Mosin-Nagant M-39 Scout Project

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Cosmoline

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I'm in the process of converting my Sako M-39 into a scout rifle. I'll post pics and results in this thread as it develops. Without the scope, the 1942 rifle gets about 4" groups at 100 meters rested with Wolf 200 grain slugs, but my eyes are failing me so hopefully that will tighten up with the scope.

My mount is one of Darrell's custom mounts. The last time I tried to put a scout scope on a Mosin I used a B-sqaure mount and had terrible results. I could not keep the mount solid no matter how much locktite I used. Darrell's mounts are in a completely different ballpark, though they don't cost much more ($65 including postage). The mount is a VERY impressive piece of solid, milled steel with beautiful brass screws for tightening and adjustment. It sits perfectly inside the existing housing for the tangent sight, and no permanent alteration to the rifle is needed. Darrell advises against using any locktite, and I'm taking him at his word. I should have my intial sighting in and test results by this weekend. Here's a link to Darrell's site, which is currently housed at a forum on Parallax's C&R area.

http://p077.ezboard.com/fparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforumsfrm85
 
Cosmoline,

I'm interested in hearing any feedback and observations on your project along the way. I would especially like to hear about your scope mount when you've had a chance to wring it out.

Steve
 
I spent last night putting the mount on and getting it level with the bore axis. My tools are fairly crude but It seems to be in place. The mount pivots on the existing tangent sight pin, and there's no side-to-side wiggle. You use the front and rear brass screws to level the mount, then insert four side screws to secure it. It seems rock hard even without locktite. I put on a Burris 2x handgun scope and standard height rings. The rifle aims very naturally, and having the image a foot and a half in front of me is a LOT easier to deal with on my eyes. At the same time, I'm able to use the same stance I have always used and it feels just like aiming with the tangent sights.

Should get to the range fairly soon. I'm psyched!
 
The same project would be cheaper and shorter with an M38 or M44 carbine
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That's true, but the M-39 is a superior rifle. I'm planning on using this for my main hunting rifle.

As far as barrel length, it will be a few inches longer than the classic scout rifle. However, both my experience with the 54R and the experiences of the Finnish military lead me to conclude the shorter barrels are far less efficient with the cartridge. Put simply, you can roast s'mores with the muzzle flash off a short Mosin barrel :D
 
I did the exact same thing to a B-Barrel M-39 that I got from WG&A for $130. This was a project gun to start with. The M39 was 100% new, except for a badly broken stock. I replaced the stock with a new one I got off Auction Arms. I put the Darrel's scope mount on it and a Weaver 4X LER scope (making no changes that could not be quickly returned to the original configuration). It is dead nuts accurate and really, really fun to shoot. I can easily get .75" to 1.5" groups at 100 yards with 200 gr soft point Wolf ammo, as long as I do my part. The triger is super-crisp of course. I can post pics later when I get home. Enjoy it, it will be a really fun rifle to practice some nice target shooting at the range.
 
should get a mosin 91/59 instead
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This is just my opinion, I have a 91/59 that is LNIB and I like it a lot, but the furniture, barrel and sights are not on par with an M-39. The M-39 is an amazing rifle that the Soviets/Russians never did match.

Having said that, my 91/59 has the best trigger pull of all my Soviet Mosins. It is as crisp and light as my best M-39 mosins. The stock isn't that great, though, and the sights aren't quite as good as an M-39. The 91/59 is lighter and more handy though, for sure. Maybe for that reason alone it would be a better scout rifle if that is your primary purpose. Good luck finding a 91/59 now-a-days though as the wholesalers haven't had them for some time now.
 
I am looking at a 91/59 for a bear rifle, actually. I was thinking of mounting a red dot on it.

Frankly I love all Mosins.
 
OK, I took the beast to the range yesterday to sight it in. I dialed in and eventually started printing more-or-less where I wanted at 25 yards, then moved back to 100 yards to set the zero. The range was absolutely full, and all the lead thwapping the back stop was kicking up quite a bit of dust. But I managed to get this group of three after making some further adjustments for elevation. It measures just under .7". I was using my usual load of 200 Grain Wolf SP's.

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Spiff was around to witness it. I've got a full size pic of the target, but it's too big to post here.

For those who wonder why I don't just use an M-38 or M-44--this group is why :D
 

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Here's a picture of the M-39 with the scope mount

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The stock is a wooden sporter from Boyds. It saves wear and tear on the original military stock, but I must say the wrist is way too thin and poorly placed for comfortable shooting. I develop finger cramps after about fifty rounds because of the poor ergonomics. The big advantage over a polymer stock is that it's easier to do the inletting for the Finn's larger barrel.

Anyway I'm truly loaded for zombie now. Or zombie bears, for that matter.
 

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Nice Rifle. I'd like to see a whole pic of it.
Nice group too. Mine (M-44 with 16 1/4 barrel) wouldn't come close, more like 5"groups.

Scott
 
Here's a full-length photo with the military stock. I'm leaving it in the attachment to avoid kicking the thread out about five inches to the right.
 

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I'm still looking for one of the stocks with deep tiger stripes. Birch is a really interesting wood for stocks. It's pattern and color really stands out from the usual walnut rifle stocks. It also fits the concept of a northern rifle well. There are tons of birch trees around here, and not a walnut to be found.

According to this article, it's actually stronger than walnut:

http://www.fredsm14stocks.com/faq.asp?ITEM=1
 
Very nice. I'd be tempted to keep that stock, especially since it's not like those Russian straight stocks. looks like a very good grip angle on it.

Scott
 
yep. cosmo's shooting good. even with 70+ degrees, bright sunlight, and oh yeah, showers of brass.
just be glad we werent raining down a thousand pieces of brass on ya outta the sterling sub-gun. :D

btw, if any of you get a chance, send wildalaska an email and ask him how well he shot in his 'friendly competition'.
:evil:
 
Score!! I just found an M-39 dated 1970--the year of my birth. I'm going to swap over my scope and mount to it and put the 1942 M-39 up for sale. It's on the for sale forum if anyone is interested. I just can't pass up the potential luck factor of hunting with a rifle put together in the year I was born.
 
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