The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Took about 8 guns out shooting today with one of my sons, SIL and a neighbor. The milsurps we took out there was a M91, M91/30, M44, and a M24/47 Yugoslavia Mauser.

Out of the Mosin Nagants I figured the recoils from least to worse would be M91, M91/30, M44....But no, it was M91/30, M91, M44. Is this normal for a M91 to have a worse recoil/kick than a M91/30?

Regardless a fun day was had by all, lots of lead was thrown down range, lots of BS'ing, and after we got home, I got to hang out in the garage to clean them before putting them away.

To be honest, I've not noticed a difference between M91s and M91/30s recoil. But the M44 has the best kick no doubt.

My M44 bucks the best of my Mosin's too.

The heavier the rifle, the longer the barrel, less recoil. Try a M-38 without the extra weight of the bayonet..... I got me one o them fancy shootin vests with a pad on it for that lil sucker.

I never noticed a difference between my M44 and M91/59. They both hurt the same after 100 rounds.............. hehehe

steelbuttplate wrote:The heavier the rifle, the longer the barrel, less recoil. Try a M-38 without the extra weight of the bayonet..... I got me one o them fancy shootin vests with a pad on it for that lil sucker.

I agree with you, which is why I was caught off guard when the M91 had a harder recoil than the M91/30. I thought maybe it was me, but several people fire them and said the same thing. Now granted the M44 had the biggest recoil and emitted a fireball that was impressive, and put a grin on everyone's face.

Compared to the No. 5 Jungle Carbine, even the M38 seemed pretty tame. The 91-30's and M91's seem about equal in recoil to me.

After the first few thousand rounds a mans shoulder limbers up. I haven't noticed recoil since the 1980's

etprescottazusa91 wrote:The Model 91 should have had the least recoil of all, interesting, any issues with your handguard slipping off? Let’s talk milsurp recoil, the Model 95 Mannlicher carbine in 8X56R tops all mentioned. Though on a side note, my late war 1944 Dot K98 with the stamped parts along with the maple stock is about the lightest 98K I have ever held and when fired with the surplus German 196gn Nazi ammo is a real kicker, actually demonstrates the power of the 8mm over other military rounds really well.

Nope handguard remained on the rifle, though it does has a little room to slide back and forth, maybe 1/2 inch between the barrel bands.

I thought my Mosins had impressive recoil until recently, I had to sight in a shotgun ready for deer hunting in an area that did not allow rifles. Try shooting a 1oz slug on a bench rest - that sucker hurt!

BTDT, Mike. Try a .416 Rem. Mag. off a bench, that'll wake you up in the morning.....

Holding the stock squarely against the shoulder helps a bit, but padding does help too. Took my M38 out on Saturday and had a blast at the local club range. There was this one truck that the alarm went off on every time I shot the carbine.

I don't have a problem with rifle or shotgun recoil. I pull the thumpers in really tight. It doesn't give them a running start to pound you. I do however have a problem with high velocity light-weight alloy handguns. Sunday, I was shooting my Son's 2" .357 mag, and that sucker lets your hand know it.

SA1911a1 wrote:I don't have a problem with rifle or shotgun recoil. I pull the thumpers in really tight. It doesn't give them a running start to pound you. I do however have a problem with high velocity light-weight alloy handguns. Sunday, I was shooting my Son's 2" .357 mag, and that sucker lets your hand know it.

Wow why post you said it all for me! Bill

For the most part.......

Recoil doesn't bother me much except two of my rifles.

1) Is a Enfield No.5 (Jungle Carbine). It has a pretty heavy load and you add to it that the butt plate is really a dried up and hard as a rock hunk of rubber (more like a rock). I recoil on that rifle.

2) On a .58 cal "Hawkins Hunter". It's a Hawkens rifle in .58 cal and with a "full load" and a conical, it pretty much causes devastation to my poor shoulders. Four rounds off each side and sometimes I'm black and blue from it. Very hard butt plate (solid brass). Will knock down just about anything, but hard to take.

Everything else, is pretty easy for me. Just pull it in tight!

Dolk

Have you ever checked the head space on the M91. Excessive recoil can be caused by too high chamber pressures you know too. Does it show any signs of high chamber pressures on the ammo after it is fired? Things like almost pressure flattened primers that look like light hits, wrinkles or cracks in the shells up toward the bullet end, light damage on the head of the bolt, broken extractors where the head suddenly shows up gone, hard to open bolts, and the list goes on. Generally when I feel a real kicker of a rifle, I mean out of the ordinary for the model, I am real careful around it and look at stuff real close after the range trip I discovered it. It can be an indication of excessive chamber pressures so I go back over things I have already measured again just in case something has changed or I missed something. M91's are usually very calm rifles to shoot one reason I enjoy them so much.

Other things that can effect recoil are the general overall tightness of a rifle, I mean one that has very little wear or is fitted with a new barrel. Ammo is also a great effector of the recoil too but I assume we all know that here. Certain rifles because I have such dang long arms seem to recoil the hell out of me because I have no where to fold my arms and hold the rifle into my shoulder without getting my arms in the way. The SKS comes to mind immediately along with the AK family. Vepr is the first one of those that I am comfortable shooting because I fitted a real long Saiga shotgun stock to mine. Actually after shooting Mosins for so many years I rarely feel too much difference between models because with age I shoot everything off the bench. Hope I gave you some ideas and you continue shooting and enjoying your Mosins. Bill

etprescottazusa91 wrote:The Model 91 should have had the least recoil of all, interesting, any issues with your handguard slipping off? Let’s talk milsurp recoil, the Model 95 Mannlicher carbine in 8X56R tops all mentioned. Though on a side note, my late war 1944 Dot K98 with the stamped parts along with the maple stock is about the lightest 98K I have ever held and when fired with the surplus German 196gn Nazi ammo is a real kicker, actually demonstrates the power of the 8mm over other military rounds really well.

I've shot many different milsurp bolt rifles and I'll agree on the M95. I really believe if the 8x56R ammo were readily available this would be a very sought after rifle. Kicks like a mule and has a muzzle blast that would make an M44 jealous. Everyone needs to at least shoot this rifle once. The straight pull is pretty cool also.

zeebill wrote:

SA1911a1 wrote:I don't have a problem with rifle or shotgun recoil. I pull the thumpers in really tight. It doesn't give them a running start to pound you. I do however have a problem with high velocity light-weight alloy handguns. Sunday, I was shooting my Son's 2" .357 mag, and that sucker lets your hand know it.

Wow why post you said it all for me! Bill

If you shoot somebody at close range with one o them, the're hurtin, if you miss you still set 'em on fire

zeebill wrote:Have you ever checked the head space on the M91. Excessive recoil can be caused by too high chamber pressures you know too. Does it show any signs of high chamber pressures on the ammo after it is fired? Things like almost pressure flattened primers that look like light hits, wrinkles or cracks in the shells up toward the bullet end, light damage on the head of the bolt, broken extractors where the head suddenly shows up gone, hard to open bolts, and the list goes on. Generally when I feel a real kicker of a rifle, I mean out of the ordinary for the model, I am real careful around it and look at stuff real close after the range trip I discovered it. It can be an indication of excessive chamber pressures so I go back over things I have already measured again just in case something has changed or I missed something. M91's are usually very calm rifles to shoot one reason I enjoy them so much.

Other things that can effect recoil are the general overall tightness of a rifle, I mean one that has very little wear or is fitted with a new barrel. Ammo is also a great effector of the recoil too but I assume we all know that here. Certain rifles because I have such dang long arms seem to recoil the hell out of me because I have no where to fold my arms and hold the rifle into my shoulder without getting my arms in the way. The SKS comes to mind immediately along with the AK family. Vepr is the first one of those that I am comfortable shooting because I fitted a real long Saiga shotgun stock to mine. Actually after shooting Mosins for so many years I rarely feel too much difference between models because with age I shoot everything off the bench. Hope I gave you some ideas and you continue shooting and enjoying your Mosins. Bill

Bill, your post are always appreciated and your opinions respected. We are all lucky to have your experience to draw on.