There are several variations on the Mosin Nagant that you are talking about here. 1st. The Imperial version is the original version (the Model of 1891). This version is typified externally by looking at the receiver geometry. It is octagonal in shape where the barrel shank enters the receiver. The Communist Russians mass produced the rifle prior to WW2 and omitted the octagonal receiver in lieu of a rounded version (easier to machine). This became the 91/30. During the Winter War of 1938/39 (between Russia and Finland), most Russian units were still equipped with the Model 91. After hostilities ceased, the Finns gathered the captured M91's and modified them for there own purposes. These became the Finnish Model 39. The receivers were mostly Imperial (Tsarist) marked items made by the best Russian Arsenals (such as Tula, Ishevsk and Srestroyka). The Finns retooled the receivers and added barrels and trigger groups from Sako, Valmet, Tikka (and in some cases SIG). The Finnish version of the Mosin Nagant rifle is by far the best for shooting accuracy and smoothness of function. While the Communist version is still a good shooter, it cannot even come close to the durability, ease of use and all around utility of it's Finnish counterpart. I personally own two Nagants. One is an Imperial marked, Communist rework of an M91/30, the other is a Finn M39 (with a Sako trigger group, Valmet barrel) built on a Tula receiver that was made in 1897. The whole rifle was reworked by Sako in 1942. It's a real tack driver.
TheRev
