Got an M91/30 today!

[lakota]

I got an M91/30 at Gander Mountain today. I gave $99 bucks for it and it came with an ammo pouch, sling, bayonet and a tool kit. This is my first Mil Surp gun.

The bore looks pretty decent for a 65 year old gun that was shot with corrosive ammo. it is a dull silver and there is very light pitting. The rifling looks pretty sharp.

The arsenal marks are very faint but I can just make out a wreath with hammer and sicle and a triangle with an upward arrow. There is also a 1943 stamped on the chamber.

They didnt have any surplus ammo. All they had was Silver Bear steel case and Winchester, so for a few bucks more I picked the Winchester 180 gr FMJ so I would have some reloadable cases.

They had a few of the carbines too, but I really liked the way the M91/30 shouldered. It seemed to me to have a better balance.

Is there anyplace that can explain the use of all the items in the tool kit?

I could see these guns becoming a problem and multiplying the way muzzleloaders have for me in the past several years!

Already kicking the idea of a C&R FFL around in my head!

[cbxboy]

RESIST C&R at ALL COSTS....unless your rich.  Mine showed up and within 3 years my collection increased by 50, SERIOUSLY.

The 91/30 is a good deal.  The kit comes with a number of items, if you can snap a pic and post I can explain most of them.  I have stored all my kits.....I'd like a new sling as over T'giving I broke one of my dog collars ;(....oh well.   The BEST news is there is nothing in the kit you will USE as in your basement you already have a screw driver etc.  The only piece you can use is the triangle shaped tool with "teeth" ...the teeth are used to measure firing pin protrusion.

Shoot often and clqean, your good for life.  Remember that at 100 yds your point of aim an point of impact may be off by a bit.  You can adjust by adding tot he front site post.  IIRC this is mostly when they shoot HIGH, you can add a matchstick glued to front sit post which is SLIGHTLY higher htan the current post...cheap and easy fix to shoot 100 yd range.  I have done 2 of mine and it really helps as I rarely shoot past 100 at any range with my Mosins.

Enjoy, and in my opinion enjoy it AS IT IS...no new plastic stock, bent bolts, etc.....it is a $100 piece of history......by the way 65 year old rifel, its pieces may be older than that!  Sounds like a nice Ishevsk rifle.  A real classic battle rifle.   

[lakota]

The only mod I plan on doing is a little dab of white paint on the front sight.

I think that they are handsome rifles as is!

[bunkysdad]

lakota, the same happened to me. I bought a 91/30 online back in the early Spring 2008 and spent about 126.00 for the rifle and a 300 round sealed can of surplus ammo delivered. I fell in love with the gun immediately before I even fired it. Mine also is a 1943 Ishevsk (the arsenal in Russia where it was re-arsenaled). I noticed that the metal on mine although in excellent condition seemed to be roughly finished out. I thought I might try to "fix" it by doing some polishing and re-bluing, etc... and either sand and refinish the stock or just replace it with a sporter synthetic stock. I did not do anything before reading alot about these old relics and I sure am glad. I found out lots of interesting bits of information about them. Amazingly enough I learned that the 1943 models do indeed tend to be roughly finished out but then I learned that due to the ongoing war at the time it was due largely to pressure to turn out rifles ready to defend the Motherland from the Germans and I had such an appreciation for my new rifle that I didn't have before. Also that these Mosins are quite collectible and there are many models and variations that increase the price compared to our 1943 models. The fact that '43's are more cmmon is great if you are interested in a great shooting rifle at a incredibly low price. I am planning to have a few more in the future and am intereted in a older model 91/30 with the hex-shaped receiver and also a m-44 and m-38. by the wa you need to really clean that gun good epecially in the chamber area before you shoot that silver bear ammo or you may find that the bolt gets very difficult to open after a few shots due to the steel cases. This is quite common and there is lots of info on the web about "sticky bolt syndrome". 7.62x54r.net has a treasure trove of information as well as surplusrifle.com. By the way I can't bear the thought of sanding or replacing my stock or changing anything about my rifle. It is perfect as it is in my opinion. The 7.62x54r is very corrosive but that just means that you have to clean it right after shooting it and that's just good quality time with your rifle anyway. Good luck and happy shooting.

[1911crazy]

Come on cbxboy getting your c&r ffl is the best thing you ever did.  Hey you couild of drank that money too right?  And pissed it away.  But you were smart and have something to show for it.  Trust me i know.  Getting my C&RFFL03 was the best thing i ever did because i saved alot on accessories, parts and ammo too, besides C&R guns.

Remember you can own and you can touch a piece of history, plus you can shoot it too.  And it cost you how much?  I just wish these things could talk about were they have been and at what battles.

[Argonaut]

My 91/30 was made at thatame arsenal. in 1941, it even has some wood damage repaires with inlays of some lighter colored wood just to the rear of the forend cap.  I have always wondered what happened to it. if it could only talk. Of course I still wouldn't know because I don't speak Russian