Jump to content
Military Firearm Restoration Corner

Hearing The Call Of The 7.62 Nagant Revolver


PRegner

Recommended Posts

Lately I've been seeing the 7.62 Nagant revolvers all over for around $110, and I'm really tempted to pick one up. However, I have some reservations. The surplus ammunition for them seems to be drying-up (which might explain why they are becoming so affordable), and I don't want to own anything I can't take out and shoot.

 

This leaves the prospect of reloading. I have found Lee dies that are supposed to successfully reload Winchester 32-20 brass into safe, shootable rounds for the Nagant revolver, but I understand it is not an understaking for the faint of heart (even for an experienced reloader).

 

Has anyone had success reloading for the Nagant revolver? I would really like to add a military surplus revolver to my collection, but the Colt/Smith & Wesson 1917's are a little cost prohibative, and the Webleys with shaved cylinders that can use the half-moon clips and .45acp are getting as rare as hen's teeth.

 

Anyone have any words of wisdom they could share with me?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lately I've been seeing the 7.62 Nagant revolvers all over for around $110, and I'm really tempted to pick one up. However, I have some reservations. The surplus ammunition for them seems to be drying-up (which might explain why they are becoming so affordable), and I don't want to own anything I can't take out and shoot.

 

This leaves the prospect of reloading. I have found Lee dies that are supposed to successfully reload Winchester 32-20 brass into safe, shootable rounds for the Nagant revolver, but I understand it is not an understaking for the faint of heart (even for an experienced reloader).

 

Has anyone had success reloading for the Nagant revolver? I would really like to add a military surplus revolver to my collection, but the Colt/Smith & Wesson 1917's are a little cost prohibative, and the Webleys with shaved cylinders that can use the half-moon clips and .45acp are getting as rare as hen's teeth.

 

Anyone have any words of wisdom they could share with me?

Century Arms has the replacement cylinder in 32 APC. Cost is 54.87. Easy to install.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've had one for years long before they were dirt cheap. It came back from WW2 with my X-wife's uncle. He liberated it from a German officer he captured along with some other souvenirs the German brought back from the Eastern Front. I've been shooting 32 S&W both short and long in it. 20+ years ago 32 S&W was an easy find at gunshows. I would find partial boxes priced dirt cheap. 32 S&W is no longer an easy find or cheap and the down side is the 32 brass more often than not splits at the mouth when fired in a Nagant and is not reloadable. The only hand loaded ammo I ever shot in my Nagant were with some once fired 32 H&R Mag brass. I loaded them with a friend's 32L loading dies. Been way to many years to recall the load but I loaded it with my friend's home cast 32 cal bullets.

 

Here is a link to a previous thread.

http://www.sporterizing.com/index.php?showtopic=5441

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

paul, the nagants are great revolvers , lots of fun to shoot. ive had mine for about 15 years ( price was 60.00 back then) the 32/20 brass works great, be sure you get starline brass, the rim is thiner and works better than rem or win. if you have 30 carbine dies and 32/20 dies you wont even need to buy nagant dies. just full lenght resize the 32/20 brass in the 30 carbine die to get rid of the bottleneck and then just use 32/20 dies to load cartridges, i use cast 100gr bullets over 3 gr of bullseye. only drewback on this revolver is the hardest trigger pull you ever saw.........sc03a3

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 years later...

I have a Norewgian Nagant revolver wich is slightly better than the Russian one, in that it dont move the drum forward to seal the chamber.

That being said the trigger is horrid! Single action is on the bad side of 8lbs and double action is like dragging a grand piano up a dirt road. Mine will hold a 17pound load easy in double action.

 

I cut down some split 25-20 and some 32-20 and made a heel type bullet mould myself.

Works a treat.

R0011590_zps5ac44631.jpg

R0011591_zpsde8b5f45.jpg

 

And i use a Lee Factory Crimp Die to crimp the bullet in place

R0011648_zps83457016.jpg

 

I have tried the full length 32-20 but is was only so-so at best.

R0010874.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just shoot 32 H&H mag in mine.

Bad idea in my mind as the 762 Nagant was designed for pressures abouth the same level as 32 S&W Long. I don't have the numbers but my guess is the 32 mag pressure is over the top. Nagant pistol ammo is out there but seasonable by Privi and Fiochi.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...