My 1943 Tula Mosin Nagant ex-sniper reborn!

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Devious6

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Full Member
Minuteman
Sep 10, 2012
79
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East Benton, PA, USA
#1
After a trip to the FedEx center and a scare that they could not find the box...I got home and got to look at my reborn ex-sniper. A pretty 1943 Tula in a laminate stock. George Tossan did the work for me to set her up as my back-up match rifle. I picked up the scope and mount from ncreptile - a nice 44 Kazan with great optics. I ended up having to go with an Accumounts rail since I could not find an original. The bore is superb.

Sorry for the pictures - as you can tell, the weather outside is not optimal for photos....but typical of field conditions. If it's not raining, it isn't training! I'm looking forward to taking her out to zero her soon - hopefully this weekend!! She may make her match debut at Quantico in a few weeks if I can get her properly zeroed. Otherwise, I'll be using my '42 Izhevsk.

This is from before I sent her to George.

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And here she is today:

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#3
This is my 4th PU sniper. I have one repro, an original like the ones from AIM out of the original batch imported through MOLOT and two restored ex-snipers that are my match rifles. Finding an unrestored original is very tough - and very expensive. I think you would do fine purchising one from AIM or Classic.
 
#5
I will bring it down - not sure if I'll use it for the match or not. I have almost zero time driving this one yet and have not zeroed it. Depending on the weather next weekend I might be able to get it sighted - but, it's not looking good right now.

In any case, I'll have it with me and if we have any time after the match on Saturday might have some time to work with it. Stop by and check it out - I'll be shooting with Skip.
 
#6
Even though the temperature was about 25 degrees this morning, I decided to take the Tula out and run some rounds through her. I grabbed my old Soviet WWI backpack as a rest and headed down the hill to my range.

I ran 20 rounds of 184gn standard Privi through her at 50 yards and started to zero her. One adjustment had me just outside the bull to the right but with the cold I found it hard to make the minute adjustment and kept bouncing back and forth from one side to another.

After a last adjustment, I opted to switch to some hand loads. Based on a bullet test, I had decided to try pushing Hornady 174gn .3105s through her - with 43.5 gns of Varget. I took 3 shots and was almost dead on.

At this point, my hands were getting pretty cold so I decided to push my target out to 100 yards and fore 6 check rounds.

Here is my result. I was using a 6 O'clock point of aim so I am still a touch low - but given the temperature and bulky clothes...and my rush to finish...I am very happy. She's shooting a tad over 1 MOA - and probably better had I not pushed the first round left.

Many people like to push the rumor that the ex-snipers were taken out of service because they are shot out. Both of my restored ex-snipers are tack drivers and kill that rumor - in fact, they both have much stronger bores than my actual '43 Tula.

I think I'll bring both with me to Quantico next weekend - will probably use myy '42 Izhevsk for the match since that's the rifle I have worked with extensively. I need more driving time with this one - but she sure has great promise.
 

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#8
I think most (not all) of the ex-snipers are "ex" because they had broken scopes, not because they were "shot out." Why put another scope on a sniper with a broken scope once the war is over, and thousands were still remaining. It wasn't as if they had a shortage.
 
#10
Nice rifle, and shooting...
Varget is the ticket for mine as well...also 43.5 grains, but under the 174 SMK.

Now, if I could only get some Varget (and some H4350, 8208, and CCI 200 primers, and, and....) I might actually be able to shoot...
 
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#15
Hi guys
I was checking out your posts and I have few questions. I have a couple of M-N, one of them is a 1943 Tula Sniper; I recently slugged it and found a bore of .313.
I also checked and measured different ammo (several of each kind) and this is what I found.
Russian Army surplus are .309 (147gr)
Tula Russian ammo are .310 (148gr)
PRVI Match ammo (Serbia) are .310 (182gr)
Sellier & Bellot Match ammo (Czech) are .311 (174gr)
I had the best results with the S&B Match, which are the closet (.311) to the bore of my rifle (.313).
For the ones of you who reload the M-N 7.62x54r, what dies are you using?
I also heard of Mosin shooters using the .311 Sierra Spitzer (made for .303 Enfield) with good results.
Are you familiar with these, or are you using a different kind of bullet?
I am reloading for my .308's and will start reloading for 7.62x54r soon, I am looking for info on it, so I have something to start with.
I appreciate your help.
Good shooting.
Ombre noire
 
#16
I have a Lee press but have been mostly using my Lee Handloader to make my match ammo. I use two different bullets - my '42 Izhevsk likes the Sierra Matchking .311 174gn HPBT. The bukkets actually measure out closer to .312 so they may be a good match for your rifle.

The '43 Tula above has a tighter bore and really likes the Hornady .3105 174gn bullet.

I'd give the SIerra's a try. I've been very happy with them.
 
#17
Devious6 said:
I have a Lee press but have been mostly using my Lee Handloader to make my match ammo. I use two different bullets - my '42 Izhevsk likes the Sierra Matchking .311 174gn HPBT. The bukkets actually measure out closer to .312 so they may be a good match for your rifle.

The '43 Tula above has a tighter bore and really likes the Hornady .3105 174gn bullet.

I'd give the SIerra's a try. I've been very happy with them.
Click to expand...

Devious6
Thanks for the info, I will give the Sierra a shot (actually more than one), among others. In theory, they should do well, as .311 and 174gr are also the specs of the Sellier & Bellot that my rifle digs. I am planning on using Varget (will start low and go from there), as the temps around Vegas can go from around 24' (winter, early morning in mountains) to around 120' (summer, afternoon).
Good shooting.
Ombre noire
 
#18
Varget is very stable in terms of temperature stability, I've been told. I currently use a load of 43.5gns of Varget for my competition loads. But, I found that my results were not as good this past match when i moved out to 800 and 1000 yards. My partner has been shooting a load of 45gns and his results are much more consistent. I'm going to beging to do some load development to slowly increase towards his load and see how my rifles respond.
 
#19
Devious6 said:
Varget is very stable in terms of temperature stability, I've been told. I currently use a load of 43.5gns of Varget for my competition loads. But, I found that my results were not as good this past match when i moved out to 800 and 1000 yards. My partner has been shooting a load of 45gns and his results are much more consistent. I'm going to beging to do some load development to slowly increase towards his load and see how my rifles respond.
Click to expand...

Devious6
43.5 Varget is the load I am using on one of my .308's with 178 AMAX (Sako TRG 22), doing well up to 1000 yards but few other shooters use more and are doing well too (most likely need less elevation), Varget does have good stability at different temps. I did not check the reloading manuals yet for 7.62x54r but I believe the starting load is around 43gr of Varget, goes up from there. I heard of MN shooters using 46gr of Varget with good results, not sure of the bullet weight they were using, as this would make a difference.
I have access to a RCBS Die set 7.62x54r with a .311 expander and I ordered 200 SMK HPBT .303 (.311 diameter) 174gr, as well as 100 Hornady HPBT .303 (.312 diameter) 174gr. I will look at my different reloading manuals and probably will start half way between min. load and max. load for the 174gr.
Is your shooting partner, using 45gr of Varget, also uses 174gr SMK HPBT?
Did you check how far were the lands on your MN and if yes, did it make a difference when seating close, or far? My TRG 22 could not care less of how far/close the bullet is from the lands but my PSS is very picky.
Once figured out, I will try these loads on both MN's; one good thing about living in the desert is that you can shoot as far as you can see, or at least as far as the 3.5 PU can take you. We also have access to more "civilized" ranges, one going to 550 yards, the other to 960 yards.
Thanks and good shooting.
Ombre noire
 
#20
^^^ X2...all of it...
RCBS is the only die set that comes with both the .308 and .311 expander balls.

I've loaded hotter, up to 45 grains, but accuracy suffered. Always came back to 43.5; odd, but it seems to be an almost universal load for the Mosin.
 
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