Timney trigger Mosin-Nagant

[pslshooter]

Well I broke down and decided to do something about the long heavy trigger on my M-N. I flipped the $107 for the adjustable Timney. Took about an hour of dremeling and checking to get the trigger to fit the stock. The results are spectacular. Trigger pull is 3 lbs even and very little travel. Most of all I have an operational safety similar to a Rem 700. It looks like the stock trigger, but breaks as clean as the Accu-Trigger on my Savage 10.
Taking a trip to the range this weekend to check out patterns and just to put holes in paper. Will return with pics.

[Mikey]

I would like to know how she shoots for you and whether you feel the trigger replacement has allowed you to shoot the rifle more accurately.  The M-N rifles are, by and large, pretty darn accurate for mil-surps and they can be made very accurate with a little work.  The rifles may be inexpensive and replacement parts costly but the improvements often outshine new out fo the box expensive hunting rifles.  Good on ya.  Let us know.

[shot1]

I have done some accuracy work on a couple 91/30s that I found on the www.surplusrifle.com site that deals with shimming the action and barrel and really made some fine shooters. I did some trigger polishing and shimming and have gotten pretty good triggers for a M/N. It would be nothing like a Timney though. With hand loads with proper diameter bullets these rifle will really shoot. I have a bunch of different models.  Best load that I have ever found is 50 grs Accurate Arms 4350, CCI 200 primer, Graf/Prvi case, .311 diameter Sierra 174 gr Match King or 180 SP, OAL 3.000 and for rifles that need .312 bullets use the 174 gr Hornady RNSP OAL 2.790 and this is important to accuracy. Use a Lee Factory Crimp Die on all loads. This load shoots very tight groups in every 7.62X54R rifle I have ever tried it in. Slug your bore to see what diameter bullet you need. If the slug measures .310 to .3105 use .311 diameter bullets. If it measures .3105 to .3115 use .312 bullets. If it is large than .3115 sale it and get you another rifle if you want to shoot accurately with jacketed bullets. If I wanted to make a serious hunting rifle out of a M/N I would get a Timney trigger. But for what I use mine for I can not bring myself to pay over $100 for a trigger to put on a $69 rifle.

[pslshooter]

I slugged the bore when I purchaced it a year ago. It mics at .309. I've been using the 175 grn .311 Sierra Matchkings and Berger 168 grn .311 TSX bullets with very good results. Most of the patterns when I do my part have been under 1.5" with a few squeeking in under 1".
I've even experimented with using .308 bullets and most of the patterns have been around 1.5 - 1.75 ".
This Timney experiment is mainly to see how accurate I can make this 67 yr old ex-sniper.
It is all leading up to my next project to make a target rifle with a shot out, chopped up M44 I got from a friend of mine. I plan on going dowm to bare receiver and going all out. Heavy barrel, target stock (probably going to cut it from a piece of oak I have) Timney trigger turned bolt and PEM style mount. I'll have more invested in it than it would cost to buy a case of M-N's, but with the way my knees are going I'll be able to sit out as far as I want and thump hogs and dogs without worrying about missing.

[1911crazy]

For a very first hunting rifle the $69 mosin is an awesome buy. If you have one thats really accurate after the hunt is over with your buddy's you might want to have a shoot off to see how there high priced rifles do up against the $69 mosin. I've done this with my $59 sks a few times after they called it commie crap.  Of course now they have them too.

I just put some moly on the sear and live with what it is after all it is what it is anyhoo.  But if you want to rework one and make it better i'm sure you will end up with an awesome rifle.  I'd like to hear about some of the groups and the distances, the accuracy wether you reworked the mosin or not.  We need the results on paper.  There are so many mosins that still need good homes too.

[pslshooter]

Sorry for taking so long to get back. Well the range day was not a total success. Winds were kicking up at 10 -15 mph constant with 35 mph gusts. The patterns I did get up were OK to say the best. I was rushing shots to get in between the wind. Best pattern was a little under 1.5". Nothing spectacular, and I was getting used to the light trigger. All in all it was a good day to get together with friends and family just to vent at some targets over the long cold spell since hunting season.
More range days to come and pics will be posted. This experiment was not been closed as of yet.

[rzwieg]

1.5 inches at what what range? 50, 100 yards?

That really isn't bad for a M-N....

[pslshooter]

100 yds. I know it isn't too bad at that range, but I want a good calm day where I can sit and take my time. I hate rushing shots. I know I pulled a few of the shots, I am always my harshest critic when it comes to the fundamentals of shooting. More to come when the weather permits.

[Pat/Rick]

shot1, shimming has proven to be very reliable as indicated on alot of Finnish versions. Shim use was pretty much the norm as was carefull stock fit. I have one exceptional M-44 that is boringly accurate, and will punch clay pigeons all day long at 150yards if i do my part.
  Yep, parts can be spendy, almost better to buy a beater rifle or one that has been bubba'd just for the spare parts.
  Good shooting everybody!

[pslshooter]

Update:
Got out to the range today. Wind was manageable at 5 mph with a few gusts up to 15 mph. Tried out two different types of ammo today, my handloads and some off the shelf 180 gn Winchester FMJ's.

Here's the pics:


I'm happy with the results of this project.  My handloads are working great in this rifle. The lighter, shorter  trigger pull is helping me not pull my shots. My groups have tightened up enough to start looking for a shot out M-N and starting over.

[WNY_Whitetailer]

Very nice groups...I have to clean the cosmoline off of my new/old Mosin 91/30 and get it to the range...It have been taking a back seat to my ARs for too long.  I think I should take the Mosin and my Mauser 98 out next time and show the new boys how the old guns do it.

[Rex in OTZ]

   
Huber ball triggers
http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/hubertriggermosin/index.asp

Setting fireing pin protrusion and reduceing lock time.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/wolffmosinspring/index.asp

[Rex in OTZ]

I was one the lucky ones I dident needd to shim my keeper, had a 91/30 that this mod made a great improvement just pay attention to the sear engagement tolerances.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2005/mosinnaganttrigger/index.asp

[evidrine]

I have just recently done a little trigger work on my Mosin. I took it down and polished the sear where it would make contact with the trigger, being carful not to take anything off, just smooth out the roughness where it made contact. This made a smoother trigger pull. I then very slightly shimmed the rear of the sear to take just a little bit of tention off so that the I wouldnt have such a long and heavy pull. Finally I added a tention spring to the back of the trigger which removed all excess slack in the thrigger, leaving me with a nice firm feeling trigger withought all of the play. I bench tested it well to make sure it is safe and to my liking. Next step is the fireing range. I cant wait to see how it performs.