Bolt Face Difference Mosin Nagant 91/30

[usabaker]

I was sorting through my Mosin Nagants and noticed that there is a variation between bolt faces between the rifles made at the Izhevsk arsenal. I've found little information on the design change on the web, although I'm still reading through the material.

I just found it curious, has anyone done any research on this difference?

I guess I should stop buying Mosin Nagant LOL, I would not have really noticed it otherwise.

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[Dannyboy53]

I was sorting through my Mosin Nagants and noticed that there is a variation between bolt faces between the rifles made at the Izhevsk arsenal. I've found little information on the design change on the web, although I'm still reading through the material.

I just found it curious, has anyone done any research on this difference?

I guess I should stop buying Mosin Nagant LOL, I would not have really noticed it otherwise.

Attachment 120249

This is the first I have heard of this also. Not unusual however as I have never owned a MN unfortunately.

[jond41403]

The first I've heard of it too, but I have a 1943 all matching from the same arsenal and mine has the bolt face on the right.

[usabaker]

I have a 1943 all matching from the same arsenal and mine has the bolt face on the right.

The one on the right came out of a post-war 1953 Mosin Nagant, Thinking about it now, this particular Mosin has a HEX receiver and a Russian Star which is odd because I thought they stopped making Hex receivers sometime in the 1930's. Now I'm going to have to go pull the rifle out of the safe again.

[jond41403]

I wonder if the change coincided with the change from hex receiver to rounded? Unfortunately I don't own a hex receiver.Hopefully enough people will chime in with different years on their Mosens to narrow down when that change happened. Very interesting difference in the bolt faces though! It's almost as the older one was designed with a channel to hold more carbon fouling before disturbing the interaction of the bolt face to casing or something. I have no idea what that would be for, just a guess. Whatever it was, it obviously wasn't necessary because they ended up not using that style. Thank you for posting the comparison picture, very interesting

[usabaker]

It's almost as the older one was designed with a channel to hold more carbon fouling before disturbing the interaction of the bolt face to the casing or something. I have no idea what that would be for, just a guess. Whatever it was, it obviously wasn't necessary because they ended up not using that style. Thank you for posting the comparison picture, very interesting

I took a 7.62x54R casing and the Arsenal Refinish, the one with the larger relief, is almost exactly the size of the base of the cartridge to where it is beveled. So really the other bolt face that is larger and has the smaller relief adds no additional support.

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[Singer B]

I'm not sure if this will help, but it is here for your review. I pulled my Mosin bolts and photographed them. One photo is with flash and the other without. The bolts are identified from left to right as

1934 Izhevsk 91/30 hex, all matching
1948 Izhevsk M44 round, all matching
1945 Izhevsk M44 round, all matching
1930 Tula 91/30 hex, all matching
1936 Tula 91/30 round, matching bolt/receiver

I included the information reference "matching" so you would know that the year of the bolts are confirmed by the year on the matching receiver.

I didn't include my 1941 M-39 with matching bolt/hex receiver.

Hope it helps!

Attachment 120267Attachment 120268

[usabaker]

I'm not sure if this will help, but it is here for your review. I pulled my Mosin bolts and photographed them. One photo is with flash and the other without. The bolts are identified from left to right as

Singer, Thank you! it's interesting that there really isn't a pattern based on the year with the ones you have. I need to dig all of mine out and do the same, I have a few that are not arsenal refinished though so that puts some doubt on if the bolt face is original to that bolt or a replacement. THanks again

[Singer B]

I thought there might be a difference between the Izhvesks and the Tulas. The only one that appears different in the group is the 1936 Tula (larger center face). That rifle has a 36,××× serial number so I believe it is one of the first batch of round receiver Tula 91/30s. The 1930 Tula appears to have the same bolt face as the Izhvesks. Damn those Russians!!