage press.
For the cost of about four boxes of Hotshot ammo, you can be set up to reload 1000 rounds yourself.
Then you expand into other calibers and have lots of fun!

Ballbearing · 11-03-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dog

The Lee dies will run you about the same as a box of Hotshot ammo. Ditto for 100 .32-20 brass. Bullets are fairly inexpensive, and I find the cheap Magtech .312 lead roundnose to work fine. Small Pistol primers might be a bit tough to find, but they are 'out there'.
Lee has an good inexpensive single-stage press.
For the cost of about four boxes of Hotshot ammo, you can be set up to reload 1000 rounds yourself.
Then you expand into other calibers and have lots of fun!

Then there's the powder, and the primers, and the fact that I've never done it before and I don't have the foggiest idea of where to begin. I'm just not anywhere near able to take that on right now, plus I barely find time to shoot anymore, much less reload. I appreciate the suggestion, I really do, but I have neither the money, nor the time. I work full time and I help take care of a handicapped person. It's just not a go for me.

gandog56 · 11-03-2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dog

The Lee dies will run you about the same as a box of Hotshot ammo. Ditto for 100 .32-20 brass. Bullets are fairly inexpensive, and I find the cheap Magtech .312 lead roundnose to work fine. Small Pistol primers might be a bit tough to find, but they are 'out there'.
Lee has an good inexpensive single-stage press.
For the cost of about four boxes of Hotshot ammo, you can be set up to reload 1000 rounds yourself.
Then you expand into other calibers and have lots of fun!

I always do it bass acwards. I went from other calibers to the Nagant!

tmanbuckhunter · 11-03-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballbearing

Then there's the powder, and the primers, and the fact that I've never done it before and I don't have the foggiest idea of where to begin. I'm just not anywhere near able to take that on right now, plus I barely find time to shoot anymore, much less reload. I appreciate the suggestion, I really do, but I have neither the money, nor the time. I work full time and I help take care of a handicapped person. It's just not a go for me.

Lyman 49th edition reloading manual. Read it front to back 6 times.

generoll · 11-03-2009, 09:39 PM

anyone having any luck finding primers these days?

11-02-2009, 06:37 PM	#1
Ballbearing Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Boondocks Posts: 519	I shot the Nagant revolver today. THRILLING! The 80 year old revolver functioned flawlessly! It was every bit as fun to shoot as a .22, albiet much more expensive. Very light recoil, and although the trigger pull was heavy, (I can imagine in combat it feeling a lot lighter) It wasn't the abominable trigger pull I expected. Every round went off and went downrange. I shot 50 of the Hotshot rounds. The sights are on, and when I took careful aim, I could hit with them, but they're so small it's ridiculous and a good sight picture is hard for these 40+ year old eyes to put together. I did really well when I fast drew and aimed instinctively like a cowboy, this thing is better when you move. It reminds me of nothing more than an old Colt Lightning. I wish I had a million rounds, it would make such an enjoyable plinker. More than worth what I paid for it. I had fun! P.S.: This one's getting a nickname, I'm calling her Minx. __________________ Vote Whig In 2010! Last edited by Ballbearing; 11-02-2009 at 06:41 PM.

11-02-2009, 07:02 PM	#3
Ballbearing Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Boondocks Posts: 519	That's interesting alright, but she's not all that loud to begin with, and even though I appreciate the video and the suggestion, I want to save my bucks for more ammo. I'm still jazzed, what a hoot! __________________ Vote Whig In 2010!

11-02-2009, 07:32 PM	#4
rondog Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Parker, CO Posts: 3,296	Yeah, no doubt the price of that can and tax stamp would buy a LOT of ammo. Where do you get ammo for those, anyway? That's the main thing that's kept me from buying one. __________________ I child-proofed my house, but they still keep getting in!

11-02-2009, 08:02 PM	#5
Ballbearing Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: The Boondocks Posts: 519	There's a local pawn shop that carries it. I don't know how long they'll keep it in stock, but while they do, I'm snappin' it up! __________________ Vote Whig In 2010!

11-03-2009, 01:09 AM	#12
Iron_Colonel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Washington St. Posts: 3,282	Congrats on finally getting out to the range! I liked shooting mine, thats for sure. They are fun as hell guns, but the only downside is the ammo is a little pricey. So it might be a couple times a year shooter. But I'll stock up on that hotshot while I still can. __________________ Mosin Nagant evangelist on a mission to convert YOU!

11-02-2009, 08:47 PM	#6
jim433 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 127	whats it cost to shoot?..i've been looking @ them lately, cant beat the price

11-02-2009, 10:25 PM	#8
big boomer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minn. Posts: 2,310	with a set of lee dies and 32-20 brass you can make ammo it does not seal like the nagant stuff but it does work just fine. You could also buy the extra cylinder that shoots 32 acp but the cylinder is almost as much as the gun (65.00)

11-02-2009, 10:29 PM	#10
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: New York Posts: 6,936	Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper in the long run simply to buy the replacement .32 ACP cylinder and shoot .32 ACP, which is easy and inexpensive to find, and for which you can obtain reloading dies if you're into reloading? The cylinder costs $60 from Southern Ohio Gun - or in other words, about the cost of a box and a half of 7.62 Nagant ammo. The big differences are that the .32 ACP does not seal and thus you lose about 75 fps. For ready availability of ammo and ammo that costs half as much as 7.62 Nagant at that, I would have to say it's worth it.

11-03-2009, 09:07 AM	#16
Big Dog Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 12,920	The Lee dies will run you about the same as a box of Hotshot ammo. Ditto for 100 .32-20 brass. Bullets are fairly inexpensive, and I find the cheap Magtech .312 lead roundnose to work fine. Small Pistol primers might be a bit tough to find, but they are 'out there'. Lee has an good inexpensive single-stage press. For the cost of about four boxes of Hotshot ammo, you can be set up to reload 1000 rounds yourself. Then you expand into other calibers and have lots of fun! __________________ "A bold spirit embiggens the smallest man!" Jebediah Springfield

11-03-2009, 09:39 PM	#20
generoll Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Branson, MO Posts: 259	anyone having any luck finding primers these days?