Bolt question regarding Mosin M44

[PorkLover]

Greetings,

I'm a total newbie to C&R's and recently purchased a 91/30 and m44. I get the addiction and am now looking for a m38. Anyways, here's my question, I just got done with a complete cleaning of my m44. I dissassembled the bolt, gave it a thorough inspection and cleaned the rest of the rifle the same. After cleaning, I did dry fire the rifle and realized that after firing, I found the bolt difficult to move "up" in order to "chamber" another round.

With my 91/30, the bolt is smooth after a dry fire and easy to move the bolt "up." My m44, not so easy. It is easier for me to move the bolt "up," if I "slap" it. Is this normal or did I do something wrong?....I plan on taking my m44 out tomorrow for the first time.......

Thanks in advance for your help!

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

The spring on it is probably stiffer than the one on the 91/30. Nothing really to worry about.

[mosinnagantm9130]

The spring on it is probably stiffer than the one on the 91/30. Nothing really to worry about.

What he said. The bolt on one of my m44's is very difficult to work after a dry fire, wheras my 91/30's bolt is easy.

[rogdigity]

ya, i just wrote in here the other day that with my 44 i have to slap the bolt up. its kinda a ***** and hurts the hands after about 100 rounds, but it hurts the shoulder faster so i dont usually get that many through it

[Z ME FLY]

Yeah it's normal, mine had the same problem after I cleaned it. I put some clp on it and it was a little bit nicer but there isn't a point, once you start to shoot it, it's going to lock up sooner or later. Make sure you bring some windex, clp, rags, and a rubber mallet. Windex is to help with the surplus rounds. They make the action really sticky and hard to work. Once it gets like that, you might need a rubber mallet to hammer the bolt open. Haha I was scared when I did it the first time but I figured it has been thru A LOT worse before me. After I get it open I just spray some windex clean it, some clp and shoot some more. Maybe someone else here has more luck or a better way.

[PorkLover]

thanks for the information, i feel better now........

[5hundo]

Also, were you shooting steel cases when this happened?

Steel cases tend to be harder to remove than brass ones when I shoot my Mosins. The brass ones come right out but the steel ones are a little harder to extract sometimes...

[Full Clip]

Just remember: You can't break a Mosin.

[reidnez]

I'm not sure if this is even related in terms of cause, but my M38 required a lot of brute force to close the bolt on a round. A couple people here recommended a super-thorough chamber and extractor groove cleaning, using a bore brush dipped in solvent attached to a drill. Lemme tell you, it worked wonders! I probably had some baked-in cosmolene that my normal cleaning methods didn't take care of. I don't know if this will fix it for you, but it only takes a few minutes and it certainly can't hurt.

In the same vein, you might also try soaking your (disassembled) bolt in solvent for a while and then scrubbing everything down.

[Gigan]

Solvent as in clp? This guy got his smooth as butta with a mod or two Nice vid check it out if you have time. The spring cutting is something I would be afraid to do. I may be just a noob tho. Opps forgot to post the link!! here it is..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXC_PQkLkNA

[Fate]

First, make sure it's not sticky bolt syndrome.

Second, as long as you keep the bolt head with the rifle, (important for headspace) you can swap parts around between your Mosin bolts and try to find a happy medium. Often parts work better in a different rifle. The M44 and all Mosin Nagants share the same bolt.

[cryoguy]

when I get my Mosin, Ca 10 day crap, I will be doing the same thing as the video.