Folks,
The fact remains that the Finnish M39 is considered one of the best, if not
the best, bolt action of WWII.
You see, the Mosin-Nagant was set up to be hand-fitted much like a 1911. The Soviets took this to the other extreme: Most of their Mosins were mix masters.
My Izhevsk has a lot of Tula parts, including the ejector, interrupter, and bolt head.
What fitting there was done, was done for another rifle.
So, after studying the Finnish stuff, I got going.
About a year ago I was looking into sights. Figured that improving the 91/30 sights were the best bet, not retrofitting the M91 or M39 sights.
And, a business was accidentally born -- Smith-Sights LLC. I still have the original prototype on my favorite Mosin, and it's still going strong!
Got to studying the Finnish two-stage trigger. Well, I don't really need a two-stage though I might have to make up a two-stage roller trigger. As is, I reduce the trigger pull to about 5.5 lbs with proper sear manipulation and by putting a single
rolling pin in one certain spot.
The trigger pull length is also reduced by about half. I've had it break very crisply in the past -- on par with a modern rifle -- but it raised the pull weight back up to about 8 pounds. I didn't like that!
Accuracy is improved with shimming. With a shimmed action and a floated barrel with 5lb pressure point up front, my Mosin will shoot around an inch with handloads at 100 yards, RESTED. I cannot do better than about 2.5" at that same range, with just a front rest.
Long military chambers usually benefit from handloads. Fireform the cases and the long chambers don't matter!
The magazine should have no problem feeding. Rimlock should not occur regardless of how the rims are stacked. Make sure your rounds are not nosing up if you're experiencing rimlock; that follower spring
must be fitted or you'll have problems.
Likewise, the ejector assembly, when fit correctly, should allow you to load the rounds into the magazine from a stripper clip/charger about as easily one would with a Gewehr 88 or Mauser action of any sort.
The Finns made a special magazine to further help eliminate rimlock, and they're readily available for under $20.
The bolts, if still sticky after removing the cosmoline, are subject to improper fitting of the camming surfaces on the bolt knob. You know how most get stuck about halfway up? That's the same place a certain index on said knob must be overcome. During wartime production this index was not well fitted and one can observe, in documentaries of Russian troops, some pulling the bolt knobs back before cycling the bolt!
After figuring these things out, my 91/30 has become my favorite all-around rifle. Its tolerances will take mud but the bolt works slicker than snot, the trigger is rugged and feels
great, and the rifle is accurate as all get out!
Total time to make it like this? Maybe, added all up and throwing experimentation time out, one day.
Remember, these were made during a time when everything was fitted. How would a 1911 work, if it weren't hand-fitted? Heck, even in these days of MIM the 1911 is about 50/50 whether it will work without hand fitting. Some famous manufacturers of the 1911 have been finding this out...
And hand fitting the Mosin-Nagant really just isn't hard, either. It's just time the Russians couldn't take. The Finns could as they weren't arming a HUGE army, and this is why their methods are best followed today.
Now, if you've made it this far, chances are you want to know what all I did.
I'll put my full information here, and write me if you would like to be guided through the process.
Regards,
Josh Smith
Smith-Sights LLC
www.smith-sights.com
[email protected]
Again, write me if you would like to know what steps I've taken. I would post it here but it will be rather exhaustive, I think. Best to keep it to email. Regards, J.S.
