Best Mosin Nagant Scope – Top 10 Best Scope for Mosin Nagant Reviews

Anyone who has ever shopped for a rifle scope knows one thing for sure. There are a lot of options. It can be overwhelming and confusing to decide which scope works best for your needs. If you are in the market for the best Mosin Nagant scope, you’ve come to the right place. This article will cover ten of the best scopes to mount on a Mosin Nagant rifle for both target shooting and hunting.

The Mosin Nagant rifle is one of the most iconic weapons from World War II. Widely available on the resale market as a surplus firearm, the Mosin Nagant is popular amongst military collectors, target shooters, and hunters alike.

Although surplus rifles are not as dirt cheap as they used to be a couple decades ago, you can still find a Mosin Nagant in nice condition in the $400 range. That is about the price of a modern entry level bolt action rifle these days depending on the caliber.

A Historic Rifle for Modern Times

The historic Mosin Nagant is heavy and wasn’t designed to be pretty, but it can easily take down most big game species and the ammo won’t break the bank. Millions were produced during World War II as it was the standard issue rifle for the Soviet army. If you have ever seen the movie Enemy at the Gates then you have seen a Mosin Nagant in action.

One thing that the Mosin Nagant does better than modern sporting rifles is durability. The Mosin Nagant withstood the brutal conditions on the Eastern Front in WW2 and kept throwing rounds downrange. No matter what types of conditions you hunt or shoot in, you can rest easy knowing that when you pull the trigger on a Mosin Nagant that it is going to fire.

Uses for the Mosin Nagant

If you search on the internet for the uses of a Mosin Nagant rifle, you may come across some jokes about using it as an oar for a boat, a tent stake, or a club. While the shape, toughness, and weight of this rifle could certainly accomplish those things, it is best left for shooting sports and hunting.

A Mosin Nagant is great for target shooting. That is especially true if you are interested in the history of World War II. There is something special about firing a weapon that was used so extensively in a major war. The heavy punch of the recoil and the acrid smell of the gunpowder is just a tiny taste of what a soldier carrying a Mosin Nagant would have experienced countless times in battle.

Outside of target shooting, the Mosin Nagant is also an effective big game hunting rifle. Some hunters choose to hunt without making any changes to their historic rifle while others choose to “sporterize” their rifles. That means they add lightweight stocks and other modern amenities to their Mosins.

If you do decide to hunt with a Mosin Nagant, make sure to purchase soft point ammunition instead of full metal jacket rounds and other solid cartridges.

Optics for the Mosin Nagant

You won’t find a Picatinny rail or a Weaver mount on a Mosin Nagant. However, there are ways to add a mount to a Mosin in order to gain the benefits of a modern scope.

The easiest method is to use a scout scope mount. This type of mount replaces the rear iron sight on a Mosin Nagant rifle and provides a secure mounting platform for a variety of scopes. The major difference between a traditional scope mount and a scout scope mount is how far forward the scope sits on the rifle.

A scout scope mount holds the scope further forward on the rifle. That means that long eye relief scopes are vital.

Best Mosin Nagant Scope on the Market Reviews 

 1   Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33mm Rifle Scope

The Leupold VX-Freedom 2-7x33mm Rifle Scope is a great option for a Mosin Nagant rifle. Leupold is one of the most highly respected names in the optics industry and makes a quality product. Their scopes perform well in almost any condition and they can easily stand up to even heavy recoiling rifles such as the Mosin Nagant.

The aircraft quality aluminum construction and scratch proof glass make this sniper scope just as durable as the rifle it is being mounted on. With 4.17 inches of long eye relief and a simple duplex reticle, this scope pairs perfectly with the Mosin Nagant rifle.

 2   Burris Optics Scout Rifle Scope

The Scout rifle scope from Burris is a great fixed scope option for the Mosin Nagant. The low profile, black matte finish, and unobtrusive design give this scout scope the perfect look for mounting on a historic rifle.

The Scout rifle scope has very long eye relief with a range of 8.5 to 14 inches. This fixed scope offers shooters and hunters 2.75x magnification which is ideal for short to mid-range scenarios. With a heavy duplex reticle, this scout scope holds true to the simplistic design of the Mosin Nagant and provides an ideal sight picture for both target shooting and hunting.

 3   Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24x50mm Riflescope

With some of the best light transmission in the industry and a specially developed glass coating, the Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24x50mm riflescope provides a clear sight picture in even the wettest conditions. Coming in at just under $1000, this Zeiss optic offers high enough performance to make it the best sniper scope for Mosin Nagants.

Choose the #94 ZMOA-2 reticle for the perfect match on your Mosin Nagant rifle. This reticle option has fixed MOA subtensions and can be used for windage and elevation adjustments as well as target ranging. The 6-24x magnification range offers enough power for any shot you’ll ever want to take with a Mosin Nagant. The Zeiss Conquest V4 is extremely durable and tough just like the Mosin Nagant rifle itself.

 4   Leupold FX-II Scout 2.5x28mm Duplex

The Leupold FX-II Scout 2.5x28mm rifle scope’s ultra-lightweight design makes it an ideal scout scope for any Mosin Nagant rifle or carbine. This scope was specially designed to be mounted in front of the receiver on a rifle and that design pays off in the scope’s performance.

Don’t let the slim design and light weight of this scope make you think it isn’t durable. The single piece construction and one inch main tube combine to allow this scout scope to stand up to the rigors of Mosin Nagant recoil. Completely fogproof and waterproof, the FX-II Scout is an ideal rear sight scope for hunting.

 5   Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical First Focal Plane Rifle Scope

If you are looking for the best sniper scope for your Mosin Nagant, the Vortex Optics Diamondback should be one of your top choices. Its high-quality glass offers long range shooters edge to edge clarity along with a clear and crisp sight picture. Those are very important qualities to have in a sniper scope and when shooting at long ranges.

The Diamondback is a first focal plane scope which means that the reticle subtensions stay the same at every magnification level. That allows you to make quick adjustments to windage and elevation at any magnification that your shooting situation calls for. This scope is a great option for the Mosin Nagant shooter who wants to emulate the best snipers of World War II.

 6   Nikon M-Tactical 3-12x42SF Matte MK1-MOA

If you are interested in sporterizing a Mosin Nagant rifle, or if you already have, then a more tactical looking scope may be just the ticket for you. The Nikon M-Tactical has the perfect design for any tactical rifle. A modernized Mosin Nagant would look great and perform well with this sniper scope on top.

The easy to grip turrets are spring loaded to allow for instant zero reset and the knurled sides give this scope an impressive visual profile. With a wide field of view and smooth zoom adjustment, the M-Tactical can easily handle even quickly changing shooting conditions without a hitch.

 7   UTG 3-9X32 1" BugBuster Scope

Let’s be honest here. The Mosin Nagant was not designed with aesthetics or good looks in mind. It was designed to perform a job and perform it reliably no matter what the conditions are. The UTG BugBuster scope is very similar to the Mosin Nagant in that regard. It won’t win any beauty contests, but it will get the job done.

The classic Mil-Dot reticle fits the military stylings of the Mosin Nagant perfectly and offers shooters a very authentic shooting experience. This scope also ships with a two inch sunshade, flip-up lens caps, and mounting rings. The UTG BugBuster and the Mosin Nagant are a great pair if getting the job done is more important to you than fancy looks.

 8   Bushnell BT1040 Tac Optic Tactical Riflescope 

Coming in at well under $300, the Bushnell BT1040 Tac Optic scope is one of my favorite fixed scope options for mounting on a Mosin Nagant. The slim tube design combined with the chunky, knurled turrets create a very military-esque look that goes perfectly with the overall design of a Mosin Nagant.

When mounted using a rear sight mount, the Tac Optic performs admirably as a scout scope for short, mid, and long range shooting. The classic Mil-Dot reticle allows for fast target acquisition and an authentic experience.

The glass in this fixed scope is coated to repel water, dust, oil, and debris and the o-ring sealed, argon-purged optics are staunchly fogproof and waterproof. You won’t find a better value for the money than the Bushnell BT1040 Tac Optic Tactical rifle scope.

Russian PU Scope Replicas

During World War II, some Soviet soldiers were issued Mosin Nagant rifles with PU scopes. This enabled those soldiers to become snipers on the battlefield and take out key targets from great distances.

While authentic WW2-era PU scopes may be difficult to find, there are several replica PU scopes available on the market. If you want an even more authentic shooting experience, consider one of the following two scopes instead of a more modern-looking option.

 9   Firefield PU Mosin-Nagant Scope

The Firefield PU Mosin-Nagant scope features the timeless design of the original PU scopes issued to Soviet soldiers while improving the optics to remain useful even today. Much like the Mosin Nagant itself, PU scopes were designed for maximum toughness and durability. This recreation from Firefield is no different. The metal body, thick lenses, and tough mechanism design combine to create a formidably durable scope.

This fixed scope features a magnification level of 3.5x, is equipped with a three post reticle, and includes a scope mount.

 10   Sniper MG4X20 Mosin Nagant 91/30 Scope

The Sniper MG4X20 Mosin Nagant 91/30 scope is another replica of the original Russian PU scopes issued with some Mosin Nagant rifles in WW2. This is another fixed scope with a magnification of 4x and a period accurate three post reticle. The MG4X20 is nitrogen purged and o-ring sealed making it waterproof and fogproof. The durable design makes it shockproof as well.

The Sniper MG4X20 comes with a scope mount, a drill bit and tap for drilling the holes to attach the mount, and a lens cover.