How bad is this mosin bore? is it still safe to shoot?
- Thread starter ziny
- Start date
I think its fair to say that Russian QC was set to a pretty low standard during the war. Rough machining, steel with indeterminate properties, etc. I friend of mine had a Mosin in decent shape, shot a few factory rounds and fractured the bolt head. You could see the flaw that led to the crack. After seeing that, I decided I wouldnt touch one with a ten foot pole.
I have seen many things over the years, and this is new to me. I have seen cracks externally due to a number of things, but inside the bore is another story.
Here is my 2 cents, for what it's worth.... this M91/30 might have had a fault in the steel rod before the rifling was cut due to wartime faults due to expediency in production.
But, that is NOT 9.5/10, as the store described it. Regardless of the crack or not. It is NOT what you paid for, get your hard earned money back or do an exchange
Here is my 2 cents, for what it's worth.... this M91/30 might have had a fault in the steel rod before the rifling was cut due to wartime faults due to expediency in production.
But, that is NOT 9.5/10, as the store described it. Regardless of the crack or not. It is NOT what you paid for, get your hard earned money back or do an exchange
I don't blame seller or importer because these two cracks are not easy to see with a normal bore Light Illuminator. Mosin has a long barrel, so you have to use a brighter light source such as a flashlight to have a better view.
The update is I went to the store and they replaced another Mosin for me. The new one is all good, bore is ok, good seller.
Only bad is the butt stock serial number did not match. no big deal.
Yes I tried brush and cleaner. i was using Lucas Extreme Duty
I can feel it was crack and I can feel the depth.
outside is ok.
I saw a video on youtube and the guy has some pitting on the same area (underneath the front sight).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJW9-Gt2F-o
I assume maybe during wartime when they adding front sights , they applied too much force and somehow changed the internal stress of metal. Btw the barrel was made in 1923, it must have been through some bad winters. Like @donor said, Hot barrel dipped in snow or water can crack barrel.
Glad to hear they replaced it for one you can shoot with confidence. While I agree that surplus rifles tend to be sold as is, if it's been described as "9.5", a crack in the bore is unacceptable and especially if they have more stock, it should be traded for one that works for you. Glad to hear that happened. Enjoy your Mosin!
I've had and handled a lot of mosins and I have never seen anything like that. Good job on returning it and heres hoping that the retailer scraps that specimen for parts and chops up that barrel. Kudos to you for sticking with the mosin platform, you wont regret it, happy shooting.
fingers284
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Probably time to give the folks a heads up as to who the upstanding vendor is so others have confidence if contemplating a Mosin purchase...seems fair.
Borescope link
ziny - Good to hear that you got a repl, gotta love that dealer. I've bought a couple SKSs w-no probs. Just lucky - Both good shooters, tho 25 years younger than yours. One suggestion if you have many guns is to get a Teslong borescope. Won't help a lot for greasers, but it will give you a better idea of condition after cleaning. The vids scared me at first, especially when I bought a brand new B22 and saw the bore. Looked like RR-tracks, but she shoots really well. My SKS took lots of cleaning b4 it looked OK. Best thing I found is Boretech C4 Carbon Solvent and 'ALL-Brass' brush (even the 'core-wire') - it gets the bore from black to white. Costs ca. $45CDN for 16oz, but just wet patches will last for a few years. Great for Carbon ring in 22s too
Borescope on Amazon -> http s://www.amazon.ca/Borescope-Endoscope-Teslong-Inspection-Android/dp/B08239ZZ9B/ref=sr_1_42?crid=1MKFIJJNMUI46&dchild=1&keywords=teslong+borescope&qid=1615300607&sprefix=teslong%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-42
ziny - Good to hear that you got a repl, gotta love that dealer. I've bought a couple SKSs w-no probs. Just lucky - Both good shooters, tho 25 years younger than yours. One suggestion if you have many guns is to get a Teslong borescope. Won't help a lot for greasers, but it will give you a better idea of condition after cleaning. The vids scared me at first, especially when I bought a brand new B22 and saw the bore.
Looked like RR-tracks, but she shoots really well. My SKS took lots of cleaning b4 it looked OK. Best thing I found is Boretech C4 Carbon Solvent and 'ALL-Brass' brush (even the 'core-wire') - it gets the bore from black to white. Costs ca. $45CDN for 16oz, but just wet patches will last for a few years. Great for Carbon ring in 22s too Borescope on Amazon -> http s://www.amazon.ca/Borescope-Endoscope-Teslong-Inspection-Android/dp/B08239ZZ9B/ref=sr_1_42?crid=1MKFIJJNMUI46&dchild=1&keywords=teslong+borescope&qid=1615300607&sprefix=teslong%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-42
In the surplus game you can find ANYTHING you could imagine.
I have an SMLE barreled action here with a SEAM showing on the outside of the barrel, just a few inches aft of the muzzle. Somebody was not being too careful when they rolled out the billets, back in 1917. According to the leade, it has had several thousand rounds through it and didn't let go.
My very first rifle, purchased back in 1962, is an AOI Model 1870/87/915 Vetterli-Vitali-Mannlicher. When it arrived here by steam train, I cleaned it and cleaned it.... and discovered that the barrel was BENT about half a bore diameter. Likely some Brit ran over the old girl with a truck while they were liberating Mussolini's six-year African Empire.
Fortunately, I had been spotting steam tractors for Ernie Symons in Rocanville and he volunteered to straighten it. The action went onto his big lathe in what is now the Saskatchewan Industrial Museum and the thing came out perfect. It works fine to this day, although I never run full-house loads in it.
Yes, you can find ANYTHING in the Milsurp game but, very often, repairs CAN be done. Glad this one turned out the way it did: better be safe than sorry, especially when voids start appearing INSIDE the barrel!
I have an SMLE barreled action here with a SEAM showing on the outside of the barrel, just a few inches aft of the muzzle. Somebody was not being too careful when they rolled out the billets, back in 1917. According to the leade, it has had several thousand rounds through it and didn't let go.
My very first rifle, purchased back in 1962, is an AOI Model 1870/87/915 Vetterli-Vitali-Mannlicher. When it arrived here by steam train, I cleaned it and cleaned it.... and discovered that the barrel was BENT about half a bore diameter. Likely some Brit ran over the old girl with a truck while they were liberating Mussolini's six-year African Empire.
Fortunately, I had been spotting steam tractors for Ernie Symons in Rocanville and he volunteered to straighten it. The action went onto his big lathe in what is now the Saskatchewan Industrial Museum and the thing came out perfect. It works fine to this day, although I never run full-house loads in it.
Yes, you can find ANYTHING in the Milsurp game but, very often, repairs CAN be done. Glad this one turned out the way it did: better be safe than sorry, especially when voids start appearing INSIDE the barrel!
