Club Obi Wan

I'm sorry if this has already been posted. I have been seeing these in the Shotgun News and thought that one might pass for a Webley close enough. It is a Russian Nagant. The link is below, I would love everyones comments.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a69/Wr ... agant1.jpg

I own a Russian Nagant 1895, which your link shows a picture of. The Nagant is much different than the Webley in a number of ways. First of all, the Nagant is noticeably smaller if you were to put it side by side to the Webley. The Nagant is more the size of a S&W .38 Victory, which I also have. The cartridge for the Nagant is smaller and not produced anymore, save one specialty maker that I'm aware of, and I haven't heard the best reviews of it, either.

The loading is also completely different. The Webley is a top break revolver, meaning the whole top of the gun opens, or "breaks" forward, exposing the cylinder. The Nagant, on the other hand, is extremely awkward to load. First, you pull the pin underneath the barrel forward. Next, you twist the ring it's on (which surrounds the barrel) to the side. On the opposite side of the gun is a lever to the side of the cylinder which you flip down, which exposes a single chamber. you then push the pin back in, which now lines up with the chamber and is used as a rod to shove the spent shell back out. You can then load in a fresh bullet, and then proceed to do this five more times until you're fully loaded, then flipping the chamber cover back up, twisting the rod back underneath the barrel and pushing back into its resting spot. If, by that time, you haven't already been shot, killed, and burried, you are free to proceed firing the gun. Needless to say, it's a very ineficient loader.

The trigger pull is also VERY heavy, which means it'll likely affect your aim.

I think the Nagant is an interesting revolver, but I don't think it comes anywhere close to being a close enough for a Webley.

That said, your best bet for a close enough would be the Enfiled No. 2 Mk 1: http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg92-e.htm It's essentially a Webley in a .38. Apart from some minor differences, it's essentially the same gun and loads exactly the same. You can find the Enfield revolvers cheaper than the Webleys. You can find blank firing models of this gun for even cheaper.

Thanks for the information Rick! I had no idea how difficult the Nagants were to shoot. You definitely helped me out pointing me toward the Enfield. It looks much more like it and also sounds like it will be easier to load and shoot. I have one question though, is the ammo for that gun readily available? Thanks again. Have a great day.

The ammo for the Enfiled revolver is still widely available. (It's the same as my Victory.) It should be stamped on the gun what to use (at least the Victory is). It's a .38, though I wouldn't use a .38 + or such, as it's a heavier load than what was originally shot through it. As with any gun, you should take it to a good gunsmith to make sure it's in good shooting condition before firing anything through it. He should also be able to tell you what ammo best to use.

Hey Bink,

I am having trouble finding an Enfield anywhere close to as cheap as a Nagant. I have a current Shotgun news where the Nagant's are selling for $85 to dealers. Even if I have to pay a FFL holder to have it shipped to them I still only have $110 in it. I just went on Auction Arms and Gunbroker.com and the lowest one I saw was $195, most were $250. Do you know of any Enfields for a more reasonable price? I do want a fully functioning gun though.

Thanks and let me know!

Actually, that seems like a pretty good price for an Enfield. It's around what I've seen them go for. I doubt you'll find an Enfield as cheap as the Nagant. The Nagants seem to be one of the ubiquitous "cheap surplus imports" as I remember. If you go for te Enfield, it'll be worth paying for one in really good condition, especially if you plan to shoot it.

Unfortunately Enfields have really gone up in the last few years. I nearly went into shock at some of the prices sellers were wanting. $500? Com'on. I would say $195 is more on the level.
To put it into perspective I paid $50 for mine, listed in "poor" condition when in reality it was in perfect condition...

Thanks for giving me hope of finding one cheeeeeap. I would gladly pay $200 but the one I was watching for $195 went for about $400.