MOA with Mosin Nagants?

[Sam Dunham]

I have a Mosin Nagant 91/30 Izhevsk rifle that I have Modified that so far, shoots three shots MOA. I like it, I like Mosins along with Mausers and prefer to shoot Older guns than new stuff. I do not have a picture of my group but will go shoot one for those who believe there may be some previous posters here that are full of shit and lie about their rifles and ability to do as Bill Clinton lies about everything so here is a picture of my rifle and my group was shot with a handload and to be noted; My rifle shoots less than 2 MOA with PPU 150's factory stuff but loves my 49 grains of 4320 and a 311 Sierra 150 a lot more. I do not shoot off benches and am not a benchrest shooter and never will be. I play in the woods mostly, you know, like the name of this site? Not Bench shooters Hide, it is Snipers Hide. Simo shot a hello fo lot of Germans but not off a bench and neither did Carlos, which by the way is a fellow Arkie so start kissing my ass now! LMAO

 

[sandwarrior]

I have one that shoots MOA with 3 shots.

There was a time I thought these were not even worth being given as they were "throw away" rifles IMO. When all the Mauser and 1903 milsurps dried up, I thought "Hey, I might try one of these out". Stupid things shoot pretty good.

And, FWIW, the typical precision rifle here needs to shoot five shots to get on board as quanitfiable. Vintage Sniper rifles and vintage in general not so much. This is more of the "fun/look what I found (under a rock)" forum that shows off vintage stuff, but mostly vintage sniper equipment whenever possible. We couldn't keep this forum running if we stuck hard line to vintage sniper only. So, we often include a lot of "vintage" stuff. What you posted is pretty good, except we need some pics. We also need to know if it's a Tula or Izhevsk? Pics'll help.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Some may recall a year-long+ project I did on a previous generation of this site, intended to find and improve the accuracy level of three side-by-side-on-the-sales-rack M-N 91/30's. This involved shimming and handloading in the later stages.

It's hard to determine the OP's desires from a deleted post, but in reality, it's very likely to be an umpteenth rendition of the slew of such request which prompted my project. Thin skin or thick, my responses would be the same.

Most 91/30's were mass prepared and stored sometime after WWII. Most of them suffered from serious cleaning rod wear in the muzzle area, and the generic mass-fix was to counterbore the muzzle down to a distance that reduced the bore diameter to a reasonable size. This was a very fast and uncritical process. The end of many/most bores was a crapshoot, complicated by upwards of 50-80 years of general neglect in long term storage; cosmoline can only protect so much, for so long. Expect much corrosion where a 'recessed crown' should be.

Then there's the ammunition. The steel case/steel jacketed USSR/GI spam can ammo was purely 'cannon fodder'. It goes bang, mostly. Aside from applications like massed musketry, it was probably always substandard; and age has not improved its performance.

If you have a 91/30 that shoots 1 MOA with any ammunition, don't let it out of your sight.

Are there accurate ones? Oh yes. They tend to be battlefield pickups from the Russo-Finnish "Winter War" that were carefully researched and very dutifully rebarreled, restocked, and refurbished as Finnish factory arsenal (later to become SAKO) M-39 Rifles. Finnish ammunition is also special (7.62x53). The bores and bullets are often described as .308 diameter, which is even sometimes true.

There are also some original 91/30's that defy the odds and refuse to suck.

For general purposes, a cosmoline excavated 91/30 and Spam Can military steel case ball ammo will probably deliver accuracy in the 2-5 MOA range, or worse. As a perimeter defense rifle, it's moderately satisfactory out to 100yd.

Oh, and they tend to kick like mules. If you get into the 180gr loads, you need serious recoil protection for extended target practice (i.e. more than ten shots).

In my unrelenting effort to develop a handload, I came up with PPU Brass, Win LRP, Hornady 150gr Interlock "303" caliber bullet, and 48.1gr of IMR-4064 (identical-charge to my Garand load). It's better than the steel case, somewhat; over the past ten years or so, it has harvested several dozen whitetails for my (now former) S-I-L. PPU 150gr Factory SP loads are a reasonably fair compromise.

People have actually tried to blow these rifles up and had real trouble getting anywhere near their goals. Seriously, this thread reeeeally needs a little bit of comic relief...

Mine is a safe queen (Archangel Stock, Bushnell Handgun Scope, Scout Mount, Limbsaver, etc.) these days. I shudder to raise it and fire it.

Greg

 

[Sam Dunham]

OK, I thought about this Bullshit bravado on display here and yes I have a 91/30 that shoots MOA. I will come back on the assholes that like to use the keyyboard as a way to be something they probably would not have the balls to say to my face for something real in a response. Sure, I can get just as down and dirty as the Criminals I dealt with so here it goes, I can shoot, I am a damn good Gunsmith and my bet is on my 62-year-old Man and training that for all the bullshit posts here that in some cases I may have forgotten more real-world stuff than you know. I am not impressed by internet Trolls, the are pussies most of the time and have met them later on somewhere and found them very much different in person than on computer keys.

So the forum is for real here and I can just tell everyone that I built my Mosin myself with the mods and load my own and have loaded many thousands of rounds on a Dillion 1050 for my dept for years and before that cut my teeth reforming brass and loading on a turd Lee lap loader.

Damn, right I am an Oathkeeper and damn right I will fight tyranny and damn right I have the training and fortitude to do what I say in my Oath.

My Mosin shoots MOA! I do not give a flying fuck about the 5 shot group rule! I care more about how my serious rifles shoot ONE Shot on a cold bore and I can tell most of the Pussies are all about bench shooting and not about killing Game or Goblins.

So yes, If I can be Street real here Good! My back ground is shooting Game and Men and Gunsmithing and training, Not 5 shot groups!

Bring it Trolls! I will go back and redo my original post to what it was and Hell yes,,bring it on Pussy boys!

 

[sandwarrior]

Sam,

I think you've pretty well addressed your detractors.

So to the rifle, is it in original condition now or did you accurize it? With your gunsmithing skills are you thinking of making this into one of the Russian sniper configurations?

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Excellent transition, Sand!

Re. Sam. ... I like him. Can we keep him? I think he will fit in well. And we can turn him loose on the commies who keep showing up in The Bear Pit!

Greg... thanks for reminding us about all the work you did with the Nagants! That was some good stuff. I have a couple hanging out in the Fuhrer Bunker... but never really shot them much. I might have to go back and play some more!

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[TheGerman]

I have a 91/30 'ex sniper' with a PU on it in the rack next to my K98 BCD4 with LSR and Zielsechs. They seem to get along better than some of you in this thread.

Haven't shot either of them in a while once I got over my WW2 gun kick but I should finally get around to putting the 91/30 accurizing kit on it that some guy on Gunboards makes from instructions he pulled from the original Russian sniper manual or whatever that was translated.

 

[Sam Dunham]

Sam,

I think you've pretty well addressed your detractors.

So to the rifle, is it in original condition now or did you accurize it? With your gunsmithing skills are you thinking of making this into one of the Russian sniper configurations?

No Sir! This Mosin is not my go-to Real World Battle gun, it is more hobby and challenge and I enjoy making it more of a Rifle I want it to be. I chose to use an Old K 4 Weaver instead of a newer scope to keep it company and make for more challenge. I did mod it a lot, would not do this on a Finn or a Finn capture or Old Hex rifle. I would leave them stock as they came and especially want a Finn some day.

I made a mistake and cut my barrel to 21, wish I had cut to 24.

I used the original stock and trigger has a 6-32 down the bolt stop to take creep and spring tension/sear height all down for a better trigger. Squared up the sear and cocking piece mating surfaces.

The rifle has no other commercial parts other than the scope mount/scope and rings.

I wanted a rifle based on economic principal as much as possible.

It is nothing special as a general subject and is only special subjectively.

I would say though that if I were limited to just this Rifle it would work well for me based on my limited needs these days.

If things broke loose in my Country I would choose something quicker to load and with more capacity and would see the benefit of a good ole M-14 rifle and would carry the extra weight gladly. Thank you for your reply.

 

[Sam Dunham]

I have a 91/30 'ex sniper' with a PU on it in the rack next to my K98 BCD4 with LSR and Zielsechs. They seem to get along better than some of you in this thread.

Haven't shot either of them in a while once I got over my WW2 gun kick but I should finally get around to putting the 91/30 accurizing kit on it that some guy on Gunboards makes from instructions he pulled from the original Russian sniper manual or whatever that was translated.

Cool, would like to shoot a genuine PU someday.

 

[sandwarrior]

No Sir! This Mosin is not my go-to Real World Battle gun, it is more hobby and challenge and I enjoy making it more of a Rifle I want it to be. I chose to use an Old K 4 Weaver instead of a newer scope to keep it company and make for more challenge. I did mod it a lot, would not do this on a Finn or a Finn capture or Old Hex rifle. I would leave them stock as they came and especially want a Finn some day.

I made a mistake and cut my barrel to 21, wish I had cut to 24.

I used the original stock and trigger has a 6-32 down the bolt stop to take creep and spring tension/sear height all down for a better trigger. Squared up the sear and cocking piece mating surfaces.

The rifle has no other commercial parts other than the scope mount/scope and rings.

I wanted a rifle based on economic principal as much as possible.

It is nothing special as a general subject and is only special subjectively.

I would say though that if I were limited to just this Rifle it would work well for me based on my limited needs these days.

If things broke loose in my Country I would choose something quicker to load and with more capacity and would see the benefit of a good ole M-14 rifle and would carry the extra weight gladly. Thank you for your reply.

I agree in that while fun to shoot, it's not gonna be my real rattle battle sniper rifle. We have high capacity, smoother working, easier to find ammo for, sniper rifles to use if shit hit the fan. Although you can get lot of 7.62x54R still for not all that much money. Ammo quality varies a lot though over the years.

What I've seen with the Mosin-Nagants over the years, and why I relented and bought a few, was it seems the first ones that came over were the shitty war weary pos's that were worked pretty hard. Towards the last of them that started getting imported here the quality was overall going up. Like they saved the best for last. Anyhow, I found with some ammo lots, mine could shoot pretty good and with Norma brass and good projectiles, They could shoot moa if one were to really buckle down and do a good job behind the trigger. Like any good rifle, if you don't account for everything groups ain't so good. Sticking to the fundamentals is what gives good results. I use the bench as a means to boil out as many human factors as I can. Tell the tale of the rifles actual accuracy. That doesn't mean it's the end all of accuracy though. Being able to get out and shoot using fundamentals tells the tale of how well you can shoot an accurate rifle.

I'll agree too, I would take a 24" over a 21" 7.62x54R any day. Someday, you can get another barrel and re-work that one.

FWIW, one of the current Soviet sniper rifles, the SV-98, is based on the M-N. Not such a piece of crap as some think eh?

 

[Sam Dunham]

Must admit I know nothing about the SV-98. I would love to have one but there are a lot of things I could wish in one hand and shit in the other.

I have been using PPU brass in Mosin, it is OK but soft. So soft that in my old Lee lap (turd loader) the neck sizer does not squeeze it down enough to hold the bullet with enough tension. I am gonna work harden it or try by full length sizing them on several loadings and see what happens. I will not likely buy anymore PPU brass but will cringe and lay down the debit card for some Norma.

The 223/556 interests me some and has saved my bacon a couple of times but for my interests, since I retired, I am more interested in bolt guns.

I like to Coyote hunt also, deer hunt and handle History Rifles more so than bench guns and heavy barreled precision stuff. Moving around in the woods and calling stuff is fun.

Being an avid Bowhunter most of my life with Recurves makes getting close a challenge. As I get older, I am enjoying my Rifles more and admittedly not considered them as much as I should have, could have in the past.

That is why challenge rifles like the Mosin interest me more than Tech and Precision for my main interest focus now.

All that would change if I were hunting things that shoot back and I would get back to the best tech I could find with the balance of the mission and how long I would be in the field and what location.

My gunsmithing skill is NOT in the building Precision rifles but as a general rule, I am limited by my tooling. I am a Very good 1911 guy with a lot of experience in that particular field.

If someone is full of shit? They tend to oversell themselves and talk smack.

The transition point of blending in and being gray is much more appealing.

 

[sandwarrior]

there isn't any day that I go shoot, that I don't bring at least three, if not a half dozen rifles to take out and shoot.

 

[b6graham]

there isn't any day that I go shoot, that I don't bring at least three, if not a half dozen rifles to take out and shoot.

waiting to build my collection of old school bolts. they're just so fun to shoot

we're gonna do an iron sight PRS type match this winter at one of our ranges. vintage only. should be a blast

 

[sandwarrior]

That would be a lot of fun doing a PRS with old bolt guns!

 

[b6graham]

That would be a lot of fun doing a PRS with old bolt guns!

ranges to 600y. 3-4moa prone, 4-6 moa positional

is it cheating to use a timney?

 

[Greg Langelius *]

My Ex-SIL and Grandkids got my other two M-N's, each was customized on the cheap (well, they are M-N's...) with a stock pack, limbsaver, and a UTG long relief scope. No part of the M-N was modified in a manner that couldn't be completely restored. As stated elsewhere, the Scout mount and UTG scope doesn't do much for the accuracy, but it gives the old girls' sights reasonable adjustability, which has some real value.

Mine went further, with the Archangel stock.

Now this mod is expensive, but it's a true improvement. It's set up snug and tight, and does a pretty good job of emulating a glassbed. The Scout mount is simplicity itself, cheap, and actually rock solid. Remove the rear sight, and find the dovetail/lug beneath. Get a set of medium height, 11mm Airgun Rings, proper diameter for your scope and crank them down onto that lug like they still mean to be there come the Crack of Doom. I chose a Bushnell handgun scope, and it's a lot clearer than any of the cheap stuff.

Shimming the original stock is really an exercise in turning the original stock into a splint for the long, willowy barrel. I wrapped the barrel with 1" wide thin cork strips right under where the bands ride until the bands go on really snug. Absolutely the opposite of a free float; it does, however, do some good with the accuracy. One can also slip card stock shims between the action and stock where the screws go, compensating for the near-century's stock shrinkage, which really restores the M-N's pretty reliable cartridge feeding capacity.

The Archangel provides cheek height and LOP adjustment, with a respectable butt pad. I added a Limbsaver Slip-On (because I could, and because at 6 1/2ft height, I need any additional LOP extension I can manage). It also provides a 10rd DM. I leave the DM in place and load from two stripper clips. Otherwise, I'd have put on a scope and conventional mount, but I really prefer the stripper clips to pricey and bulky DM's. Once learned, loading with them is really quick and easy.

Typing out these replies has actually put me back in the mood to get out Ol' Babushka and go banging some stuff really good and hard (with the MN...).

Babushka is 3 years older than I am. When I go to war (seriously...?), I'll have my Garand in hand.

But when the Garand gets taken by the grabbers, Babs and I will still have a trusting relationship.

Greg

PS, Real world. After being here for some time, I've evolved, then revolved, through a bunch of shooting disciplines. At my age and decrepitude, bench shooting is becoming the main part of my shooting activity. So what? It still works. These days..., a blessing....

Yes, I'm not a BR guy, but I learned a bunch from them, and I will not joyfully disparage any shooting sport. The key here is solidarity, or we shall all each hang separately. I am not, never was LE. Ditto sniper. I'm just not up to the grade. But I dig shooting, like to help, and have survived some amazingly massive and asinine personal attacks along the way.

Be like the rocks, and endure.

 

[Sam Dunham]

This thread got ugly fast...

While the Mosin is far from my favorite milsurp I will admit that after years of dismissing them, when I finally picked one up and did shimming it and smoothing the trigger it turned out to be a really good shooter. With good ammo I’ve gotten about 1.5 MOA on occasion but usually closer the 2 MOA.

They definitely have more potential than they’re given credit for, but out of the cosmoline are usually pretty rough.

Agreed. Mine was first slugged and barrel inspected and was primo lands and grooves. Glassed it and pillar bedded it and mounted a scope, did trigger work and cut a piece of walnut and added a cheek piece so I could get a decent cheek weld. My handload is 49 grains of 4320 (found several sealed cans) and a 311 Sierra 150 hunter. I have Rifles that will outshoot it yes, but this is a Mosin so I feel pretty good about it.

 

[Spblademaker]

I have $100 to Tucker’s charity of choice if he lets this go to page 5.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Guys... this is Vintage... not the Bear Pit.

This is the one place on SH where civilization rules.

I ask you all... as old friends and, hopefully new ones... to knock this shit off or take it to Private messages. Or The Bear Pit. Where schoolyard spats are settled.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Tucker301]

I have $100 to Tucker’s charity of choice if he lets this go to page 5.

Well sir, that's mighty kind of you!
I finally got the time to come back and take out some of the trash from this thread, so the running page count did drop considerably, but it's alive again - at least for now.

A @sirhrmechanic so aptly pointed put, this is not the Pit, and while an ascot may not be required, a shirt and shoes are.

Let's be more welcoming to our new members and try again.

 

[sandwarrior]

Well sir, that's mighty kind of you!
I finally got the time to come back and take out some of the trash from this thread, so the running page count did drop considerably, but it's alive again - at least for now.

A @sirhrmechanic so aptly pointed put, this is not the Pit, and while an ascot may not be required, a shirt and shoes are.

Let's be more welcoming to our new members and try again.

WELL!....I'm feeling a bit overdressed. I've been trying to keep up with sirhr ever since his town was endowed with the snobbiest town in America moniker.

Anyways!, glad to see the thread back. So, getting back to my questions of what all was done to the rifle to accurize it, can you expound @Sam Dunham

Guys... this is Vintage... not the Bear Pit.

This is the one place on SH where civilization rules.

I ask you all... as old friends and, hopefully new ones... to knock this shit off or take it to Private messages. Or The Bear Pit. Where schoolyard spats are settled.

Cheers,

Sirhr

sirhr,

I would also like to make mention of since this is "Vintage", we don't NEED five shot groups. While it's nice for those of us that can do it, we had a recent post (and several in the past) where it's pretty hard to get and/or make ammunition for some of these rifles. I'll always encourage a five shot group, but I don't think vintage rifles always have to meet the same standards as modern precision rifles.

Would that be alright with everyone?

 

[Spblademaker]

Well sir, that's mighty kind of you!
I finally got the time to come back and take out some of the trash from this thread, so the running page count did drop considerably, but it's alive again - at least for now.

A @sirhrmechanic so aptly pointed put, this is not the Pit, and while an ascot may not be required, a shirt and shoes are.

Let's be more welcoming to our new members and try again.

With all the trash removal, my post is quite out of context. But the offer still stands, since it’s back up and running.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

Sirhr

I would also like to make mention of since this is "Vintage", we don't NEED five shot groups. While it's nice for those of us that can do it, we had a recent post (and several in the past) where it's pretty hard to get and/or make ammunition for some of these rifles. I'll always encourage a five shot group, but I don't think vintage rifles always have to meet the same standards as modern precision rifles.

Would that be alright with everyone?

I think that's a fine idea. Especially since bringing out the 25mm hotchkiss costs me $120 a round. Five shot groups get spendy!

Cheers,

Sirhr

Oh and we were only the snobbiest town in Vermont. Lowlight's hometown still gets snobbiest town in America!

 

[sandwarrior]

I think that's a fine idea. Especially since bringing out the 25mm hotchkiss costs me $120 a round. Five shot groups get spendy!

Cheers,

Sirhr

Oh and we were only the snobbiest town in Vermont. Lowlight's hometown still gets snobbiest town in America!

Well put him on a pedestal....wait, that's not funny.

Five shot groups with the Hotchkiss definitely out....Unless you just hit the mega lottery.

 

[Sam Dunham]

Thank you all for the replies and the new challenge to shoot 5 and 10 shot groups. I have a good range 22 miles from my house and will go shoot weather providing and get back this thread and post up some pictures. I live close the Sanders Museum of Guns in Berryville Arkansas and if you are ever through there you should stop and check it out. We have muzzleloaders shoots at the Luther Owens range and while you are there, go down 21 south and visit Wilson Combat and on 62 west in Berryville is Nighthawk, both are very well made 1911's.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

At the end of my old project, I realized I was never going to get much accuracy with the state of the 'recessed crown' on Babs.

Since I am not greatly inclined toward spending much (more) money on her, I decided to simply extend the muzzle counterboring process, in as basic simple, barbaric, and affordable a way possible (this is not an AIAW...).

Purchasing a simple 3/8" diameter titanium bit, I chucked it into the hand drill and attacked the muzzle with a passion, cleared out the snaggly bits, then soaked it in oil.

There the project currently sits. I have zero expectations, considering that there's little left that I could do to make things worse.

I'll probably take it down to the shooting pit and try it out with a few rounds of 'spamcan premium match'.

Someday. Maybe.

Greg

 

[Greg Langelius *]

7.62x54r Spam Can new arrival at Midway.

"Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys...", (LOTR...)

Buy more ammo...

Greg

 

[ScharfshutzeK98]

I have a 91/30 'ex sniper' with a PU on it in the rack next to my K98 BCD4 with LSR and Zielsechs. They seem to get along better than some of you in this thread.

Haven't shot either of them in a while once I got over my WW2 gun kick but I should finally get around to putting the 91/30 accurizing kit on it that some guy on Gunboards makes from instructions he pulled from the original Russian sniper manual or whatever that was translated.

I would be that guy on Gunboards.

 

[Hetzer]

I would be that guy on Gunboards.

I thought that was the case. Damn fine product it is too.

 

[ScharfshutzeK98]

I thought that was the case. Damn fine product it is too.

Thank you sir!

 

[sandwarrior]

Thank you sir!

Didn't you do that here too, a long time ago? Seems to me I remember someone doing that here too?

 

[ScharfshutzeK98]

Didn't you do that here too, a long time ago? Seems to me I remember someone doing that here too?

I might have, I have been selling them since 2013 but I don't think there was a lot of demand on this site.

 

[DaleGribble82]

@Sam Dunham, I would like to apologize for my emotions getting the best of me. No need to revisit any of the past. Just wanted to apologize, and continue on discussing my passion of firearms.

Airborne All The Way,

Garrett P

 

[Sam Dunham]

Thank you for your service Brother! I am indebted to all Vets for fighting off the Wolves.

 

[Erno86]

My 1943 IZZY sniper (all matching numbers except for the PU scope): 1 3/4" MOA @ 100 yards - 3 shot group using Russian CN sniper ammo...

 

[pacomdiver]

i have a handful of Real PU's, they shoot ok with surplus, but they all shoot real good with handloads. when i was testing loads in my 43 izzy, it shot 4 different loads under an inch at 100.

as far a PUs go, i have a 43 and 44 Izzy and a 43 and 44 Tula, plus a 1929 Tula GeKo and a 38 Tula PE top mount and a 38 tula PEM plus a 42 Izzy PEM. i will upload a few pics of them, ive shot my 43 Izzy out to 500 yards on steel (hit the 6" 4 out of 5 shots prone) when i was reverifying my dope on my 308 before a shoot . i load the sierra .311 174g match kings in PPU brass with CCI primers and 43.5 g Varget powder at 2.955 OAL. this loads shoots very good in all the snipers ( most touch holes at 100), my 28/76 really likes it and even some of my reg 91/30s like it . i have a buddy that shoots his PU in vintage class at the Quantico rifle Club , they shoot out to 1000 yards and he does very well when he uses it

 

[pacomdiver]

my 1929 Tula D2 GeCo side mount
my 38 tula PE

 

[pacomdiver]

View attachment 7024601 my 43 (right) and 44 Izzys. every time i hold them, i wonder how many germans did they kill
my 44 on the left has had a interesting life, it has 2 lined out scope numbers and a 3rd stamped on it

 

[pacomdiver]

2 different loads and the first 2 handloads i tried for my 43 Izzy PU, it liked both. the one on the left is a 180g sierra spitzer and the one on the right is a hornady 174g round nose
a couple targets from the load tesing with the 174g sierra SMK i did on the 43 and 44 Izzy PUs

 

[ScoutSniper3/124]

Last week I pulled a Polish M44 that I inherited from my Dad's collection out of its cosmoline and shot it for the FIRST time ever. First off, let me say this is a beautiful rifle, fit and finish are excellent and the stock is a light tan/blonde (maybe birch) and its pristine as the day it left the factory, not one ounce of rust or even a scratch. I went to Target Sports USA and bought some PRVI PPU Match Line ammunition and some stripper clips and an original sling off of amazon.

I shot from the prone at 50 yards to zero, simply because the berm was at 50 yards. Supported on sand socks but nothing fancy, and using my best Walmart reader 1.50 glasses (best as in not scratched to hell like most of them are). My Dad must have been smiling down on me from heaven...

FIRST Three rounds ever... in a 0.62" group. (which I'm guess-ta-mating at 1.2 moa)

I've got a couple 1903's and a Garand I love to shoot, but this Mosin just earned a coveted spot in the lineup.
Thanks Dad!

It's late, but I'll include a couple pictures when I get a chance.

 

[sandwarrior]

View attachment 7024587 my 1929 Tula D2 GeCo side mount
View attachment 7024588my 38 tula PE

Love the pics pacomdiver! I have a question, though. Is the bolt handle modified on your 1929 Tula D2 GeCo? It looks kind of like a butterknife handle. I thought it kind of interesting. The pic almost looks like one of those optical delusions where you can't see the bolt.

 

[Sam Dunham]

My scoped Mosin shoots 44 grains of 3031 and a 150 Sierra Hunter very well. 49 grains of 4320 and a 150 shoots very well also. Mine slugged 311 so I am shooting 311 bullets. I will try some 174's later and likely will pick up a can of Varget.

 

[pacomdiver]

sandwarrior,
when they built the GeKo D2 version (there were 3 versions), some were made with a spoon handle like that, remember this was in the infancy of the sniper program for the USSR, they experimented with alot of things to see what worked for them, the spoon handle feels sweet and works well, but im sure it took quite a while longer to make it compared to the regular ball handle, so expediency won out. the Ziess Zielvier scope is really crude for adjustments and you have to use the "adjustment plaque" that is on the right side of the stock for adjustments (remember the scopes were graduated for the 8mm mauser round), and the PE scope is a great improvement over the german scope . ill dig it out later and get some closer pics for you. i would post the pics i took of the target that day i took the range pics, but i only shot 2 rounds at it, so it really doesnt qualify as a group, even if they are almost in the same hole

 

[pacomdiver]

left side showing the mount bolt retainer chain not on the original or D3 version, it got caught on vegitation and clothing so they dropped it
Zeiss Zielvier scope with 3 post reticle
better shot of the spoon bolt handle, its very comfortable pushing it down with your thumb
right side of stock showing prototype cheek rest and scope adjustment correction plate for 8mm to the x54 mosin round

 

[Erno86]

View attachment 7026882left side showing the mount bolt retainer chain not on the original or D3 version, it got caught on vegitation and clothing so they dropped it
View attachment 7026883Zeiss Zielvier scope with 3 post reticle
View attachment 7026884better shot of the spoon bolt handle, its very comfortable pushing it down with your thumb
View attachment 7026885right side of stock showing prototype cheek rest and scope adjustment correction plate for 8mm to the x54 mosin round

Where did you get that "prototype" cheek rest?

Thanks...

Erno

 

[sandwarrior]

My 1943 IZZY sniper (all matching numbers except for the PU scope): 1 3/4" MOA @ 100 yards - 3 shot group using Russian CN sniper ammo...

What weight are the bullets. And, about what year(s) produced?

 

[pacomdiver]

the rifle was complete when i bought it from another mosin collector. the cheek rest was another one of the "trial" items they experimented with like the spoon bolt handle and ultimately dropped from the production models.


the ammo hes probably talking about is the Russian 7N14 152gr Spitzer BT , it runs at 2750fps . they were made from the late 80s into the 90s. they can be identified by the spam cans labeled CHAnNEPCKNE and also the individual packets are labeled for identification. it was a light ball ammo designed for the SVD since they get damaged running heavy ball but shoots decent in most mosins ive tried it in but is expensive nowadays, last time i looked into them, they were bringing over a buck a round. its kinda on par with M118LR, its made to run in all rifles but works well in only some with mediocre performance in others

there are others made as "Match" ammo, mainly the "Extra" series that showed up in the early 2000s, there was a yellow boxed one and a blue boxed one with a bullseye on it, i dont remember the exact lettering on the boxes but it was something like "Naptna extra" and a orange rust colored boxed one that said "3kctpa extra". that stuff shot pretty good but then again it is expensive if you can find any nowadays kinda like swiss GP11 ammo. i had some Sako ammo in the late 2000s that shot good ,got it at a good price, still have one of the full boxes

 

[mg4201]

Very cool thread. i used to be a big mosin guy i am down to three now. I have one tula that I have loaded for that shoots well. I need to decide on which vintage scope to put on it. I am leaning towards a PEM side mount from accumounts.

 

[Erno86]

What weight are the bullets. And, about what year(s) produced?

Sorry for the delay...

I believe it's Russian 1997 - 7.62x54R - 152 grain "7N1" sniper ammo

 

[Holescreek]

The Mosin I built for accuracy is neither stock or vintage so I will leave that subject be. However, I have done my research on the available 54r supply along the way to get a grasp on my possibilities. One day at the range I decided to shoot a 5 shot group with each type of cartridge I happened to have brought with me that day. All fired from the same rifle in the order of the numbered targets 1 through 8. Shots were fired at a fairly rapid pace and the only barrel cooling time was to insert five more cartridges into the magazine. Groups % and 7 are the same loading, I just wanted to see if I could repeat the group.

I have data from a 30 piece tear-down of 149gr Russian 54r out of a case that had so many discrepancies that it could only be described as machine gun ammo. Bullet weights, powder weights, case weights and bullet diameters all varied drastically.

Needless to say, to get any kind of consistency, you gotta roll your own.