Mosin Kaboom

[hybridatsun350]

That looks like it's right behind where the barrel threads end. The rifle was probably put through serious trauma (dropped from a height?) many years ago and put a hairline crack in the receiver. It's a '32, too. That was long before quality started to degrade so I doubt that was the issue.

Edit: Just looked at all the pics and I do see that it was right where the barrel threads end, haha.

[paul0660]

I had one detonate out of battery on me once. It blew the magazine out the bottom, and the back half of the casing got stuck in my hand as it exploded up and out. Don't really know how that was possible, but it happened. It was unpleasant to say the least. That was about 4 years ago, and I don't recall if it was tula or ishevsk, or the year of manufacture. It was a 91/30 I bought at Big 5. I still have a gnarly scar in the center of my right hand from where the back of the casing was lodged

Somebody here might have been at the range when it happened, as a matter of fact. It was at Inland Fish & Game back in late January or early February of 2007. Anybody there at the time? If you were, you'd recall a large puddle of blood on the ground

So, the round fired as you closed the bolt?

[Fate]

This is why I'm going to go ahead and buy a field gauge and throughly inspect mine before firing. not that **** still can't happen...

Headspace is rarely an issue in Mosins. jshoebot's accident sounds like his firing pin protrusion setting might have been way off and caused a slam fire when closing the bolt.

[Howie44]

I had one detonate out of battery on me once. It blew the magazine out the bottom, and the back half of the casing got stuck in my hand as it exploded up and out. Don't really know how that was possible, but it happened. It was unpleasant to say the least. That was about 4 years ago, and I don't recall if it was tula or ishevsk, or the year of manufacture. It was a 91/30 I bought at Big 5. I still have a gnarly scar in the center of my right hand from where the back of the casing was lodged

Somebody here might have been at the range when it happened, as a matter of fact. It was at Inland Fish & Game back in late January or early February of 2007. Anybody there at the time? If you were, you'd recall a large puddle of blood on the ground

What are the odds! I had the very same thing happen in 2002 with a Romanian M44 and some east german training ammo (the grey ones). And if you can believe it, it was also at IFG!! I kept the round that catoed (I've shown it to Santa9monica, Rero360, and Exposed). Its a good conversation proof on how tough the Mosin REALLY is! I put hundreds of rounds through it after with no problems. And what Fate said is probably correct, it was the case with mine. The FP was only a little out of adjustment, and the primer wasn't seated properly.

I also have scars (and some unburnt powder grains under the skin) on my right hand from that event. It happened right after I got there in the morning, and the RSO thought I was nuts for bandageing up my hand and continuing to shoot. I had paid for the whole day,LOL!

[rojocorsa]

Better ban Mosins to protect the children.

Thems fighting words with some of us here...

[mosinnagantm9130]

... guess those hex receivers really *are* stronger

There isn't any real difference in the strength of the receivers.

[Peter.Steele]

Headspace is rarely an issue in Mosins. jshoebot's accident sounds like his firing pin protrusion setting might have been way off and caused a slam fire when closing the bolt.

This.

Could be a weak sear, too. I've got an M44 with a very weak sear that I don't won't shoot. If you slam the bolt forward it will release the striker every time. If you are gentle with the bolt, it'll hold ... most of the time. Haven't gotten around to replacing the sear yet.

[jshoebot]

So, the round fired as you closed the bolt?

Yes.

Headspace is rarely an issue in Mosins. jshoebot's accident sounds like his firing pin protrusion setting might have been way off and caused a slam fire when closing the bolt.

The weird thing about what happened to mine is, it worked fine the day before. Even if I slammed the bolt home, it was fine. Then the day after, kaboom. Pretty weird.

What are the odds! I had the very same thing happen in 2002 with a Romanian M44 and some east german training ammo (the grey ones). And if you can believe it, it was also at IFG!! I kept the round that catoed (I've shown it to Santa9monica, Rero360, and Exposed). Its a good conversation proof on how tough the Mosin REALLY is! I put hundreds of rounds through it after with no problems. And what Fate said is probably correct, it was the case with mine. The FP was only a little out of adjustment, and the primer wasn't seated properly.

I also have scars (and some unburnt powder grains under the skin) on my right hand from that event. It happened right after I got there in the morning, and the RSO thought I was nuts for bandageing up my hand and continuing to shoot. I had paid for the whole day,LOL!

No way! Haha crazy. Youre lucky nothing huge went in your hand! When mine happened, blood was spraying out all over the place, it was pretty crazy. Luckily there was an off-duty EMT shooting right next to me, and he had his first-aid kit with him. I had to go to the hospital and have them remove the casing from my hand, and stitch up the hole. I was scared of mosin-nagants for a while after that haha. I have since gotten over my fear

[TRAP55]

Two things that stand out on that rifle.
One, that receiver has been heavily polished and refinished, you can't even see a stamp on it. Even the barrel stamps show heavy polishing.
Tula hex receivers made in the 30's were probably the best and strongest made.
Two, the even crystallization of the steel at the break. The receivers are packed case hardened like a Mauser, hard on the outside, softer on the inside. If that had been cut with a band saw in the same place, you would see a very distinct outer shell.
I'll bet my bottom dollar that rifle was in a fire, a real hot fire!
I've seen the exact same thing on a pre 64 .270 Model 70 Winchester. The rifle had been in the closet of a house that burned. Some moron had blued it, put it in a new stock before he sold it, and never said a word to the buyer. It lasted three shots.

[Peter.Steele]

Two things that stand out on that rifle.
One, that receiver has been heavily polished and refinished, you can't even see a stamp on it. Even the barrel stamps show heavy polishing.
Tula hex receivers made in the 30's were probably the best and strongest made.
Two, the even crystallization of the steel at the break. The receivers are packed case hardened like a Mauser, hard on the outside, softer on the inside. If that had been cut with a band saw in the same place, you would see a very distinct outer shell.
I'll bet my bottom dollar that rifle was in a fire, a real hot fire!
I've seen the exact same thing on a pre 64 .270 Model 70 Winchester. The rifle had been in the closet of a house that burned. Some moron had blued it, put it in a new stock before he sold it, and never said a word to the buyer. It lasted three shots.

For what it's worth, I suspect you're probably right about the fire, although it's possible that it hadn't ever been properly hardened at the factory. It should be noted, however, that the fire happened before it was imported. For all that the barrel markings look a little weak, the RGUNS import markings are through the bluing. If it had been reblued after that, you'd be able to tell from the dot-matrix marking.

[paul0660]

And.............the earlier crack should have been evident with close inspection, no?

Going to look at mine right now.

[TRAP55]

although it's possible that it hadn't ever been properly hardened at the factory.

Peter, that's why I stated, "Tula hex receivers made in the 30's were probably the best and strongest made. "
The quality of those Tulas, were about one notch under a Pole M-44. Ivan would never have let that slip by him, probably end up in a re-education camp, if he was lucky! Plus I doubt it would have survived the war.
No doubt happened before Rguns had it. My guess torched during or after the war, and picked up off the battlefield. Lord only knows by who, where, and refinished by who. I would sure like to see what a hardness test would show.
That shooter just retired a guardian angel, you can't get much luckier than that! The guy that had the Mod 70 come apart was about as lucky, the one piece scope mount, and the stock took the brunt of it, only had to pluck a few splinters out of his arm.

[Springfield45]

A while back at a gun show I saw a beautiful M91 "Westinghouse" for only $180. It took me about a minute to find a crack going down the right side of the chamber. Very sad but it can and dose happen.

[NaughtyMonkey]

Thats insane! Glad everybody was ok though. Poor rifle.

I was thinking about taking my Mosin's bolt apart to clean it, but I don't want to make the firing pin be out of alignment, and have scars on my hand. lol.

[Datamancer]

Thats insane! Glad everybody was ok though. Poor rifle.

I was thinking about taking my Mosin's bolt apart to clean it, but I don't want to make the firing pin be out of alignment, and have scars on my hand. lol.

I think you should be fine. That's why they come with a handy-dandy firing pin protrusion notch on the Mosin multitool. If you don't have one, you can always measure it manually. I've accidentally left mine too long in the past and the only thing that happened was that it would dry-fire every 4th-5th round and I'd have to manually pull back the bolt end again to fire it. Seems like there's quite a lax margin of error built into them.

-~D~-