First Mosin!

[Zzarkzul]

Just picked up my first Mosin Nagant from Big 5 today. It was caked in Cosmoline. About to go get some simple green to clean it up. Here are the details:

Details:

• 1931 Izhevsk
• All matching numbers. (Minus bayonet) (Not force-matched)
• Serial: 10xxx
• Counter Bored

Barrel Shanks:

• Provisional black powder proof
• Final black powder proof
• Point of aim proof
• Concentric "00" Accuracy proof
• Arms depot/refurbishment mark

There are some other markings on there that I can't quite make out but I'll give it another try later.

Wood Shanks:

• H

What do you think? How did I do

[CEDaytonaRydr]

Welcome to the revolution, Comrade...

[Capybara]

Let us know how the Simple Green works on cosmoline. I tried degreaser and it helped a bit but not nearly as much as boiling water that just melts it away.

[h0use]

it wont be your last mosin =) buy a few spam cans of ammo as well.

[SKSer45]

HAH! The Fatherland has something for your Bolshevik Revolution!

On a serious not let us know how Simple Green Works. I have heard some mixed reviews on it which is why I haven't switched from Mineral Spirits.

[TacticalPlinker]

Let us know how the Simple Green works on cosmoline. I tried degreaser and it helped a bit but not nearly as much as boiling water that just melts it away.

Simple Green works great. Especially with hot water. But you'll have to scrub regardless, cosmo is tough to remove. It also works good on rust but it will reveal pitting underneath the rust more often than not.

Two notes I've learned the hard way from experience;

#1. Don't leave your parts soaking in Simple Green for too long, especially when mixed with water. It will start to rust very quickly. See below for why it will rust.

#2. Simple Green will literally remove everything from the metal, even the finish if you scrub hard enough. So beware of that. But also, it will remove any grease or oils in the metal and as such metal will be more vulnerable to rust if you leave it soaking or don't use some sort of oil on the metal shortly after cleaning.

[BucDan]

Nice! I wanted to pick up a mosin myself at my local big 5, but i was looking for a hex receiver one. The one I saw was 1940 dated as the lady behind the counter told me.

[Zzarkzul]

Tried to get Simple Green but my local Walmart did not have it? I searched the entire store. I ended up just using my Dawn Dish soap with hot water and it worked like a champ.

I did however scrap off any bluing that was still on the rifle, though before I started cleaning it, 70% of it was scraped off already, it has seen a lot of use. The barrel looks magnificent though. My brother also picked one up too, used the dish soap, and it did not hurt his bluing, mine was flaking off already. The outside of the barrel has some very, very minor pitting due to rust when it was used back in the day.

After cleaning we lightly lubed up everything with Hoppes Gun Oil. The stocks are awaiting a hair dryer appointment tomorrow.

We split a case of '73 surplus ammo from SGAmmo.com, $166 shipped is a great deal for 880rds. 360 rounds of 7.62x54r neatly stacked inside of a .30cal ammo can fit.

I've been looking for this marking on the 7.62 site but I can't find anything about it. It looks like a T with an extra horizontal line on the T and with hanging sides.

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[SKSer45]

Hmmm I think I will stick with Mineral Spirits. For some reason that just works great and really protects the metal. I think Dawn will be a good back up.

[navycorpsman]

Yup Mineral Spirits then use hot water. Its almost effortless

[Beetle Bailey]

I've used Simple Green plus a bucket of hot water before. It got rid of the cosmoline and I just soaked all the metal parts in CLP afterwards, as always. No prob.

[Vlad 11]

Scraped the bluing off ???

Bluing doesn't just scrape or flake right off

[rojocorsa]

Sounds like you did well. Get some pictures and go shoot the damn thing.

[chknlyps2]

I have had the best results with brake clean and a tooth brush for cosmo removal. Just don't get it on the wood.

A nickle works good on rust, just rub the edge over the rusty spots with a little oil and it does pretty well.

[sixoclockhold]

What ever you do, wear protection. That thing will multiply and before you know it you will have Mosin's running all over the house.