Accurizing a Mosin

[Glenn]

Anyone have any experience accurizing a Mosin 91/30? I looked online and there seem to be two schools of thought. Many suggest floating the barrel, but some suggest shimming at the front to dampen the barrel. Any thoughts? apparently I impressed someone with my shooting with my Mosin and have been invited to take part in a friendly competition limited to WWII open sight weapons. I would like to squeeze a little more accuracy out of the old Mosin if I can.

Glenn

[Jonnin]

Have you done anything to it? Might have a smith look at the crown & re-crown it if needed? Also, you might look into handloading some ammo that your gun favors? Is a peep-sight allowed, or only the original? Anything possibly 'wrong' with the gun, such as rifling or chamber areas? Just some random thoughts, I am not a mosin expert by any stretch, don't even own one but I have shot a few.

[Glenn]

I haven't done anything to it. I don't think there is anything wrong with the rifle. It probably shoots as good or better than I do, but I was just thinking I might be able to squeeze a little more out of it so I would know that my shooting is the limiting factor. I know it's never going to be a tack driver.

Glenn

[Jonnin]

Google says to float the barrel, recrown (extreme) or "lap" (need some oddball tool that I have never seen before) the crown if in decent shape, to work up a handload for it, deep-clean the bore and chamber areas. There is also some concern that no amount of work/effort/money can help some guns while others will shoot 1 inch groups at 100 yards without much effort at all -- its a case by case sort of thing. Another suggested reducing the trigger pull, you can apparently (very carefully, this can be dangerous if you do too much) grind down a washer and put it under the trigger spring (google it for a picture?) to make the trigger very nice --- some of the guns have a heavy pull that can cause the shooter to pull too hard & move the gun.

You probably already saw these if you searched the web so not much new there. I dunno, I always start with the cheap, DIY stuff and work up to the gunsmith stuff, so here I would clean it to perfection, seat/float/whatever the barrel, and try various ammo or handloads to see what works well. From there at least inspect the crown with a quality magnifier, whether you do that work yourself or pay, you can at least examine it. Just be sure you want to go there (damage the gun) before doing any of the major operations that cannot be un-done.

Good luck with it. As I am resorting to google to help out I will just leave you to it from here...

[Glenn]

Thanks Jonnin. As you guessed I have googled and read a lot. I hope someone here has tried before. I may try a slight polishing on the trigger as it is quite heavy and rough.

Glenn

[bajabuc]

Collecting and Shooting the Military Surplus Rifle - Mosin-Nagant Front Sight Modification

Collecting and Shooting the Military Surplus Rifle (2006) - Surplusrifle.com

Two suggestions

[ttocswob]

And two more:

Bedding a rifle stock

Corking a Mosin rifle

From The Box O'Truth - lotsa good and entertaining stuff over there.

[Glenn]

Thanks for the links. I had not seen the box O'Truth. Think I will try corking. I have seen that suggestion a couple of other places. If I am not mistaken someone on this board found that their Mosin had been shimed with newspaper.

Glenn

[Mike.357]

the obvious, are you running it with the bayonet, or did i miss that?

[Garufa]

You may already know this but make sure those two action screws are good and tight.

[Glenn]

I do shoot with the bayonet on. I figured out real quick that it shoots more to point of aim with the bayonet on. I have also found that the action screws work loose. I will have to be more careful to check them. What does everyone think of the method for bedding the action that is explained in the link above?

Glenn

[Garufa]

I read about Box O' Truth's cork method some time ago and If I ever felt the need I'd go that route. My 91/30 is pretty accurate as long as those screws stay tight, which they don't through a typical session, and the bayonet is attached.

Taking mine out for a spin tommorrow at the range in the watershed just north of here. Come on up if you have a chance.

[bajabuc]

I read about Box O' Truth's cork method some time ago and If I ever felt the need I'd go that route. My 91/30 is pretty accurate as long as those screws stay tight, which they don't through a typical session, and the bayonet is attached.

Taking mine out for a spin tommorrow at the range in the watershed just north of here. Come on up if you have a chance.

Ayup...be there myself...with my Mosin and my SKS and...maybe...my .54 flinter. That's a depending on finding my balls... .535 cal I can't reme,ber where I put that stuff.

[Glenn]

I doubt I can get away. I have to do a lot of cleanup from the hail storm. I thought my Mosin was plenty accurate till I was invited to this competition. The prize is a K98 Mouser, so if I can wring a little better group out of it I want to.

Glenn

[Tempest455]

In addition to above comments get one of these! Hands down the best thing I have done for my Mosins. Makes them as accurate as they are going to get w/ iron sights.