Stretched out the Mosin today.

Hooda Thunkit · Jun 3, 2021

I decided to take my 91/30 out today, sort of shake the dust off of it. I have had several Mosin Nagant 3-line rifles, and sold most of them off. The only one I kept is a very nice 1926 Tula, which is a re-worked Model 91 Dragoon 3-line. It has a nice trigger (for a Mosin), and occasionally I like to wake it up to go shoot.
Here's my setup -

I'm shooting at the 200 yard target. I put a circle around my target in the picture, to make it easier to find. 3rd from the right, back 3 rows.

I had recently put a Smith-Sights front sight on it, the adjustable-post target model. I wanted to zero the rifle.

I'm using PPU "Rifle Line" (the cheaper stuff, not match) factory 150gr soft point ammo. I pulled the bullets, neck-sized, and standardized the powder charge at a hand-weighed 48.0gr of the factory powder. Then I re-seated the bullets to a given length and used a Lee FCD to give a light crimp to the neck - as close to the factory crimp as I could see.

After several shots to get on paper, then some fiddling with the adjustments, I shot my final 3 shot group. Mind you, this is 200 yards, iron sights, and I'm in my 7th decade:

That's about 2-5/8" 3-shot group. A bit over 1 MOA. It may not be bragging material, but I'll take it.
Now I'm wondering what it will do with match bullets.

Some folks out there claim the old Mosins won't shoot. Hah !

tark · Jun 3, 2021

For a Mosin, and considering your age.... That's bragging material. But I shouldn't belittle the Mosin's accuracy potential. I had a New England Westinghouse that would shoot 1" groups at a hundred.

illinoisburt · Jun 3, 2021

Very nice shooting. The old Mexican-match process does wonders for otherwise inconsistent ammo. Sometimes I really think that's the inherent difference in handload/factory/match grade ammunition - weighed charges instead of volumetric loading (not that volume cannot be accurate, it's just not as consistent with stick powders).

Hooda Thunkit · Jun 3, 2021

illinoisburt said:
The old Mexican-match process does wonders for otherwise inconsistent ammo.

This is kind of a half Mexican Match process. True MM ammo weighed out the charge, then tossed the cheaper projectiles; replacing them with superior Match-grade bullets.

I just standardized the powder charge, actually lowering it by about 5% under the average. Then I re-used the factory bullet.
The difference in muzzle blast is remarkable. My massaged ammo is much less unpleasant to shoot.

I was surprised by the charge variation. I realize this stuff is manufactured with high-speed machinery, but I expected greater control over the volume of powder.
I suppose that one can expect only so much for the price.

eastbank · Jun 3, 2021

i,ve been pulling bullets on militery rounds and reseating hunting bullets for years to hunt with. just remember the primers on most militery ammo is corrisive and your rifle must be cleaned accordingly. out of a scoped 3006 those loads are deer ammo to 300 yards.

Speedo66 · Jun 4, 2021

Hooda Thunkit said:
I was surprised by the charge variation. I realize this stuff is manufactured with high-speed machinery, but I expected greater control over the volume of powder.

What was the actual variation?

Hooda Thunkit · Jun 4, 2021

Speedo66 said:
What was the actual variation?

Let me see if I kept that scrap of paper....

Hooda Thunkit · Jun 5, 2021

Speedo66 said:
What was the actual variation?

It seems I didn't retain the scrap of paper with factory powder weight data. I remember it was an average of 51gr powder.

The bullets were very consistent in weight and diameter, and the COAL varied .014".

Beach Bum · Jun 5, 2021

Hooda Thunkit said:
I decided to take my 91/30 out today, sort of shake the dust off of it. I have had several Mosin Nagant 3-line rifles, and sold most of them off. The only one I kept is a very nice 1926 Tula, which is a re-worked Model 91 Dragoon 3-line. It has a nice trigger (for a Mosin), and occasionally I like to wake it up to go shoot.
Here's my setup -
View attachment 1002518

View attachment 1002519

I'm shooting at the 200 yard target. I put a circle around my target in the picture, to make it easier to find. 3rd from the right, back 3 rows.

View attachment 1002520

I had recently put a Smith-Sights front sight on it, the adjustable-post target model. I wanted to zero the rifle.

I'm using PPU "Rifle Line" (the cheaper stuff, not match) factory 150gr soft point ammo. I pulled the bullets, neck-sized, and standardized the powder charge at a hand-weighed 48.0gr of the factory powder. Then I re-seated the bullets to a given length and used a Lee FCD to give a light crimp to the neck - as close to the factory crimp as I could see.

After several shots to get on paper, then some fiddling with the adjustments, I shot my final 3 shot group. Mind you, this is 200 yards, iron sights, and I'm in my 7th decade:
View attachment 1002522

That's about 2-5/8" 3-shot group. A bit over 1 MOA. It may not be bragging material, but I'll take it.
Now I'm wondering what it will do with match bullets.

Some folks out there claim the old Mosins won't shoot. Hah !

Nice post you have here....I too like those smith sights put them on mine , I have the mojo rear peep sight as well . sure is a fun old rifle to shoot.....thats a nice butt pad , where did you get it ......take care..

Hooda Thunkit · Jun 5, 2021

Beach Bum said:
thats a nice butt pad , where did you get it

Off eBay. Here's one -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1130844522...4bd494384119bb6c0014|ampid:PL_CLK|clp:2334524
I drilled out the indentations in the pad, it gave the pad more 'give'.

Beach Bum said:
..I too like those smith sights put them on mine , I have the mojo rear peep sight as well

I can't put a peep sight on it and still shoot in the Military Bolt Gun match. It has to be as issued. The rules make an exception for front sights that are needed to bring point of impact up when using reduced loads, but has retain the issue look.

Peep sights on a 91/30 are a no-no.

22250Rem · Jun 5, 2021

Hooda Thunkit said:
Some folks out there claim the old Mosins won't shoot. Hah !

........ I always wondered where that myth got started. Mosin's generally shoot well as long as the bore isn't worn out or pitted badly. Last few years I've been handloading for my 91/30, a 1940 Tula specimen. Planning on stretching mine out to 200 this summer just out of curiosity. Although I'm also in my seventh decade now and I don't use the Mosin in matches so I can "cheat" a little bit in the sight department. Had a 2.5x Leupold scout scope here that wasn't being used and got an S&K no gunsmithing mount for it so someday the scope & mount can be removed and leave no "Bubba" marks on the gun. Even lower powered optics really make a world of difference. Ask any old guy! Iron sights & I don't get along as well as we once did. A few years ago I put an adjustable front sight on it that, IIRC, qualifies for Military Bolt Gun Match rules and that helped me out with the iron sights. Was made in Canada by an outfit called Euclidean Machine Co. but I think they discontinued that model. 7.62x54R is an excellent candidate for handloading. PPU makes great brass and I also use a Lee Factory Crimp die. Now it's time to experiment with various bullets. You're already doing great at 200 yds. with an Iron sighted Mosin. Thanks for an interesting story and keep us posted.

AK Hunter · Jun 5, 2021

I wish I could let my Mosin walk as far as it wanted.
I hit all the gongs at the 400 yard range. It's not much fun after you get good at doing it.
I need to find smaller gongs or a longer range.
I'm shooting a Mosin Nagant 91/30 PU sniper & the gun is truly a better shot than I am, even if it is 78 years old.

Riomouse911 · Jun 5, 2021

Nice shooting with the ol’ warhorse, Tania Chernova would probably be proud to have your groups with open sights at 200 :thumbup:

.

My buddy has one of the M-44’s that he bought at Big 5 for about 120 bucks many years ago. When fired with the “spam can” 7.62x54R ammo it creates quite an audio and visual scene at the range...

Fun pieces of history those Mosin-Nagants!

Stay safe.

22250Rem · Jun 7, 2021

I've read that California requires a permit for flamethrowers. I've seen those M-44's firing mil-surp ammo and they almost qualify as one. They also got nicknamed " Muzzle Blast Specials". Not knocking them, though; They're neat rifles

bigpower491 · Jun 7, 2021

Hooda Thunkit said:
I decided to take my 91/30 out today, sort of shake the dust off of it. I have had several Mosin Nagant 3-line rifles, and sold most of them off. The only one I kept is a very nice 1926 Tula, which is a re-worked Model 91 Dragoon 3-line. It has a nice trigger (for a Mosin), and occasionally I like to wake it up to go shoot.
Here's my setup -
View attachment 1002518

View attachment 1002519

I'm shooting at the 200 yard target. I put a circle around my target in the picture, to make it easier to find. 3rd from the right, back 3 rows.

View attachment 1002520

I had recently put a Smith-Sights front sight on it, the adjustable-post target model. I wanted to zero the rifle.

I'm using PPU "Rifle Line" (the cheaper stuff, not match) factory 150gr soft point ammo. I pulled the bullets, neck-sized, and standardized the powder charge at a hand-weighed 48.0gr of the factory powder. Then I re-seated the bullets to a given length and used a Lee FCD to give a light crimp to the neck - as close to the factory crimp as I could see.

After several shots to get on paper, then some fiddling with the adjustments, I shot my final 3 shot group. Mind you, this is 200 yards, iron sights, and I'm in my 7th decade:
View attachment 1002522

That's about 2-5/8" 3-shot group. A bit over 1 MOA. It may not be bragging material, but I'll take it.
Now I'm wondering what it will do with match bullets.

Some folks out there claim the old Mosins won't shoot. Hah !

Outstanding!
Yes......old Mosins shoot, especially with a good operator at the helm.

Riomouse911 · Jun 7, 2021

22250Rem said:
I've read that California requires a permit for flamethrowers. I've seen those M-44's firing mil-surp ammo and they almost qualify as one. They also got nicknamed " Muzzle Blast Specials". Not knocking them, though; They're neat rifles

We call it “The Thunderpaddle”, half because of the amazing level of noise it produces and half because they’re so tough it’ll double as a boat oar if the soldier needed to row a raft to the shore.

He also (semi-jokingly I think) says the Russian spam can ammo that comes with the cartridges tied up in waxed paper use powder made from nitrocellulose mixed with prisoners tears. It’s the only way these guns can create such a report :what:

.

Stay safe.

JCooperfan1911 · Jun 10, 2021

The Mosins, while a little crude in some respects, are a powerful and reliable weapon. They are not to be underestimated.

Ignition Override · Jun 11, 2021

They are Tanks.

OP: your rifle is Krasiva / very pretty.

Did y’all read about the Cossack who inspected every finished Mosin at the Westinghouse factory?

He slammed the butt of each rifle Hard onto the factory floor—-

-one day a worker or supervisor decided to load a cartridge in a chamber with the bolt still Cocked, out of the Cossack’s view.

Guess what happened when This rifle’s butt banged onto the floor?! Yes!!

daniel craig · Jun 11, 2021

Nice! Love the mosin!

Gordon · Jun 11, 2021

I belong to (associate member) a Swiss Rifle Club , it's been closed for almost a year recently opened and I took my two Moisins (and my K31) down to practice old timey shooting in Calif. I have quite a bit of old 7.62 heavy ball ammo that these Finns like. The M28 Homeguard with the Sako Barrel is about as accurate as the Erzatz "sniper M39 and has been sighted in and is all brass shimmed when I got it to put that heavy ball about 2" high at 200 and close to POA at 300 meters. I can hit the 600 meter gong with it about half the time or better.

Stretched out the Mosin today.

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