The Mosin-Nagant. What's the big deal?

[sxshep]

I bought a 1936 91/30 back in the spring, and have since put about 50 rounds through it. After each trip I did EXTENSIVE cleaning (took it apart, went through about 2 or 3 20 gauge brushes trying to get the cosmoline out of the chamber, and bought a lot of products to get the cosmoline out). This past time I went with a coworker to his farm and shot 5 rounds through it at about 70 yards. After 2 shots I had to use a log to force the bolt open. I walked down range to check my progress and I was hitting all 5 shots about 6-8 inches to the right of my target.

That night I took it home and went to work on it again. This time, I complete disassembled the rifle and dunked the barrel/receiver and bolt in boiling water for about 10 minutes while all the excess cosmoline was seeping out. Then I realized that my front sight had wiggled loose and that's what was causing my rifle to miss to the right. After I put it back together and oiled it thoroughly, I took the bolt apart and cut about 4 or 5 coils off the spring and buffed all the pieces with a wire-wheel. Now the bolt works like BUTTER and the firing pin still functions to the length it should. I can't wait to take it to a field somewhere and take out some invading german cabbage heads! lol


Word to future owners;
1) Make sure when looking at a rifle, try and find one where the barrel has not been counterbored such as below. While this may not affect accuracy, it shows the rifle has been through some abuse in my opinion.


2) If you're shooting old military surplus ammo (ones found in the tins burried under a barn somewhere), make sure to clean the barrel and receiver within a few hours after shooting them with some hot water, dilutted windex, or some good cleaner. The primers contain a high amount of corrosive elements which will eat at your barrel.

3) I'm probably going to order one of the following recoil pads. It's worth the $15-20
MOSIN NAGANT M44 M38 91/30 EXTENDED RECOIL BUTT PAD 1" - eBay (item 160356230731 end time Nov-14-09 08:57:53 PST)

4) Stripper clips are worth the money too, if your rifle will accept them. If not, then the invading forces will just have to wait a few extra seconds while you reload each individual round haha



They're definitely worth the money. I paid $120 for my 91/30 in good condition with 75 rounds of ammo, a giant bayonet, cleaning supplies and a sling. If you want a hi-powered plinker, this is it! My next purchase will hopefully be an M38 (Carbine version like the M44 only without a bayonet and slightly more rare).

[husker]

Originally Posted by sxshep

3) I'm probably going to order one of the following recoil pads. It's worth the $15-20
.

If you get a PAST recoil pad you don't have to modify your rifle and it will work for all of them.
Worn between layers of clothing no one will know it is there and just think you're a tough guy.

[ihateiraq]

I just picked this up today. cleaned it off for about 45 straight minutes and it still leaves a nasty film on my hands when i touch it. this thread inspired me to see what all the fuss was about.

[thej27]

Thats a beauty. Just wait till you shoot it.

[CandRFan]

My hex receiver 91/30 and Izhevsk M44.

[boozoo]

Originally Posted by ihateiraq

I just picked this up today. cleaned it off for about 45 straight minutes and it still leaves a nasty film on my hands when i touch it. this thread inspired me to see what all the fuss was about.

If the stock was full of cosmoline, it'll keep doing that every time it gets hot.

Unfortunately with winter upon us the easiest way to sweat a stock is passed... throw it in a black trash bag and leave it in the sun for a while, taking it out to wipe it down once in a while.

But... you can also make a "cooker" out of a couple of trash cans and some light bulbs. There's a lot of other ways to clear a stock that I haven't tried... I just got annoyed enough when I bought a Turk Mauser to go ahead and make a cooker. The 91/59 I bought for my son took about a day or two of heating and cleaning, if that gives you a frame of reference. (that damn Turk took two weeks).

[ihateiraq]

Originally Posted by boozoo

If the stock was full of cosmoline, it'll keep doing that every time it gets hot.

Unfortunately with winter upon us the easiest way to sweat a stock is passed... throw it in a black trash bag and leave it in the sun for a while, taking it out to wipe it down once in a while.

But... you can also make a "cooker" out of a couple of trash cans and some light bulbs. There's a lot of other ways to clear a stock that I haven't tried... I just got annoyed enough when I bought a Turk Mauser to go ahead and make a cooker. The 91/59 I bought for my son took about a day or two of heating and cleaning, if that gives you a frame of reference. (that damn Turk took two weeks).

well that doesnt sound like much fun at all.

[88E30M50]

My son and I have a bunch of Mosins and they can be addicting. Of all of them, my M38 is my favorite to shoot, but my son's Finn M91 and M39 seem to be the most accurate. I don't think I can add anything to the description of why they are so appealing but I can toss in a fireball shot. This was with my M38 one evening down at Atterbury.



My next Mosin project is to re-Sniper and ex-Sniper 91/30 I have.

[RogerB]

Originally Posted by 88E30M50

My son and I have a bunch of Mosins and they can be addicting. Of all of them, my M38 is my favorite to shoot, but my son's Finn M91 and M39 seem to be the most accurate. I don't think I can add anything to the description of why they are so appealing but I can toss in a fireball shot. This was with my M38 one evening down at Atterbury.



My next Mosin project is to re-Sniper and ex-Sniper 91/30 I have.

Great shot!!!

[joshennis84]

People like them because of the price. There aren't but a couple guns you can buy for around 100 bucks.