Mossberg 46B

BrockPython

BrockPython

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
15   0   0
Location
Ottawa
So through a family friend I have come into a number of firearms, started off as a storage thig as the old fella that owned them, lived alone and had to be placed into a home for a bit and as I was the only one who had a pal I was asked to store his firearms complete with cabinet at my house. Well as things progressed, it was evident that he was never coming out of the home and would have no use for his firearms so his Power of Attorney had them all transferred into my name. Now there were a few gems in this collection and some beaters. I was very excited about a really nice little Browning BL22 that was a little scuffed up but shot like a house on fire. There was a german .22 lever that I passed on to my neice and nefew who had taken up hunting and needed something for grouse.

Then there was this ugly bolt action rifle, it appeared to have been revarnished is an ugly yellow, it had a homemage brass buttplate. It had a serial number sticker on it from when it was registered. Didn't rally pay much attention to it.

For some crazy reason after reading a bunch of threads on Gunnutz about old rimfires and stuff, it dawns on me I should look more into this ugly yellow rifle, Well it turns out its a Mossberg 46B, do a little research find out the years of manufacture, turns out these rifle were quite popular and quite accurate. Another search of gunnutz for reveals these things have quite the following and known for accuracy. Now a little more investigation on this ugly yellow gun it seems its missing a fold out rear peep site. The front site and rear site currently on this rifle are quite fine, I'm sure very shootable.

Now I'm turning to the fine gentlemen of Gunnutz to maybe point me in the correct direction of aquiring the rear peep and proper butt pad for this rifle, I have a very sneaky feeling that the Ugly yellow rifle may have just gone from the "lets dump this as the safe is getting full" catagory to " you now have a winter project to keep you busy pile"

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated
 
You will have to put a WTB on the EE and hoe someone has one. Otherwise ebay is your place but they are not cheap. Probably at least $100.00 right now with exchange and mailing. Does the front sight have the hood and the rear sight the elevation wheel? If missing you will need those. If it is a 46Ba or Bb, it will have a different rear barrel sight than the 46B and won't have the elevation wheel. You will need the number 4 peep sight if it is a 46B. If a 46Ba it needs the S100 peep and if a 46Bb it requires the S130 peep sight The S130 will work in place of the S100 but is not correct if it is a 46Ba.
Be careful, these old Mossbergs are addicting. They were well built rifles.
 
Last edited:
S130 is the proper peep, probably looking at $100+ for one if you can find it.
mossberg_model46b_explodedview.jpg
 
You know, your story is similar to mine. I had an Uncle in the Armed Services. He died in 1980 and my Aunt gave me his .22 he had. At the time I thought it quite ugly and heavy with a dumb looking front sight set up. So, it languished in the back of a closet for 25 years and never saw the light of day. Then one day I pulled it out for some reason and really gave it a close inspection. Of course, now with a computer, I also did a bunch of research. I still have the rifle but now there are about 45 more vintage Mossbergs to go with it.
 
Okay Guys thanks a bunch its definately a 46B, looks like its missing the sight hood as well, I'll have to look at the open rear sight as it may have been bastardized. From the link that Gunsaholic sent it appears mine has the original sling as well
 
Excellent rifles, very accurate with a rear sight from Lyman that would cost quite a bit today. I had the 146Ba. Mechanism will wear out and it is a bit complicated. But all parts are still available to completely rebuild this rifle, which is worth it as you would pay a lot more for a comparable shooter today.
 
I have a 142A carbeen, with all the fancy peep and front globe sights. I have it scoped and its zee-rowed for 10 to 25 yrds with cb shorts, a great coon gun. Silver T bolt, 7rd box mag, and the finger grip is solid brass, not black plastic. anyone else have that? Maybe a one off..very nice rifle indeed.
 
unicorn gravedigger said:
I have a 142A carbeen, with all the fancy peep and front globe sights. I have it scoped and its zee-rowed for 10 to 25 yrds with cb shorts, a great coon gun. Silver T bolt, 7rd box mag, and the finger grip is solid brass, not black plastic. anyone else have that? Maybe a one off..very nice rifle indeed.
Click to expand...

The finger grip will not be factory. I would also lean toward the T bolt handle has had the bluing removed and polished by someone or it's just wore off. You see several bolts that no longer have their bluing.
 
Thanks for that insight. I always thought the finger grip was custom, the brass is perfect, no bubbas, pro job all the way and takes on a hell of a luster when polished and contrasts well with the warm reddish stain. The T handle and bolt are all equally silver and polished well, I guess thats what drew me in when I bought it, all that and that cool little folding forestock handle. Paid $150 in 2003 or there abouts.
 
unicorn gravedigger said:
Thanks for that insight. I always thought the finger grip was custom, the brass is perfect, no bubbas, pro job all the way and takes on a hell of a luster when polished and contrasts well with the warm reddish stain. The T handle and bolt are all equally silver and polished well, I guess thats what drew me in when I bought it, all that and that cool little folding forestock handle. Paid $150 in 2003 or there abouts.
Click to expand...

You didn't overpay and it's certainly worth more now with the T bolt.
 
BrockPython said:
Dave

That is very tempting and I will definately keep it in mind. I believe what i'm looking for is an No.4 rear sight
Click to expand...

You are correct, the 46B had the No. 4 sight. I have a 46B as a project (that may never get done) and it has the No. 4.
If I were you I would be all over Eagleye's offer of an S130 sight. The bolt spacing is the same and the S130 is a great sight.
No. 4 on the left and S-130 on the right.
 
Actually i put an WTB add in the EE and got a response from a fellow CGNr. he was able to provide me with a No4 sight, the front sight shroud and the Butt plate at a reasonable price since the gun cost me nothing. I had it out on the weekend and shot it with the regular open sight and it was very accurate with the two types of ammo I had on hand. So now its about finsing the time to redo the stock and clean her all up.


thanks all for the replies.
 
The S130 sight will not fit the contour of the stock that has the #4 sight. Notice how the #4 body is short and curved at the front bottom. The stock is also cut out that way unless someone has messed with it.
You can get it to fit with removing a tiny bit of wood but it will not look right. Better off getting the correct sight, especially if you want it period correct. Luckily he found the correct sight.
 
Last edited:
In case someone is reading this thread months from now, the S-130 sight that I have is a good alternative to the correct sight for my Mossberg 46B and it is easy to install.

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom