my brother has a nagant, he keeps trying to get me to trade, my enfeild is better.
enfeild advantages:
.303 brit,, more powerful round easily found in factory ammunition from a number of US sources (remington particularly)
10 round detachable box magazine
made to the exacting standards of the british empire
served with distinction from the 1870's to the 1970's
smooth cock on closing action
luxurious wood furniture
low recoil due to excessive mass
chrome lined bores quite common
dozens of accessories for every taste readily available including chamber sets to fire 32 automatic and 22 lr cartidges
enfeild disadvantages:
bolt spring causing excessive headspace and cartridge stretch
heavy as fuck
bayonets cost a packet if you can even find a good one
nagant advantages:
dirt cheap
well made and durable
bayonet comes with.
good locking lugs and solid bolt operation
nagant disadvantages:
7.62x54R cartidge has way more bark than bite
not very accurate, usually shoots low and to the left if the bayonet is not mounted
too light in the nose, causing excessive barrel climb
5 round fixed magazine
stiff often sticky cock on opening action
finicky bolt system
weird russian through and through sling mounts make fitting a sling chancy at best
most loaded ammunition is berdan primed and/or corrosive and/or made in russia. a dicey prospect indeed
reloading dies have been suprisingly difficult to locate
shitty wood
bores not chrome lined
smell it before you buy it. some have been soaked in urine before being coated in cosmoline or grease for storage. (dont ask)