Mosin Nagant Accuracy...

[cipherk98]

Since this thread got bumped, I discovered the hard way at a match last weekend that these were not designed to use a hasty sling... noticed when I used my sling my shots were way low, by the time it was over my rear sight was at 400 and still shooting about 2.5-3" low at 100. Had no idea why it happened, but in the middle of the night had a thought about the difference in doctrine, mainly how to the users of these rifles, a sling was just something to carry it with.

Next morning I checked the gun, and found it extremely easy to pull the fore end down when rigged up like that due to how thin the wood is, loose barrel bands probably not helping. Why it didn't happen my last match no idea, though I recall ditching the sling after sitting sighters because it was annoying me and too short for whatever reason that day. Next time I will probably just try to wrap the sling around the handguard and fore end together. Funny the things you learn...

Information

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[capt14k]

Finn Rifles can of course be improved by making the same improvements the Finns made. The M/28 became a M/28-30 which IMO is the most accurate of the Finnish battle issued rifles. Then they were improved with the M/28-57. Stocks were shimmed and sometimes bedded. Rear Diopter was added and front tunnel. Then came the M/28-76 which they changed the stock, bedded some of them, and upgraded the trigger on some as well to the TKIV M/85 trigger. I just bought one of those triggers. I will likely install it in my M/28-76. So yes a Finnish rifle can be improved upon after it leaves the arsenal.

As for the Finnish Captured Russian Mosins such as the 91/30 they likely have had done to them all that can be done. I would not purchase one if accuracy was my goal unless I was on a very tight budget. I would choose a Swiss Rifle or Enfield instead.

Here is the M/85 trigger. Just a little different than your typical Finnish Mosin Trigger.

[Frederick303]

One way the Soviets could improve the consistency of the 91/30 accuracy was to wrap the barrel in felt around 7 inches from the end of the barrel, held in place by the upper band and the bands. It is essentially a nodal damping method. I forget but believe the felt was between 110 and 120 mm long. Apparently it was approved for use in both competitive and sniper rifles.

No idea on the average improvement, just read about it years ago and put down as a note.

The Soviets did make low end match rifles out of the 91/30 rifles, with the standard barrel. Some examples are shown in the book "Competitive shooting" A.A. Yur Yev. 1973.

They are shown on page 376 and include the AV, AVL, and BI 7.72, with the AV being nothing more than a regular 91/30 with a slightly shorten barrel, rear sight removed, restocked with a near military stock and an added target sight, set up for 300 m shooting. The sight adjustments were 1.5 cm at that distance on all of the 7.62 models, slightly better than the 2 cm which is standard with western European sight adjustments of that era (10 cm 10 ring @ 300 M).

As far as ammunition, "target" grade cartridges showing D100 of around 10~13 cm @ 300 M (20 shots). The extra cartridges were supposed to show under 9 cm 20 shot grouping at the same distance. The best "extra" lots will show grouping on the order of R 2.5 to 2.7 cm and D100 of 4.8 to 5.1 cm, which is right in line with the GP11 better production lots.

That said I have no idea about how well these rifles shot, as there is precious little information on them and the expected Extra accuracy combined with the various Mosin based match rifles or even the standard service rifle..

[Aragorn243]

I don't know if anyone pointed this out on this thread or not but 91-30's were designed to be fired with the bayonet on. You may want to try that at the range next time. I never could quite figure out in my head what difference the bayonet would make but I guess it changes the barrel resonance or something.

[browningautorifle]

I never could quite figure out in my head what difference the bayonet would make but I guess it changes the barrel resonance or something.

It will do that for sure.

[Chainfire]

Accuracy of any military surplus rifle is dependent on the condition. Accuracy in general depends primarily upon the rifleman, the ammo and the rifle. A lot of variables. Most Mosin-Nagant rifles are more accurate than most "riflemen." If you are looking for 1 MOA, buy a modern rifle and a nice scope. If you want a battle veteran rifle, buy a Mosin, or a Mauser, on an Enfield, or .........

[browningautorifle]

A lot of variables. Most Mosin-Nagant rifles are more accurate than most "riflemen." If you are looking for 1 MOA, buy a modern rifle and a nice scope. If you want a battle veteran rifle, buy a Mosin, or a Mauser, on an Enfield, or .........

All sound thoughts, most rifles are more accurate than their shooter...