Sticky Mosin Nagant

[TimRB]

When firing my *beautiful* $59 91/30 for the first time, I found the bolt hard to work in the last few degrees of rotation when removing the fired round. (This is hard to describe.) That is, from the cocked and ready position, you can rotate the bolt handle up until you get to about 10 degrees from vertical, where it stops because of a detent in the bolt itself. This is, evidently, also the spot at which the bolt will naturally begin moving back, pulling the fired case with it.

Using the Czech Silvertip surplus ammo, the steel cases would get so tight in the chamber on firing that I could only get the bolt handle to go all the way up by banging it hard with my right palm. This was especially awkward for me, since it was a sunny day, and after shooting for a while the rifle got blistering hot.

Anyway, I'm guessing that this is just the way of things with this ammo, and that real ammo with brass cases would work better. Thoughts?

Tim

 

[MrMurphy]

That may be it, if you have the "knob" bolt handle where it doesn't really stick out from the action much, lack of leverage comes in to play also.

Are you trying to work the bolt slowly, or just flip, pull in the natural motion? If you're doing it reasonably quick, it may not stick as much. It could just be unusually tight tolerances on the piece (usually the other way around!).

 

[DMK]

Using the Czech Silvertip surplus ammo, the steel cases would get so tight in the chamber on firing that I could only get the bolt handle to go all the way up by banging it hard with my right palm. This was especially awkward for me, since it was a sunny day, and after shooting for a while the rifle got blistering hot.

This is a common issue with Czech Silvertip and Hungarian Silver over Yellowtip. Try different ammo before doing anything to your rifle. Other steel or brass cased ammo should work OK.

 

[George S.]

I've had the same problem with my 1931 Izzy. I've tried some 205gr Russian (probably Albanian) copper case stuff and the Czech steel case stuff. Both types of cases have stuck after firing even though I have no problems whatever in chambering a round. The bolt will easily close.

The lacquer finish on the steel case is probably melting enough from the heat of firing and the pressure causes the case to stick in the chamber. Copper cases are probably expanding a bit more and causing the stickiness. Lacquer will build up on the chamber walls and you begin to have extraction problems. For awhile, I had to take a plastic mallet to the range to tap the bolt back to get the expended case out.

One thing I have found that helps is to take an old brass 12-gauge shotgun brush and screw it into the end rod of a 3-pice cleaning rod and insert into a battery-operated drill. Liberally douse the brush with copper solvent bore cleaner or CLP or your favorite cleaner. Insert the brush in the chamber and let the drill slowly spin. Try not to move the brush too far forward, you just want it to spin in the back 1.5" of the chamber. (this is the length of the case before the neck) This will pretty much destroy the brush for 12-gauge use, so maybe buy one just for this. Use some wire cutters to remove the rear part of the brush material so that you only have the 1.5" needed. Makes a good visual guide.

Ater cleaning, you can use a some very fine metal polish on a patch over a smaller brush. I use a 12-gauge cloth patch wrapped over a .30 cal brush and apply a very small amount of Wenol Auto Polish (blue tube). Flitz is also a good polish. Go very slowly here as you don't want to risk removing metal.

 

[thefitzvh]

Well, both of my mosins do this, a 1945 M44 and a 1943 91/30...

I just slap the hell out of them when shooting steel cased ammo. Seems to work fine.

I think the mosins have a reputation for being like that. They were designed to be abused.

 

[Third_Rail]

They were designed to be abused.

You will never find a truer statement about a 1891/30.

 

[Uncle Alvah]

Likewise, my M44 chambers easily, extracts with great diffiulty. I've only got about 6 rounds thru and I deceded to clean up that chamber good. Mine litteraly left scratchs on the steel case just foward of the head. Haven't tried it again yet.

 

[Destructo6]

It's a commie gun, it wants to be manhandled and shown who is boss.

 

[Jick42]

Yep, My 1946 M-44 is the same way. Loads great, but once you try to cycle that bolt back, it needs a slapping to get it back. But thats ok, because any rifle that is that old, and still shoots that good, and gives you a muzzle blast to die for, ya gotta love it regardless.

 

[No Trespassing]

Mine does the same thing.

No mater what ammo I use, there's no "butter like" action in my Mosin.
You gotta work with all ammo types. My buddy's is also the same way.

We have fun seeing who can empty their Nagant the fastest.

 

[Carlos]

Distressing to hear that. Was wanting to get a another.

My M44 is smooth as glass.

 

[LynnMassGuy]

Mine do it to.(m38 and 91/30) I just deal with it.