My first Russian....

[Allred]

Well, I finally quit worrying about the dark & pitted bore, and took the M19/30 out to shoot. I had cleaned and recleaned the barrel numerous times, still pretty dark, but the best I could do. I wasn't expecting much from the 150 gr reloads I had put together for it and my M39.

I loaded both .308" and .312" Hornady bullets, with H4895 powder, to predicted velocity of 2500 fps for first outing.

I shot both bullet sizes, through both the M91/30 and the much better condition barreled M39, and chronographed both.

Results, shot from sand-bags & bench, were very comparable, and pleasantly surprising. Recorded velocities averaged 2575 fps in both rifles, with both bullet diameters; and the standard deviation of all shots from both rifles was only 36 fps. Accuracy for all was 2-3" groups at 50 yards.

The shiny bored M39 shot 2" groups, the dark pitted M91/30 shot 2.5 to 3" groups. I think both could do better if my old eyes weren't so blurry when trying to line up the sights! I did swap a Mojo aperture rear sight on to the M39, and think that is the biggest reason it grouped a bit better than the M91/30 with original post & notch sights.

This weekend I'm going to slug the bores of both rifles, so as to have a better idea which bullet diameter is best, and also measure chamber free-bore so as to be able to adjust cartridge overall length to suit.

I am also going to search out some spherical (ball) type powder loads, as the H4895 and other rod type powders DO NOT drop consistant charge weights from my progressive reloader. I think that also may have contributed to the size of 50 yard groupings.

All in all, I am enjoying my first, and now, second Russian/Finnish rifles!

I'll post some further details and photos soon.

[vintage hunter]

How does bayonet position affect point of impact with the M44? I have two made by Tula, one in '44 the other in'48. Unfortunately i have been unable to put the theory to the test due to their conditions. Bubba sawed the bayo. attachment off the '48 but it's the best shooting Mosin Nagant i've ever owned. With the exception of my Finnish M39. The '44 is all original but it suffers from blunderbuss-itus of the muzzle and produces 3 FOOT ''patterns'' @ 50 yds. I have a couple shotguns that will keep all the buckshot pellets in a 24'' circle that far.

[blackcat_attilio]

Here are the patches from first couple of passes through the bore of my "clean on the outside" refurbished M91/30. Wow

It is about as clean as I can get it now, not shiny, and still quite rough. I'm going to put a dozen or so rounds down range with it. Then clean it some more....maybe it will be OK?

What came out of your bargain-basement milsurp the first time you cleaned it?

...Bleah...!

The "orange brown" stuff looks like cosmoline. I'd try to get that out of the barrel before firing it.

I have three 91/30's that didn't look too good until they were cleaned. Two came out with bright bores, one slightly dark but with strong rifling. Shooting it will determine if it's accurate or not, visual inspections don't always indicate the accuracy of the rifle by any means.

None of my three had cosmoline in the barrels. They all needed cleaning but it was more like normal fouling. Pads came out black and dry. Cleaning solutions and a bore brush should clean out the gunk.

I agree. You have to clean up the bore very well before to shoot.
BTW... I wish you "have a nice time" cleaning up!
Beside that, she seems to be a nice Lady. Let's know how she shoots