Soviet Mosin-Nagant

Soviet Mosin-Nagant

The 91/30 Mosin Nagant...


Brief History

The Mosin-Nagant rifle, known in the Russia as a "Vintovka Mosina" was developed under a government commission in the late 1880s and early 1890s, and was officially adopted for service by the Russian Tsar in 1891. During the trials, two designs were selected - one by Russian army captain Mosin, and another, by the Belgian designer Nagant. The final design, adopted by the Commission, utilized features from both.

The model 1891/1910 was used by the Red army through the Civil war. In 1930, the Red Army officially adopted the Mosin rifle (the M1891/30, pictured above). This was an upgrade of older Mosin-Nagants - new sights were installed (graduated in meters instead of older 'arshins'), more rigid bayonet mount, new handguard bands, and an improved cleaning rod fixture were applied.

The Mosin-Nagant is a bolt operated, magazine fed rifle that fires a 7.62x54mm rimmed cartridge. It uses an integral, single stack magazine, loaded from stripper clips with a capacity pf 5 rounds. The magazine protrudes below the stock just ahead of the triggerguard, and has a hinged floorplate. Due to the single stack design and a lack of feed lips, a special device calles a second-round cutoff is built into the magazine to avoid double feeds. The rotating bolt features dual locking lugs that are located horizontally when the bolt is locked. The safety is incorporated into the bolt and locks the striker. The bolt can be removed from the receiver without any tools, simply by pulling it open, then depressing the trigger and removing the bolt. It can be further disassembled without any other tools. The original spike shaped bayonets feature a rectangular cross-section and a point shaped as a flat screwdriver, so they can be used as a disassembly tool when removed from the gun. The Bayonet is always carried in the battle-ready position, attached directly to the barrel. Stocks are usually made from birch.

More information: mosin-nagant.net

This Rifle

I bought one of these for $41.00 US from the local Dunham's Sports Store. It was as greasy as an old Soviet Tractor, dated 1938 with a wonderful Hammer and Sickle Crest on it

The first step to restoration - tear it down and get rid of the grease. This took about two days and two cans of Brake Cleaner. Three hours of scrubbing the barrel with Hoppes #9 and bore paste produced at least 100 filthy cleaning patches Eventually, I got all the metal clean. The entire rifle was then painted with GunKote and baked to produce a beautiful, rock hard metal finish

The Stock: Good shape, but VERY greasy (65 year of soaked in Collective Farm oil). The solution? Easy Off oven cleaner
and a brush. This got me down to semi-greasy wood. After two days of constant Acetone "wipes" - less greasy wood. Five days of sanding and more Acetone yielded failrly clean wood. It's now properly stained and Spar Varnished, producing a water proof stock

Not having the money for an original sniper scope (the mount & scope go for about $375!), I carefully put away the original rear sights, and added a "scount" scope mount with a 4X Tasco Pistol Scope. With this, my Mosin can produce very respectable 2" groups at 100 yards...


Bayonet Attached - Very Intimidating


Closeup with Ammunition