Finally succumbed and bought a Nagant revolver.
They are just too neat and cheap to boot. Did get the older one from AIM (1928)
with all the CCCP Markings.
Now I am fighting the ammunition battle.
There seem to be workable loads out there using  32-20 brass and .32 cast bullets.
There is a small modification to the piece that needs done to accomodate the rims on the 32-20.
Do I make a shooter out of it making the mod or leave it alone and order confiscatory priced and shipped
Factory ammo.
Anybody out there have any , or know where there is some factory ammo local???
Aloha

Interesting piece. Found this cool YouTube.
Silenced 1895 Nagant revolver (NFA)

Sorry can't help on the ammo though.

Is one of those .32ACP drop-in replacement cylinders a viable option? 

There is info on how To Reload for it.

Finding it will be the fun part.

Here's another possibility: making shootable brass from .223 cases.

http://ak47building.yolasite.com/forming-making-brass-for-the-nagant-revolver.php

Thanks all!!
Yes the 32 cal cylinder is a workable option. Need to look at that further. Will it really drop into a 75 year old piece? Hard to tell, but these things are pretty basic.
Seems they are getting scarce. And may not be built anymore.
There are a million loads out there on the net. Old guy is on to something. Finding them is ALL the fun.
The 32-20 case re-formed w/trail boss powder and a 115g cast bullet looks most promising, but modifying the gun to use the case worries me some.
It may have some collector value one day.
What I think I am going to do is buy the part that needs the mod, a small part, found one for $15.00 delivered to my door.
I will make the mod on this piece and save the original to put back in if I ever need to restore it. Matching number all over the inside.
These things are great. Take it apart to parade rest with a screwdriver (provided) and a tap hammer. Good project stuff
I think this is gonna be fun. Stay tuned.
Have read a bit on the 223 case mod. Need to look further. This has merit also.

Aloha

gordyf where are the pics?

gordyf where are the pics?

On the waaaaaay!

I have a Swedish Nagant that I reload for. I use .32-20 cases, 90 gr. .308/.309 lead bullets, and Trail Boss powder. I tried jacketed bullets, but they got stuck in the barrel , with the light loads, so I went back to lead.
Make sure that you slug your barrel to check the bore diameter. Swedish Nagants are supposed to be .311-.312, but mine was .308.

If you check the Gunboards forums, there is an 1895 Nagant pistol forum that has lots of info on reloading for the Russian Nagant.
http://forums.gunboards.com/forumdisplay.php?18-M1895-NAGANT-Pistol-Collector-Forum

You might get lucky at the next gun show and find some 7.62X38R factory ammo.

This was interesting:

http://www.makarov.com/nagant/m1895.htm

Truth be told, if I still had my machine shop, I'd be diddling around with Nagant Revolvers just for the mechanical challenges involved. 

Terry, 230RN

Now that is a beautiful piece of machinery! Thanks Spanner for the pic.

I know most everyone here gets off on the AK's and AR's and Plastic Guns like the Glock, etc. But give me 5 or 6 holes that spin around and around and I........


 

This was interesting:

http://www.makarov.com/nagant/m1895.htm

Truth be told, if I still had my machine shop, I'd be diddling around with Nagant Revolvers just for the mechanical challenges involved. 

Terry, 230RN

That was an interesting article. Makes me want to get one and start shooting .32.

Now that is a beautiful piece of machinery! Thanks Spanner for the pic.

I know most everyone here gets off on the AK's and AR's and Plastic Guns like the Glock, etc. But give me 5 or 6 holes that spin around and around and I........


 

Seven for the Nagant. Twelve percent more fun!

I wonder if anyone ever wrote a good-guy/bad-guy Western gunfight story involving that extra round.

Black-hatted evildoer Mike Rotchisari:  "Hah, Rock Steeltimber!  You shot your six bullets and I've got one left... jusssst for you." (Takes slow and careful aim at Rock Steeltimber.)

Rock raises his Nagant and BANG!  black-hatted evildoer falls down, eeeevilll face showing shock and chagrin.  "Whaat?  How..." and his eyes close in the long sleep.

Gorgeous girl rushes out of the general store and wraps her arms around Our Hero Rock Steeltimber, and says, with a wet kiss, "Oh, Rock!  You have avenged my father's death by that dastardly low-down crook, Mike Rotchisari, evildoer extraordinaire!  How can I evvvverrrrr thank you?" <flutters eyelashes>

<camera pans up to western sunset>

Nice piece spanner1751!
Way nicer than mine and no import stamp I'll bet. Really like the color of the finish.
The hexagonal barrel is a real touch of class too. Is it single or double action? I know that some of the older ones were single action
I did in fact slug my barrel and found it to be large-- .3135/314. Well used?, but good sharp rifling.
How much Trail Boss do you use with the 90 grain projectile? The info I gleaned from the web says 3.5 grains behind a 115 grain bullet.
I bought Hunter's supply bullets @.313.
Tried to get a picture to attach, but it tells me they are too big. What's the secret of sending pics? I am getting better, but still kinda bumbling on computer stuff, but trainable.

Aloha

I am going to try this again Thanks for bearing with me.
They did not teach computer at Iolani in the "60s
Aloha

[attachment deleted by admin]

I am going to try this again Thanks for bearing with me.
They did not teach computer at Iolani in the "60s
Aloha

NICE!!! It looks to be in good shape! 

Nice piece spanner1751!
Way nicer than mine and no import stamp I'll bet. Really like the color of the finish.
The hexagonal barrel is a real touch of class too. Is it single or double action? I know that some of the older ones were single action
I did in fact slug my barrel and found it to be large-- .3135/314. Well used?, but good sharp rifling.
How much Trail Boss do you use with the 90 grain projectile? The info I gleaned from the web says 3.5 grains behind a 115 grain bullet.
I bought Hunter's supply bullets @.313.
Tried to get a picture to attach, but it tells me they are too big. What's the secret of sending pics? I am getting better, but still kinda bumbling on computer stuff, but trainable.

Aloha

Thanks Gordyf. Single action, IIRC. It's been a while since I pulled it out of the safe.
I found some .308 115g (correction from the 90g that I mentioned above) RN lead bullets that I load with either 3.0g of Unique or 2.2g of Trail Boss powder.
The bore is a slightly pitted, but the rifling is sharp. It surprised me by shooting to point of aim at 10 yds with approx 3 inch groups.
For posting pictures on forums, it's easy if you get a Photobucket or Flickr account.
Your Russian Nagant looks to be a nice piece.

I see that ammunitiontogo has 7.62 Nagant ammo in stock. I heard that they will ship to Hawaii, but don't know how much the shipping would be.

http://www.ammunitiontogo.com/index.php/cName/pistol-ammo-762-nagant

NICE!!! It looks to be in good shape! 

 Thanx,  It is in pretty fair shape. Don't know if the bore is normal or not for the vintage. it is pre WWII (1928).  I am happy or was until I saw Spanner's. Mine doesn't hold a candle  to his for pretty. I am jealous.
The kind of rusty color and the contrast on the loading gate spring really makes my socks go up and down. The hex barrel is icing on the cake. I would love to find one like it.
I think these will be a passion. I am real comfy taking them apart and fiddling with them. You take it all apart with the screw driver and fix it with a hammer. Ruskie style. made for the Proletariat.
Spanner, your's is special!
Aloha

Thanks again Gordyf. The yellow color is called "straw" blue and is made by heating up the metal to a certain temperature, hotter temperatures producing a blue color. Straw blueing was also used on some Luger parts.
Swedish firearms are well known for their quality. I also have a few Swedish Mauser rifles, and the workmanship on these is also superb.
Model 1887 Swedish Nagant revolvers are available on auction sites like Gunbroker, if you would like to research prices.
Here is a link to a Gunbroker auction that shows the workmanship of a Swedish Nagant. Note that practically all the pieces have matching serial numbers.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=297546970

Here is another dealer with M1887 Swedish Nagants for sale:

http://www.simpsonltd.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=swedish+nagant&x=5&y=13

I made some ammo for my nagant pistol with starline 32/20 brass. The starline brass is supposed to be easier due to a slightly smaller rim diameter. I think Lee still makes the dies for the nagant ammo. I used the Lee 311-100 bullet sized to .311 with 3.5 grains of red dot. I found some load data that used 3.8 grains of bullseye with the same bullet weight. The 3.8 b-eye load should produce about 900 fps. I hope this helps.