Just Took The Mosin Plunge

[Capybara]

I stopped by the local Big 5 today to see what kind of Mosins they had and saw one on sale for $99.00 so I took the plunge. I don't have pictures, but I do have a few questions for the experts here.

The rifle seems to be missing the brass inserts for the sling holes? There was another importer's 91/30 right next to mine but it was $219.00. It looked a bit nicer than the one I bought but I was not about to drop $219.00 on a Mosin when I had a perfectly decent looking one available for less than half. Upon closer examination, it looks as if there is a single brass insert on the sling hole, but only on the buttstock sling hole and it is only visible on the bolt side of the rifle, it is just a single line of brass, not a ring that encircles the hole. The stock holes without the inserts look as if they are missing something, it gives the rifle an unfinished look.

If I want to use a sling on the rifle, do I need the brass sling hole inserts? I wouldn't want to rub away the edges of the wood. Is there a source for these? How are they affixed to the stock? I know, lame question but this is my first Mosin and I am fairly clueless.

It looks as if the muzzle has been counterbored, but all three of the Mosins they had looked the same. Does that matter as far as accuracy? I am not looking for a super accurate target rifle, the Mosin is strictly for plinking so if I can get 3-5" groups at 100 yards, I will be happy.

Just began jail, and I have researched all of the great posts here about Cosmoline removal, black plastic bags and the sun. Looking forward to taking this gun out and sighting it.

Thanks for any advice about the sling holes.

[SoCal Bob]

Scroll almost to the bottom for the pictures/explanation of the different types of sling inserts (or lack of insert): http://www.7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinM9130S.htm

[joe_gman]

The mosin 91/30s made during WWII were often made without the brass eyelets in the stock. Being that most mosins out there are frankenmosins built with available parts off of other mosin rifles, your stock is probably WWII period regardless of the date on the receiver.

[Vacaville]

Nice. Everyone needs a Mosin!

[Capybara]

Thanks guys. So the message is, "don't worry about having them?" I'll check out the link SoCal Bob.

Glad to be part of the brotherhood. It is an amazing feeling to buy a cool part of history that is so solid for under $100.00 Can't wait to shoot it. I can see why many of you have half a dozen Mosins, they look to be cheap fun and these days, cheap fun is hard to come by.

Update** Yes Bob, mine looks like early WWII. Cool, this gun has probably seen action, oh the stories it would tell if it could.

[AK all day]

Yeah, then you will find yourself buying not-so-cheap mosins like M44s and Sniper models..... YOU WILL DO IT.

Hahaha, yeaaap, great rifles. If you like it from the start, then you are in for trouble, as they only grow on you more.

[mosinnagantm9130]

The counterbore shouldn't hurt accuracy, if anything, it helps it. Don't use the cleaning rod that comes with the mosin, it can cause damage to the crown of the rifle (which is why they counterbored some mosins in the first place). As long as the bore is fine, you should be ok.

Also, if it shoots like crap with one type of ammo, keep trying different varieties of ammo. One rifle might like Czech silvertip but shoot like crap with bulgarian light ball, one might do great with bulgarian light ball but shoot poorly with Czech silvertip. Each mosin is different when it comes to ammo choice.

The sling slots you have are early to mid WW2, roughly late 1941 to 1944. It's ok to use a sling without the metal escutcheons, it won't hurt the stock.

If you are going to use corrosive ammo, do you know how to clean afterwards?

Enjoy the new mosin, and when you get done with the wait, get us some pics!

[Capybara]

Thanks Mosin.

Yes, I have read a lot of different preventative medicine for shooting corrosive, Windex, Hoppes #9, boiling water, foaming cleaner, ammonia added to hot water, etc. Not sure which way is best, but I do understand the corrosive salts from the primer stay in the barrel and receiver and can cause corrosion. Which way do you recommend, this will definitely be my first experience with corrosive. Luckily where I live, it is pretty dry/low humidity most of the time so I am not worried about it rusting on the way home from the range.

All of my other guns seem to run happily on Frog Lube except for my Garand that needs real grease. I would suppose that I should skip the Frog Lube and use traditional Hoppes and grease on the Mosin as well?

[Vlad 11]

All of my other guns seem to run happily on Frog Lube except for my Garand that needs real grease. I would suppose that I should skip the Frog Lube and use traditional Hoppes and grease on the Mosin as well?

Mosins run best smeared with mud, blood , ice , or raw sewage from underneath Stalingrad

[Capybara]

Da comrade!

[angrytroll]

I started my mosin addiction with a m44 I picked up at a gun for 175. Then I picked up a 91/30 iz yesterday for 108 from big 5 and eye balled a Tula 91/30 they had. This one the manager is holding for me since I have dropped about a grand on guns in the past couple of months. The point is I planned on one mosin and now I am going on three with eyes on a hex receiver if I can find one.Have fun with yours ,I doudtImageUploadedByTapatalk1337758956.412523.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1337759000.375246.jpg it will be your last.

[mosinnagantm9130]

Thanks Mosin.

Yes, I have read a lot of different preventative medicine for shooting corrosive, Windex, Hoppes #9, boiling water, foaming cleaner, ammonia added to hot water, etc. Not sure which way is best, but I do understand the corrosive salts from the primer stay in the barrel and receiver and can cause corrosion. Which way do you recommend, this will definitely be my first experience with corrosive. Luckily where I live, it is pretty dry/low humidity most of the time so I am not worried about it rusting on the way home from the range.

All of my other guns seem to run happily on Frog Lube except for my Garand that needs real grease. I would suppose that I should skip the Frog Lube and use traditional Hoppes and grease on the Mosin as well?

For cleaning after corrosive ammo, I just head home and pour hot water down the barrel. Windex and the other methods you listed work too, but simple hot water is easy enough. I go over the bolt face also just to be on the safe side.

I don't use grease on my mosins, I just keep them well oiled with hoppes gun oil (not the bore cleanin stuff, actual oil).

When you store the mosin, make sure the bolt has a good coating of oil. They can rust otherwise.

[Capybara]

Do you remove the stock to pour the hot water down the barrel or are you just careful to not pour it on the stock? Do you use a funnel?

[Chaos47]

Personally I remove the stocks and use a funnel. Helps to have 2 people one to hold the rifle and funnel and one to pour the water, but I'm sure you could manage with one

[AK all day]

I personally use Windex because it can be sprayed down the barrel from the breach without any help, and also will get into the chamber and receiver a little bit. I just let it run down the barrel into a bucket and then clean like normal. I leave a coat of Tetra gun oil in the barrel and it seems to prevent rust well. I do not remove the stock when cleaning.