Bullet test failed! What does it mean really?

[bugman]

Ok guys, I hope I posted this on the right forum. If not, Mods please move it to appropriate area.

A friend of a friend offered to sell me a Mosin Nagant M44. We are both local and I was able to see the rifle. I can see rifling, but the bore is dark. Then I dropped a bullet on the muzzle and it dropped all the way into the neck of the case and it is loose. The price is not soo bad, cheap actually. But I am bothered about the failure of the bullet test.

Can someone please explain in layman's term what the bullet test really proves? I looked around online as usual but I seem to get confused on conflicting explanations. Is this M44 still safe to shoot? Please enlighten me....

[hybridatsun350]

There is a very good chance the rifle is counterbored. The rifling doesn't start until about 3/4" down from the muzzle. Normally, the bullet test tells you how worn the muzzle is, but many Mosin's were counterbored to get rid of that warn area of the rifling.

[bugman]

Thanks for the info. I did not think about the possibility that the rifle is counterbored. I just compared it with the M91/30 I have where the bullet does not go all the way in.

[EOD3]

Cheap is a relative term, the M44 can be picked up for around $80. The one I have (Russian) has all matching numbers and has never been fired.

[locktime]

It is counterbored. The real crown is about 1/2" recessed in the barrel. My counterbored M44 is quite accurate, as Mosins go.

[Jarhead]

too may choices out there, go find another MN one that is not counter bored.

[ZRX61]

My countered bored M44 is the most accurate of my Mosins

[hybridatsun350]

My countered bored M44 is the most accurate of my Mosins

It should be. The sh*ty part of the rifling is gone!

[Agustav]

My counter bored Mosins are just as accurate as my non counter bored, which mean 2-4 moa with iron sight on a bench.

[Jarhead]

non counter bored are more collectable

[Fate]

non counter bored are more collectable

In Mausers and USGI rifles maybe. Not in Mosin Nagants. It's a non-issue. Counterboring of these was done by military arsenals, not Bubba and is part of the rich history of these weapons.