I just picked one of these up yesterday for $50 and it's stamped "Made in Russia, 1924." I intend to change it to a monte carlo stock, add the sniper style bent bolt and add a scope to it and turn it into a brush rifle. Do a search on "Lil Black Beauty Mosin Nagant" and let me know how yours turn out. As for ammo, I picked up some Wolf 124 grain FMJBT that touts 2855fps/muzzle from ammoman. I think it's going to be a neat little project rifle. (Remember, getting there is half the fun. I love the journey sometimes MORE than the destination.)

Here are a couple of pics of sporterized Mosin's:

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/2544/mosindesertcamocl3.jpg

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/1949/lilblackbeautyvb7.jpg