Minor Mosin Dilemma

[bill larry]

I need some opinions from you guys.

I have been wanting to scope one of my M44's for a while in the scout manner. I plan on using the S&K insta-mount so as not to premanently alter the gun. However, I have run into a major inconvenience in my little project. I wanted to remove the bayonet to reduce wieght and improve handling.

Great, except that my bayo is staked in place.

What can I do? Can a gunsmith drill out the staked screw without totally screwing up the bayonet mount? Do I need to forget it, and just get a different gun? This is killing me as this Mosin is unissued and is absolutely beautiful...I really wanted to use it as a scout rifle sans bayonet.

Thanks

 

[Mike U.]

Do you mean it was peened into place?
If so, I had this problem too. I tried a good squirt of WD-40, let it sit for an hour, used the correct size large screwdriver plus a very determined turn and that popped it loose.
Use whatever quality penetrating oil you have on hand. I know there are better penetrating oils out there than WD-40.

The correct size screwdriver really helps here. One that fits that slot perfectly and is big enough for you to get a really good grip on.
I hope it works for you.

 

[Cosmoline]

Kroil should work, but why not just pop the whole assembly off? If you're putting a scout scope on, you don't really need it. You should be able to kroil the pins and pop them out with a properly sized brass punch, then kroil and tap off the whole thing--including the peened bayonet. It's not a bad idea to do it once a century to check for rust, anyway.

 

[bill larry]

Okay, Cosmo, I'm going to try your suggestion once I get the correct punch. Just one pin, right? Or is the one under the sight base needing to be removed also? Thanks again!

 

[telomerase]

It's not a bad idea to do it once a century to check for rust, anyway.

Hey, it's not 2044 yet! Seriously, what's the best rust-preventative finish to put on a "shooter" grade M44?

 

[MHBushmaster]

Buy an M38, problem solved.
and while your out, might as well pick up a 91/30 as well, cause you are going to sooner or later and it might as well be sooner as they are not getting cheaper

 

[Cosmoline]

Two pins, actually. If you have a gunsmith punch set and use kroil it should work fine. Otherwise it can get tricky. Actually it can get tricky anyway, thinking back on it. But sometimes it works smooth.

what's the best rust-preventative finish to put on a "shooter" grade M44

I've had good results sealing the inside of the stock and under the handguard with a light grease. The Finnish Civil Guard used pine tar paste. The exposed metal is fine with CLP and periodic cleanups. Danger zones are around the receiver inside the lip of the stock, where beads of water can collect. Injecting a thin layer of grease in those cracks helps keep water out. A coat of gunstock wax over the whole sheebang is good, too. But keep in mind this is for taking the Mosin out in very wet woods, not just to the range.