Started my Mosin Nagant Adventure with a 91/30

[majorpandemic]

A buddy of mind gave me Mosin Nagant 91/30 Tula because he "just knew, I would enjoy tinkering with it". Well first shot were definitely fun but not that impressive as we spent a fair amount of time figuring out it was shooting a foot to the right and about 8" high at 25 yards... but the adventure continues.

Just sent my bolt in to Rock Solid and will be adding that, a scope mount, action screws and bedding pillars. Next I need to find a stock that I can free float the barrel with.

Should be a fun project.

 

[1kHIT]

Re: Started my Mosin Nagant Adventure with a 91/30

I've always enjoyed reading about these guns. Please post pictures of your progress along the way for all of us to enjoy! Good luck and good shooting.

 

[HispanicPanic]

Re: Started my Mosin Nagant Adventure with a 91/30

don't get a new off the shelf stock. Spend some time with your stock, sand down the barrel channels, wrap up your barrel underneath the barrel bands, and with a bedding job i promise you'll be shooting 1moa with surplus ammo.

Lots of small issues you may need to work out with the stock, but once you get them worked out, you'll go from 10 moa to 1moa for free.

A new stock, even a high quality one won't always net an increase in accuracy.

 

[HispanicPanic]

Re: Started my Mosin Nagant Adventure with a 91/30

But if you do decide on a new stock right off the bat, let me direct you here http://loweldesigns.com/

 

[az_paul]

Re: Started my Mosin Nagant Adventure with a 91/30

HispanicPanic....Could you please go into more detail regarding "wrapping your barrel under the barrel bands". Thanks much. I'd like to try accurizing my 91/30.

 

[Wannashootit]

Re: Started my Mosin Nagant Adventure with a 91/30

He's likely referring to pressure points on the barrel.

Some insist the 91/30 should not have a free-floated barrel due to it's length and slim contour.

My sporter shot moa (handloads, natch) after the "sporterizing" project, with a free-floated barrel.

I later cut the barrel to 22" and re-crowned, just to make the rifle more "manageable". Accuracy did not change with the shorter barrel. I'm still a believer in full free-float for the Mosin.

 

[Joop]

Re: Started my Mosin Nagant Adventure with a 91/30

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Wannashootit</div><div class="ubbcode-body">He's likely referring to pressure points on the barrel.

Some insist the 91/30 should not have a free-floated barrel due to it's length and slim contour.

My sporter shot moa (handloads, natch) after the "sporterizing" project, with a free-floated barrel.

I later cut the barrel to 22" and re-crowned, just to make the rifle more "manageable". Accuracy did not change with the shorter barrel. I'm still a believer in full free-float for the Mosin. </div></div>

That would be the Russians.

In my experience with nearly fifty of them, I have yet to see one that shot better when completely floating. As per the Russian sniper manual, they wrapped the barrel with oiled canvas or felt at the area under the front handguard band. I've found this to work the best, as well.

I've never cut down a barrel. However, from reading the experiences of some people who have, they seem to get the best results with a free-floated barrel by cutting it down to a length of about 20.5". This happens to be the exact same spot where the front band would be on a full length barrel and where the Russians would have wrapped it. Coincidence? I think not.

I have pictures showing the improvements that can be had by shimming/wrapping the barrel, as opposed to free-floating it. The results are hard to deny. I've also shot better groups with handloads out of an original sniper than I've ever seen posted by anyone with a sporterized 91/30, anywhere. That includes the guys using the machine gun barrels.

John

 

[az_paul]

Re: Started my Mosin Nagant Adventure with a 91/30

Thanks for the interesting info, gents!