Mosin question

[reidnez]

Hey guys, just picked up a nice M38 yesterday and took her to the range today. I don't have much experience with C&R stuff, and in fact I've only ever fired a couple of different bolt-actions so I don't have much experience to determine how it ought to feel...

I notice that when I chamber a round, I am having to push quite forcefully on the bolt (forward) in order to get it to close. It closes very easily when it is empty, it's only when actually loading that it's pretty tough. I'm guessing that either (a) this is normal, (b) my extractor is sticking, or (c) the headspace is a bit tight. Other than that, it fired very well. The spent cases looked normal.

Any ideas? Is there something I can try with my very basic skills and tools, or should I just take her to a gunsmith?

[amurphy]

Cosmoline in the chamber? It will look like it is part of the chamber. Old 12G mop and a power drill with some acetone or mineral spirits and give it a good whir in there.

If you haven't cleaned it of all the cosmo then that will gum everything up.

Pictures please!

[Fate]

Make sure the extractor recess in the receiver is clear of debris. Dental picks or even some of the high tech toothpics work well here. Q-tips will do in a pinch.

Mosins are made to be beaten like a caller on Loveline. Don't be gentle. She likes it rough.

[reidnez]

Cosmoline in the chamber? It will look like it is part of the chamber. Old 12G mop and a power drill with some acetone or mineral spirits and give it a good whir in there.

If you haven't cleaned it of all the cosmo then that will gum everything up.

Pictures please!

Could well be...the rifle was very, very clean when I received it (and this is a former Marine who is very anal-retentive about his weapons talking). BUT who knows whether the chamber was ever properly cleaned. I have read about the "baked-in Cosmoline chamber" issue but the article I read related it to sticky bolts on opening, or difficulty extracting, neither of which I have. Still, that's not to say it isn't the problem. I will definitely give the chamber some attention, it certainly can't hurt.

Will post pictures when I have my decent camera back, the cellphone pics don't do her justice.

I love this rifle but I'm not sure how often I will be shooting her. This thing is PUNISHING on the shoulder! I may have to invest in a nice squishy recoil pad, much as I hate to mar the looks...

Thanks!

[reidnez]

Make sure the extractor recess in the receiver is clear of debris. Dental picks or even some of the high tech toothpics work well here. Q-tips will do in a pinch.

Mosins are made to be beaten like a caller on Loveline. Don't be gentle. She likes it rough.

Interesting! My first instinct was the extractor itself being stuck and not wanting to ride over the cartridge rim, I hadn't thought of the extractor recess. OK, I didn't know there *was* an extractor recess. But that's why I have you guys!

So just to confirm, this isn't really a normal condition? I'm not afraid to be a little rough with milsurp stuff, but man...I am using a fair portion of my strength to get the bolt closed on a round. Maybe I need to get some Russian steroids?

[yuccales]

Cosmoline in the chamber? It will look like it is part of the chamber. Old 12G mop and a power drill with some acetone or mineral spirits and give it a good whir in there.

If you haven't cleaned it of all the cosmo then that will gum everything up.

Pictures please!

I must agree, give it a good cleaning. Scratches on the brass might indicate a burr in the chamber. You know you must get a 91/30 and a M-44 so that your 38 is not lonely.

[M. Sage]

It depends on how hard you have to push. Mosins are notorious for requiring a higher amount of effort to cycle than most other bolt actions.

[reidnez]

I must agree, give it a good cleaning. Scratches on the brass might indicate a burr in the chamber. You know you must get a 91/30 and a M-44 so that your 38 is not lonely.

For the prices these things command, I could easily see myself becoming a collector.

Next one will be a Finn of some sort, they are supposed to be the best shooters.

C&R License is in the works. I'm hooked!

[Spiggy]

Cosmoline in the chamber? It will look like it is part of the chamber. Old 12G mop and a power drill with some acetone or mineral spirits and give it a good whir in there.

If you haven't cleaned it of all the cosmo then that will gum everything up.

Pictures please!

use a .45cal brush, it's much more appropriately sized than a whole 12ga brush

[reidnez]

Thanks all for your advice! I will give the chamber a good scrubbing and see how things go on Friday.

[Fjold]

Do Mosin's cock on opening or cock on closing?

[JacobCR03]

I believe that Mosins cock on open.

If you can, try a different ammo -- I have some Mosins that chamber some rounds hard (such as Czech steel case in my M39), but others such as Albanian just fine.

If you can't find some different ammo locally, let me know as I could put together a "sample pack" with different types of surplus rounds to see if that changes things.

[FS00008]

Cock on open.

[glennsche]

Cock on open.

huhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuh

[Gunaria]

A good cleaning always helps out on cycling old Russkies, but they do also require some extra umph to get them to work as well.