Just got back from testing some handloads now that I can find .311 bullets again. 150gr Sierra's in front or 50gr of R15. 10 shots at 100 yds, iron sights on a MR52 target. Scored 97 5x and I called the 3 9's. That translates into a group size of 5". Two shots high one low killed a decent 2.25 group. For $89 and a little tuning these rifles are a blast. (bought mine several years ago)
Mosin Accuracy
- Thread starter ford8nr
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My PU has done a couple loads (one commercial & one surplus) under 2 inches at 100 yards, the lightly sportered one (swapped into a Boyds wood stock) has put three holes under one inch at 100 yards, iron sights.
Fully sportered one (Boyds stock, 22-inch barrel, modern scope) has also put three under an inch at 100 yards.
It's variable, but some can shoot quite well.
I need to start working on handloads.
Denis
Fully sportered one (Boyds stock, 22-inch barrel, modern scope) has also put three under an inch at 100 yards.
It's variable, but some can shoot quite well.
I need to start working on handloads.
Denis
carbine85
Member
I started reloading for mine 2 years back. There certainly is a big difference between reloads and the surplus stuff.
I found some surplus match ammo at Wideners that shoots real good. The Russian 175 gr bullet is longer than the SMK 175. Must be something to it.
I found some surplus match ammo at Wideners that shoots real good. The Russian 175 gr bullet is longer than the SMK 175. Must be something to it.
OpticsPlanet
Member
I've seen many people claim the Finnish M39 to be the most accurate Mosin.
Tim G.
Tim G.
herrwalther
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Using bulk surplus ammo on a Mosin I didn't need to touch the sights for, I fired the first 5 rounds out of my '43 Mosin into an 8" plate at 100 yards from a backpack on a bench. Plan on adding a stock, scout scope, and some handloads to narrow that accuracy down quite a bit.
offthepaper
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I have 6 Finn M39's.
All are shooters, they are my favorite Milsurp Bolt actions.
2 of them can challenge my K31's.
Love the M39.
22250Rem
Member
Hey; I've got some of those .311" 150 gr. Sierras and some RL-15. Haven't tried either in the Mosin yet but I'll put it on my loads to try list. Haven't been playing with the 7.62x54R that much yet but I'm workin on it. My first Mosin load used .308" bullets and Varget just to see how it would shoot, (I've got a ton of .308" 150 gr FMJ's) but the accuracy wasn't all that great (which I kind of expected but I just had to try it to be sure). My next step is to the .311" stuff; also have Sierra 180 gr. Pro-Hunters I'm gonna try with something like Varget or RL-15 or IMR-4064.
carbine85
Member
IMHO reloading for these rifles with lighter bullets is a waste of time. The heavier bullets always worked better for me. Powders like Varget, IMR4064, and IMR4895 work well with 4895 being the best.
Work on the front sight post. The sight post covers about 4" of the target @100 yards and half of them look like they are cut-off with wire cutters.
Work on the front sight post. The sight post covers about 4" of the target @100 yards and half of them look like they are cut-off with wire cutters.
caribou
Member
Among the Mosins Ive used and shot, the M-39 was the best. Best feel, balance, accuracy and the grip is better that a straight stock to me.
The end results were always great after some tweeking/adjusting, second to none.
All it could really use would be a butt trap for a cleaning kit and thats about it.
The end results were always great after some tweeking/adjusting, second to none.
All it could really use would be a butt trap for a cleaning kit and thats about it.
W L Johnson
Member
One thing to pay attention for with the Finnish Mosins is that many have 308 barrels instead of the usual 311
Palehorseman
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- 736
Not many, some of certain models like the M28 and M28/30 (but not all) have .308 barrels.
caribou
Member
SAKO made the Finnish Civil Guards rifles, the M-28, M-28/30 and the M-39's as well. Valmet made the Finnish armys M-27 and M-39, with Tikka making the barrels for the Army, among other barrel made and bought outside of Finland.
They took the time to put together high quality tight grouping rifles.
Near every Mosin in their inventory was tested and rebuilt untill it was accurate enough to pass, or it was parted out at the factory, the parts sorted, brought into spec or discarded, the good parts being used to build new rifles.
M28 and M28/30 barrels are found in .308 bore, as they are chambered for the shorter 7.62x53r, and when the Finns adopted the longer "D" bullet, a 200 grain spire over the previous 150 grain projectile, they marked the chambers they reamed for the longer 'D' bullet with a "D" stamp on the barrel. This, incidentally, allowed easy use of the 7.62X54r, and all the Russian ammo they could capture.
The 'D" spec 7.62x53r lets the throat except and swag the 54r'sbullet a bit, and the Finns had no problems using 7.62X54r in "D" marked M-28's or M-28/30's.
If you have an M-28 or 28/30 with out the D bullet modification, closing the bolt on a 7.62x54r cartridge pretty tough.
They took the time to put together high quality tight grouping rifles.
Near every Mosin in their inventory was tested and rebuilt untill it was accurate enough to pass, or it was parted out at the factory, the parts sorted, brought into spec or discarded, the good parts being used to build new rifles.
M28 and M28/30 barrels are found in .308 bore, as they are chambered for the shorter 7.62x53r, and when the Finns adopted the longer "D" bullet, a 200 grain spire over the previous 150 grain projectile, they marked the chambers they reamed for the longer 'D' bullet with a "D" stamp on the barrel. This, incidentally, allowed easy use of the 7.62X54r, and all the Russian ammo they could capture.
The 'D" spec 7.62x53r lets the throat except and swag the 54r'sbullet a bit, and the Finns had no problems using 7.62X54r in "D" marked M-28's or M-28/30's.
If you have an M-28 or 28/30 with out the D bullet modification, closing the bolt on a 7.62x54r cartridge pretty tough.
I actually found a looong reloading article on the WEB for the 54R and some of the 150gr loads shot just over 1/2 MOA out of his scoped test rifle. The 150's I loaded are well below max load but are softer shooting for 50rd vintage matches.
Surly
Member
The best shooting Mosin I have ever had is my Izhevsk wartime production arsenal refurb that I got from Cabelas for less than $140 otd. It shoots so well because I had it threaded for a suppressor. It out-shoots any of the Finns that I have owned and really shines with my subsonic loads.
bangswitch
Member
I've only ever shot milsurp and cheap off-the-shelf ammo through my 91/30. Knocking the heart out of the X-ring will never happen with mine, regardless of the range (past 100 yards, anyway) but it will do "minute of torso" all day long, which I suppose was within its design parameters. I mainly bought mine (a 1932 Tula hex) to make me appreciate my other guns more, and as an addition to what I hope will one day be a complete US service rifle collection, from then to now. Plus it was cheap.
caribou
Member
Rondog, if you have the Tikka marked barrel, a Triangled T in a circle, then its likely '.3095'
If its still a Soviet barrel, its likely .311, same for carbines and original M-91's, taken anad used 'as is' by Finland
M-39's were made with .310
Finnish M-24's, rebuilt M-91's M-28's, M-27's had .3095, The M-28/30's had true .308
If its still a Soviet barrel, its likely .311, same for carbines and original M-91's, taken anad used 'as is' by Finland
M-39's were made with .310
Finnish M-24's, rebuilt M-91's M-28's, M-27's had .3095, The M-28/30's had true .308
Garak
Member
My friend had a captured 1915 Westinghouse Mosin rifle some years ago, it had lousy accuracy but was probably just worn out from heavy use. I bet the weapon would've had stories to tell. Unfortunately my friend loaned the gun to some drunk idiot, the cops confiscated the rifle, and most likely it ended as scrap metal.
M39s with quality rounds tend to be pretty precise. Many of the guns were refurbished and stored after the war, and don't have the battlefield wear and tear so common in those taken from the field.
M39s with quality rounds tend to be pretty precise. Many of the guns were refurbished and stored after the war, and don't have the battlefield wear and tear so common in those taken from the field.
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