Nagant Safety

The Mosin Nagant is a type of rifle what was mainly used by the Russians and Soviets to fight in Korea and Vietnam during World War II. These rifles can still be found in use today for hunting and recreational purposes. If you plan on using one of these rifles, you should become familiar with the loading, maintenance and safety of this weapon prior to use.

  1. Loading and Unloading

    • When you are loading and unloading your Nagant, you should follow proper loading and safety procedure. Point the rifle away from you and others while you load and unload. Load five or fewer rounds into the rifle and close the bolt. Closing the bolt will chamber the first round, so you must engage the safety until you are ready to use the rifle. To unload, open the bolt and pull on the receiver. Flip the rifle over, push the magazine catch so it moves in the direction of the trigger guard, open the bottom up and let the rounds fall onto a flat surface.

    Engaging The Safety

    • You should always engage the safety of your rifle when it is not in use and when you are loading or unloading bullets. To engage the safety, grab the round cocking piece located near the rear of the rifle. Turn it counterclockwise until it won't rotate any more. Allow the safety to move forward toward the left side of the receiver. It may be difficult to engage the safety but with some force, you should be able to do it.

    Disengage The Safety

    • When you are ready to use the rifle, you must disengage the safety; otherwise it will not allow you to shoot. Grab the round safety knob, pull towards the back of the gun and rotate clockwise. You have to use some strength to pull the knob back to fully disengage the gun.

    How To Clean

    • Cleaning and maintaining your rifle is very important if you want to preserve it and keep it in working order. Clean the rifle soon after you have shot it for best results. Clean the rifle with a cleaner that is specifically designed for corrosive ammo, as that is the only ammo you can use with the Nagant. Hoppe's #9 works well for this purpose. Apply a thin oil film on the bore and any exposed metal to prevent rust from forming.