Mosin Express Rifle

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Thunder Chief

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So, I read Peter Capstick's "Death in the Long Grass" a few months ago and I loved the idea of the express rifles that he uses, with the handy length and the fast acquiring sights. Problem is, I'm cheap (among other things). I've got a Mosin and really do enjoy shooting it (the cheap surplus ammo is a plus, too). So, to enable me to run the same ammo, I want to build a Mosin express rifle. Realistically, how short could I make this thing to get the best handling in heavy, dense vegetation? For instance, could I cut the barrel to 16ish inches and still take down a pig at respectable ranges? I'm not, as of now, a hunter, so please excuse my ignorance on that particular front. Thanks.
 
I've got a Mosin M38 carbine with a 20 inch barrel. That thing has enough recoil and blast (mainly recoil) to make you want to stop shooting after about 3 rounds, and actually stop after 5. Just keep in mind, recoil will be fierce. Get a nice recoil pad.
 
A short carbine style rifle for fast handling is doable without much problem.

The shorter barrel will creat more muzzle blast, and you will loose a little velocity, but the energy level should still be plenty to take deer and hog.

A red dot sight mounted where the present rear sight sits would make for fast acquistion on target.

Sounds like a good project to me.
 
Cool. Thanks.
On the topic of sights, I wanted to do an express style V rear sight, where instead of just a notch, the rear sight has a nice wide V carved into it. Not for super precision work, but good for relatively short distances. I was going to do an unhooded blade sight with a white dot in the front, or something like that.
 
XS Sight Systems makes great sights for a "brush gun", which sounds more or less like what you're going for here. I first encountered them on a Marlin 1895SBL and it was love at first sight. I cried a little on the inside at the tacti-rail mounted on top, but that's neither here nor there. The handgun sights they make are also top notch, but YMMV.

Back on topic, with a stubby Mosin as stated above, be prepared for fireballs and sore shoulders. The red dot isn't a bad idea either, you can see one in action here: YouTube Link

I don't much like the guy, but it's certainly an interesting looking Mosin.
 
Express rifles are "handy length" because they are double barrels with no bolt or magazine to add length.
A traditional bolt action safari rifle did not have a particularly short barrel, some were quite long by modern standards. I'd start at 24 inches and not cut it any shorter unless I found myself getting hung up in the woods a lot.
 
shotgunjoel said:
I've got a Mosin M38 carbine with a 20 inch barrel. That thing has enough recoil and blast (mainly recoil) to make you want to stop shooting after about 3 rounds, and actually stop after 5. Just keep in mind, recoil will be fierce. Get a nice recoil pad.
Click to expand...
I have a word for you:

Reload

You don't have to fire a full military load meant to take out Nazi's at 2000 meters to punch hole in paper at 100 yards.
 
By the time you spend the money on shortening the barrel properly and have to deal with muzzle blast and recoil, you are a lot better off to get a marlin 336 y or w and put on a slip on recoil pad.
 
Capstick was an interesting character (Stock broker turned author and game warden). And, he had good taste in guns.

The double barreled express rifles are works of art that happen to be useful. With double triggers, they can get off two shots faster than any other action. Given the circumstances in which they were designed to be used (Cape Buffalo at 10 yards and closing fast at 12 o'clock) they had to be in order for the gun makers to generate repeat business. Given how fast I am at cycling the bolt on a Mosin, it is effectively a single shot that can be conveniently reloaded.

Shortening the barrel will not hurt very much for hunting--shot placement and bullet design are far more important. To get an idea of the effect, figure that you will loose about 25 fps for every inch that is lopped off the end. The longer barrel on a military rifle of that vintage provides balance (for me, the most important characteristic of a gun meant to be used in a physically demanding situation), provides a longer sight radius (to help with accuracy with iron sights), and makes it a more effective spear when the bayonet is attached.

Come to think of it, ever consider fixing bayonet and hunting hogs up close and personal with a Mosin? I do not think it would be boaring at all.
 
Ive got mine cut back to 23ish, I never measured it, just cut till i hit a spot that didnt leave pits at the muzzle. Its not horrible in recoil or blast, and i use a pretty healthy dose of slow powder. Handling is improved, and the gun weights quite a bit less.
With the action slicked out and the bolt handle turned down, its possible to work the bolt from the shoulder, but even with my longish arms its not exactly natural LOL.
 
my BIL has one of these. it's an interesting rifle as is.

if'n yoo wanna bubba 'er up a bit... cut the barrel to 16.5" and mount it in a fiberglass ramline.

the first shot will make you wonder if this was a good idea.
the second shot will convince you it wasn't.
the third shot will make you want to quit...

AND

the fourth shot will make you realize 'death in the long grass' may be due, in this case, to the brush fire you've started with your new flamethrower. :what:

Even in 26" barrels, these things spit fire.
 
I've got a nice Santa Fe Model of 1944 with a ramp front sight base and flip up dovetail that fits your criteria in everything except being a 7.62x54R Mosin...

imgp3478s1copy.jpg


..and I'll part with it for $150...PM me if interested.
 
Come to think of it, ever consider fixing bayonet and hunting hogs up close and personal with a Mosin? I do not think it would be boaring at all.
Click to expand...
Haha, I see what you did there.

@mgkdrgn, I do not yet reload, but when I do start, I know that my M38 and L-E No.5 Mk1 will both see more use than they do now.
 
If you buy or make a Mosin Nagant carbine, you are going to want to install an aftermarket wood sporter stock. Forget where I saw them for sale.
You are also going to want a Limbsaver recoil pad fitted to it.
My Marlin 444P Outfitter is less unpleasant to shoot than my M44 Nagant was.
That's because of the factory ventilated recoil pad.
With a Limbsaver, it may even be pleasant to shoot.

I don't know why Santa Fe removed the factory #4 rear sight. It would give a longer sight radius (good).
The ghost ring "battle sight" aperture is better than any open rear sight for "up close, quick and dirty shooting" (good)
The adjustable micrometer sight aperture, if so equipped, is a better long range sight than any open rear sight. (good)

I had a chance to buy a Santa Fe sporterized #4 with a bent barrel for $150.00.
I didn't need to shoot deer around corners, so I passed.
Maybe I should have bought it and straightened the barrel or have it rebarreled with a new barrel.
 
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Other than recoil, though, is it not a terrible idea?
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Not necessarily.

But nobody ever accused a Mossy of having a slick & fast enough bolt to be called an express rifles.

The real dangerous game rifles have bolts so slick you would think they are riding on ball bearings.

rc
 
By the time you spend the money on shortening the barrel properly and have to deal with muzzle blast and recoil, you are a lot better off to get a marlin 336 y or w and put on a slip on recoil pad.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know, but it is more fun to talk about these Weird Internet Projects as though they made good sense and the OP had unlimited funds and enthusiasm.
 
Well, the point is that it shouldn't take unlimited funds. Although it would be nice if I had it. I could buy all sorts of things I don't need...I mean more than I do now.

The action on the Mosin I've got (which will not be getting cut up) is really very nice as far as Mosins go. And regarding the fireball, I'm counting on that to cook the pig after I've shot it, so I can just eat it on the spot.:evil: Sound like a plan?
 
I've said that my M44, with 203gr SP's and bayonet fixed, would make a nice brush gun for feral swine. Handy and powerful, and with the "pig-sticker" out i'd be less concerned about one getting too close before i can draw a bead...lol

1. Poke pig
2. Pull trigger

:D
 
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