Question for those who have "Accurized" a Mosin 91/30

[Crusader]

This question is for those of you that have tried "accurizing" your 91/30s. In your experience, how much, if at all, did your groups improve once you either/or corked the barrel and receiver and sanded out the handguards to "free float" the barrel?

I took two of my Mosins to the range today, one of which spits out about an 8 or 9 inch group at 100 yards, the other about a 4 or 5 inch group at 100 yards, both with open sights. Granted this was with open sights, and I don't have the greatest of vision... but I'm able to get about a 3 inch group out of my SKS and that has the same type of sights but a shorter sight radius, so I don't think it's me.

I'm hoping these groups can be improved, and am curious if anyone has hands-on experience with these two modifications.

[6mmintl]

first thing to do:

If you have the two pin Finnish trigger your way ahead of the game. But your typical Moison trigger is heavy and you rarely know when it will go off.

Things to check:

• Are all sear engagement surfaces for flatness and no gouges or rounded edges.
• Check looseness of firing pin in bolt body (does the cocking piece move up and down with the pulling of the trigger?), if it does before or after replacing any parts you may need to tighten up the fit/reduce the clearance of the forward tang against the bolt body (a 1/16 ball of weld and then careful filing/polishing of the weld ball till there is .002 clearance between cocking piece and bolt body.

• Third is there excessive side play (side to side movement of the trigger)in the trigger/receiver caused by worn/undersize trigger pin, worn/oversize receiver trigger pin holes?

The Fix:

The best way to start and the first thing to do is go with the largest diameter pin that will fit into the trigger (try different size drills till you have a .001 slip fit) Cut the drill shank off the width of the receiver ears and reassemble. Check to see if the pull has increased of is at least consistent. I usually drill the trigger pin hole (.165” Dia. Drill) and the receiver trigger pin holes to get the best fit of the oversize trigger pin/drill. You may have to enlarge the trigger slot in the bottom metal/magazine if the trigger now rubs bottom metal, use a file and or polishing stones to smooth/open up trigger slot. I have/can mill the trigger slot wider to give more clearance to the trigger during movement.

Sear/spring, check to see if all surfaces are square smooth and not rounded, look at wear pattern on sear and carefully stone smooth, I also lighten/thin the trigger spring on the top (screw head) side by grinding about .012 off width and also polish the surface where the two trigger pins rub/wear.


Assemble parts; apply lubricant (moly disulfide) on all wear surfaces, make sure you tighten sear/sear spring screw while the sear spring is centered inside the recess/cutout in the receiver and not rubbing against the side.

Check to see if operation is smoother and trigger breaks cleanly, if you cannot or do not know how to do this minor rework buy a few new sear/springs and reinstall and test/try pull to see if it is better/lighter/more consistent than the original parts.

This is what you have to do if you want a nice crisp 2 3/4 to 3 lb single/two stage trigger pull.

I know it is modifying the rifle but if you’re a SERIOUS MILSURP shooter/competitor this is the way to go, if your a collector swap out parts till you heart is content.

After this you can compare groups, then:

Start checking crown/muzzle wear, if worn counter bore to fresh rifling.

Clean inside bolt/Polish firing pin to speed up lock time, replace firing pin spring if firing pin is sluggish.

Now you can bed/pillar bed, or cork gasket all you like and again compare groups.

[Josh Smith]

First target shot after pressure pad added.


Sighted in with my first prototype sight.


Match handloads; rifle was shimmed at this time.


Just another group.


And another.


Handload with 0.308" bullets.

I shot all of the above uncorrected with 20/60 vision in my shooting eye.

Regards,

Josh