Mosin-Nagant M/52

Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle [ 1952 ]

The M/52 was nothing more than a Hungarian copy of the Soviet Mosin-Nagant 1891 sniper rifle form.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/16/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The Mosin-Nagant turn-bolt, bolt-action infantry rifle was officially introduced by Russia in 1891 and was a combination of qualities from a series of rifles developed by Belgians Emile and Leon Nagant and a local design headed by Russian Army Captain Sergey Ivanovich Mosin (the rifle going on to bear the two surnames as a result). The Imperial Russian design proved so popular that a plethora of offshoots were soon realized, ranging from more-portable cavalry and dedicated sniper models to shortened carbines and civil guard variants. The reach of this long gun was such that local production was also had in Russian-aligned (and later Soviet-aligned) nations of the time including Hungary which manufactured the Soviet sniper rifle form as the "M/52".

By and large, the M/52 was nothing than a direct copy of the Soviet sniper variant produced at the Budapest Arsenal of Hungary into 1965. The rifle had a full-length wooden stock which integrated the shoulder support and grip handle. The trigger unit was slung under the frame in the usual way while the manually-actuated bolt-handle was set over the right side of the body. Optics were seated over the frame and slightly offset to the right. The front (hooded post) and rear (graduated ladder) iron sights were retained. Twin bands supported the forend around the barrel and a pair of loops allowed the use of a shoulder strap.

The rifle was chambered in the 7.62mm full-powered cartridge which was a proven man-stopper at range, the weapon reaching out to 900 yards in this regard. For sighting, the Soviet 3.5x PU scope was typically used. The internal, non-detachable magazine held five ready-to-fire rounds and was loaded through "stripper" clips for expediency.

Beyond their local use by Hungarian forces, the M/52 sniper rifles were featured by North Vietnamese elements in the Vietnam War of 1955-1975 with some examples captured by American forces. They have appeared and reappeared in other far-off conflicts of the world from time-to-time including Afghanistan following the American invasion of the country after the events of 9/11 - a testament to the rifle's reliable design.

In all, over 37 million Mosin-Nagant rifles were made over the manufacturing life of the gun. Hungarian factories also produced the "M44", a copy of the shortened Soviet Model 1944 Carbine.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Service Year

1952

Origin

Hungary

Classification

Bolt-Action Sniper Rifle

Budapest Arsenal - Hungary

(View other Arms-Related Manufacturers)

Afghanistan; Hungary; North Vietnam; Vietnam

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Accuracy / Precision
Long-range accuracy / precision capable; suitable for sniping, particularly when equipped with sighting aids.

✓ Asymmetric Warfare
Design is highly variable / low-cost based on battlefield requirement and available materials; general use is in urban settings against an organized foe for high casualty count.

MAN-PORTABLE

Despite its size / weight, the product can be transported by foot infantry.

BOLT-ACTION SYSTEM

Operating action requires operator management of a bolt-handle or similar, clearing the chamber of spent cartrides and introducing a fresh cartridge from the magazine.

REPEAT-FIRE CAPABLE

An automatic, or pseudo-automatic, function is built into the system, allowing for repeat firing to be achieved.

SCOPE-CAPABLE / SIGHTING ASSIST

Supports mounting of optics (scopes) to aid in accuracy for ranged fire.

IRON SIGHTS

Supports 'iron sights' allowing for inherent accuracy in ranged fire.

GUERILLA WARFARE

Ease-of-use coupled with relative simplicity of combined components makes this entry a cost-effective solution for unconventional elements / fighting forces.

Overall Length

1,232 mm
48.50 in

Barrel Length

730 mm
28.74 in

Empty Wgt

8.82 lb
4.00 kg

Sights

Over-Receiver Optics; Front Hooded Post, Rear Graduated Ladder.

Action

Manually-Actuated Turn-Bolt, Bolt-Action System

Bolt-Action
Manually-actuated process of managing the bolt lever to eject spent cartridge case, clearing the breech, to introduce fresh catridge into the chamber.

(Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information)

Caliber(s)*

7.62x54mmR (7.62mm Russian)

Rounds / Feed

5-Round Integral Magazine (stripper-clip fed)

*May not represent an exhuastive list; calibers are model-specific dependent, always consult official manufacturer sources.
**Graphics not to actual size; not all cartridges may be represented visually; graphics intended for general reference only.

Max Eff.Range

2,700 ft
(823 m | 900 yd)

Rate-of-Fire

12
rds/min

M/52 (Model 1952) - Base Series Designation.