I just bought my first gun!

[Outlaws]

Also, how do I de-cock the gun once I've rotated the bolt so that it's ready to fire?

Most bolt actions decock if you hold the trigger while closing the bolt.

 

[pax]

Congratulations.

Someone referred to the safety rules up above. Here's a link to a page which explains basic firearms safety and the "Four Rules." http://www.corneredcat.com/Safety/fourrules.aspx

pax

 

[Praetorius]

Is that how they had to do it? There's no way to "safely" de-cock it? Like what if the Soviet soldiers were going to sleep? They wouldn't want to have their rifles cocked, but I'm sure they wouldn't want to have to do the pulling-back-on-the-bolt thing and pull the trigger since it could easily fire.

Also, I've noticed that the bolt lever on my rifle is kind of loose... Like it sort of wiggles a bit up and down when it's closed.

 

[Outlaws]

Is that how they had to do it? There's no way to "safely" de-cock it? Like what if the Soviet soldiers were going to sleep? They wouldn't want to have their rifles cocked, but I'm sure they wouldn't want to have to do the pulling-back-on-the-bolt thing and pull the trigger since it could easily fire.

Unload it, then decock it. I wouldn't unload or uncock a rifle in battle. Cock and lock 24/7. I am not a Mosin guy...do they not have a safety?

 

[Praetorius]

Not one that I know about!

 

[AndyC]

I then put it back together again, and put some of that nasty oil stuff on the moving parts.

First, congratulations on your first firearm - I hope you have a lot of enjoyment with it, and please be safe.

Second - I predict that "that nasty oil stuff" will eventually become one of your favourite scents

 

[Hoppy590]

the "safety" on a mosin is to pull back the cocking piece, and rotate counter clockwise, and let it rest on the rear reciever
none too convienant

 

[Praetorius]

Can you elaborate on that, Hoppy590? I can't seem to get it to do that.

 

[Hoppy590]

the round knob on the back. you pull on that. pretty hard then rotate to the left, maybe 45 degrees. not far at all. then let it down. it can be REAL hard to pull back.
safety off http://www.surplusrifle.com/carbinenagant/graphics/l/s3.jpg
safety on http://www.surplusrifle.com/carbinenagant/graphics/l/s2.jpg

 

[Praetorius]

Does dry firing the rifle hurt it at all? People are telling me that like... dry fire is terrible.

 

[Outlaws]

A few here and there shouldn't harm it, but its old. Snap caps are like what...$10?

 

[Kaylee]

Cool - congratulations!

Sure enough, there's some history in that wood and metal. Here's a little reading you might enjoy -

"Why Guns?" by Tamara -

...It's the same with these old rifles; each one is a history lesson, an invitation to a treasure hunt, a physical link to a long-gone time and a far-off place.

http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2006/04/why-guns-part-i.html

and the ever-classic "Wood and Metal" -

It is a rare person who does not attach some sort of value or emotion to some physical object or to an event. A home becomes more than a building. A statue of the Virgin Mary, a crucifix, a flag or a song, or even a photograph can stir emotions greater than the value of the material item...

http://www.thefiringline.com/Misc/library/Metal_and_Wood.html

Good reading.

Welcome to a new and fascinating world.

 

[Hoppy590]

Does dry firing the rifle hurt it at all? People are telling me that like... dry fire is terrible.

the claim that dry firing hurts guns is based mostly on rimfire guns. in this case the firing pin can strike the chamber wall and cause damage to the rather small pin

a Mosin Nagant is not a rimfire rifle. and its pin is pretty beefy commie steel.. dry firing should be fine. though the best way to decock is still either by hand, or holding the trigger as you close the bolt. remember though. CHECK THE CHAMBER!

 

[dstorm1911]

here is your number 1 resource for all info on the Mosin nagant pattern rifles

http://7.62x54r.net

The guy who runs the site has accumulted around 5000 of the various models, countries and variations

Another Mosin intensive site is

http://www.gunboards.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=1

everything ya might ever want to know bout the gun and the caliber etc..

 

[tinygnat219]

Praetorius,

The Mosin Nagant 91/30 is a good choice, as it's one of the simpler and more forgiving rifles out there. Remember, these were often given to peasants who had never seen a firearm before, and Russian arms are HUGE on simplicity.

Get that Cosmoline gunk out of the bolt, it'll do nothing but make you curse a little later on. The bolt should also have a light coating of oil on it, but nothing more.

Everything else has pretty much been said. Just be sure to bring earplugs and a thick shirt when you fire it and bring a good sized towel to wipe the grin off of your face after you fire it.

 

[azhunter12]

Now you have to get some ammo, a good cleaning kit and brushes, and an m38 and a m44 to go with your 91/30.