Nagant Pistol Economy

[x101airborne]

Obviously, the title has nothing to do with the cost of factory ammo!:violin:


http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_155754ee8f7b2552b3.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=3003)
Local dealer had this on the shelf for 75.00. Couldn't pass it up. Especially since my dad bought one some time ago and I kinda felt left out. Finally got the dies, and a mold, and decided to try and use 32-20 brass for the project. With the signifigant lack of load data for this cartrige, I erred on the side of caution and chose to use 32 S&W Long data as a starting point. Fired up Mr. Drippy and ran out about 50 boolits through my NEI mold, then lubed em with alox. These boolits cast perfectly at .316. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_155754ee8f9efe1805.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=3004)
So, I loaded these little 96 grainers over 3 grains of red dot with the shoulder of the swc fully inside the case. Length was good, but the rims are just a little too thick. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_155754ee8fc04470d4.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=3005)
I wasn't really wanting to shave the rims on my brass, although that would probably be the best thing to do, but I was wondering..... How do you remove the internals so I can shave a couple thousandths off the anvil that moves forward when you cock the pistol? Anyone know of an easier fix? I was able to find some of my brass that would allow the weapon to function and fired some of the 3 grain red dot loads. At ten yards, the groups were "good nuff fer gubment work". About 1 inch for 7 rounds and exactly at the top of the front site. Perfect for shooting skunks and dillos. The rounds did have a crack to em, so I am guessing they are just over a thousand feet per second. No recoil what so ever. I pitty the person sent into violent teritorry with that anemic round.

Now back to the economics part of the discussion. Pistol, 75.00. Dies 35.00, Mold 50.00, Brass (nearly the most expensive part of this thing) was something like 50.00 a hundred. 7000 grains in a pound means I get 2333 of these little monster stoppers for around 20 bucks of powder plus 20.00 for a thousand primers. I cant find anything other than 22 long rifle that I can make 2 thousand rounds for around 60.00. Sounds good to me![smilie=w:

[Chicken Thief]

Ehhh, Ummm, Ohh. Me thinks it might be a revolver with that round thingy in the middle and stuff.

[mooman76]

Go to Youtube and do a search. There are some good vids on what you need to do and some good information also.

[Ole]

Sounds like one of my "saving money" projects. :lol:

Good luck with the project. Looks like fun. :mrgreen:

[GaryM]

You can suppress those ya know ;)

[buck1]

Your trouble is easy to fix. I did mine in a few min. I also use the 32-20 brass. Stay with the same brand as the lengths differ.
HERES THE LINK YOU NEED . lOTS OF GREAT INFO THERE. Oops I hit the caps lock.....Buck

http://thenagantman.com/index.html
UNDER THE RED STAR TO THE LEFT CLICK ON "CLICK**PG2*"
P S ..After I got it all lined out my gun will shoot 1 ragged hole at 10 yds.

[9.3X62AL]

I've had a lot of fun with my little Nagant revolver, too.

I was lucky enough to score 100 pieces of the Starline almost-full-length 7.62 x 38R brass while it was still in print. If for some reason you want some of this FL brass--Fiocchi does sell loaded ammo at a not-real-ridiculous price. Assuming it can be found in the known world, a thing I have yet to achieve.

Not having tried 32-20 brass for shooting the Nagant, I can't compare accuracy levels to the FL cases. Of course, I don't see these contraptions making a big splash at Camp Perry. Lee 100 grain RN in the FL cases seem to shoot about 3"-4" at 25 yards, and if I mind the store it will keep 6" dinger plates at Angeles Shooting Ranges' pistol bay pinging and dancing nicely (35 yards). Compared to old G.I. 1911A1 specs of "minute of #2 washtub at 50 yards", this seems positive.

The folks I feel sorry for were the poor Imperial Russian NCOs and officers who got stuck with this concept collision after years of having the very fine S&W #3 top-breaks in 44 Russian. If ever a gesture said "This country has lost its mind", there it is there.

ALL of the 30/32 caliber handguns are VERY affordable to load for, once tooling is acquired and cast boolits are on the menu--as cheep or cheeper than CCI Mini-Mag 22 LR.

[mac60]

You got a great deal on the revolver. You're definitely on the right track. There's a youtuber who calls himself "the nagant man", he's got a video that will detail the disassembly/reassembly. In reality though, the gun is simplicity itself, you won't have any problem with it. I have 2 and I took the same route with both of them. 5 minutes time, a file and some fine sandpaper and I was in business.

[Jbar4Ranch]

I chucked my .32-20's in a drill press - finger tight is sufficient - turned it on, then used a hacksaw blade flat against the case with the teeth down against the forward end of the rim. It doesn't take much, and I didn't use any jig of any sort - just did it by feel and every one of the 100 pieces I did came out just fine.

[leadman]

Privi is also making ammo for these revolvers. I have some Fiochi also. The Privi cracked a few case mouths when fired, the Fiochi did not.

I did a comparison for velocity with the same load in factory style cases versus cylinder length. Between 200 to 300 fps in my gun. My cylinder does not touch the back of the barrel when all the way forward, lacks about .020" and I think this is why there is so much velocity lose.

I also have some Bertram brass that looks like 32-20 with the same rim style but extends out of the cylinder like original ammo does. This ammo will close up the gap between the cylinder and barrel some.

I have an old Shotgun News with an article on doing a trigger job. Made quite a difference.

Would hate for this to be my only handgun but it is fun to tinker with.

[evan price]

Those were $49 or so with holster and stuff a couple years ago.

I use the Lee 311-93-1R bullet as cast in 32 H&R or 32 S&W-Long brass over 3.5 gr of Titegroup. ALOX tumble lubed. Shoots fine. No gas seal but so what.

I also got lucky and discovered almost 500 pieces of Boxer primed Prvi and S&B brass for the Nagant. Can't do the gas seal crimp so it's just sitting.

[9.3X62AL]

Can't do the gas seal crimp so it's just sitting.

Au contraire, mon ami. If you have a 32 S&W Long/32 mag/32 ACP sizer, remove the decap assembly and run the case mouth into that die just far enough to reach the boolit's sidewall. Crimp is set, cartridge will enter the barrel shank, and all will be well.

[mtnman31]

I got mine as a gift after I returned from deployment a few years back. I really enjoy shooting it. It is sort of like shooting the M-1 Carbine; not the most accurate thing in the world and a little rough around the edges but still fun. I would really like some better sights. I use 32-20 cases and don't worry about the gas seal. I am currently loading up a new batch of ammo.

[MtGun44]

I really like Al's choice of words for the Nagant revolver - 'contraption'.

I'd call that just about a perfect description of these things. Which is why in mint condition
they sell for about $100 or less, of course aided by the easy availability of high quality target
grade ammunition at low prices. :kidding:

Well, at least I got the 'contraption' part right. :bigsmyl2:

Bill

[x101airborne]

Finished the 32-20 brass conversion on the pistol yesterday. The Nagantman video was great. I chose to modify the revolver rather than the brass and did some more reloading. Same boolit over 3.7 grains of unique gave ONE RAGGED HOLE at 10 yards. Now that makes me giddy!

[buck1]

Just a note: Ebone often has parts for these.
Also I have read that a .30 carbine lee factory crimp die works on the 32-20 brass for these.
And I got a small brass rod and put a wooden knob on one end to eject the cases instead of messing with the guns ejector.

[frankenfab]

Widener's has some nice looking one's for $109.95 right now. I ran across this thread while doing a search here. I think they are neat looking.

http://wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=100000355&dir=700|1012|1027
http://wideners.com/images/fulls/FM1895.jpg

[leadman]

Cabela's is having a "sale" on these revolvers starting 1-19. They also have the ppu ammo for $21.99, which is a buy.

I modified a bullet seater for my Lee die. Turned about 1/2" of the end down so it enters the case to push the boolit in a ways. I adjust the depth to where I want it with the crimping part of the die closing the end of the case somewhat.

This makes a crimp similar to the Privi and Fiochi ammo but I am thinking of making a die to taper the end of the case like the Russian surplus ammo.
I did buy a new recoil plate and installed it to close up the gap on my gun. Haven't shot it yet to see if the velocity is raised or not.

I also cast some of the Lee 93gr RN out of 30 to 1 alloy to see if it shoots better. I would like to find some of the 32cal wadcutters with the hollow base as I think this would solve a few problems loading for these. My barrel is about .3135" but the largest boolit that will chamber in gas seal brass is .312". I do have some brass I trimmed to cylinder length and may trim it further and load .314" boolits.

I think this will make a neat little small game getter when I get it sorted out.
I have hunted jack rabbits with my Makarov before and actually got a couple! LOL.

Been thinking of buying another Nagant just 'cuz.

[9.3X62AL]

I've downed a couple jacks with my Nagant. I suspect from my batting average on jacks with this revolver (about like Single-A players facing C.C. Sabathia) that a rabbit so taken was having a very bad day already. These examples and the Mauser C-96 need their own classification for target matches--"Open/Contraption" or something similar.

[Duckdog]

As you found out, you can modify the gun pretty easy. I have 7 of these and reload for them, as only had to alter 3 of them. If youcock the gun without the cylinder in, the piece that forces the brass forward will move out to where you can file a very small anount off of it to allow the use of 32/20 brass. You can also blue that piece again from that position.

These are a hoot to cast for, as well as shoot. I use 4 gr of Unique under a 90 gr Lee .314 SWC TL bullet with exfellent results. I also seat the bullet so the nose is just inside the case-mouth.

[x101airborne]

Well, I know I havent re-visited this thread since finishing the revolver, so I thought an update was appropriate. My dad has fallen head over heels for this revolver. So much so, he has ordered several and wants me to modify all the revolvers to use 32-20 brass. This thing is REALLY accurate. Maybe not so powerful, but talk about fun. And it doesn't hurt when people see me carrying it, they ask.... "What the cornbread is that?" Like I said..... not for deer at all, not really comfortable even for small hogs. BUT fun to carry and plink with. Adequate for skunks, coons, I would even try it for a yote if the opportunity presents itself.

[azhunter12]

Nice looking gun. Always wanted one but couldn't justify a gun with an expensive chambering. I already have too many of those.

Looks like a nice piece of history tho. Enjoy it.

[Artful]

You know this is one revolver that you can actually suppress and with a 9mm can sounds like suppressed 22LR - I spent more on the threading than the revolver cost but finally I can say I have a hollyweird suppressed revolver.
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6046/1895nagantrevolverbarrezr7.jpg
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/6659/dsc06042q.jpg
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/7932/dsc06046k.jpg

[x101airborne]

Crud... It's my future..... I see ANOTHER tax stamp!!!

Yeah, I gotta now.

[Artful]

Sorry :twisted:

Did you know that during the cold war KGB used suppressed Nagants.

http://guns.connect.fi/gow/nagant.html

One such had police fooled for quite a while as they thought it was a long range shot with AK or SKS or some such with special ammo loaded with 123 grain AK bullets for quiet take eliminations in the west.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvF4yurWSc0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCMHEpBxegM&feature=related

[leadman]

I had my Nagant at the range today. Fired 32-20 length Nagant brass and the same loads in full length Nagant brass.
Accuracy was better with the full length brass as well as velocity. 3.9grs of Unique propels the Lee 93gr RN over 1,000 fps. 4.1grs of Unique makes it bark a little and velocity is right around 1,100 fps. Probably will not shoot anymore at the 4.1gr level as I have no need to do that.
With the brass trimmed to 32-20 length 4.1grs of Unique is just 800 fps.

I want to make a die to put a crimp on the case like the Russian ammo has, a gentle taper. I think the boolit would be more accurate and also the mouth of the case would be worked less. I tried to minimize the crimp and had a couple of cases I had to fiddle with the cylinder to get the brass into the end of the barrel.

Anyway, the gun is working well and accuracy is improved since I went to 30 to 1 lead/tin alloy.

[nelsonted1]

The pawN shop in my town has one of these for $275. I casually mention you can still find them in shotgun news for $100 to $110. They claim the manager insists theirs is special. I asked if they knew if it was the single action only model which may have been special. I tried it, is in ordinary. Anyone interested in a fine historical vintage artifact?

Course a antique shop has a very ordinary Harpers Ferry muzzleloader for $14,000 which draws me back every time I walk by wondering what their markup is.

Ted

[Rio Grande]

You can suppress those ya know ;)

I know my brother-in-law pretty good, and I've never found a way to suppress him yet.:razz: