Mosin Nagant Problem

[academy]

Hey first time poster, long time lurker, and I was hoping you could help me with a problem. I've got a Mosin-Nagant M44 Carbine, and the magazine tang screw is stuck. I've tried several different methods (elbow grease, impact driver, drill w/ screw bit) but nothing I try seems to be able to loosen it. Gunsmiths in my area charge an arm and a leg, and I'd rather not pay more than the rifle is worth on a problem that's not really a gunsmithing problem. I'd also rather not have to drill the screw out, or cut the stock apart, but if that's what has to happen oh well.

Anyway, that's my problem. I'm hoping someone here has seen this before and managed to get theirs fixed...

 

[inclinebench]

Try heating it a bit. A solder gun would do well to keep the heat from getting everything. Also, Kroil is some pretty amazing penetrating oil.

 

[firesky101]

A can of any penetrating lubricant should help. I would recommend PB blaster. Found at any home improvement or automotive store. Of course if you don't want to deal with it... I could always use another M44 what sweet carbines they are.

 

[italy4nra]

On the Mosin I find that that screw frequently comes loose, and I check it at each range session.
Is this a rifle that you have previously disassembled? Is it possible the prior owner superglued it? How would one loosen an epoxied bolt?

 

[Cosmoline]

I suspect someone epoxied it. Otherwise there's no real way to get it stuck that hard.

Also make sure your screwdriver head is fitting the slot properly, of course.

 

[italy4nra]

Sorry if we are barking up the wrong tree here, but if it is epoxied, it seems a soldering iron will heat it up and weaken the epoxy allowing you to unscrew the bolt.
Another thing to consider if that if it epoxied, that someone overtightened it, stripped the bolt and then used epoxy to fix it.
Have you tried tightening it a tenth of a turn or do, and then backing it out. Sometimes that will break the grip.

 

[BCRider]

Sometimes shocking the threads will aid in snapping loose. Have someone hold the upper area of the receiver against the end grain of a big lump of wood as an "anvil". Get the correct fitting screw driver bit or full screwdriver to fit the screw. Place it and give the end of the bit a few good raps with a hammer. About the sort of raps you'd use to drive a 2 inch nail into wood with 4 or so blows. They try turning it out.

Keep in mind you want the screwdriver to fit very closely to the sizeing of the slot for both width and thickness. If this means going out and buying an oversize screwdriver and carefully grinding the end to fit then do so.

 

[moon928]

Without knowing the rifles history my guess would be someone applied locktite to that screw at some point. Heat will soften it enough to allow removal. Even if its not cemented the heat will help, get it super hot and use your impact driver again. You really don't want to soak all that oil into the stock. Good Luck

 

[Onmilo]

A Micro torch fine flame applied directly to the threaded portion of the bolt should break it free.
Cook it until it begins smoking pretty good then let it cool a bit.
The heat expansion and then cooling back to size should allow you to break the bolt free as well as cooking off any epoxy or glue agents.

Do so in a well ventilated area. HTH

 

[BCRider]

Onmilo, that won't work as the threaded portion is deep inside the stock. And the screw is a good inch or a little more long.

 

[Pat4x4]

Got to ask, Is it still under warranty? lol Just joking

 

[cforsell]

Wife helped with stuck.... no,let me rephrase that...

I have several MN's and love em... One came with screw stuck as you describe. Resolved by putting presure on screwdriver while lovely assistant (wife) tapped head of screwdriver with light hammer. 3 minutes and all was well. Emphasise "TAPPED".