The Mosin Nagant is one of those rifles that people will never get over. It’s a timeless rifle design from over 100 years ago that people still use today. It’s amazing how many of these old school rifles are still on the shelves. You can buy them for almost nothing and they’re a ton of fun to shoot. With a little bit of work you can polish up that 50$ Flea Market rifle into a tack driver. With they’re long barrels and the long distance 7.62x54r cartridge these rifles can be extremely accurate. I really do love playing around with the iron sights on the old school Mosin Nagant. It’s amazing how accurate are ancestors were with these basic sights. Even though the iron sights are fun to use, after a while you’re going to want a modern scope.
I would definitely recommend using the forward mount that’s hidden under the rear sight to install a scout scope. Personally I think the best Mosin Nagant scope is going to be this Vortex Crossfire II Scout Scope. Vortex scopes are all extremely durable, have a clear sight picture and come in at an affordable price point.
How To Scope a Mosin Nagant?
Quite a few manufacturers sell mounts that attach directly to the rear sight, but that’s not the best option. It’s a little known secret that there’s normally a 3/8″ Dovetail underneath the rear mount. It really is amazing that a rifle this old would have a fairly modern mount. The only problem is that the rear sight is a serious pain to get off.
After going at it for a while you’ll be able to mount your sight with a basic dovetail like this one made by Leapers. The only downside is that you’re going to need to use a scout scope since the rail is so far forward. If you want to use a traditional long distance hunting scope you’re going to need to use a separate double rail scope mount that goes over the bolt.
What’s The Best Mosin Nagant Scope?
1. Vortex Optics Crossfire II 2-7×32 Scout
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Vortex Optics Crossfire II rifle scope is just about perfect for the Mosin Nagant. Vortex designed their crossfire lineup of scopes to be extremely affordable and feature packed. It’s tough to pair a scope with a cheap rifle like the Mosin Nagant. On one hand the rifle is very accurate so you want decent glass, but on the other the scope could cost more than the rifle. That being said this scope really isn’t all that expensive for what you get.
Like most of the Vortex Lineup the 2-7x Crossfire Scout scope is loaded with features. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the clarity found in this optic. Vortex has a great multicoating system that greatly improves your sight picture throughout the day. The multiple anti-reflective coatings you should have a glare free sight picture from dusk til dawn. Where the Crossfire scope really shines is its durability. Vortex chose a true strength platform that is sure to withstand the test of time. With a completely nitrogen purged tube and O-ring seal this scope is 100% waterproof, fogproof and shockproof. If you do somehow manage to damage a Vortex scope they have one of the best warranties in the business. Vortex offers a 100% no questions asked replacement warranty on all damaged products. That being said you’d probably have to try to break the Aircraft-Grade lightweight aluminum housing. For the money it’s going to be hard to beat the Vortex Crossfire II Scope.
2. LEUPOLD VX-2 1.5-4×28 IER Scout Scope
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Leupold’s VX-2 Rifle Scope is another affordable yet somewhat expensive scope. I just couldn’t bare to leave this Leupold scope off this list. You saved a little bit of money on your rifle so maybe you can afford a moderately priced scope. Where Leupold scopes really shine is their optical clarity. You just can’t beat the clarity of Leupold’s glass at this price point.
Like I said what you’re really paying for in the VX-2 is its optical clarity. Leupold’s VX-2 scope can stand side by side with scopes that cost twice as much. By using Leupold’s patented multicoating they were able to significantly reduce glare without negatively affecting the sight picture. Your sight picture will stay crystal clear regardless of the surrounding ambient light. Leupold uses a index matched lens system which provides exceptional brightness and extremely sharp resolution. To add to the Lens quality Leupold uses a diamond coating on their external surface that will resist scratches for the lifetime of the scope. On top of its clarity the VX2 is also extremely durable. It’s absolutely waterproof and fogproof and comes with a lifetime warranty.
3. Nikon Buckmasters II 3-9×40 BDC
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Nikon makes some of the most expensive optics in the world. By optics I don’t mean just scopes they make camera lenses, binoculars, spotting scopes and everything in between. So it’s no surprise that they were able to make a high quality yet affordable scope. Nikon teamed up with the people at Buckmasters to design this lineup of rifle scopes. They threw in everything that a hunter would need in the field.
Nikon’s Buckmaster II is an excellent optic that provides users with an affordable yet high quality option. The only downside of using a traditional scope is that you will need to buy a custom mount. Since the rail is so far forward on the rifle traditional scopes don’t have a long enough eye relief. The Buckmaster has really clear glass for the price, and offers a bright sight picture. Nikon designed this scope to handle everything life throws at it. It’s completely waterproof, fogproof and shockproof regardless of the weather. The only fault I can find is their anti-reflective system. The sight picture can get a little bit dark at first light, but it clears up after the sun starts to come up. This is another scope that you need to see to appreciate its quality craftsmanship.
4. Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn Riflescope
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Bushnell designed their Banner rifle scope to perform way above its price range. At a fraction of the price of other scopes on this list, the banner rifle scope really holds its own. It really is amazing how durable this scope is for the price. This is another scope that you are going to need a custom mount to move the scope back a bit.
Bushnell’s Banner Riflescope was designed to work in extremely low light environments. That’s the main thing that they wanted to accomplish and they did it well. Like the name implies you should be able to use this scope any time from dawn til dusk. If there’s a little bit of light in the sky you should have a decent sight picture. What really impressed me though is the durability of the Banner scope. It’s most likely the cheapest scope on the market that is 100% waterproof. By using a Dry-nitrogen filled enclosure Bushnell guarantees that the scope is 100% waterproof, fogproof and shockproof. Another great feature this scope has is its fast focus eyepiece. It might not seem like a big deal, but it’s a huge help while wearing gloves.
5. UTG 3-9X32 1″ BugBuster Scope
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UTG’s Bugbust scope is another great option for your rifle. UTG aka Leapers is a company that’s been around for a while in the European market, but only recently moved to the USA. They shifted production into the United States and are quickly carving a niche in the firearm community. They focus on designing affordably priced gear with a ton of features.
I overlooked UTG’s Bugbuster scope for a long time before I finally got my hands on one. This affordably priced scope is packed with a ton of features usually not found in entry level scopes. With an extremely long eye relief and and bright sight picture the Bugbuster scope really impressed me. It has an illuminated reticle with multiple brightness settings and 36 different reticle color settings. The design is actually really compact compared to other 3-9x scopes on the market. While the scope isn’t 100% waterproof, it is fogproof and rain resistant. For the price the lack of waterproofing really isn’t surprising.
Choosing The Best Mosin Nagant Scope
The Mosin Nagant rifle was designed over 100 years ago, so most soldiers had no intention of mounting optics. That’s why you see iron sights rather than the traditional side mounted scope. Rifles that have the original scopes from pre world war 2 are highly collectible. You can install a replica scope like this Firefield Scope if you want to be historically accurate. It’s a crude scope design using a fixed 3.5x magnification.
Most people aren’t interested in building a historically accurate World War 2 sniper rifle and that’s perfectly fine. They just want to enjoy the hard hitting power found in this vintage rifle. To mount a scope you are either going to have to purchase a custom double rail scope mount that goes over the bolt or purchase a scout scope since the rail is so far forward on the rifle.