Just picked up a 91/30 rifle that appears to my untrained eyes to be mostly original factory refurb. All the numbers match except the scope serial #, as the scope appears to be new. More importantly, does anyone know the bore diameter of these rifles? I hear it can fluctuate between .308 and .311 in size, and I don't want a big surprise when I go to fire it, as I plan to be shooting handloads. Here's a few pictures. I'm already aware of my "skill" as a photographer so no need to mention it...![]()
You mean I bought a fake? C**ksuckers! This one was being sold as the real deal. They must have stained the wood around the scope mount to make it look like it was not freshly cut. On closer inspection though, the scope mount does have the Ishvesk arrow in triangle on the mount, and whoever stamped the matching serial number into the mount must have hot-tank reblued the whole piece, because there is no bluing missing from around the number punch marks. I don't know what to think now...
Don't feel bad about the repo sniper part. If it was the real deal, you would have paid at least $1500.
Of these repro's I've seen, they look like original mounts, but repro scopes. The repro mounts don't have the scope cover through the hole.
From memory, a real PU Izhevsk would be made from 42 to 45 only. 43 to 45 it would have a C H stamp on the barrel (one on either side of the hammer and sicle), and would have the scope serial number on the left side along just above the wood. A 42 would be proper without the C H and scope serial number. So, it is possible yours may have been a sniper prior to rebuild, but unlikely.
Regarding bore size;
7.62x54r is not a very good name for it. 7.92x54r would be more accurate. It is, and always has been spec'd at .311-.312 groove diameter, .302-.303 bore. Being military rifles there is some variance.
It's fine to shoot 308 dia projectiles in a Mosin, and you may get them to shoot accurately, however most if not all will do better with 312 sized ones.
The 174grn 312 dia (303 cal) match type bullets are the best in mine.
The exceptions (there's always exceptions!) are Finn made barrels. The Finns started producing 308 barrels and re-named their version of the cartrige 7.62x53r and using 308 dia bullets.
Robin



























