Looking for a little help with an M91.

[brennan909]

Hello All, new to the forums and a new Mosin owner. I recently picked up an M91 (1904 dated) Tula with the Finnish SA stamp. She's not in the best of shape, but I bought it as a shooter, hoping to test her out soon. I am new to the scene and was wondering if I could get some more info, or confirm what I think I know, so here goes. I believe I have a interwar or maybe post civil war rifle (Im only guessing at that, as it doesn't have any capturing markings but a crisp SA is visible and it being a 1904). The bolt and receiver match, but nothing else does. The buttplate has the bow/arrow symbol for Izhevsk, and the trigger has the straight arrow for Sestroryetsk. The rest of the gun parts have the Tula hammer on them. The floorplate has a serial number that has been lined out and replaced with a new one. I've read that the Finn's liked to mix and match a little bit, so I was expecting that. My real question is the stock. It is a 2 piece stock that I know nothing about. Was it damaged and repaired? Was it made that way intentionally? I was also wondering about counterboring. The end of the barrel (maybe about an inch from the muzzle, rough guess) has what appears to be little to no rifling, however the rest of the barrel is quite well defined with rifling when I have shined a light through it. Theres also scratch marks on the end of the barrel that look like tool marks, though it could just bear wear and tear, the verdict isn't out yet on that one. Thanks in advance for any help!!!

[steelbuttplate]

That's a beauty. Could have been a Finn purchased rifle, or captured. The stock is Finnish 2 piece winter stock to keep the rifle accurate at 40 below. Be careful with the barrel bands, left hand threads and small rusty bolts.

[SA1911a1]

That is a nice way to start a Mosin Collection; that rifle is gorgeous!

[qz2026]

Sweet gun. I love the deep stamping on the shank...

[racerguy00]

Probably counterbored which helps fix a worn muzzle. Should help with accuracy. One of my.best shooting m91s has a much deeper counterbore. Nice mosin!

[Snayperskaya]

A very nice looking rifle indeed, I love the "been there, done that" look that old M91's like this have.

[Snayperskaya]

That's a beauty. Could have been a Finn purchased rifle, or captured. The stock is Finnish 2 piece winter stock to keep the rifle accurate at 40 below. Be careful with the barrel bands, left hand threads and small rusty bolts.

The barrel band threads are actually right hand threads, it is because the screws are captive that they function like a left hand thread.

[brennan909]

A very nice looking rifle indeed, I love the "been there, done that" look that old M91's like this have.

Im also a fan of that look, you know its been around the block so to speak, and I love history so it works great for me! Hopefully, I can go shoot it in a week or so here, make sure its working good. Anything I should be aware of before I try to fire this weapon? (Does it shoot low or high or anything like that?)

[millman]

You should really completely disassemble it, clean and inspect each part, and check the headspace before firing it. More than likely it will shoot high.

[brennan909]

You should really completely disassemble it, clean and inspect each part, and check the headspace before firing it. More than likely it will shoot high.

I have managed to take it down , except for the bolt, still learning about that. Every part looks decent, no cracks or major damaging, just a little age.

[Snayperskaya]

You should really completely disassemble it, clean and inspect each part, and check the headspace before firing it. More than likely it will shoot high.

My N.E.W shoots 15" high at 100m with the rear sight set to 400 Arshins when using full power FMJ rounds.....but I worked up a reduced 200gr cast bullet load that shoots to point of aim at 100m, has next to no recoil and is much milder on the old girl

It shows how different individual rifles can be, my 1917 Remington has the same sights and sight radius as the N.E.W but bizarrely it shoots around 12" low with the same 200gr cast load at 100m but shoots to point of aim with the same high velocity ammo!!!, weird isn't it......

_20200708_103921.JPG

[millman]

You should really completely disassemble it, clean and inspect each part, and check the headspace before firing it. More than likely it will shoot high.

I have managed to take it down , except for the bolt, still learning about that. Every part looks decent, no cracks or major damaging, just a little age.

Learn the bolt. You need to double check the firing pin extends past the bolt face within the proper specs.

[steelbuttplate]

You should really completely disassemble it, clean and inspect each part, and check the headspace before firing it. More than likely it will shoot high.

I have managed to take it down , except for the bolt, still learning about that. Every part looks decent, no cracks or major damaging, just a little age.

Was the tang date 1904 ?

[brennan909]

If I recall, the only thing on the tang was the Tula hammer, I didn't see a date, though some of the markings are faded, it could very well be on there. Ill check in a few minutes and let you know.

[brennan909]

You should really completely disassemble it, clean and inspect each part, and check the headspace before firing it. More than likely it will shoot high.

I have managed to take it down , except for the bolt, still learning about that. Every part looks decent, no cracks or major damaging, just a little age.

Was the tang date 1904 ?

Looks like it is a 1904? or 904 and hammer?

[steelbuttplate]

1904, Tula hammer.

[Igrlik]

Sign "r." after (1)904 is cyrilic and means "g." - shortcut for russian "god" = year .