My new nagant 91/30 scout project

[ryank93]

I bought this 91/30 at big 5. I wanted a cheap gun to tinker with. I decided I would practice my gunsmithing skills. I bought my first gun a year ago and have been on the gun buying war path since. Anyways, here is the stats

Gun: $90 big 5 black friday sale
Ati stock: $35 ebay
Scope mount: $20 ebay
Bent bolt: $5 home jobby
Winchester bipod: $40 walmart
Limbsaver sharpshooter x-ring: $12 bimart
Butt round holder: Free , friend found it
Vortex 6-24 x 50 scope: $120 SWFA awesome deal

$202 without the scope

I spent alot of time inside my action/reciever finding burs and tuning the action to run smoothly and I sanded the barrel down to bare metal (looks sweet) and I cut and recrowned my own barrel down to 20 inches. I cut and grinded the sights off. I also did the pop can tab trigger mod ( pretty impressed with the trigger weight difference considering how cheap and easy it is). Tommorow will be my first day shooting since the mods. The only thing I am considering now is possibly floating the barrel or bedding it. Maybe going 18" barrel and getting a pro crown job. We will see tommorow how tight we are. Any suggestions on the floating/bedding?

If I can provide any help to how I did any of my mods, just ask...

 

[merlinfire]

looks nice! but i know someone is gonna complain about the scope not being foward-mounted since its a scout project.

 

[WeedWacker]

Just one question. How's the eye relief on that thing? Not gonna put-cher eye out, are ya? I'd almost think the scope was too far back even for traditional mount let alone a "scout" set up. Other than that, looks OK (Nothing I'd ever do to my mosins, but to each his own. me = MN purist ). The only thing left to be seen is how it shoots.

 

[Moose458]

Its a nice set-up for a rifle, but a scout rifle has a long eye relief scope mounted up front.

 

[ryank93]

Oh okay, so is it more like a sniper? Or how would you classifie it?

 

[ryank93]

Ya, im looking at other peoples scope set ups and i may be 1/2"-1" to close. I think my refief should be 3-4" . Its snowing today more time to adjust my scope...boo

 

[Smokey Joe]

Good scouts...

Moose 458--Niiiice scout, there! Pretty. What Mauser did that start out as?

Ryan K 93--I agree with Moose: What you have made is NOT a scout. (According to the general specs laid down by Col. Cooper.) Now, that doesn't make it any less a nice rifle, mind you. FWIW, I think your creation looks great. And I go with Weed Whacker--That 'scope has about 1 1/2 inches further forward it could be moved, and it should be--UNLESS you are the type that holds their head far back on the stock when shooting. For me, that 'scope as you have it, would be adding regularly to the scar tissue in my right eyebrow.

Both of you: Let's see some targets. How do those creations shoot??

 

[jonnyc]

Lots easier to just put a bolt-on mount and pistol scope on an M38.
What's the thing on the barrel just forward of the stock?

 

[jpwilly]

Oh okay, so is it more like a sniper? Or how would you classifie it?

BUBBA, Like mine!...Hillbilly gunsmithing at it's finest:

 

[Smokey Joe]

My scout...

Pix of my Mauser Yugo M-48 "Pseudo-Scout."

A rifle loading will be noted on the target shown. Please note that this load is NOT RECOMMENDED for use in your rifle. Please develop your own load. Kilt a deer with this rifle this past season. Those Accubonds work great.

 

[ryank93]

Took the rifle out today, you were right....scope almost broke my nose first shot. Moved it forard. Anyways, I think the gun shoots better then me. I was shooting prone with the bipod and I kept having the first 2 shots be touching and then my third shot would be 2 inches off.

 

[tyeo098]

You better put some polyurethane or something on that barrel, and FAST.

Otherwise you'll have a nice powder-red coat next time you see it D:

 

[WeedWacker]

I'd classify it as a high power sporting rifle. It's no battle rifle or basic surplus now. How's the bore look on it? Shiny or does it have more pits than Tommy Lee Jones' face?

 

[Moose458]

Moose 458--Niiiice scout, there! Pretty. What Mauser did that start out as?

Ryan K 93--I agree with Moose: What you have made is NOT a scout. (According to the general specs laid down by Col. Cooper.) Now, that doesn't make it any less a nice rifle, mind you. FWIW, I think your creation looks great. And I go with Weed Whacker--That 'scope has about 1 1/2 inches further forward it could be moved, and it should be--UNLESS you are the type that holds their head far back on the stock when shooting. For me, that 'scope as you have it, would be adding regularly to the scar tissue in my right eyebrow.

Both of you: Let's see some targets. How do those creations shoot??

This scout started life as a German K98 made in 1943 and was in excellent condition and still has all the Nazi proofs stamped on it. Maybe I shouldn't have Bubba'd it, but it turned out nice and it IS a tack driver.

 

[USAF_Vet]

jpwilly, how do you like the muzzle brake on the end of your MN? I put one on my M-44, three shots later it went flying off the end in a twisted heap.

 

[jpwilly]

jpwilly, how do you like the muzzle brake on the end of your MN? I put one on my M-44, three shots later it went flying off the end in a twisted heap.

This is an AK-74 style brake that is threaded on the barrel. I like it recoil wise but man is it loud!

 

[ryank93]

I decided i will freefloat my barrel and get a pro cut and crown. I have so much time into this thing already i should take it all the way. Do you guys see any reason i should not float it?

 

[SniperStraz]

Hi ryank93!
Nice rifle! How did you bend the bolt?
I'm interested in bending one myself.
Thanks!

 

[sayak]

Look on eBay. There is a guy who does a great job when you send him your bolt.

 

[JGPena]

here's what I did to one of my Swiss K31s. Just needs sling. Works great shoots great.
Planning on starting reloading and make this my hog rifle.
Seeing these pics makes me want to cut the forestock and free float the barrel!

 

[ryank93]

bent bolt, ya there is lots of people that do awesome jobs for $60-80. Mine was $5, I cut original handle off, then cut the ball off original handle. I took a 6" long 1/4" or 5/16" bolt (kind with the smooth shaft) I drilled a hole where the original bolt was, then drilled a hole in the ball, I bent the new bolt to my liking and silver soldered the old ball to new bolt and soldered the new bolt to the gun. I sanded and grinded everything smooth and then dipped it in plasticote, looks pretty good. CHEAP! It seems pretty darn strong, remember, I smoothed out my reciever so my action is very smooth so I feel it is plenty strong. I don't know if you would want to go on a $5000 week long hunt with no back up gun, but for target shooting it is good, if it ever brakes, I can fix it in about a hour

 

[ryank93]

I did the pop can tab trick for the trigger and it did cut the pull weight in half but it actually made my accuracy worse cause there was virtually no break it was just a consistant pull and I couldnt tell when it was going to fire, so I reveresed it.

Also a report on the ati stock, so from the factory my 91/30 was a perfect fit, and the barrel channel fit the barrel nice and snug, but i noticed that the stock had to flex a little to straighten out to get the barrel in, so the stock was a little warped, and thus putting inconsistant pressure on my barrel, so I decided to free float my barrel and as I removed material, the whole stock warped more and twisted off axis, when I removed the material off one side of the channel the barrel just kept moving closer and closer to that side, the preassure on both sides of the barrel was the only thing keeping this stock straight. And ultimatly the scope was rolling left with the gun. So the stock is crap if you want a sub moa gun, I will eventually buy a new stock but for now I removed enough material to float the barrel and shimmed the reciever enough to straighten the gun out enough. The scope is rolled a bit, but its hard to tell by eye.