The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Bud's had some 91-30's recently, both very good and excellent condition. I bought an "excellent" for $399. It may be sacrilege here, but I got it because I didn't have any old surplus rifles and a Mosin was cheap enough to take a chance on. I'm not a collector and I bought it to shoot. It's a hex receiver ex dragoon.

Took it apart and cleaned the grease off, both much easier than I feared. Bought 100 PPU brass cased rounds since they were cheaper than Lapua cases. Took it to the range and it cycled this ammo perfectly. The bolt works smoothly. At 50 yards it shot 1 1/2" to the right and 9" high with the rear sight all the way down. The group size was 5-6" making me think I had a dud of a rifle. The barrel looked "frosty" but the rifling was all there.

I got dies and some jacketed bullets, .311 and .312, loaded them with IMR4895. Accuracy was better and then I fired some .311" 175 SMK's. These bullets went into a 1 1/4" group at 50 yards. Still 9" high. I have more bullets coming but i'm encouraged now. I have no intention to modify this rifle but I want to try something on the front sight to bring down the POI, maybe a piece shrink tube on the post? The front sight drifted easily enough for a windage correction. I'd appreciate any ideas on the elevation question, it seems to be a common thing on these rifles.

Oops, double post

It should be shooting high at 50 yards. It should shoot about 4" high at 100 yards. Also try shooting with bayonet attached. It will make a difference in the point of impact.

The easiest fix is heat shrink tube added to the front post. It's on 3 of mine.

Thanks, guys. I have to lean rifles into a notch in the shooting bench at the range I use now, so a bayonet would be a hazard. I will soon try it at a range where I can attach the bayonet. I'll try it! I have a heat gun so the shrink tube deal is a go. If anybody here has not used a borescope in a "frosty" barrel that shoots good, don't. I'm on other rifle forums where people worry about a copper streak, small carbon spots and some fire cracking in the throat. If they got a look down my Mosin bore, they would shut up. Looking at mine, most would assume it wouldn't shoot. It actually does ok with decent ammo.