Mosin Nagant M44 Rimlock Problem

[AethelstanAegen]

Yes, I know. Rimlock is supposed to be a myth in a properly running Mosin-Nagant, unfortunately my M44 seems to be having some problems.

I'm getting rimlock when chambering the first round or five (ie 4 in the magazine below). It's bad enough where I have to unload the rifle completely because the bolt will not move no matter how much force is used. Before I get any comments about how it must be hit harder, etc. I'm familiar with the clunky nature of MNs. My 91/30 runs quite well these days.

I've tracked the problem down to the magazine floorplate/spring/follower assembly. When I swap out the floorplate/spring/follower with the same from my M91/30, the M44 runs smoothly and then the M91/30 will have rimlock issues. For the life of me though I can't see a difference between the two assemblies. The fact that changing the floorplate fixes the problem leads me to believe it's not the interrupters fault.

Has anyone had a similar problem? I'm thinking maybe the magazine follower spring is to powerful and is jamming round past the interrupter or something? I thought about trying to weaken the spring but I wasn't sure how to go about doing that and was worried about damaging the part for good. I'm very open to any suggestions anyone might have. Many thanks!

 

[Shadow 7D]

Your interrupter isn't working, look down in the mag well, the interrupter should allow 1 round to pop up UNDER the closing bolt, there is two parts of it, one that rides a notch in the bolt on the left side, and down lower it has a leg, this keeps the next round from being able to lock top round. You need to pull it out of the stock and figure out why it isn't working. The spring strength shouldn't matter, the leg is what hold the mag round down.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

But that's the weird thing. It does seem to be working quite well when the floorplates are changed out. If the interrupter wasn't working, you'd think it would not work no matter what other parts you changed out. It seems to work just peachy for every round after the first as well, so I don't understand why the interrupter would fail for only the first round.

I took the actions out of both rifles and compared them when I could see the interrupter in action and it appeared to be doing the same thing on both rifles. Maybe I need to bend it closer in to increase the interrupter strength so the follower doesn't overpower it? But then I still don't understand why the performance difference when the floorplate assemblies are swapped.

 

[Shadow 7D]

How wide is the mag BODY, maybe if the body is wide it' lets the round past the interrupter, that would explain it, in kinda. I'd drop the base and use my finger to see if I could get it to malfunction. Also, see how springy it is, something is different with the mag if it happens on both rifles, you just have to find out what it is.

 

[caribou]

Wood from your stock may be interrupting your interrupter. The interupter basicly hold the cartridge above the lower one so the rim is clear to go into the chamber, and wood or cosmo and dirt can make the interupter slow or 'sticky' and stuck.
Check your stock, and your lifter springs on the follower, or even the spring on the interuptor

 

[kingcheese]

I some times have that problem, i can usually get around it by slowly working the bolt on the first round, but i only have the problem when using a stripper clip, if i thumb load it works fine

 

[AethelstanAegen]

I'd drop the base and use my finger to see if I could get it to malfunction.

That's a great idea. I'll poke around at it and let you guys know what happens. I did find an interrupter in my spare parts pin, so I'll also playu around with changing the extractor to see it that helps.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

Swapping out the interrupter had no effect on the problem. The follower on the M44 seems to tilt down towards the bore, the follower on the functioning M91/30 seems more level. could that be part of the problem? It's the only thing I've been able to see any difference between the two. I'm pretty stumped here.

 

[Sergei Mosin]

You could load with the rims aligned so that rimlock can't happen regardless of what the gun is doing. But it sounds like it's the floorplate/follower assembly that's causing the problem, as one of them seems to be working in both rifles but the other is not. If the follower is tilting down toward the front, the round is probably following it and nose-diving into the feed ramp. Load a round into the magazine with the suspected bad follower and try to chamber it slowly, watching the round as it goes forward, and I bet that's what you'll see.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

Sergei Mosin, it does naturally feed well when the rims are aligned and it's not a huge problem, but I wish I could get it working like my other rifle where I don't have to worry about the rims.

I tried slowly inserting a round and it fed fine and does for every round in the magazine except the first round when five are loaded. I think I may have overestimated the tilt on the follower because I didn't think about the slanted magazine bottom, it is though still more forward tilting than my M91/30.

I'm really stumped. I tried changing out the interrupter but that didn't seem to make a difference. Swapping the floorplate/follower assembly does correct the problem. Anyone know a good source for Mosin-Nagant parts? Maybe I should just try to get a whole new assembly and hope for the best.

 

[Clipper]

You just need a new magazine spring. The spring is what determines the follower angle. You may be able to bend the top of the spring to the proper angle, but it likely won't last. E-bay will have plenty for sale.

 

[caribou]

I agree, its not a 'rimlock' problem at all, but a follower lifter spring that has lost its spring, broke it or its relaxed.

The is no machanical way the Mosin can 'rimlock' with a working interupter, the follower is not in the works when the round is held independently from the rounds below. A mis-angeld round can find itsself forced up, obviously.

 

[Shadow 7D]

AH, I could see that, the end of the lower round could be kicked enough to engage the round held by the interrupter, and it wouldn't matter if you loaded them rim infront of rim, as the angle is pushing the lower rim forward. HUM, how to fix it? You can buy a new mag well for about $10 +sh.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

If the follower isn't functioning right, as you spoke of here:

Swapping out the interrupter had no effect on the problem. The follower on the M44 seems to tilt down towards the bore, the follower on the functioning M91/30 seems more level. could that be part of the problem? It's the only thing I've been able to see any difference between the two. I'm pretty stumped here.

With inadequate spring-pressure on the top leaf, it won't prevent rim-lock, or it'll nose-dive the round into the business end of the action. Get a new follower assembly.

 

[AethelstanAegen]

Yeah that's pretty much what I've concluded. Once I find the cheapest source, I'll go ahead and get a new assembly.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Do a search for Mark Kubes/buy milsurp parts.com/

 

[AethelstanAegen]

Sound advice, MosinFreak. I see he has the whole assembly for $18. Perfect.

 

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

I've gone to him before on a much smaller needed object (rear barrel band retainer, the thing you push down to pull the bands off), he was good for a check payment, because that was the first I've ever heard of him. Cost me like ten bucks after everything and had it a couple days later. That's when I was restoring my Mosin.


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