Author Topic: my mosin impresses me (Read 4235 times)

c1skout · « **on:** November 22, 2009, 08:56:17 AM »

I went to the gun club this morning but the rifle range was pretty busy. I'm working up some hunting loads for my nephew so rather than get in the other guys' way while they are sighting in their hunting rigs I decided to just come shoot at home where I have a 50yrd range. While waiting between shots with my nephew's gun I ran some Silver Bear sp's through the Mosin. Three shots rapid fire off the rest with the standard sights hit just above the bull and grouped under 1.25"! I had shot this gun before at 100yds and had about 3" groups with both surplus and Brown Bear ball ammo. I think this one is a keeper.

30-30man · « **Reply #1 on:** November 22, 2009, 01:59:56 PM »

Now try some good brass cased ammo. The privi partisan or the SandB works great in mine. I can print 1.25-2" at 100 with the Privi 150 grain. I had to go through several of them before I found one that would shoot. Glad you found one.

Captain Emo · « **Reply #2 on:** November 22, 2009, 02:15:58 PM »

I have several that shoot better than I do!

c1skout · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2009, 03:43:20 PM »

Nobody locally has been carrying the Privi stuff for the Mosin, although I can find it for my Carcano.... go figure. Might be I'm not checking often enough and the Mosin ammo is just getting scarfed up.

Mikey · « **Reply #4 on:** November 23, 2009, 02:55:22 AM »

c1scout: Check with Mid-South Shooters supply for the PRVI ammo, they are one of the Graybeard sponsors and I have had good luck with them before. Also, get a copy of the most recent Shotgun News, I believe I saw advertisements for the PRVI ammo from some of the other major ammo suppliers.

The ammo is available and it shoots very well in the Moisons. They are pretty impressive little rifles and the 7.62x54R cartridge is closer to the 06 in performance than to the 308, especially with the heavier 200 or 205 gn slugs.

jlwilliams · « **Reply #5 on:** November 23, 2009, 03:50:59 AM »

I've owned a number of MN rifles. Some were used up pieces of Commie junk. Some, but not all. I have a 91-59 (carbine made in '59 by cutting down a 91-30, military conversion not a sporter or after market) and this rifle shoots better than I do and is smoother and better working than the money I spent on it would warrant. I feed it brass cased milsurp and it doesn't seem to mind. I have some soft points that I got some time back, but I haven't put them through this rifle. I imagine that will work out just fine when I do try it.

The Mosin is a good design. There is good reason why it served for as long as it did. There are undoubtedly a good number of them out there still earning their keep in the worste places of the world. The round is still in military service, making it the longest serving military rifle round. That says something. I have spoken to some MN enthusiasts who report outstanding accuracy with them.

Luck of the draw. I had a '38 that was all the unfavorable things I said in the first paragraph. Then you can get one like yours.

gandog56 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 28, 2009, 02:46:22 PM »

I have two Mosin Nagants that shoot better than my 91/59, and both of them are not the carbines. An M39, and an SA stamped barreled 91/30. On the other hand, the 91/59 shoots way better than my M38 and M44, and a lot of my other 91/30's.

moorepower · « **Reply #7 on:** November 30, 2009, 10:53:01 AM »

I have 2 91/59's and 2 91/38's and the only one that did not shoot real well was a 91/59 that needs re-crowned badly.

Three44s · « **Reply #8 on:** December 17, 2009, 08:03:36 PM »

I bought a bunch of brass reasonable from Graff's and Son last spring.

Three 44s

gandog56 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 23, 2009, 03:35:38 PM »

Quote from: moorepower on November 30, 2009, 10:53:01 AM

I have 2 91/59's and 2 91/38's and the only one that did not shoot real well was a 91/59 that needs re-crowned badly.

And I have 10 Mosin Nagants. The only poor shooter in the bunch is my sole M38. And most of them cost me 100 bucks or less! One of the best deals out there.

The best shooter is my Finn M39 with a VKT barrel.

1911crazy · « **Reply #10 on:** December 24, 2009, 03:42:37 AM »

Congrats on your accuracy.

If your mosin isn't accurate try recrowning it first. If that doesn't do it then counterbore it. From what i'm hearing most of these old war horses shoot really decent but some are a tab better than others but it should group well.
We also have to remember that some refurbs need to be sighted in too. The quality of the ammo may differ too so it just may not be the gun. Remember some were rearsenaled and never fired.

Go to; www.wideners.com They offer the russian barnaul 203gr soft point ammo for under $7 a box there the cheapest around.

I'd rather try to find an over the counter new ammo thats pretty accurate than reload for it if i can. I think any 2" group and under at 100yds is acceptable.

shot1 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 24, 2009, 06:29:19 AM »

If you hand load for your MN you can make most of them shoot pretty well. The key is to slug your bore. Take a .315 diameter muzzle loader ball and drop it into the chamber and use the metal cleaning rod, with the bolt removed, to start it down the bore by placing a piece of wood on the end of the cleaning rod to keep from buggering up the threads and hit it with a hammer. After you have driven the rod down as far as you can take 1 foot long pieces of wooden dowel and drop them down the bore and then take the cleaning rod and tap the slug on through the bore. Measure the high spots on the slug and this will give you the groove diameter of your bore. If it measures .310 to .3105 use a .311 diameter bullet. If it measures .3105 to .3115 use a .312 diameter bullet. It has been my finding that most of these rifle really like a heavy 174 to 180 gr bullet. A tack driver of a load is 50 grs Accurate Arms 4350, Graf/Prvi case, CCI 200 primer, .311 bullet 174 Sierra MK or 180 SP OAL 3.000 for a .312 diameter bullet the Hornady 174 RNSP OAL 2.790 and use a Lee Factory Crimp Die on all loads.

pslshooter · « **Reply #12 on:** December 28, 2009, 03:55:30 PM »

I use 174 matchking thru mine. Beautiful patterns, and lethal against all game in my state

c1skout · « **Reply #13 on:** January 02, 2010, 11:54:18 PM »

Santa brought me a set of dies. I'll have to find some brass and get some bullets on the way.

jlwilliams · « **Reply #14 on:** January 03, 2010, 03:02:58 AM »

Quote from: pslshooter on December 28, 2009, 03:55:30 PM

I use 174 matchking thru mine. Beautiful patterns, and lethal against all game in my state

Probably fine for most anything on this continent.

pslshooter · « **Reply #15 on:** January 03, 2010, 05:50:27 AM »

Quote from: jlwilliams on January 03, 2010, 03:02:58 AM

Quote from: pslshooter on December 28, 2009, 03:55:30 PM
I use 174 matchking thru mine. Beautiful patterns, and lethal against all game in my state

Probably fine for most anything on this continent.

So far they have only gone against Whitetail Does and coyote. Leathal is an understatement.

gandog56 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 05, 2010, 08:11:43 AM »

Here's five at 50 yards from a Finn capture SA stamped barrel 91/30 I snagged for $132 shipped!

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 05, 2010, 08:28:59 AM »

Shot this guy in October of '08 with the M44 pictured (bayonet was folded when I made the shot). Plain old M44, original except for Mojo sights added (which did help in the dusk light)

Load was 200gr Wolf softpoint. Deer made no further tracks.

jlwilliams · « **Reply #18 on:** January 05, 2010, 11:24:19 AM »

You know, the picture (absent the explanation) sure looks like you're showing off your latest bayonet kill

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 05, 2010, 11:46:48 AM »

Yeah, it looks that way. Bayonet is good for roasting marshmallows over the flaming ruins of my enemies' villages, or maybe roasting some tenderlong over a fire.

Not the hole in ear & leg. After the shot - which was at dusk, just barely enough light for iron sights - the deer was kicking. As it was getting dim, I didn't want him to take off; I was in my climber about 40 yards away. So I shot him twice more, aiming for head/neck (didn't want to gutshot). One went through the ear, another through the neck and nicked leg. Turned out there was no need; the high shoulder shot hit the bottom of the spine.

For not a lot of rack, he' was pretty big-bodied. Here's another shot of him:

c1skout · « **Reply #20 on:** January 05, 2010, 02:01:03 PM »

That's a fine buck. Looks bigger in the back of the suv.

shot1 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 06, 2010, 02:11:16 AM »

gandog56 you have a shooter. I have some M/N's, different models, that will shoot groups like that at 100 yards but I had to do a little work on them to get them to do it with handloads. You can shim under the action and do a little sanding on the forearm and cap to free float the barrel and wrap a piece of oiled felt around the barrel about 3" back from where the barrel exits the forearm and it will improve the accuracy a great deal on these rifles. This is what was done to most of the sniper rifles to really make them shoot. I have a M-39 Finnish "B" barrel that will shoot like that right out of the gate. I have a M-44 carbine that just blows peoples minds at how accurate it is. I used to win all the carbine military rifle matches I used to shoot in with it. People think that these rifle are junk and will not shoot worth a hoot. It is because most of them have been shooting military surplus ammo and most of it would not shoot well in the best of match rifles. Most of the time the bullets in this ammo is well under size for the diameter that is needed to fill the bore on most of these rifles.

moorepower · « **Reply #22 on:** January 07, 2010, 04:37:23 AM »

They look to be straight off the planet of the apes, but they are actually quite natural to shoot. They have to be the most fun gun to take to the range and just look at peoples faces when they wonder what the heck they are. With all the surplus ammo, it is the last cheap rifle to shoot and own.

30-30man · « **Reply #23 on:** January 07, 2010, 04:14:28 PM »

Be sure to set the firing pin with the supplied guage. I would not monkey with all the mods you see floating on the net about adjusting the trigger pull either. All of them make the sear unsafe and most take away engagement. I would bet he played with lightening the trigger with a piece from an aluminum can under the spring and it fired out of battery because the sear was not engaged safely.
Take a Look...Painful

http://www.ak47.net/forums/topic.html?b=6&f=14&t=301375

jlwilliams · « **Reply #24 on:** January 08, 2010, 01:45:58 AM »

I went through a brief phase of 'improving' Mosins. Dangerous waste of time and money. For a smooth operating, modern bolt action, I now use smooth operating modern bolt action rifles. For fun with a rugged old war horse that can and will do whatever I ask of it, out comes the Mosin.....

They can shoot well, they can be used to hunt. Putting optics on them, farting around with the triggers, kind of a waste. The big exception it that if you find a Finn trigger you can put it onto most other rifles and dramaticly improve trigger controll. They have a little roller arrangement that works well and was designed to just screw on the existing actions. Good upgrade if you can find the parts for sale.

Old Fart · « **Reply #25 on:** January 08, 2010, 05:42:28 AM »

My first impression of the mn was just an old war horse that has plenty of surplus ammo out there. Inexpensive to own and shoot.
After shooting a couple my impression is I now understand what all the boohaa is about.

No most aren't tack drivers, but they do shoot quite well as a whole.

I've had several over the past couple years.
Bought one for each of my boys for Christmas last year.
We go out a couple times a year and have a Mosinfest.

I've got a little farm not to far from the house.
We'll set up targets and blast away, aways fun.

I think everyone ought to have one or two.

moorepower · « **Reply #26 on:** January 08, 2010, 10:18:31 AM »

I read the full thread and the trigger had nothing to do with the round going off. He slammed the bolt on a round and the edge of the bolt or the extractor set it off. The gunsmith that does articles for Shotgun News sporterized one with a Boyds stock, Huber trigger and recrowned the barrel, mounted a drill and tap mount and shot sub 1" groups, so they can shoot with alot of modern rifles. I agree that one must use extreme caution with triggers and If your going to do anything, you would be better off with the Huber, but they do respond VERY well to bedding and free floating the barrel, which can be done for very little $$.

30-30man · « **Reply #27 on:** January 09, 2010, 08:20:51 AM »

Yeah I read the article too, but his explaination is highly unlikely if not impossible. I was just guessing, but the shell would have to be cocked at an angle and you would have to slam the bolt with your hand hard enough to dent the thick russian primers. The bolt would not close at all if this happened. It would not be even close. Almost anybody would notice a shell cosked in almost sidways and the bolt not closing. I be willing to bet he monkied with something.

gandog56 · « **Reply #28 on:** January 10, 2010, 03:28:28 AM »

Quote from: Old Fart on January 08, 2010, 05:42:28 AM

My first impression of the mn was just an old war horse that has plenty of surplus ammo out there. Inexpensive to own and shoot.
After shooting a couple my impression is I now understand what all the boohaa is about. No most aren't tack drivers, but they do shoot quite well as a whole.

I've had several over the past couple years.
Bought one for each of my boys for Christmas last year.
We go out a couple times a year and have a Mosinfest.
I've got a little farm not to far from the house.
We'll set up targets and blast away, aways fun.

I think everyone ought to have one or two.

One of the best rifles out there that can still be had for 80 bucks, that's for sure.

moorepower · « **Reply #29 on:** January 11, 2010, 11:59:30 AM »

I was not there, so I can only go by what he said and the odd markings on the bolt.