New Mosin 91/30, sear not catching?

[elkyote]

So, I was a good boy this year and got the Mosin I have been asking for for Christmas! It is a very nice 1937 Tula with a clean, uncounterbored bore. The problem is that the bolt seldom catches on the sear when the bolt closes. I have taken some shots of the bolt, could this be my problem? I was thinking of working it with a medium and fine grit stone to bring a good smooth edge back to it. Or should I use something else?

 

[M39SKY]

I've played with mosin's sears and bolts a few times. Yours is the is the first one I've seen like that. Anyway, I'd file/grind the front flat to remove that bevel for sure. Watch the angle of the mating surface. It affects the weight of your trigger pull. Grind/file accordingly. Also check on how far the sear shows up in the action. You can also remove some metal on the tail of the sear to make it come up more and engage the bolt better. I use fine file, 1000 grit sand paper, dremel polishing tool and finish to mirror shine with jewelers polishing compound.
If you have or have an access to a Finnish M39, you might want to look at the bolt and sear just to have a good idea (if you need one).

 

[GD]

I don't see anything wrong with your bolt.
Have you taken the rifle apart? I would suspect you might have something wrong with the trigger spring and bolt stop (I have seen the bolt stop screw loose before: part 019 seen in the attachment).

 

[elkyote]

I have also swapped in my friend's m44 bolt and it cycled flawlessly.

 

[PTK]

Get a new cocking piece, they're cheap. Alternatively, you could TRY altering the angle on the cocking piece, but that's not something I really recommend.

First step, though - disassemble, clean, and make SURE things are reassembled correctly.

 

[Kymasabe]

I agree, replace the cocking piece and while the bolt is apart, sand and poish whatever you can. I have a Chinese type 53 carbine that has the best Mosin trigger I've ever felt...only because it's better machined that most of the war-era stuff I've seen.

 

[hksw]

The contact surfaces of the cocking piece on my M44 and 91/30 bolts are flat and square. I'd square it up as mentioned by Sky. If worse comes to worst, replace it as others have mentioned.

 

[hksw]

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