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7.62x54R cheap shooter

If you take one of those suckers and tie an 18# cinder block to it....they make great boat anchors!
Click to expand...

Agreed, and no doubt many already have. Mine, however, have met with a fate more in keeping with their still considerable capability.

They are for fun, maybe the occasional deer, teaching some teens about how thing were in a couple of previous centuries, and just how much they can accomplish when they need to work the odds to get that hit.

...and maybe I don't want those Grandkiddos to have their marksmanship lessons handed them on a platter made of precious metals...

They are also for learning what it feels like when your country has just been taken over by a horde of Storm Troopers and it's on their heads to take it back with whatever falls to hand.

Let us all fervently wish they and we never need to learn that lesson for real, and that if they do, something as reliable and reasonable effective falls to those hands. If it ever does, these boat anchors could be their fallback implements, and they will already have their measure. The last time that happened, those very same boat anchors were equal to the task; never underestimate an Untermenchen peasant with a 91/30 clutched desperately in their hands.

When life deals you lemons, you make lemonade; and this batch turned out to have been surprisingly pleasing!

Na zdrowie!

Greg
 
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I would imagine that as a true sniper system, the Mosin Nagants have probably taken more lives than any other sniper system. Russians, Finns, North Vietnamese, and many other countries have used them to great success. Simo Haya and some of the Russian snipers who used that system racked up a fearful toll on their enemies. Although I think the Mosin is one of the ugliest rifles ever made, they sure do work well.
 
Yesterday's range outing yielded mixed results. The reduced loads again failed to ignite, with the primer imbedding the bullet about 1/4" into the rifling. This officially marks the end of any testing with sub-min charge weights; from now on, loads will conform to book data. Might try 110gr V-Max, but they require a massive jump. The 125gr Nosler BTs have a much longer length and may help with ignition by reducing the jump to something at least approaching conventional.

Finished the session with a sight-in using factory PPU 150gr soft points, to prepare for deer season. Five rounds went to the same zero/POI as the plant #60 148gr Light Ball Surplus, but accuracy was a lot better. At 75yd the first two rounds were about 3" apart, then the rifle settled down and put the next three into a straight diagonal about 1" in length smack dead in the center of the original two shots. This is simply amazing. Not enough rounds to say anything definitive, but I am clearly in the ballpark of having a deer rifle that shoots to a degree of accuracy that rivals my factory hunters with factory ammo.

Weather is getting somewhat raw, frosted-over windshield yesterday 8AM, the day's range outing had winds from 9:00 o'clock in the 10-20MPH range, cold enough to require gloves and hunting coats. I don't foresee very many more outings this year. The Mosin's ergonomics are sufficiently practical that wearing gloves imposed no penalty when operating it.

Greg
 
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Out to the range again yesterday to confirm zero/sight in hunting implements; today is the deer season opener. My original 'Mosina' was among them, with another as well. Been out for daybreak, back for now; NFN (Nada For Now).

The original appears to be sensitive to cheek weld variations, I had expected the opposite with the LER situation. This rifle uses the AIM Sport 2-7x42 with a 30mm tube.

The second rifle is an experiment employing an NCStar 2-7x32 LER/Pistol Scope with NCStar 3/8" Dovetail 1" medium rings. This setup lowers the optical axis and cheekweld by about another 1/4", while increasing stock/receiver clearance to about 1/4", It is much more clear than the 42mm/30mm AIM scope, and the dark silhouetting around the image is very crisp and a lot smaller across. This rifle does not shoot as small at 75yd as the original with PPU 150gr SPT's as the original, but it's also only had about 15 rounds through it since being cleaned up from the Cosmoline. So I'll hold judgment in reserve for now. Either way, the rifles are both capable of Minute of Venison at the moment.

Also tried some preliminary and informal ballpark load testing of the Savage 7.62x39 10 FCM Scout with 110 V-Max/IMR-4895 handloads. Performance was 'palm of hand' at 200yd, about on a par with my primary (original) scoped Mosin.

I'll call that a good start.

Greg
 
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Well; there's about 6-8" of snow here in Dundee today; our first significant snowfall of the season. Winter is finally upon us, for all practical purposes.

The Mosins will get their year-end cleaning and oiling this coming week, soon to be be:

"The Mosins were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads..."

Deer season is over, yours truly got skunked again.

Greg
 
Sorry you didn't get a deer. I didn't get to hunt this year, which I was looking forward to, as I wanted to use the K-31 to kill a deer. Oh, well, life moves on, and there is Flintlock season in PA, which means another chance with a crossbow for me. Merry Christmas, Greg!
 
I have a SVT40 my father-in-law gave me a few years back that I've never shot. Gonna finally take it out but really not sure where to start projectile wise. I thought I'd post this hear as it's the Mosin's cousin. I'd like to shoot the best factory/surplus ammo I can find. Would really like to shoot it in the club's vintage service rifle match at some point just for fun. Any help and guidance would be greatly appreciated.

L
 
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I have some experience with the SVT-40. It likes handloads, but what they were is almost 15 years ago now.

My 91/30's like HDY ".303" 150gr SP Interlocks and 47-49gr of IMR-4064, apparently dependent of whether they are counterbored or not. The basic spamcan Russian surplus actually shoots pretty well.

The SVT-40 was one of the most frustrating rifles I've ever attempted to mount a scope on. The B-Square 'no gunsmithing' mount kept walking off the back of the receiver scope mounting grooves a quarter inch or so each shot.

After this recent bout with scout scoping the 91/30's I'm suspecting that scope mounting method has a lot more promise.

Being the only one in the house with a taste for venison, I'm not in a bind over missing out this year. At 67 with moderately questionable health, I think my hunting is taking a rather lower priority these days, especially when the mercury takes its dive. Best of wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Other denominations, likewise.

Greg
 
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I'm not opposed to loading for it. Just another caliber and I can load for my Mosins then. And brass is cheap. Not a lot of load data for it and given it's a semi I would assume I need to treat it a little differently than a Mosin. Not gonna scope it.

L
 
For the 91/30, corrosive ammo is pretty much OK of one is prompt about cleaning afterward. For the SVT-40, not so much; the gas system and corrosive ammo are not so compatible, so non-corrosive handloads would be highly preferable. Prvi-Partizan/PPU 150gr SP are pretty good (but not match-accurate) ammo, and the brass is of excellent quality for reloading. I use the standard RCBS 2-Die F/L set. I suspect my 47-49gr IMR-4064 charge with 150's would be a good start point; start low, and stop the soonest you find a tight node.

Once you have a good load, turn down the gas feed until the cycling fails, then open it up again, just enough to cycle reliably.

Greg
 
Thanks much sir! I'll order the dies now.

L

edt: Bad pic to show it off.

svt1_zpsf830738d.jpg
 
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I linked, I saw, I shuddered.

Lothar Walther has been building barrels in a similar way, to achieve a similar goal, for probably near a decade.

The price is steep, not unlike the ones you linked.

Someday...

Greg
 
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Groan..., stretch, Pop, Crackle.

Dang it, Winter funk has exceeded capacity..., again.

I know I've jumped the rails when I start doing searches for PE Mounts, Turndown bolt bodies, Archangel Stocks, and the like.

Doesn't look like I'll be getting anywhere near the range again before May. Same (Stuff...), too many different days...

Looking at the Mosins, I keep imagining grins so big they hurt.

Other stuff, like the .30BR Match gun, a couple of 5.56 uppers, and newly mounted optics on about a half dozen rifles, keep horning their ways into my already dazzlingly active imagination.

Must be Spring, oh my...
 
Hey, I just realized I can still get spamcan x54r ammo here in NY. I just have to order it through my LGS.

Thanks, Mr. Governor, for mandating a dealer markup surcharge on my ammo purchases that folks in other states don't need to pay. See, state government regulation of the interstate ammunition trade is good for local businesses! Good to know it's perfectly legal for states to interfere in Interstate Commerce.

SAFE again...
 
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I've just recently started reloading for 54R and have had really good results using 13.5gr Red dot powder for reduced recoil rounds
 
Thanks, I have used Unique for reduced loads in .223 and .22-250 with considerable success, but over a decade ago. This may be a viable tangent to follow.

BTW, I asked my LGS owner to try and find some spamcan. He said he's been trying already, but there's none to be found. He's been selling quite a few Century Arms 91/30 over the past year

Scored some 20rd boxes of PPU to allow for some load development while I was there.

Greg
 
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D' Dang; but there's nothing really to post.

Between nearly daily rain and Honey-do's, range time has been very limited. Got to shoot a pair of matches with the new Savage 11VT .223, and I learned a lot about troubleshooting in that guise.

Some significant home projects done, there should be more time available for the range. More reportage will follow.

Greg
 
Just finished reading this thread. I traded for a m1944 a year + ago and have only shot 5 rounds through it need to dig it out of the safe and shoot it.
 
Just keep in mind that with sanctions going through, the command authority is probably going to use it as a convenient excuse to freeze up sources of anything Russian.

Just when I get comfortable with a good firearm, once again my government figures out how to complicate such matters.

Doncha just love democracy?

Greg
 
Best $100 I ever spent. We burned a whole can of ammo in one outing and the barrels got so hot you had to put the gun down lol. Have fun with it.
 
Took my Son-in-Law to the range yesterday and had him sight in one of my scoped Mosins with factory PPU 150gr SP's. Final trajectory is a little bit low at 50yd, a little bit high at 100yd, and probably still in the ballpark at 200yd.

As of this afternoon, everything has been delivered but the Archangel stock; I expect it here by or after Thursday.

This stock comes with a 5rd magazine included. After thinking on it a bit, I've concluded it makes less sense to upgrade to the 10rd mag. I find it much more convenient to carry and load the rifle from the 5rd strippers. Twenty filled strippers fit perfectly in a replica Garand ten-pocket rifle ammo belt.

Greg
 
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All the bits are in, and assembled onto one of the Hex actions. The stock is very well thought out with several optional features that improve the fit for nearly every possible Mosin-Nagant variant.

Fit and finish are quite snug and the overall project comes out pretty solid. The appearance is very definitely transformed to something very modern looking.

My stock is molded in a desert tan color, with black accessories like the Magazine, Cheek rest, and Butt Pad (and their adjusters), along with several smaller parts that comprise the fitting accommodations.

The cheek weld height and LOP are adjustable using click wheels, and can work for me (at 6' 5 1/2" height) and my Granddaughter (at 5' 3" height). As an accommodation to her recoil sensitivity, I added the massive Muzzle Brake, and the separately purchased forend rail nicely supports a UTG Opfor Tactical bipod.

Overall, the rifle takes on an appearance reminiscent of a modernistic styled WWII Antitank Rifle. It wasn't what I was going for, but it's growing on me.

One negative, the forend rail and the originally supplied barrel tensioner tend to interfere. I'm probably going to reposition both in order to make their use more compatible. I think they'll work OK together; they just need to be figured out and positioned optimally.

I expect to get out to the range sometime before the holiday and re-zero/assess the effects of these upgrades. I have finally amassed 100 PPU cases for reloading, and will fabricate some test loads for the Hornady 150gr Interlock and the Nosler 125gr Ballistic Tip. I'll be looking for some hunting-capable solutions.

Greg
 
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Much thanks, my preferred propellant is IMR-4064, with ballpark guidance from the Hornady and Sierra manuals (Nosler's doesn't list the chambering). Test loads will bracket 49gr for the 140, and 50gr for the 125. PPU brass and BR-2's are the other chosen components for this test, and conform to some prior test results

IMHO the new stock negates previous load development which suggests the bracket loads and provides a new start point. I will start this development with the barrel pressure point engaged. I fully expect the new stock to have completely different influences on accuracy and load preferences.

"... and perhaps the horse will learn to sing..."

BTW, yesterday was the only decent range weather forecast for the entire holiday weekend. However, it was also the day we moved our Granddaughter into her College dorm suite (45 minutes away with three other girls), and the attendant waterworks were present to full effect.

Was nearly 4PM by the time we got back home and a range outing was not in the cards; it may clear up briefly this afternoon but rain is in the forecast until Wednesday.

Greg
 
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The stock is already relieved for the Timney safety lever, and also comes with a filler piece in case it's not being used. I have no issue with the original triggers on my small stable of 91-30's.

More will follow.

Greg
 
First range trip, some frustration.

Was using the muzzle brake, stock with pressure point engaged, and PPU 150gr Softpoints. The POI was off and responded to scope adjustments, but the response had no logical relation to which way the adjustments were made.

Quick review, muzzle brake had loosened and rotated roughly 30 degrees toward the left. There was no evidence of strikes in the brake cavity. Removed the brake and tried some more. Still wild and wooly. 30 rounds downrange, no useable result. While the brake had some effect on the recoil, it seems to have extended the pulse without making any significant effect on reducing the overall pulse. It has a significant ability to counter muzzle rise, but since it rotates there is also the undesired and unpredictable horizontal influence as well.

It is destined to become an expensive paperweight with an implied but unspoken lesson inherent.

This AM I will try to troubleshoot the issue(s). Prior to range trip, had gone through the complete stock and scope mounting, and nothing has appeared to have slipped, but will redo the stock and scope mounting anyway, just to confirm.

First impressions, the Norinco 2-7x32 LER scope may be wonky, and/or the pressure point may have changed the barrel harmonics enough to open the dispersion up to 6+" at 60yd.

I seriously doubt that the stock is to blame, but will be trying it with the pressure point disengaged. I may be better off with the barrel floated, and trying that first before going into a bout of load development is just a no brainer.

I am using the magazine as a fixed unit, and reloading via the strippers. The top round sticks if it'd loaded too deep, and the first few rounds tend to come out point high. These are known issues and should resolve themselves as part of the wear-in process.

Greg
 
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I really just believe I'm seeing logical initial outcomes from the ultimate bubba-fication of a humble battle rifle. Pretty sure there will be an obvious issue and that it can be resolved with just a little bit of critical thinking and minor adjustment. When scope adjustments were not being made, impacts were close together (1/2" to 1"), but tended to walk across the target. I don't really think that points to a stock issue. The fit of the stock and action is very snug.

Chalk it all up to a shakedown trial.

Greg
 
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Irons are not mounted, and would need to be replaced; the earlier mounting experiments required they be disassembled and this proved impossible. The sight leaves needed to be cut apart in order to be removed.

The rifle shot the same as the other two before the scope mountings were added, nether stellar nor awful.

Greg
 
I don't know, but it is a little heavier, and I'm guessing that precise info is available on the net somewhere.

Meanwhile, I still need to go over my rifle.

Greg

PS Stock and scope mountings proved secure. Adjusted the barrel contact support down as far as it took to allow the barrel to reach its lowest level, but that still did not allow a dollar bill to pass between the barrel and the contact pad. Removed the action, took out the contact pad adjuster, and now the M44 sight band filler block was maintaining barrel contact. Took the stock off again and removed the filler block. Now the dollar bill passes all the way back to where the barrel flares out.

Now we get to see if the dispersion closes up, and whether or not the NCStar scope is wonky. If it is, I have another scope/mount system that is known to work on another 9/30.

In any case, I will next be doing load development to find minimal dispersion, and to find a 125gr load that works.

Recoil was still the same as with the original stock, so a slip-on Limbsaver will be added. (edited to add: the Limbsaver is now on.)

Greg
 
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This thread inspired me to search out a mosin for my collection. Wile I could not source surplus ammunition locally, Academy sells rebranded Bernaul ammunition under the monarch label. Thi is supposedly non corrosive, new manufactured ammunition. I took the rifle and some of this ammunition out to the range today. Below are the first 10 shots fired at 50 yards. The rifle is 1939 manufacture, matching numbers on serialized parts, with a post war stock. I haven't made any mods to this rifle, though I had been looking at stock and trigger replacements before the range trip. I think I will just stick with the stock configuration for a while. I am pleasantly surprised with the precision.



I did, later, drift the front site to get the windage close to centered. Am I the only one that backs away slowly from the firing line when someone starts hammering on their rifle?
 
The scount mount isn't bad if you apoxy it down for a more permanent scout base. Actually dI'd the for one of the most accurate mosins I owned it worked great.
 
Well, the Williams Diopter rear sight has arrived and looks promising. This part of the project is on the back burner for now.

Removed the pressure pad adjuster and the M44 rear sight ring stock filler so the entire barrel ahead of the barrel's chamber flare floats free.

Went back to the range and tested for accuracy with TulAmmo steelcase and PPU softpoint, all 150gr. Accuracy was once again reasonable but not stellar. These are factory bulk loadings made with mediocre bullets.

The NCStar 2-7x32 scout/pistol scope works, but adjustments lag somewhat, with the POI drifting over the next few shots before settling down about where I wanted. Once a few more rounds go downrange, the group tends to tighten up. Final accuracy was about a 2" wide horizontal string, nearly nil vertical, about 3/4" low at 75yd with the PPU.

This leads me to believe that one day, I will be testing this Weaver in this role.

This is moderately acceptable as a hunting zero, but I would be well advised to keep my shots well under 200yd at this stage for a vertical dispersion under 8".

The Archangel rubber buttpad is better than the original steel one, but I still got bruised. Slipping on a Limbsaver with a 1" depth completely changed the recoil behavior of the M-N 9130.

I will be looking into chasing/dressing the internal crown of the counterbored muzzle, and then beginning load development with 125gr, 150gr, and 155gr .308 bullets in PPU brass with CCI 200's and IMR-4064. This could take awhile.

The Scout mounts I have tried all put the optical axis way too high. Using HD (two mounting bolts per ring) medium height airgun/rimfire 3/8 dovetail rings attached directly to the rear sight dovetail (after the rear sight and mount are removed) and cranked down tight as is reasonably possible has resulted in a Scout/LER scope mounting that is as low as one can go, and rugged enough (so far) to trust that it won't slip under recoil. These two aspects are crucial to providing a dependable mount. The scope bells clear the receiver/barrel by well less than 1/4," and need to unless a precipitously tall cheekweld is acceptable. The way the Archangel Stock addresses this cheekweld issue is its main advantage, IMHO.

Greg
 
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I have a 91/30 that I decided to turn into my go to precision/hunting rifle. I broke the weapon down and used my turbo torch to heat up the iron sights until the silver solder heated up. I tapped the sight off and am waiting on a dovetail 3/8 mount, tried a smaller picatinny and the aluminum bent from hand tightening. I made my own trigger return spring and sear shim to try out; I liked it although the excess amount of creep is still noticeable. Debating ordering a Timney trigger or some other style if I cant find a safe method of staging the trigger to a comfortable point. Next I'm ordering the NcStar 2 scope, and finally I'm gonna find a way to bed everything more securely into the stock. I was considering the glass bedding method, but want to do some research before I try anything.
 
.308 cal loads are never that accurate in 91/30s. Look up loads for 174 in .311 or .310 sierra match kings see which dia gives you the best results . Will give you the best results .
 
Took the 91/30 out with my .311" HDY150/49.0 IMR-4064 handloads Tuesday, and got it ontarget at 100yd. Once the zero was set and the scope settled in, there was a sub 1" group of five out there. Once is luck, no more.

Went directly to the 200yd target, rezeroed, and saw about a 5" pattern (can't call that a group). My companions were getting eager to hit the VFW for some beers, so I left things as they were, packed up, and took off with them. If things stay true to form, that pattern may tighten up, may not.

The 49.0gr is a SWAG load, will try for better in the coming days.

Busy this week, Monday, Nuclear Stress test in Syracuse VA, my VA Cardiologist wants to see me Saturday. Saturday? Hmmm....

Yesterday (Wednesday) at Buffalo VA, had two Titanium Dental Implants installed.

Expecting to be kinda whooped for the next few days.

Greg
 
Cardiologist put me on Indur, a nitrate. Essentially, I have just traded shortness of breath for some pretty hefty headaches at night. Hanging in to see where this goes.

After some thought, plus ignoring my own advice to thoroughly prove a load before making up a substantial quantity, have decided that the 49.0gr IMR-4064/150gr .311 HDY SP Interlock is simply the tightest I've ever gotten this rifle to shoot, so I made up 100 cartridges as an interim load to use until Spring. If it proves, it's the end of my load development, no point in prolonging development much beyond 1MOA.

I also made up 20 cartridges with an initial SWAG load of 50.0gr of IMR-4064 with Nosler .308 125gr Ballistic Tips for basic testing. Needed to resize the cases with the .308 expander. May get out to try them this W/E.

Greg
 
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Thats definitely a nice Mosin Nagant the wood on there still looks really good. I am thinking about mounting a 18x scope on mine but I am not sure exactly which mount to get, it seems a little more complicated to put on the mount on these things. This one website has the ATI Mosin Nagant Scope Mount but Im not sure if that is a good one or not, I mean ATI seems like agood name and the price seems really good. But I'm not sure if there will be one that is simpler to install I am not a gunsmith. please let me know if you have any suggestions thanks!
 
Sunday range outing left me with the conclusion that after all his time and buckage I am still left with a 3MOA rifle. While still a long way from giving up, I think this project is going on hold until the coming Spring.

Greg

PS The above is driven by a moment of consternation. There are still some point for exploration.

The rifle that is mounted in the Archangel stock is not the one I had started working with, and the original one had both a nicer trigger and may have some accuracy advantage. Despite all that has gone before, I have still not gotten around to doing legitimate load development or trying to improve the internal crown of the counterbore.

So there's still a lot of room for improvement.

Greg
 
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Hello,

A few fun facts:

• The original bullet weight for the Mosin-Nagant was 212 grains. Ammunition manufacture was farmed out to other nations until Russia got its production capacity up. The ammo manufactured in England had a test barrel accuracy requirement of 1.5moa.

• Barrel twist is 1:9.5. It was never changed after the switch to 147 grain pills. It was found that it still stabilized them to 4moa, which was acceptable for a general-issue battle rifle.

• Sniper ammo was never 182 grain. 182 grain was (and remains) machinegun ammo. Don't count on this stuff being too precise.

• What sniper ammo is, is 152 grain steel core with a copper-washed steel jacket. It has a boat tail, and since it's steel, it's longer, long enough that the Mosin's fast twist stabilizes it well.

• Finnish D166 is 200 grains, general and sniper issue, and is generally superior to the Russian sniper stuff. Unfortunately, it's hard to find. Actually, it's collector's ammo now. Norma (I think it's Norma) makes replica bullets for reloaders to make their own D166 ammo.

• A lot of the WWII Russian ammo was loaded with IMR4895. When Russia started running out of powder, we shipped tons of IMR4895 to them. It seems from looking at the WWII charges that these were a bit over our modern max loads, but I have no way of verifying for sure that the stuff I've weighed is actually IMR4895. I know the ammo was stamped from the WWII era and that the powder was in stick form, and that charges of said powder were around 51 grains.

• Light ball bullet weight ranged from 146 grains to 152 grains in a 10 round sample from the same lot.

Just some thoughts I figured might be helpful.

Regards,

Josh
 
Josh;

Your site and your recent posts on this site have impressed me quite a bit. If you could enlighten us on your methods for improving 91/30 accuracy, I would be much obliged.

Greg
 
Hello,

Try here

Accurizing the Mosin-Nagant Rifle

and here

http://www.smith-sights.com/accurizing-the-mosin-nagant-a-year-later.php

The Mosin was designed with the bayonet in mind. The bayonet was always affixed, and the rifle was a vehicle for the bayonet. In early Russian military doctrine, shooting was secondary.

For this reason, inletting was not done well in a lot of cases. Some rifles were done nicely, but most we run across today were not.

It's not so much a case of an imprecise rifle as it is a case of wandering zero with the Mosin.

The Finns knew this. They had a different idea of what the rifle was supposed to be. When they replaced the worn barrels of their Russian M91 rifles in the '20s, they had heavier barrels made.

To cope with poor inletting, the Finns turned to bedding. They used shims. Though a poor substitute for pillar bedding, it worked and worked well.

Because the barrels are long and relatively skinny, they do flex a lot during firing if freefloated. Therefore, providing a pressure pad near the front barrel band (much as is done to light-barreled sporting rifles) helps immensely. Floating is usually inadequate; floating and pressure padding do the trick.

If the Mosin has a good bore and crown and is properly bedded with shims and a pressure pad, chances are it will shoot 2.5MOA on the outside. Many find that, with handloads, their Mosins go sub-MOA.

Without getting into the whole push feed vs controlled feed debate, I will say this much: The Mosin's bolt head carries the lugs. Because the bolt head is a separate piece, it allows equal contact of the lugs so that no lug lapping is necessary. The cartridge headspaces on the rim, but if you fireform your brass, they will headspace on the rim and the shoulder, both. It's very excellent for repeatability.

I just buy PPU ammo, plink with it, and save the brass. It's fireformed that way and I have fun doing it!

Mainly, though, my methods follow the Finnish ideas. In some areas like the trigger, I improve on these. The stock M91/30 trigger is horrible (I think you'll agree) and does not allow the shooter to take full advantage of the precision that is already there. The Finns began using two-stage triggers in the M27 and M28, and provided the M39 with a two-stage trigger. My trigger takes advantage of earlier developments and addresses a safety issue I found in some M39 triggers.

At times, the M39 sear would stick if you let off the trigger and decided not to shoot. My trigger uses a mousetrap spring for both feel and safety: There is a sear return bar on my two-stage triggers to that if the sear would otherwise stick, the bar uses the return spring to, well, return the sear.

I have three phases I think of when working on the Mosin, after stock:

1. Ensure function and improve ergonomics. This involves making sure the rifle works correctly, repairing any sticky or stiff bolt, lengthening the length-of-pull, and ensuring that point-of-aim = point-of-impact.

2. Improving accuracy/precision/parts: This is where the drop-in and semi-drop-in parts come in. My sights fall into this category, as does the shim kit I sell and maybe the trigger. It's an internal fluff'n'buff and bedding job. The rifle should get 2.5moa after this.

3. Category 3 involves inletting the stock for a Timney trigger if you're so inclined (I prefer my two-stage jobs), real bedding, maybe an aftermarket stock if that's what you like, maybe optics, pretty much what folks would consider "open class".

My personal Mosin falls between 2 and 3. It's pillar bedded and shimmed, and uses a Finnish HV (no-jam) magazine. The trigger my two-stage job and breaks crisply at 3.5lbs, the rear sight notch is filed to a uniform 2mm, and the front sight is my Classic Target. I load for this rifle, and it is a true sub-MOA Mosin. The bore slugged to 0.3095", which is on the tight side for a Russian. It feels like the bore is slightly coned, and if so, it should have been selected for a sniper rifle build by the Soviets.

I have other rifles, but if I need a rifle, this Mosin is my go-to.

I think I covered everything; if you have any particular questions, please let me know. I'll be more than happy to address them.

Regards,

Josh
 
Ditto on that, lash.

Your views are similar to mine, Josh; but further refined. I did no shims and used neoprene foam material strips in a manner somewhat similar to the Russian Felt Wrap technique. Your insight about the wandering zero vs basic inaccuracy is about where my own thinking has evolved.

I have two 9130's; one's what you would call a 2, and one a 3, with the Archangel stock. Actually, there's a third (a 2), but it's off doing a stint in the woods preparing for deer season.

I intend to redo the first mentioned 2 to a status as close to your 'year II' as is feasible. My methods will probably not be as elegant as yours, but the main points will be the same. I tend more to soda can metal and strips of scissored 2mm neoprene foam sheets.

I would be dead in the water without your timely update.

Much, much thanks, Josh.

Greg
 
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Just managed my login to the New/Old site, will be resuming activity in this topic.

Updates include:

Down to one M-N 91/30, Archangel Stock installed, Bushnell scope in Air Rifle rings mounted directly to barrel dovetail. Took the plunge, counterbored the counterbore to a depth of about 2", yet to fire rifle since mod.

Greg
 
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