Thinking about building a Nagant Sniper

[mdrim13]

Ive wanted a 91/30 sniper for some time now. I have wanted to restore an ex sniper to its original configuration. Ive been watching the prices of PU scopes on ebay and there is one up now that seems like a reasonable price but Im not sure how to make sure one is real and not a repro. What does everyone think of building a sniper? Is it worh the time an effort? Is it hard to find an ex-sniper to restore? Would it be more expensive than a regular Nagant?Ill post a link below to the scope im looking at...please let me know what you think asap because it is close to ending.

Thanks,
mdrim13

http://www.ebay.com/itm/280790791496...84.m1438.l2649

Information

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[MeatMarket]

Hi, I can't tell you for sure if that is an original wartime production scope or not, but for an original, the price seems pretty low. It's also missing the base plate for the mount. To build your own you'll need a turned down bolt handle as I'm sure you already know. For that you'll either have to have the straight bolt altered which will ruin it's value (depending on the method I think {hopefully some real experts will reply with better advice}) or you'll have to get a repro sniper bolt. Finding original sniper bolts on their own is next to impossible unless I haven't looked in all the right places. I haven't been able to find any myself. In my personal opinion, I'd be against building your own since it wouldn't be the "real deal" and go for buying an original sniper rifle. You can actually buy a rebuilt sniper rifle for about $300-$500. Originals, however hard to find, will be closer to $1000. One dealer reputed to have originals for $800 is rguns.net. I believe there are a couple other dealers who have originals but I'm not sure who exactly. Wherever you look, you'll find far more false or rebuilt sniper rifles than originals and should do some research on how to identify the originals from fakes. I bought a book that goes into detail on the Mosin Nagant rifles and can help in identifying what you want.

[Aragorn243]

I'm in the process of doing the same thing.

First, I'm not concerned with getting an original scope. The setup will never be original so I see no point in going to the added expense of an original scope when I can get a functional repro that looks the same for a third the price.

Second, there is no real destroying of value with anything you do to a refurbished 91-30. Creating a rebuilt sniper is going to increase it's value no matter how you do it. Not difficult to do this when the rifle retails for $79.

On the scope in question, some dodgy answers to valid questions on the bottom of the page. Price is already higher than a repro scope and it is missing it's baseplate which will add to the final cost.

I'm starting with an ex-sniper, I have a repro scope I picked up with mount for $130 from Sportsman's Guide, with coupons, etc it was actually around $110. Tapping I will either do myself or get done by my local gun shop. Price is $10 per hole which is $20 for the screws, the pegs I can drill myself without difficulty once the screw are in place. I have read that some places are charging $80 to mount a PU base. Plan was originally to use the same holes but apparently this rifle had a mount for other than a PU as the holes are not close to where they should be. They have been filled and welded over.

Turned bolt service on ebay is running between $30-$35 on ebay depending on who you go with. Seems to be two different guys doing it in two different ways. I'm leaning toward the welded version but have not sent it out yet.

I have fired the rifle prior to going through all this. Not much point putting a scope on something that isn't capable of accuracy worthy of it. Shoots extremely well with open sights. Bore is excellent.

So my final cost is going to be roughly $250 or less if I tap it myself, considerably less than the $400 they are being sold for.

[kar98k]

that scope is legit. the screws on the turrets on original scopes will be round, reproduction scopes have flat headed turret screws. the screws on those turrets can be seen above the turret if you look at it from the side.

here's the cool thing. that is actually an SVT 40 scope. it can be used on a 91/30, but it was made for the SVT 40 and is rarer because of this. you can tell because manufacturer stamp for Factory 357 is in between the mount rings on this one instead of behind them as it would be on a 91/30 for that factory. also, that bulge in front of the rear lens cover; that is only seen on the SVT 40 scopes.

here is a picture of my 91/30 scope made by the same company to show the differences:



the scope mount looks to be an original too. it looks sturdier and made of steel. the repros are aluminum and are known to crack when you tighten screws.

this is a nice, real scope for a great price.

[mdrim13]

aragorn,

i have been thinking about this build for a while now. In my searches for parts I have come across an original bent handle bolt body. I like this better than the service on ebay.

[Aragorn243]

I successfully drilled and taped the PU mount this evening. Did the pegs first which was recommended and then did the screws. Went a lot easier than I was expecting it too. I got a good drill bit, tap and cutting oil. Clamped the mount in place with a pair of vise grips and used the peg holes as guides. Bore sighted it with no problems in the horizontal but had to shim it a bit with the vertical. Bolt went out on Tuesday, will be a week or two before I get it back. Tomorrow I'll inlet the stock.

[mdrim13]

Bolt went out on Tuesday, will be a week or two before I get it back. Tomorrow I'll inlet the stock.

Could you not find an original or were you wanting the number to match?

[Aragorn243]

I did some looking around and the only bolts I was able to locate were original bolts modified to sniper style which is what I'm getting through the ebay service. It costs about $30 less as I'm providing my own bolt and the numbers will match when it is finished. They tried to make it appear you were getting original sniper bolts but you weren't. But even with that, some of the guys out there are willing to re-number the bolts anyway so that doesn't mean much these days.

It's never going to be a "real" sniper again, even though it once was one so it isn't really that important to me that everything be original. I just want to have something that looks and feels like it should and is fun to shoot.

I can't afford the real good stuff so I make due with what I can afford and that is usually fixer uppers.

[Aragorn243]

Inletted the stock this morning. That went well. Just used a utility knife and a small piece of sandpaper and took off about a 16th of an inch each time and checking in between. Now to make a shim. Have to find something first, I think I have some thin brass plate in the basement. Tried another bolt in it this morning and no hangups on the new screw holes. Other option for shimming would be to grind down the front of the mount but I think I'll try the brass first and see how that works. It can't come out of there once inserted.

Brass was too thick but I had some heavy stock aluminum that seems to be just right. About a 32nd inch thick is all it needed.

[Aragorn243]

Some photos. The scope and mount are Firefield brand. Mount is steel, not aluminum. Optics look good. Did not come with drill bit and tap.







Silver screws are the new mount screws. I did not drill all the way through for the pins so they are not visible from the inside. Black screws are originals which are welded in place. Bolt is missing/in transit. Will post photos of it when it arrives.