Mosin and Cosmoline Questions

[brian5271]

This is probably a really stupid question, but how do I know if there is cosmoline on my Mosin?

I bought this rifle a while back and have not yet shot it it. I was always under the impression that cosmoline was a very thick, grease like material. What is on this gun only seems to be on the metal and it is lightly coated with something that is about the consistency of gear oil.

The only place that has anything thick like grease (looks more like ear wax) is in the slot on the wood fore end. There is a very slight stickiness to the wood, but nothing real bad. I bought this from Turners. Is it customary for them to clean the cosmoline off before selling?

[thoughtpolice59]

There *is* cosmo on your Mosin. Strip that thing right down and clean it up.
As soon as you start shooting it, the heat will make that cosmo run... and run... and run.

Clean out inside the bolt and scrub the chamber thoroughly, too.

[Drivedabizness]

solvent is your friend

[ChuckDizzle]

I did two steps with mine. I stripped it down to every teeny tiny spring and pin. I soaked all metal parts in a turkey pan with some hot simply green. Also with a funnel poured this solution down the bore.

For the stock I lightly dusted it with baking soda (don't rub it on because it is gritty, and let it sit close to my fireplace for a few nights. I would wipe away the baking soda when it got dark with cosmoline until it wasn't coming out anymore. Then washed it with some Murphy's soap stuff the wife said she uses on cabinets. Then I used some of her stuff she uses on the kitchen table.

After this process I never saw, smelled, or felt a speck of cosmoline, even under "rapid fire" and a good deal of heat.

[LynnJr]

Does it smell like 80 year old rancid gear oil? If yes it has it. You can bake it out of the wood but your smoke detector will definitely go off and your wife will have you arrested.

[bbguns44]

Hot water will instantly remove it from the metal. Wood parts need a lower temp approach.

[musketjon]

Mineral spirits are your friend on the metal and wood.
Jon

[mikeshan]

Good tips on cleaning up the Mosin.
On mine, I stripped down the stock used-paper towels to wipe as much cosmo off as I could. Put it in a black trash bag & left out in the sun for 4 hours. Looks beautiful.