Mosin Nagant M91/30 with Synthetic Stock
I came across a Mosin-Nagant M91/30 rifle that has been customized with a synthetic stock (ATI?) and was curious to see if anyone has any thoughts on these rifles. This one has a hooded front sight and an elevated rear sight. I checked the bolt action and it seemed a little tight. It has an internal fixed 5 round magazine and I would need to use stripper clips with it. There isn't a cleaning and tool kit with it and I would have to get this separately somewhere. The bore looks to be in good shape and otherwise seems OK. It's chambered for 7.62 X 54R and a local source for the ammo would run about 25 cents per round and I haven't checked other sources for prices yet. It also doesn't have a sling but the synthetic stock does have the
sling
mounts on it. It is also lacking a scope and I was curious as to how difficult a scope would be to mount. Any responses would be appreciated!
Here's an update link:
Custom Mosin Nagant M91/30
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
Posts
19 comments:
I'm a big fan of the 91/30 myself. If the rifling is in decent shape, then these are one of the best low cost rifles around. Look to see if the barrel has been counterbored. The Russians used to counterbore them back to where there was decent rifling. If this is the case, then you are going to lose a little on the accuracy. However, if you want to scope one, it is not entirely a bad thing. Test fire it before buying if at all possible. My brother got one of the older ones with an hexagonal receiver and the bolt tended to stick only when shot. I haven’t had that problem, but thought I should mention it.
Here is the lowdown on scoping one. There are two options scout configuration vs. standard. The scout configuration uses a pistol or wide relief scope that mounts in place of the rear sight. It’s low cost, doesn’t require gunsmith skills, and is easily reversible. Did that and wasn’t real happy with the results, but you might like it.
To mount a scope normally, it will require you to drill and tap the receiver for a scope mount and modify the bolt. Of all the scope mounts, the one I spent money on and was happy with was from www.rocksolidind.com. In most cases you will need to remove the front sight as well, I shorted the barrel back to where the rifling was good and recrowned it.
As you can probably guess by now, you will end up spending more on a scope and mount than the rifle itself. My recommendation is that you don’t spend more than $120 for one. Then don’t do anything to it until you have spent more than $120 on ammo. At that point you will either decide not to do anything, or it will be a labor of love and you won’t mind the money and effort.
I bought one for $69. Put an ATI synthetic stock on it. ATI stocks takes the kick out of them and they do kick big time. Scopes are a hassle to mount, but worth the effort in my opinion. I love my M91/30. Great shooter as long as you understand the trajectory, the bullet rises then drops. How much is it ?
To: flea
The kick sounds like it may be a problem if I intend to have anyone else shoot it (wife?). The opening price quoted was $175. Sounded high for milsurp even with ATI stock added.
To: r.e.a.l.
Probably go with iron sights if anything beyond "Swap & go" won't work. Right now the price seems high at $175.
RW
To: hilljack33
ATI stocks run about $60 to $65, right? So at $175, the real cost for gun would be about $100(+/-).
Like the look with the synthetic stock but it sounds like they want too much! Thought it might be low cost solution for a battle rifle, which I don't have as yet.
RW
RW
$175 does seems a bit high, but I can find them locally for $69. My M44 set me back $79.95. It's shorter and kicks like a mule. My M91/30 with the ATI stock really absorbs the shock much better, since the barrel is longer. Buying Mosins can be a crap shoot. Depends on their condition. But then again, these babies are great weapons. My M91/30 is 70 years old and a great shooter. I took a file to my bolt because it was tight. Depends on what you want and how much you are willing to pay. The down side is you only have 5 shoots and stripper clips don't work all that well, I just load them one at a time. My main battle weapon is my AK. The mosins are good long range weapons with some serious knock down power. But they have a place in everyones arsenal. Fun to shoot !!!!
To: flea & hilljack33
Thanks. I know now a little bit more of what to look for and will check it a little closer. Let you both know what happens later.
RW
My neck of the woods: http://www.jgsales.com/ Good folks.
A 91/30 is $80, the scope mounting kit is $45. They sell a stock for $50.
A lot of the ammunition sold for the 91/30 is corrosive, but it shoots just fine as far as I've seen.
I love my mosin! Mine is from 1941, and the bolt is as smooth a butter. I am having trouble zeroing my sights, but I only have a 100 yard range to shoot at. I bought mine for $99 but that is up here. I've been keeping my eyes open for a long eye relief scope that's cheap, you can get the mounts for those on ebay for $20 that only need you to pop out pins to mount it.
I normally love iron sights, but I want to take full advantage of the Mosin's range. The kick on the carbines is too much, I shoot my rifle with only 1/4" pad on the butt.
To: twell
Thanks for the link!
RW
To: natog
Thanks for the ebay tip!
RW
Here is a link to for a mount that should work.
http://www.tickbitesupply.com/mos.html
Note the one with the small bolt picture. To install you knock out the pin for the iron sight. Remove the iron sight and spring. Place the scope mount on and bolt it to the iron sight mount. Loctite the small bolt, because shooting these beasts loosens them up. Other mounts I had problems with. I haven't tried this one but the small bolt and nut is the key.
To: hilljack33
Thanks again!
RW
you should check out gander mountain. I recently bought a 91/30 myself and it is a dream for the price. they only asked for $100. It was re blued, and the wood was refinished.
My friend bought the m44 from the same place and got a waiver for a free mount and scope rings. I'm going to check to see if I'm entitled to a free mount and rings also.
On accuracy, the m91/30 i bought did excellent. At 75 yards, I put 10 rounds in a 12" diameter with open sights. with a scope i could imagine spectacular results.
As for the kick, it's no worse than a .270 and much less than a .30-06. It dose not "ring your bell either". The action on mine was tight but when open the bolt would slide back with no effort. I don't think your wife would have any problems shooting it...just make sure she holds it tight.
Also, the one gander mt. sells doesn't need clips for the ammo. you can just pop the bullets in the receiver.Plus the hook you up with a bayonet, a shoulder strap, a cleaning kit, and a field tool kit that was standard issue in the Russian military.
It's a real steal!
To:Phizer
Thanks. I'll check into it. Sounds like a really good deal.
RW
I put an ATI stock on my 91/30, and had the awkward straight bolt customized my JimR the boltman to a bent bolt to perfectly fit the ATI stock. What you should do if you want to mount a scope and not drill holes in your receiver is go to cheaperthandirt.com and buy the Mosin Nagant Tri-Rails scope mount, and you can put your scope nearly over the receiver and the tri-rails come with grips and make shooting this huge rifle fun. The ATI stock is worth more than the rifle so if you are going to change it you should be in it for the long haul. I love mine in the ATI w/bent bolt & scope tri-rails, wouldn't sell her for $500...
To: Robert
thanks for the heads up on the Tri-Rails scope mount. Sounds like a great option to use. appreciate the info on your set-up. Thanks.
RW
The funny thing is when you are sighting in using iron sights put the bayonet on and funny things start to happen. It becomes more accurate! Harmonics.
I got a 91-30 for Christmas and fell in love.. my first thought with that very first shot- "holy.." it's dead on at 100 yards, and I'm sure longer if I had a longer range. I left mine as-is-issued from Tula in '41. Some people think they are ugly, but they aren't.. JUST BE CAREFUL WITH THAT SAFETY! I cant tell you how many horror stories I've come across.. But, that safety is an indication of the Russian mantra, "is not safe, is gun." Anyways, I'm talkin' too much.. Me personally, though, I prefer the old wooden stocks.. "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
Good gun. I recommend them to anyone.
Oh, and a side note- it takes some force to push rounds from a stripper clip in, but if you imagine being a Russian private on the Western Front, with bombs and gunfire all around, I think you wouldn't have much trouble..
To: c
I've found that it's easier for me to load rounds one at a time straight from the top...nearly as fast as using a stripper clip and a lot easier.
Thanks.
RW
Hey whats up? Is the Monte Carlo the only style stock available for the mosin-nagat? Is the side mount scope the only option? Thanks Rick.
To: Rick
I've only seen the synthetic stocks in a Monte Carlo style in either black or camo. You can do a POSP side mount scope, a Scout scope set-up or a regular scope if you change out the straight bolt with a bent bolt.
The Scout scope doesn't usually require a bent bolt but you will still need to remove the original rear sight and add a mount for the scope.
Thanks.
RW
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