T-53 Nosin Nagant driving me nutz!

[Picknlittle]

This gun is really getting under my skin. When I first took shot it, the groups were pretty tight (2" or so at 100 yds) but high and 10 to 12 inches left with hungarian light ball ammo. At this point, bayonet deployment meant very little. I get the sights tweaked a bit so it's shooting much better at 50 yds. Okay, I'm happier now.

THEN,.I order bulgarian heavy ball and go back to the range with both light and heavy loads to see what differences there are. I'm thinking there might be a difference in elevation, but not so much in windage. WRONG! It seems light ball works better at 50 yds and under, heavy ball works better at 100 yds, but both are all over the place!:banghead: Also, now it seems that bayonet position makes major differences.

Well, I did buy it as a project fun gun. Thankfully I don't have to depend on it for meat. The .35 Whelen and the 30-06 are working splendidly for that.

The SKS is turning out to be a fun shooter. I do think I'm going to scope it though. Mine eyes have seen their glory and now they tend to blur.

 

[dstorm1911]

The twist rate of a barrel is going to determin more than anything what it prefers to shoot as well as barrel condition the M44 Mosin nagant can be very fickle, also the different countries loaded their 7.62x54 to different velocities plus the age of the ammo the conditions it was stored in the last 50 years etc... will all effect the accuracy for instance Czech light ball and Hungarian light ball will usually provide totally different results back when 7.62X54 was everywhere folks would try all the different countries and weights sometimes even the year was a determining factor till they found which worked best in their M/N then they'd buy cases of that ammo......

 

[silverlance]

you must be a much better shot than I am. I shoot almost exclusively offhand or kneeling, and my groups are about 12" at 100 yards, 6" at 50 yards.

kev

 

[bartsimpson123844]

Ha! You should consider yourself VERY lucky! 2" at 100 yards?? That is extremely good for a Mosin; especially a T-53. I'm lucky if I get 3" at 50 yards.

 

[Picknlittle]

I'm thinking this gun will be relegated to military item dust collector status after a couple more trips to the range as a major noise maker. It is a fun gun to shoot, but it's so unpredictable. One time it's fine, the next it's hittin the next county over.

If we ever get overrun by dinosaurs, I should be able to hit one at 30 yards or so. Hmmm,...on second thought, I think it's time to load some 250 gr whelen rounds

 

[_N4Z_]

ya, 2" @ 100 yards with a m44 / m38 / t53 is unusual/exceptional.

I have two m39's that are supposed to shoot that well all the time, but around 4 out of 10 times will not.

Lots of variables that will play havoc on groups, especially when your using surplus ammunition.

 

[Coronach]

In all seriousness, I have read that if you handload for those little beasties, you can really dial them in.

Of course, handloading for the 7.62x54R round seems pointless when surplus ammo prices are so low and component prices are so high.

Mike

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Picknlittle. If you think the T53 was a project fun gun you ought to try Omega's Chinese Mauser 98's. Twice the fun of the T53's at twice the price.

 

[Gun Wielding Maniac]

You might want to check and ensure that your magazine well and trunnion screws are tight. After firing a few rounds out of my Polish M44, I had excellent groups...as the day progressed, the groups spread out. I discovered that the screws were slowly backing out. Once they were tightened firmly down, my groups shrank considerably and returned to POI.

 

[trueblue1776]

Of course, handloading for the 7.62x54R round seems pointless when surplus ammo prices are so low and component prices are so high.

Yeah, unless you really really like to hit what you aim at.

I own 7.62x54r dies and use them regularly, while smiling and eating Oreos (which have tightened up my groups).

 

[Cosmoline]

I agree, 2" at a c note is VERY good for any surplus rifle. Just dial it in for whatever you were shooting and keep shooting the same ammo. All Mosins tend to have their own preferences for loads.

 

[Picknlittle]

Problem is the 2" groups are hit and miss. Even the POI compared to POA changes. One group can be three inches, next group can be twelve.

I can say that as it gets hotter, the group size gets larger,..a lot larger.

 

[Picknlittle]

How would one go about removing the bayonet lug from the T53?
I'm thinking this would go a long way toward stabilizing barrel harmonics.

 

[Cosmoline]

I can say that as it gets hotter, the group size gets larger,..a lot larger

That sounds like stock impingement. Have you checked your receiver screws and stock/barrel contact?

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

Picknlittle. Bayonet lug removal: http://www.surplusrifle.com/carbinenagant/oddsandends3/index.asp and http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=83097.

 

[Picknlittle]

Well, I finally took the time to take the T53 down and check clearances. It was touching the forearm in two places. A bit of sandpaper seems to have provided enough clearance for two layers of printer paper to slide up the length of the barrel now. Sunday will tell the tale.

Have any of you removed to bayonet all together? Did it help stabilize things any?