Nagant/Mauser or start over? Dilemma

[Starpower]

Here is my problem: I have a very nice Bulgarian Mosin Nagant that I've sporterized into a scout config, with a front mounted pistol scope 1-7Xsomething or other, and it's really accurate out to about a hundred yards or so, but at my age, with a 7 power scope 12-14 inches in front my face, I can't really reach out as far as the gun can. I can't really get a long eye relief scope to go much bigger than 7X, (Who REALLY can shoot a pistol over a hundred yards? I'm talking field, not bench!) I know they make a conversion kit for a back mounted scope, but due to the bolt configuration on a Nagant, there is no place to anchor the scope mount on the back, and so we're talking about two screws up front and big honkin long mounting rail sticking back into your face with no rear anchor. I'm no engineer but it just don't look solid.
I also have a K-98 8mm that I could also sporterize but I'd have to drill and tap both front and back for a scope mount, and most of what I've seen tells me the stock bolt still will not clear the flush mounted rail so it needs to be cut off and drilled & tapped to a flatter config. For all you military purist, I need to dump some of the weight, so that's why I sporterize with nylon fiberfill.
The question? Am I going to end up with something I can shoot as far and as accurate as I'd like to, or two somethings that look like Goldie Hawn has had too many facelifts? Should I just dump em both and buy a Remington 700?

 

[Mike 56]

A Mosin Nagant is no Remington 700. I enjoy shooting my Mosin Nagants. I have two mosin scouts one is a 4x the other 2-7 i have no problem shooting them at 200yd. I also have one Mosin with ATI mount and istalled three others for friends we have had no problems with any of them. Here is a link for some side mount options. http://www.kalinkaoptics.com/

Mike

 

[Cosmoline]

Should I just dump em both and buy a Remington 700

For what you need, yes. A used 700 would be great. Or if you want to save some $$ a Savage bolt gun or a Ruger 77. Trying to beat an old war relic into a modern Remchester is expensive and usually ends up creating a mess. The day and age when we needed to hack up war rifles to afford a bolt action is long gone.

 

[308sc]

try a stevens 200 with a ded nutz scope mount, nikon buckmasters 4.5-14.40 scope, and add a harris bipod and you have yourself a cheap most likely sub moa setup.

 

[Franco2shoot]

MN-Scope

I purchased My 91/30 with the ATI rail and bolt upgrade. See below:

I have been doing comparisons of groups w/bayonet versus wo/bayonet and it seems to hold a tighter pattern wo/bayonet.

Last weekend I put cork under and over the barrel up at the front band, and the results were nothing short of phenomenal. I thought it was going to shoot low with the barrel cold ( usual performance ) so I drew a dot the size of a quarter at the top of the target. First shot went through this dot. I couldn't believe that, but what followed was even more amazing. The next 3 shots all hit the dot.

I was using Shoot-n-see targets at 100 yards. The rest of the day saw the Orange dot totally obliterated. The real trick is in cutting the cork. The wife finished a bottle of Chardonnay Friday nite, and I scrounged up the cork. At first I was cutting it like a salami, but then I started slicing it lengthwise. I used a serated knife and was able to slice pieces as thin as a business card. I took the two best (Most evenly sliced) wiggled one under the barrel and the other over top and re-assembled for the Saturday trip to the Range.

I used Hungarian heavy ball produced in 1974 (Yellow tip). The scope is a cheapo Wally world Bushnell 6-18x50mm that goes for 120 bucks (Old eyes like yours need the extra magnification although I usually only dial in 12 power). I have probably spent 3 or 4 hours scrubbing the barrel, but I have a real shooter now.

KKKKFL

 

[cracked butt]

Hint:

-$200 Swiss K-31
-your choice of D&T mount (about $40) or clamp on mount ($70)
-A good set of steel rimfire rings (K-31 mounts typically use a rimfire rail instead of a standard Weaver rail)
-A decent scope

All of the above put together will make for a tackdriving rifle for about the price of a bare-bones remington 700.

Good luck.

 

[308sc]

agreed cracked but that swiss k-31 sure are accurate,

 

[Starpower]

Thanks for all the info. I ordered the side mount rails for the Nagant and will try an AK side mount scope rail and see what pops. This is what I really like about this place.

 

[R127]

Very interesting about the shimming, Franco. My 91/30 is not especially rare or collectible but it is a good shooter. I think I'll try front band barrel shim and see if it helps me tighten the groups a little.