I was worried that in the event of a global tragedy that I wouldn't have the means to provide for and protect myself and my family with only a handgun. So, I picked this up over the weekend. It's a Mosin Nagant M91 from 1942 with a BSA 42mm red dot scope on it. I can't wait to get it to the range.
Nice 91/30, what arsenal is it from? I am a Mosin Nagant collector so of course I agree its a great buy (my avatar is one of my M91s)
[opinon] Try to keep it in original condition and avoid permanent alterations, or a $125 rifle will drop to $50 in spare parts on the rifle market. Bubbas who hack up these rifles help drive the prices up on originals. [\opinion]
They seem to shoot high with light ball, most of my Russians prefer 172 to 200+ grain ammo, the light ball in the 148gr range is for semiautos like PSLs, Tokarevs, and Dragunovs.
I took it out and shot it with the red dot scope. The mounting was horrible on the scope, it splayed all over the place. I only had 20 rounds since the range ruled out my Tulammo rounds (steel core). So after 11 rounds of hitting air, I took off the red dot and went with no rear sights. Got 6 of 9 shots on the paper at 50 yards. I am now looking to purchase some original rear sights. If anyone has a rear sight set ( have the base, just need the sight and the leaf spring), let me know, otherwise I am going to order. Also, I'd be happy to let this BSA 42mm red dot scope go to a new home.
Also, they are on ebay almost all the time. If you wanted to do better than the hooded post on the front of your 91/30 and the sliding rear sight, try these:
The only scope set up that has ever consistently worked on Mosin Nagants, in my opinion, is the side mount scope like the original sniper variants had. You permanenetly alter a rifle when making a side mount scope but people have made up these fake Russian sniper rifles using a Russian scope mount and scope. You also have to get a bent bolt handle.
My experience has been that I shoot pretty well with the original open sights, I won a (not real formal) milsurp marksmanship contest once with a M44 once. hey can be good rifles, but before you make any permanent alterations and try to scope it, first see if it shoot good enough to scope. Lots of Soviet rifles shot 'good enough' but not so great that a scope is going to get you anything better than the good ol' "Mk.1 eyeball."
I used to run a site called "Headsbunker" where I was somewhat of a Mosin restoration expert, so I'm not trying to fill you with hot air.
I am going to go with the original iron sights. I did pretty well with no rear sight at all, so i am going to see how I do with the rear sight on. I ordered one off of Liberty Tree Collectors. Check out all this Mosin stuff!
Fantastic, looking forward to how it shoots. These shoot a little high normally. I just bought a replacement sight base for an old barrel I had lying around because of this thread. Mosinitis will get you! ;-)
Here is my marine Corps Lance Corporal and shooting instructor helping me get it sighted in at the range last weekend. We still have a bit to go but are getting close. His girlfriend came with us. I also posted her first ever shot.
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