[RufusTFirefly]

Just picked up a Russian 1891 Mosin-Nagant today at a gunshow (totally impulse buy- $100)

Prior to today, I had zero knowledge/experience with these rifles. My initial two questions are:

1. How does one remove the bolt?

2. Is there any type of safety mechanism?

Thanks for any help...

Rufus

[Jpyle]

Very simple to get the bolt out.

As always, first step is to clear the rifle and ensure that all rounds are cleared from the chamber AND the magazine. There is a thumb latch on the bottom of the magazine near the trigger guard. Open it and let any rounds drop out the bottom, do not cycle any rounds through the action with the bolt until you have determined the condition of the gun...a damaged or incorrectly assembled bolt or firing pin could "slam fire" the gun.

Once the gun is cleared and safe simply open the action, hold back the trigger and slide the bolt back and out of the receiver. Reassemble by reversing these steps.

There is a rudimentary safety on the MN, the rear of the bolt pulls out, rotate about 15 degrees and sit into notch on bolt at about the 10:00 o'clock position. Not very useful when you are being shot at but works for transport I guess.

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinDisassembly.htm

[RufusTFirefly]

Jpyle: Thank you so much for the info. Yes, the bolt came right out! As for the "safety", I really don't like it (it's cumbersome) I will pretend that this gun doesn't have one. And thank you also for the link. Good stuff. THANK YOU!

Rufus

[303tom]

Here is another one.

Collecting and Shooting the Mosin-Nagant 1891/30 - HISTORY

[RufusTFirefly]

Thank you Tom.. mine has the "Tula" star- 1939. I would like to imagine it had seen combat service against the Germans (nothing against the members from Germany )

Rufus

[Jpyle]

Originally Posted by RufusTFirefly

Thank you Tom.. mine has the "Tula" star- 1939. I would like to imagine it had seen combat service against the Germans (nothing against the members from Germany )

Rufus

Given the state of the Russian military during the war that's not too hard to imagine. These rifles weren't produced from scarce resources to sit in a warehouse, they went straight to the front lines. With that in mind, check the bore at the muzzle for signs of counterboring. Most of the cleaning was done muzzle to chamber and the rifling was invariably damaged at the muzzle on a good number of the in-service guns. The ones that survived the war were counterbored to return them to usable accuracy.

[RufusTFirefly]

Jpyle: This is what I'm getting with mine on some Chezc 7.62x54 surplus. What do you think? (pic out of focus, but red band is where bullet meets case)

Rufus

[Jpyle]

Originally Posted by RufusTFirefly

Jpyle: This is what I'm getting with mine on some Chezc 7.62x54 surplus. What do you think? (pic out of focus, but red band is where bullet meets case)

Rufus

Looks like it could be counterbored but the bullet test is not 100% since a worn barrel will also allow the bullet to drop in. Shine a light down the barrel, the counterbore will be clearly visible, there will be a ridge or shoulder where the counterbore ends, about 1/2" or so, and the bored section will not have any visible rifling. A counterbored rifle is perfectly servicable and will be more accurate than an original rifle with a damaged crown so there is really no downside to having one, it's just one way to determine if the rifle was issued and used; although no actual determination can be made unless it's a captured rifle.

[RufusTFirefly]

I don't have a way to capture a pic, but just by eyesight, I can see rifling throughout the entire length of the barrel...

Rufus

[Jpyle]

Originally Posted by RufusTFirefly

I don't have a way to capture a pic, but just by eyesight, I can see rifling throughout the entire length of the barrel...

Rufus

Ok, well that seals the deal...not counterbored. You've got yourself a nice rifle there, a '39 Tula is something most would drool over, I've got a '38 Izhevsk that I just got cleaned up and range ready.

http://www.firearmstalk.com/forums/f37/mosin-clean-up-50737/