On one of the other forums, the question was asked, "What do you do when you can't go and shoot?" One thing I do is go Internet window-shopping. I happened on this listing on the auctionarms.com website in connection with a Nagant Model 1895 revolver in 7.62 Nagant.
From what I've heard, finding affordable 7.62 Nagant pistol ammo is not the easiest thing to do, which is one reason I've held off taking a serious look at one. The information from this listing could change that. But before I spend money on a pistol that could turn out to be nothing more than a curiosity/paperweight, I would very much value the opinion of Guns and Game members who are more knowledgable about cartridges than I am.
"There have been some experiments to determine what other ammunition can be used in the Nagant revolver besides '7.62mm Nagant.' The tests show that these revolvers will work perfectly with caliber '.32 H&R Magnum' jacketed hollow point ammunition as loaded by Federal Cartridge Co. Their item number is C32HRB. The revolver will also fire caliber '.32 Smith & Wesson' and caliber '.32 Smith & Wesson Long' ammunition but we do not recommend it since the use of lead bullets will lead to fouling and cylinder binding. We do not recommend the use of any lead bullet in these three calibers but if jacketed bullets are available, then they should be okay. Caliber '.32 ACP' may work in some revolvers but occasional misfires may be expected."
Are the conclusions the seller in this listing makes valid, or is it dangerous to use these rounds in a Model 1895 chambered for 7.62 Nagant?
They will work, although the 32 ACP requires a cylinder change (you replace the cylinder with an aftermarket one, as the ACP is rimless). I found that there was a lot of leading with unjacketed ammo, never tried jacketed. You can get brass and dies and load your own ammo, or watch for sales. I have paid as little as $22.00 and as much as $29.00 for Fiocchi by checking local shows and watching for sales at places like Midway USA, Cheaper Than Dirt, and Sortsman's Guide. I have the dies, but haven't got round to loading any yet. Soon, I hope, but my work is keeping me very busy these days. I think these are interesting pistols, both mechanically and historically, and they are certainly affordable. I'm enjoying mine, and would recommend one to anyone interested.
Well, if you say the cartridges that were delineated as usable in the listing are safe to fire in the Nagant, as soon as finances permit and my C&R comes through, I'll get me one. As long as I can shoot it, with ammo that's not difficult to get, that's fine with me.
Who makes a good operator's manual for the Nagant?
Don't know of an operators manual, but Gun Digest "Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly, Part II: Revolvers Revised Edition" has Nagant revolver. As far as operation, the only oddity, besides the obvious cylinder movement, is the ejector rod. You turn the rod to loosen, pull it out to the stop, turn the ejector housing to line up the mark (it's at the front of the frame), open the loading gate and line up the cylinder so that the rod can now enter the chamber, and then use the rod to eject the spent cases. Then you return the rod forward, turn the housing back so that the rod is again in line under the barrel, slide the rod back home and turn it to lock. Not too fast for combat, eh? Or if you are shooting Nagant ammo, you open the loading gate and you can simply press on the end of the cartridge case that has been opened up after firing, and the case will eject easily. Doble action is heavy, hard to be accurate, but single action is light and crisp on mine. Not a bad shooter.
Be careful with the center rod - the housing has a very sharp edge! My buddy cut himself last time he shot the gun.
Best bet on ammo, if you can't afford the real thing - reload with reformed .32-20 cases. With the characteristic low pressures, the brass will last a long time. No bulging cases, good accuracy. Still won't seal like the proper ammo, but it's a lot closer than the .32s.
And the cheaper lead bullets work fine.
On the right side of the gun you'll see two screws. Unscrew the rearmost one then flip the gun over and work the side panel off. Once the panel is off you'll see three flathead screws; one for each of the side grips and one holding the center part to the removed panel. The two screws on the panel you took off are easy; the last screw...not so much. You'll have to remove the hammer spring to get to it; which isn't any fun (removing or re-installing). I recommend you take a picture of the spring so you'll have an exact reference of how it goes back in. Remove that last screw and tada! your grips are off.
The spring is under some tension, be careful when you're working with it.
I shoot .32 H&R mag out of mine. after 3-4K rounds, I have never had a problem. The balistics are about the same as the 7.62 Nagant ammo, but a heck of alot cheaper. Jacketed hollowpoints are the best choice, but hard cast lead works well also.
I reload 32-20 for mine it does not seal like the original its more like every other revolver Lee makes special dies for this. They seem to work ok but these are NOT target guns by any line of thinking. But what can you want for less than 100. as for 32 acp there is the cylinder you can buy or some will shoot them in the old cylinder some they slide to far forward some people put a wrap of tape so they fit tighter but I don't say this is a good idea. Remember if the cases swell a lot you don't want to reload them.
i have read you can full length resize boxer primed brass with the 30 carbine sizer die,then reload with standard 32 long wadcutters using 32-20 seater die adjusted very low;about the final 1/10 of the bullet exposed.anyway thats what i read.i bought some hot shot ammo and will get around to testing this method one day.
i thought about doing that as well.does it work well?how deep do you seat the bullets?what are your powder/bullet loads?man i am full of questions among other things.
I have 2 of these revolvers... I shoot 32 longs out of them... It fires great... although i needed help ejecting the brass on 3 of the 7 rounds in the cylinder... i just used the cleaning rod though and it worked great.
My brother has a couple of these revolvers also and he said his .32 long brass didn't have any problems falling out on their own... myabe he has better ammo than me... I had Federal.
__________________ An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. Benjamin Franklin
As I stated before, .32 H&R Magnums work just fine. No ejection problems, no blow by, and best of all it is cheap and available about everywhere. The gas seal is great if You have the original Nagant Rounds, If not Go with what is cheap and works. Do a comparison on ballistics and pressures and You will see the .32 H&R mag is the 7.62 Nagant's Twin.....
Do not fire 32 H+R Magnum ammo in a very old revolver, that was designed to handle very LOW PRESSURE!
Go ahead and USE THE BRASS if you wish (it will work)
But DON'T fire, modern, magnum ammo, in a revolver that was designed at the DAWN of the Smokeless Power era!
Be aware, that if you use 32 H+R ammo, you are DOUBLING the operating pressure,,, in an antique firearm!
Sure! If you stick one in the gun, and pull the trigger,,,,it will go BANG! You MIGHT get away with it. YOU MAY NOT!
You want to risk your eye's, or hands on the bet??
I've been reloading for over 25 years. I would NEVER, EVER, double the operating pressure, in any load, EVEN IN A MODERN FIREARM!
Be aware, that if you use 32 Smith and Wesson, or 32 Smith and Wesson Longs, you will have an UGLY bulge in the brass, just ahead of the rim!
(I got that, even with minimalistic reloads)
I bought the Lee, brand dies for {Nagant Pistol} But,,,,Alas,,,they are NOT! They are 32-20 dies (says so, right on the die)
If you try to load any of the SHORTER rounds, like 32 Smith and Wesson, or the 32 LONGS, with these dies, THEY WILL not crimp! Bullets may very well fall in, or OUT of the brass!
If you want to fire ANY old Military firearm, and get good results.
DUPLICATE the weight of bullet, pressure, and velocity, of the ORIGINAL SERVICE AMMO!
When I do that,,,shooting lead bullets at about 700 feet per second, in my Nagant pistol,,,,It shoots better, than I am able to exploit.
(my kid can make an old 3 inch, tin cook pot, DANCE at 30 yards!) One shot,,,,one kill! Me, I got old guy, eye's and the sights are to fine to see well.
Guys that write about Nagant pistols grouping 3-5 inches at 10 yards,,,,are using the wrong loads!
Do the research! Find out EXACTLY what the 'ole Girl was DESIGNED to fire!
Then set out to duplicate it!
Ohhhh,,,,by the way, if you buy the 32 ACP, replacement cylinder for a Nagant,,,,it most likely,,,WILL NOT FIT!
Locate your REVOLVER GUNSMITH that is willing to fit it,,,,BEFORE you buy!
Mine, does make a nice paperweight on my desk though. (for 53 dollars!)
Shotgun News' Treasury 8th edition has a great 2 part article on the Nagant and fitting the 32 cylinder. It has alot of info on the pistol and up keep.
