New MN guy here

[daveboy]

I am a collector of American, German, and British milsurps. But, I've had an MN sitting in my closet for at least a decade and until today I'd never shot it. I can't recall where I got it. Someone may have paid me to take it off their hands! I say that jokingly, because I think the MN is about the ugliest rifle ever made. This one particularly so, because someone had apparently bleached the stock and applied several coats of glossy polyurethane. Well, I've been bored, so I dug it out and knocked the dust off of it. I stripped all the poly off, applied a light coat of my own alcohol-based stain to what I guess is birch. A couple of coats of BLO, and wax later, and a good cleaning of the metal and bore, and I shot it today.

A few observations and questions: 1)I have learned that apparently this is a "Finnish Capture." I am surprised that a "capture" rifle is all matching. I'm guessing the Finns cared about that? It does not appear to be force-matched. 2)The metal is in like-new condition. It may have been refinished at some point, but the stampings are very crisp. So, it was not polished, yet it has a very nice sheen. 3)This rifle has the hardest bolt operation I have ever seen, and I have shot a lot of bolt-action rifles. No way can I cycle the bolt with the rifle in the firing position. I weight 215 and work out everyday, so it's not a strength issue. Could it be that the rifle has never been broken in, because it does seem to be getting a little easier to cycle with use (or maybe it's my imagination)? Or, are all MNs just impossible to cycle? 4) I only fired six rounds at 100 yards. I'd read that these rifles are rough on the shoulder, but I was pleasantly surprised. Shooting some old surplus, the recoil didn't seem to be any harder than an 03 Springfield, or a k98. 5) My group had three rounds within about 3"...not bad, but nothing to brag about. The other three rounds strung upward with the last one impacting about 18" above aim point. I couldn't imagine what could cause that. Then, when cleaning after firing, I noticed my sight slide wouldn't lock. I had started at 100 meters and the recoil had pushed that slide up to 300m by the last round! 6) The rifle seems to be built to be as simple as heck to operate. But, I was shocked to see that there is no safety. Did the troops slowly lower the striker on the round, and then cock it by hand when ready to fire? Or, just not load a round into the chamber until in combat? Or, just say the heck with it and not worry about a safety?

Overall, I would not choose this rifle to win a beauty contest. Nor, would it be my choice to win a long range (or even short) match. But, if I had to chose a rifle that appears to be built tough as nails, and would probably work fine when full of dirt, mud, snow, and blood, this would be one of the final choices.

Information

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[ssgross]

the MN is about the ugliest rifle ever made.

You got that right. Looks in good shape for sitting idle for years. Be sure to clean it real good and right away - that old surplus ammo is very corrosive. Many of these have been ruined by letting them sit a few days or not cleaning at all.

[daveboy]

I ran a patch soaked in water down the bore while it was still hot. Then, I ran a dry patch, and cleaned it normally with Hoppes.

[vintage hunter]

Mosins are cock on opening and the short bolt handle doesnt provide as much leverage as other designs so it may be that you're just not used to it yet.
Also, as long as its sat idle it may have dried grease it the bolts internals making it hard to operate.
Ammo can increase bolt lift if it's on the hot side. I had a batch of 70's Russian surplus once that caused the bolt to be harder than normal to open after firing.
Mosin Nagants DO have a safety, albeit not the most ergonomic design. The big knob on the rear of the bolt, pull it rearward with two fingers and rotate it counter clock wise to engage.

[daveboy]

Oh, it's all clean now. I disassembled the bolt and cleaned it real good. I almost never figured out how to get it back together! Being used to Springfields, Mausers, and Enfields, I thought it would be no sweat. Ha! Totally different design. I'm just used to being able to keep a rifle to my shoulder and cycle the bolt. No way in the world to do that with this rifle. I have to drop it from my shoulder and man-handle it to cycle that bolt, even with no ammo in it. I did not know that about rotating the knob to act as a safety. Thanks for that.

[browningautorifle]

I'm just used to being able to keep a rifle to my shoulder and cycle the bolt.

This might help...

[Singer B]

Very nice rifle! It appears to be in original shape. It is a pre-war rifle and has the correct pre-war stock (copper or bronze end pieces on the upper handguard and the screwed in sling escutcheons). I recently picked up a 1934 Izhvesk and a 1930 Tula, both with the metal in excellent condition. I am wondering if my two rifles and possibly this rifle were the first to be imported by CAI as being in the best condition following refurbishment in the USSR? Does you rifle have an import mark on it?

[daveboy]

Don't see anything.

---------- Post added at 09:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 PM ----------

Yes. It's import marked. Not home right now, so can't say what it is.

[BFJ]

Your mosin has finnish markings so its should be a good shooter.

[Neal Myers]

I fired a friend's MN at the range, & had the same problem with the bolt. We finally found a piece of a 2 x 3, & used that to pound the bolt closed & to rotate it. We shot Russian milsurp ammo, & my guess was that some manager in a Russian ammo plant failed to properly adjust & test the machinery on the assembly line. (Or, was a peace advocate.)

I didn't really care. After 20-30 rounds, my shoulder hurt too much to continue firing it.

Neal