Mosin accuracy with 147gr Russian Surplus

[Meph]

I've shot a few boxes of S&B 180gr soft points through my M91/30. The rifle is an Izhevsk made in 1943, clean but otherwise not modified. The bore is very shiny and I slugged it, measured with a good micrometer at .3112 to .3114". All the groups I've shot with that ammo were between 3 and 4" at 100 yards from sandbags, I think the rifle can do better. I also measured the rifling twist, and I found it to be quite fast, 1/9" actually. This twist would indicate that heavier bullets would work a bit better.

I've just bedded the action and corked the barrel, so with some practice I think I can get that down a bit. I've yet to shoot it since I worked on it.

I do not think that heavier bullets can damage a Mosin bolt action rifle in good condition if the load is within standard pressures and the barrel is properly sized. I bet the people that have had problems had Mosin Nagant rifles with the smaller bores, as many Finnish built Mosins had barrels at .308". To avoid such problems with ANY bullet weight, slug your barrel and use the proper bullet diameter.

 

[davemccarthy707]

Well my buddy shot a whole mag of .270 from his browning a-bolt....in .30-06! Never hurt the rifle. He has the holes in the fender of his truck to prove it (shooting across the hood of his truck in a gravel pit the bullet immediately passed thru the hood/fender/windshield wash bottle)

 

[VooDooMan]

Mosins work great with 203gr or 180gr SP commercial ammo. Warp the bolt lugs? I thought I had heard it all....

LMAO, likewise......lots of "new" tips and tricks out there! lol

 

[7mmlefty]

After all this accuracy blow job, Im jelouse cause my iron sighted sks only gets 8 inch groups with the chrome barrel and surplus ammo?..

It was always under rapid fire mind you... Its the only way I like to shoot that rifle,... just seems right.

 

[fiddler]

After all this accuracy blow job, Im jelouse cause my iron sighted sks only gets 8 inch groups with the chrome barrel and surplus ammo?..

It was always under rapid fire mind you... Its the only way I like to shoot that rifle,... just seems right.

Don't give up. I got one a year ago with a medium bore, it shot 8 inch groups at 25 yards. After re-crown, re-seating the barrel, and some homeloads, I can shoot 3 inch groups at 100 yards. I went to a .312 bullet from .311. Cut my groups in half.

 

[Chumlee Bumsnag]

Great. I just fired about 100 rounds of MFS 187g through my SVT and was planning to do the same with my new Mosin. It makes sense that it's MG ammo.

 

[Ganderite]

Chinese SKS 3 to 6" at 100

Russian SKS 2.5' to 5" at 100

MN irons 2.5 - 3" at 100 hanloaded with 308 FMJ

MN scoped 2.25 at 100 147gr Russian bullet, 45 gr 4895

MN M44 irons 3" 4"

 

[Tyler]

Don't give up. I got one a year ago with a medium bore, it shot 8 inch groups at 25 yards. After re-crown, re-seating the barrel, and some homeloads, I can shoot 3 inch groups at 100 yards. I went to a .312 bullet from .311. Cut my groups in half.

Same here. I firmed up my bedding with some brass shims, some felt at the tip of the forearm, did some light trigger work, and cleared out the barrel channel of gunk and bumps between the chamber and last two inches of forearm. After using reloads, my groups went from 8 inches to 1.5

My bore measures .312. When you consider that military ammo is .310 and a good deal of commercial ammo is .308, it's not a stretch to imagine why a lot of mosins don't shoot well with commercial or surplus ammo.