Posted on 02/03/2011 4:00:41 PM PST by TexasBarak
Snowed in three days so far (iced in, actually!)- in West Texas, of all places! I can't go to work, can't even work in my shop! So, I got some video editing software for my iphone, and put together a little vid of my first time shooting my 91-30.
Before trying it out, I ordered a "field" headspace gauge from Okieguages.com ($26, with shipping). It passed that test, I ordered some stripper clips and a rubber buttplate off Ebay, and I was ready to go!
I think you meant okiegauges.com :)
When I took mine to the range for the first time, the entire firing line stopped and stared in my direction as that 39x54R cartridge fired!
It was the first time I’d fired it after buying a pair for $80 and taking the best parts of each for one. Was scared that the 100 year old rifle might not hold together, but it did.
Cool. Were you shooting surplus or new ammo?
“100 year old rifle might not hold together, but it did.”
What year or years did you get to put together? I like the older hex receivers
lol- for some reason, I always switch those two letters!
Surplus- came with the rifle. The wife was about ten feet off to the side, and said she felt the concussion on her legs.
What year was the rifle and did it come from the Tula or the Izhevsk factory?
(any problems with “sticky bolt” syndrome?)
Now you need the carbine version, the M44! #9 on the 10 manliest guns list:
http://www.arthurshall.com/x_2007_manly_firearms.shtml
“#9: Mosin-Nagant M44
Speaking of guns without safeties, here’s the Mosin-Nagant M44 Carbine from Russia. The Mosin was used by the Russians against the Finns, the Finns against the Russians, the Estonians against the Russians, the Russians against the Russians, and the Russians against the Germans. It does, in fact, have a safety, but it’s quite hard to engage. But this is not a complaint one would ever voice in the Red Army. Your officer would reply, “Safety? Safety? Is gun! Meant to kill! No warrior should know he has safety on gun, because he should be killing enemies of homeland! Safety make loud click to aid enemy in locating warriors! No safety!” while pounding his fist on the table.
And the Mosin can kill enemies of homeland. The muzzle blast will vaporize green growth within a few feet of the muzzle, and even if you miss, the enemy will be reduced to shouting “WHAT?” to communicate. You’ll need a recoil pad or shooting jacket. Ordinarily, this might be considered unmanly, but this rifle has a short stock for using while wearing several layers of wool for a Russian winter. It is acceptable to wear padding to fire a Mosin.
Of course, there are also M38, 91/30 and other variations of Mosin-Nagant and all are cool. All, also (except the M38), come with a bayonet. Russian doctrine held that the bayonet was mounted except while traveling in a vehicle, because the Russians understood that an empty rifle could still be a pointy stick—a Viking spear. The Russians loved to spear Turks. So, coincidentally, did the Vikings. This rifle sounds better all the time, doesn’t it? The Finns used the Mosin as a sniper rifle during the Winter War, and their greatest Sniper was Simo Häyhä, who had 500 confirmed kills in 100 days. This is a man the Finns describe as “modest” and “self-effacing.” It’s a good thing the Russians didn’t run into a Finn who was proud and arrogant. They’d have been wiped out.
It fires a 7.62X54R (for “Rimmed”) cartridge, about as powerful as .30-06, and holds the distinction of being in service from 1891 to the present, longer than any other military cartridge. It is still used in Dragunovs, PKMs and other Russian weapons. It’s cheap in quantity. So are the rifles, because they were built for (all variations) over 70 years, by Russia, Finland, Poland, Romania, even the US. As I write this, arsenal-new M44s are $55 to $200. At that price, you should have several, so any guests you have during the Collapse can be outfitted as they receive Enlightenment. Then they can rape, kill, sack and loot with the rest of the men who secure a new Dark Ages to hasten the new renaissance. It will be a manly duty.”
Long Mosey Ping.
I have an Argentine Mauser from 1891 that I guess was a parade weapon. Other than the Argentine crest which appears to have been ground off, the rifle is 95 percent. All part numbers match. I have a bayonet for the era but don't know if it's correct.
Surplus is usually loaded a bit hotter and uses corrosive powder, but lots cheaper to shoot!
Beware cheap aftermarket supressors. Had one blow up in my face at the range. Rifle survived, I had minor eye and face injuries that I did recover from completely.
Ping for later and the other link. I like the Mosin,, but I like Mausers better. (Its the 8mm rimless cartridge that makes it sexy)
“aftermarket supressors”
Flash suppressor, I presume?
I tried one and it never would stay tight. The rubber butt pad is ok, but, since I like to shoot original as possible, I use a recoil pad.
1942, and it came from Izhevsk. It also bears refurbishment stamps on both the barrel shank and the stock.
The only thing that sets this one apart from other MN's in any way that I can tell is that it has a Remington bolt body! I figure that the old one was broken, an when it was in for refurb, that was just what they grabbed out of the bin.
1916 & 1917. So technically not quite 100 years.
That's pretty badass.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.