What are some good tips to get some extra mileage out of my Mosin? I'm wanting to turn it into a hunting rifle, so I was thinking of mounting a scope on there. Would a scout scope be the best option? Beyond that, I don't have any other ideas, so chime in. Also, I am by no means a gunsmith, so the simpler the better. I also would prefer not to spend gobs of money on a $50 rifle.
How to accurize a Mosin (For Beginners)
- Thread starter lpsharp88
- Start date
- Status
I almost went down the road to make a brush gun from a Mosin, but eventually decided against it. It just didn't add up for me.
Increased accuracy could come from bedding the barrel and/or action, the cork trick, recrowning, trigger job, trying different ammo, maybe a new barrel if you can find one.
Most Mosins are 3-5MOA rifles out of the box which is good enough for hunting deer within 150 yards or so. A trigger job, solid mount, good scope, and the right ammo, you may could get that down to 1-2.5 MOA. The scout mounts that attach to the 11mm rail under the rear sight would be one way to go, but a good scout scope costs more. The DIY drill and tap mounts that screw into the receiver would be another fairly solid way to go, but you would probably want to take it to a smith. This would allow you to use a less expensive optic though.
Basically, I realized that I could build a hunting mosin, but I would spend less money and probably have better accuracy by getting a used 30-30 Marlin.
I'm not trying to dissuade you from tinkering with your gun at all. It's just that I didn't want the headache of trying to make a gun when used Marlins are all over the place that can do the same job for the same or less overall cost. If you want to turn your rifle into a scoped hunter, have at it. I'm sure it will be fun for you.
Increased accuracy could come from bedding the barrel and/or action, the cork trick, recrowning, trigger job, trying different ammo, maybe a new barrel if you can find one.
Most Mosins are 3-5MOA rifles out of the box which is good enough for hunting deer within 150 yards or so. A trigger job, solid mount, good scope, and the right ammo, you may could get that down to 1-2.5 MOA. The scout mounts that attach to the 11mm rail under the rear sight would be one way to go, but a good scout scope costs more. The DIY drill and tap mounts that screw into the receiver would be another fairly solid way to go, but you would probably want to take it to a smith. This would allow you to use a less expensive optic though.
Basically, I realized that I could build a hunting mosin, but I would spend less money and probably have better accuracy by getting a used 30-30 Marlin.
I'm not trying to dissuade you from tinkering with your gun at all. It's just that I didn't want the headache of trying to make a gun when used Marlins are all over the place that can do the same job for the same or less overall cost. If you want to turn your rifle into a scoped hunter, have at it. I'm sure it will be fun for you.
Jackal
Member
As a project its fun, but when you get done and add up all the receipts, you could get a good used Savage.
PGT
Member
selling it and buy a K31 Swiss would be cheaper.
The best place to start is to load your own ammo and find the load that your rifle likes the best. That will get you the quickest and largest accuracy improvements. Bedding does surprisingly little on most decent rifles (see the article in Precision Shooting on damaged bedding). You will want to free-float the barrel if you can (sorry I don't know much about the Mosin's specifically). Also you might put a new crown on the barrel and lap the barrel.
Accuracy is mostly about ammo and the barrel. Triggers and scopes only help *you* shoot it better.
Accuracy is mostly about ammo and the barrel. Triggers and scopes only help *you* shoot it better.
Steel Horse Rider
Member
If you use the "Search" button at the top of the page you should be able to find the Mosin thread from last summer about basic things you can do to make your Mosin a better shooter. There was a lot of good information on that thread. Probably the best thing you can do is just shoot it a lot so you are comfortable with the sights, the trigger, and the recoil. I found that using the sling around my left arm while shooting (from the standing or kneeling position) greatly increased the perceived accuracy of my Mosin's. This is not "aimed" towards you since I know nothing of your habits, but in my experience many people want to "buy" their shooting accuracy instead of practicing their way to it.
Clark
Member
I can make videos about how to work on Mosin Nagants
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPn8IdNJ_SE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcgKd0JDo5E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5CR5Ayzp7o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOjYro4w0Bc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEyS9Q_u10I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSmvBGYFUK4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAgm2uor8Yw
But after I have gone over board and sporterized a lot of Mosin Nagants, I will cut to the chase:
1) Get an ATI scope mount [no need for custom or Rock solid] $25
Drill and tap the receiver.
2) Get a bolt handle that has been TIG welded $60
3) For the trigger, either bend the sear or buy a Timney. Do not buy the rip off Huber trigger, do no shim the sear like I showed in 2003 on THR. Do not do a 2 stage trigger like shown in many popular posts and videos.
4) Pillar bedding and glass bedding will not hurt if done right, but it is a low priority. Do not buy tupper wear injection molded stocks. They add weight an inaccuracy.
5) Either buy a rifle with no visible effects of corrosive ammo, or rebarrel. Do not buy VZ59 machine gun barrels. They will likely not clock. Consider Shilen select match barrel blanks. The extractor relief cut makes this a project that needs not just a lathe, but a milling machine. Consider Mausers, Rem700s, or Sav 110s instead. They just need a lathe.
6) Use no military ammo or components...ever. Use Lapua brass and Sierra .311" bullets 2315 or 2310.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPn8IdNJ_SE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcgKd0JDo5E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5CR5Ayzp7o
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOjYro4w0Bc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEyS9Q_u10I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSmvBGYFUK4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAgm2uor8Yw
But after I have gone over board and sporterized a lot of Mosin Nagants, I will cut to the chase:
1) Get an ATI scope mount [no need for custom or Rock solid] $25
Drill and tap the receiver.
2) Get a bolt handle that has been TIG welded $60
3) For the trigger, either bend the sear or buy a Timney. Do not buy the rip off Huber trigger, do no shim the sear like I showed in 2003 on THR. Do not do a 2 stage trigger like shown in many popular posts and videos.
4) Pillar bedding and glass bedding will not hurt if done right, but it is a low priority. Do not buy tupper wear injection molded stocks. They add weight an inaccuracy.
5) Either buy a rifle with no visible effects of corrosive ammo, or rebarrel. Do not buy VZ59 machine gun barrels. They will likely not clock. Consider Shilen select match barrel blanks. The extractor relief cut makes this a project that needs not just a lathe, but a milling machine. Consider Mausers, Rem700s, or Sav 110s instead. They just need a lathe.
6) Use no military ammo or components...ever. Use Lapua brass and Sierra .311" bullets 2315 or 2310.
bainter1212
Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2012
- Messages
- 1,175
Good info. I would only add that not all Mosin bores slug out to .311. Better to measure yours yourself.
- Status
