mosin nagant

[watkins1988]

I picked up this mosin about a year ago at bradis and ive only had it out to shoot about 3 times. i also bought 100 rounds of surplus there too. I have a question, two of the 3 times ive been out to shoot ive shot paper targets. i noticed that some of the shots have "keyholed" in the paper. is this a gun problem or ammo? i dont know if it matters but it is a chinese t53.
i was shooting maybe 15 to 20 yards if that at an indoor range.

 

[johntheplinker]

More than likely its a gun problem. Most likely the crown is way bigger than it should be so when the bullet leaves the barrel the expanding gases cause it to tip a bit then the bullet starts to tumble during flight. You can check it by sticking the bullet of an unfired round into the muzzle. If the mouth of the case is closer than about 1/8th to 3/16" from the muzzle, its worn.

 

[watkins1988]

thats what i was thinking but i wasnt sure. it hasnt been counterbored. do you know anyone around indy that will do it. im willing to drive a little

 

[sgreen3]

does sound like a gun problem, as John said check that muzzle

 

[DoggyDaddy]

More than likely its a gun problem. Most likely the crown is way bigger than it should be so when the bullet leaves the barrel the expanding gases cause it to tip a bit then the bullet starts to tumble during flight. You can check it by sticking the bullet of an unfired round into the muzzle. If the mouth of the case is closer than about 1/8th to 3/16" from the muzzle, its worn.

I just checked my 91-30 and I've got almost 1/4". Is good, da?

 

[SmileDocHill]

WOW, shooting a Mosin in an indoor range, can you hear me now? I think we'll figure out which one you were at when we see the news reporting the doors being blown off of a gun range by "some sort of percussion mortar round that must have been set off from within the store."

 

[johntheplinker]

I just checked my 91-30 and I've got almost 1/4". Is good, da?

Yeah, that's real good!

 

[Mosinowner]

Thats t53? Wow those are worth a bit on a scale of 1 to 10. 10 being the rarest its a 9 on the scale

 

[watkins1988]

WOW, shooting a Mosin in an indoor range, can you hear me now? I think we'll figure out which one you were at when we see the news reporting the doors being blown off of a gun range by "some sort of percussion mortar round that must have been set off from within the store."

yeah it was at dons guns lol. the flash was quite bright in there too.

Some are 7 out of 10. i think thats what mine is judging from the markings on it. its the same as the m44. i was shopping for a 91/30 and saw this and couldnt pass it up. it had a BAD stock refinish job on it so i redone that and i think the bluing is about 80/90%

 

[watkins1988]

i just checked mine and its exactly 1/8th in from the case. but i notice it looks like someone tried an at home recrown job. that may be the problem

 

[bobbittle]

Thats t53? Wow those are worth a bit on a scale of 1 to 10. 10 being the rarest its a 9 on the scale

An all matching t53 is more like 7 out of 10. Non matching 5 out of 10. Not super common but not rare either.

 

[johntheplinker]

i just checked mine and its exactly 1/8th in from the case. but i notice it looks like someone tried an at home recrown job. that may be the problem

A bad crowning job will do it. It doesn't take much to really screw up a crown.

 

[watkins1988]

that sounds right. mines a 5 then.

what can i do about the crown?

 

[johntheplinker]

Any competent gunsmith can recrown it. Its a simple procedure, and relatively inexpensive. If you want to give it a shot, you could even do it yourself if you have access to a few common tools. Don't have a link, but a Google search should turn up instructions.