My $125.00 1943 Mosin Nagant 91/30

I picked up the Mosin Nagant 91/30 that I won for $125.00 on Gunbroker on Thursday (7/11/2019) from my FFL (even though I’m a type 3 FFL Stupid CA). I got it home and checked the headspace; nothing matches on this rifle, but I knew that when I bought it and all the more reason that I wanted to check the headspace.

It’s in pretty rough condition but much better than I thought it was. Since I had RSO duty at San Diego South Bay Rod and Gun club I took the rifle out and put some rounds on paper. I didn’t want to run good ammo through it so I grabbed a few rounds of Silver Bear 174 Grain that was given to me a while back. It didn’t shoot too bad even with the crapy Silver Bear ammo and crapy old eyes through the iron sights. The grouping at 100 yards should be better with good ammo and after putting a little work into the rifle. That is if I decide to keep it, not quite sure what I want to do with it; did not expect to win the auction with a minimum bid LOL.


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Well spent $125.00

It's in better condition than the $360 rifles Cabelas is selling at present. They are really bad bottom of the barrel stuff. I mean buried in the mud under the barrels stuff.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

It's in better condition than the $360 rifles Cabelas is selling at present. They are really bad bottom of the barrel stuff.

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350.00 seems a bit steep since you can still get arsenal refurbs in the cosmolean for about at still. Mechanically this rifle is sound, the stock and buttplate are the parts that are in need. Since nothing matches anyhow I might just get another stock, recrown the barrel and call it good.

Congratulations on what could turn out to be an even better bargain than you thought!

The stock could be greatly improved by a bit of TLC, and the bore could be improved by some elbow-grease. That's nice strong rifling lurking under decades of hard-baked deposits. First of all de-coppering, and then shoot/clean shoot/clean... but don't waste your money on crud ammo. That just makes the rifle look bad.

So spend your money on good ammo, not a replacement stock. Rather good results from a clean bore in a "been there, done that" stock than indifferent results in a shiny showpiece.

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Originally Posted by Patrick Chadwick

Congratulations on what could turn out to be an even better bargain than you thought!

The stock could be greatly improved by a bit of TLC ........So spend your money on good ammo, not a replacement stock. Rather good results from a clean bore in a "been there, done that" stock than indifferent results in a shiny showpiece.

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I’ve been leaning more and more toward reviving the existing stock. Once I get her cleaned up I’ll drop some match Ammo though her.

I’d be interested to know what grain bullets these old girls prefer

Thanks Bill

I get the best results with the Hornady type 3130 180gn round-nose bullets. The long cylindrical section gives much better guidance in the typical more-or-less worn military chamber throat than any kind of spitzer or (to be avoided) boat-tail bullet.

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Originally Posted by Patrick Chadwick

I get the best results with the Hornady type 3130 180gn round-nose bullets. The long cylindrical section gives much better guidance in the typical more-or-less worn military chamber throat than any kind of spitzer or (to be avoided) boat-tail bullet.

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Patrick, Thank you for the information and help.

That could clean up pretty nicely. It is a pretty good example of a 1942 production and how desperate they were getting, the stock looks to be the hurried version with out ferrules around the slots for the sling. You might clean the stock off first and may be hit it with some ballistol and see what happens.

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Originally Posted by Brewer

You might clean the stock off first and may be hit it with some ballistol and see what happens.

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Yeah, I'll need to do some repairs as well, at the back of the receiver tang relief some of the wood is missing. I have a chunk of Mosin wood that I can cut a graf out of.

I bought my first Mosin years ago at a flea market here in my area billed as the largest in the midwest. It was in pretty bad condition and it only had gotten worse. I was able to get my money's worth out of her. I then stripped it down and retained all the parts. (Except the barrel as it was beyond repairs by this time) I was pretty young and got it for a song, like $50 about 20 years ago. No matching numbers, stock was in fair shape as was the magazine, bolt etc. I keep the parts on hand in case of future need. I now have two more and they are in very good condition and shoot very well. I like to reload for them also.

She is a beauty! So much character and experience in that piece of wood and metal. It is in a 100% better shape than the $239 rifle I purchased from Classic (never ever again). Congrats and enjoy!