Mosin #### on opening...functioning issues.

cantom

cantom

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The bolt on my new Mosin is a marvel of complexity...it's a very impressive piece of machine work. The way the parts fit and work together is very impressive indeed...until you dry fire it and then can't open it. Or, until you live fire it and can't open it because your surplus ammo locked itself to the chamber or the old cosmolene glued it in.

The famous sticky bolt syndrome, limited leverage of the short bolt handle and complete aggravation...imagine dealing with this thing in the cold cold winter, in fear of your life, frozen hands...people use mallets to get the bolt open...

The Lee Enfield is an amazing battle rifle in comparison...10 rounds, easily loaded and cycling like butter...I'd sure take one over a Mosin in combat.

I consulted the internet re dry firing. Some say don't do it, others say they did not design a rifle to be issued to illiterate peasants that could not be dry fired. I do note that if I pull the trigger while closing the bolt (to decock it), then open the bolt, it's easy. Dry firing seems to take it a step further...maybe not good. I have my eyes fixed on a set of snap caps.

BTW, I know about cleaning the chamber with a brush chucked into a drill, and the bolt is saturated with CLP, no lack o'lube.
 
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only problem with the LE is that if you load your ammo wrong it won't cycle at all. blasted rimmed cartridge.
 
I dry fire my Mosin all the time will not ill effect what so ever but I use limited amounts of lube on it. I used to have the sticky bolt syndrome but after switching to better quality ammo, ie no longer using that Hungarian heavy ball MG ammo.
 
I've shot about 2000rds through my MN. Only when it gets REAL hot does it have trouble cycling. Never had ammo locked in the chamber. I've only shot surplus - even 1945 dated Soviet stock. Supposedly the sniper style bolt gives nice leverage - that might help.

Oh yeah, nice police pursuit '74 Dodge Fury/Monaco in your avatar. I used to have one - I fondly recall the torque of the 440cid melting tires and billowing copious amounts of white smoke when I was a young lad. :)
Should have kept that car.:(
 
Steiner said:
I've shot about 2000rds through my MN. Only when it gets REAL hot does it have trouble cycling. Never had ammo locked in the chamber. I've only shot surplus - even 1945 dated Soviet stock. Supposedly the sniper style bolt gives nice leverage - that might help.

Oh yeah, nice police pursuit '74 Dodge Fury/Monaco in your avatar. I used to have one - I fondly recall the torque of the 440cid melting tires and billowing copious amounts of white smoke when I was a young lad. :)
Should have kept that car.:(
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That's the Bluesmobile from the Blues Brothers! ;) Note the air raid siren on the roof for a loudspeaker...
 
1) Don't use the Hungarian junk.

2) Get a 12 gauge bore brush and put it on a bit of cleaning rod. Put the rod in a cordless drill and cover with a good solvent and spin the brush on the low setting inside the chamber. It doesn't take long. I wrapped the brush with a bit of swab and repeated then cleaned the bore and chamber well. No more issue.
 
Yes please all the surplus for me. You get used to the bolt & can move through stripper clip after stripper clip with out much effort at all.
 
Working a mosin certainly takes a little finesse (re: brute force applied in just the right manner) but they're great guns. Once you get used to it you'll be fine. If it's really stuck, #### the bolt manually first so you take the cocking stress off the bolt handle and are then just working on freeing the case by pulling the cocking knob on the back of the bolt, back. That way the spring will actually assist you when opening the action.

Mine was sticky for the first hundred rds of corrosive or so, but after successive hot water baths and hoppes #9 it's smooth as butter now. It's getting a PU scope and bent bolt in a couple of weeks for being such a good rifle (correct dates and stamping for it too:D)
 
I have 3 Mosins but they never stick when dry firing. Must be some internal problem with your bolt. Have you stripped it and cleaned out all the cosmoline?
 
I have had issues with the Czech 7.62x54R, green lacquered cases stick every time I fired them. Never had an issue with the Hungarian ammo or other Russian surplus. Could be me?

Pete
 
howasan said:
I have 3 Mosins but they never stick when dry firing. Must be some internal problem with your bolt. Have you stripped it and cleaned out all the cosmoline?
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Good question. This rifle appears to have no cosmoline in it. As for ammo...I don't have any yet. This is a dry firing issue. the bolt appears new, no signs of wear. The ramp that the striker rides on to #### looks perfect and the whole thing is slimy with CLP.

When I dry fire it, then go to lift the handle, it's like it's jammed. Won't move...jiggle it a few times, then it suddenly frees and lifts fairly easily. I've had the bolt apart except for unscrewing the firing pin out of the striker, I guess that's next...
 
I never dry fire my bolts to release the spring: I just close them then turn the lever in ever so slightly (you'll feel a definite step) and pull the trigger.
The bolt will snap shut but the firing pin won't be slammed like in dry firing.
DO NOT DO THIS WITH A ROUND INSIDE THOUGH!!!
BTW, when at the bench or lying prone over a sandbag, I never take my right hand off the grip nor my face from the stock: I just lay my left hand over the action, slip my fingers under the bolt handle and use the action as a pivot for increased leverage.
When the bolt opens I flip it to the rear then push it back home fast.
You'll be amazed how fast this can work.
Of course, a clean chamber is a MUST.
pp.:)
 
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PerversPépère said:
I never dry fire my bolts to release the spring: I just close them then turn the lever in ever so slightly (you'll feel a definite step) and pull the trigger.
The bolt will snap shut but the firing pin won't be slammed like in dry firing.
DO NOT DO THIS WITH A ROUND INSIDE THOUGH!!!
BTW, when at the bench or lying prone over a sandbag, I never take my right hand off the grip nor my face from the stock: I just lay my left hand over the action, slip my fingers under the bolt handle and use the action as a pivot for increased leverage.
When the bolt opens I flip it to the rear then push it back home fast.
You'll be amazed how fast this can work.
Of course, a clean chamber is a MUST.
pp.:)
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I took the bolt apart to have a look see. Everything looks good except for one area I'm not sure about.

See the tip with the black arrows pointing to it on the cocking piece? Does this look right? Or is a piece broken off? Anyone know or can compare it with theirs? This I believe is the part that rides up the ramp to #### it?

I put it back together and it seems to be a bit better for some reason...Pepere- I did that thing you said, open it a bit and then pull the trigger to close the bolt, similar to what you advised on the Ross, right? Closes it without slamming the firing pin as much as a normal dry fire.

MosinBolt001.jpg

MosinBolt002.jpg

MosinBolt004.jpg

MosinBolt003.jpg
 
Fracture...

Hmmm.... it looks like you have a bolt with a broken ramp tip. One can easily make out the fracture in the metal.
This can be the source of all your problems. Too bad I don't have a spare bolt, I would have sent it to you.
Anyone got a spare?
Good luck!
PP. :)
 
I may be wrong, it happens, but that looks like a sniper bolt, with the extended , turned down handle.

They're right, replace the cocking piece. I think Marstar has them.

bearhunter
 
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