Counterboring and accuracy in an M38

[Sactown]

I have an arsenal refinished M38 that has been counterbored for approximately 1-2 inches. Does the counterboring for the first inch of the M38 effect the accuracy of the rifle. The barrel is already short as the rifle is a carbine, does the counterboring further reduce the barrel length and make accuracy worse? If the counterboring is actually reducing the barrel length, will the efficiency of the 7.62X54R cartridge become less due to the reduction in barrel length?

TIA

 

[Sleeping Dog]

Counterboring should improve accuracy, by ending the rifling with sharp lands. It may cost a little in bullet efficiency, dropping a few feet per second. The carbine is already "inefficient", wasting energy that the longer 91/30 would use to propel the bullet. The wasted energy is visible as the big fireball.

Regards.

 

[RON in PA]

What Sleeping Dog said.

My M38 is also counterbored and every M38 that I have seen recently is counterbored. Most seem to be post-war reworks with M44 stocks. Probably used enough in the Great Patriotic War to warrant rebuilding.

 

[DMK]

My M38 is also counterbored and every M38 that I have seen recently is counterbored.

I think they just did it as part of the rearsenal checklist whether it needed it or not. Most probably did anyway, these things are well used.

I'd be more worried about bore wear and headspace.

BTW: sactown, you want an accurate little Mosin carbine? Pick up a 91/59 from AIM surplus. These are little tack drivers compared to the M38s and M44s. With the right ammo, my 91/59 can shoot almost as good as my Finn M/39s.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Curio___Relic_Rifles.html

M38 & 91/59 Comparison Pics