Mosin 91/30 bayonet problems

[dukefan70]

I'm refinishing a Mosin 91/30, and I sat down to fit the bayonet I got with it. It was the best fit in the shop for my Mosin when I got it, but it still needed a little filing work to fit on all the way.

So I file a little here and there, and it still won't go on. It's pretty clear at this point that it's nothing around the front site base. I think it's just too tight where the barrel starts to get thicker as the bayo slides on and twists. I filed it a little, but no progress and I want to be really stingy with the filing. Any suggestions, experience, or ideas?

 

[Sam Cade]

Where exactly are you filing?

 

[dukefan70]

Just squared up the corners of the bottom of the front sight base and took down a couple uneven spots around the barrel by the front sight base. Also some where the barrel starts to thicken up (where the rifling ends in the bore). Don't worry, I didn't butcher it. I'm trying to be very careful and I took off little bits at a time to try the bayo in between.

 

[Vaarok]

Why didn't you just take a dowel wrapped in sandpaper and open up the bayonet socket?

 

[Sam Cade]

missed a post


edit

 

[dukefan70]

@ Vaarok: Well the short answer is I didn't think of it, to be perfectly honest. I actually have a rounded file that I could probably use too. Sure worth shot before I give up, b/c I'm done with the barrel...I want this to be a nice piece, and the bayo is secondary. See, I knew there was a reason I come on here. Thanks.

 

[offthepaper]

When you do get the bayo on, it will be hard to get off.

 

[dukefan70]

Haha oh I expect it will be hard to get off. Easier than the first time tho, I hope...took a rubber hammer and some umph.

 

[caribou]

The proper method is to put it in a vice and open up the socket.
It should go on and off tight but fairly easily, and a 1/2<3/4 large tapered punch does well.

I know not everyone has that option, but it is the proper way, but do what you can, that Mosin Needs its bayonet

 

[vellocet]

Those bayos rare fun, but even when they fit they tend to scratch up the muzzle. Rather than sweat over the one you have they can be bought for 15 or twenty bucks or so, and the old one makes a swell screwdriver, sish-ka-bob, umbrella beach spike, ect ect.

 

[vellocet]

I need to retract this last item. I forgot that you can buy a whole mosin rifle for less than 90.00 delivered, and paying almost 1/4 the value of another gun with bayo for just the bayo is sort of silly. Hope you fix it.

 

[Frozen North]

I just cleaned the socket with a dremel. It should not slip on and off by hand, you should need a brass hammer to tap it on and off.

 

[gunnutery]

I've had that same problem. I just gave up though as I don't really need it. Maybe someday I'll get back at grinding.

 

[Frozen North]

Mine shoots dead nuts with the tomato stake fixed. The groups are not as tight and they are a little high and right with it off. It pays to put it on there for at least one trial run just to see what it does.

 

[forestdavegump]

They were probably made to shoot fixed and not taken off until
wars end. Mine shoots better too with Bayo fixed? Go figure.

 

[mgkdrgn]

The Russian philosophy at the time on the bayonet was that it was meant to be part of the rifle, and ONLY removed when the individual soldier was being transported via truck or train. It was sighted with the bayonet on, and meant to be fired with it on.

Hence, once you get the bayonet on, it's the devil to get it off, and visa versa.

Find something metal and cone shaped that is a weee bit larger than the opening on the bayonet. Clamp the bayonet in a vice. Get a butane torch and heat up the barrel end of the bayonet and pound that cone shape bit of metal in there to spread it out a bit.

 

[Murphy4570]

Interestingly enough, the bayonet on my ex-Dragoon M91/30 fits easily by hand.

I guess fitment of the bayonet varies considerably?

 

[Vaarok]

The teardrop screwdriver can be used to crank the bayonet into place.

Bayonet fit varies immensely, but once you've got a couple Mosins you can swap them around and usually end up with every one having a easy to remove, easy to mount bayo.