recrowning a mosin

[ohiopotato]

I wanted an opinion on whether recrowning an m44 would lower its value? I mean like 1/8 of an inch of the barrel gone, not even up to where the bayonet sits. The muzzle is a little worn on the bottom, likely due to over-enthusiastic cleaning. Incidentally the barrel is beyond perfect right up to the muzzle (double confirmation of constant cleaning), and it's not counter bored.

I realize "nagant" and "value" usually don't go together, but you never know what they'll be worth down the road.

 

[rimfiremac]

Any 'improvements' made since it left the armoury will be detrimental to its value down the road, despite best intentions, unfortunately...

 

[fiddler]

There are millions upon millions of Mosins of all sorts on the market. If you have a rare gun, don't do anything to it. If it is the standard Mosin that most people own, then have it recrowned for 40 bucks so its useful and shoots like it should. I've had one recrowned last summer, now it shoots good.

 

[Tyler]

The "value" you subtract from the rifle by improving it is largely subjective. To shooters, a gun that won't shoot right is worth less than one that does. To collecters it will vary as well. Some are more picky than others.

Go ahead and counterbore it, it's common on a Mosin anyway.

 

[burnt_servo]

shouldn't it be possible to recrown it and not have anyone even notice it ?

 

[fiddler]

They took off less than eighth of an inch on mine. If I didn't measure before and after, I would not have noticed. A counter-bore is more obvious. Some have been recrowned and/or counter-bored from the armory so I don't see how relevant is the collectors value to some rifles. In my opinion, small service/maintenance to make it operate as designed and shoot properly is better than having a wall hanger.

 

[Pblatzz]

Recrown the muzzle, the fix (counter boring) was very common. It's not really a desirable feature, but it's a common solution.

As for affecting the value I agree with "Tyler- To shooters, a gun that won't shoot right is worth less than one that does. To collectors it will vary as well. Some are more picky than others." Go ahead an fix it.

Pete

 

[Andy]

I'd counterbore it rather than recrown it.

That way you can:

- restore the entire damaged muzzle end of the bore (is it really only 1/8" that needs to come off?;
- maintain the exterior barrel length for accessories like the bayonet (mind you 1/8" would make no difference);
- maintain the factory crown pattern (can you duplicate it?); and
- protect against future muzzle damage.

Those are some of the reasons why armouries counterbored back in the day, rather than a more simple recrowning.

 

[fiddler]

is it really only 1/8" ...

When I took mine into the gunsmith he inspected it and told me right off the bat that he would take 1/8 or less. An inspection by someone qualified should tell you the various options of needed repairs, rather than hypothesize any possible outcomes in appearances. Further to this, most common Mosins, 91/30 and M44 carbines will never gain much value in our lifetime if collectors value is really the issue. Keeping a pristine piece of history in functional order is when you become the benefactor, not having a wall hanger unless it is in fact quite rare.


As a shooter, this is a very small esthetic difference that makes a big difference in its ability to shoot. I don't favor Bubba modifications, but this is no more of a mod than is machining the disc brakes on a classic Chevy to make it drivable.


Something not said by the OP, how bad does it shoot? I took in my 91/30 for a recrown because it was shooting a 8 inch group at 50 yards. Oddly, the crown was uneven from a not-so-good armory repair. The lands were good a millimeter inside the barrel. After a $40 repair the groups went down to less than 2 inches, and after making a home load of .312 bullets I can keyhole many shots at 50 yards.

 

[Andy]

I only asked if it was 1/8", because I've seen many milsurps with the last 1"+ worn. If it's truly only the crown, then I'd recrown this run-of-the-mill shooter, but if it's more, he might not have any choice but to counterbore.

 

[ohiopotato]

thanks for the advice. It really is only the crown that's damaged, right where it meets the bore (again, imagine the cleaning rod rubbing in and out at an angle). The groups aren't TERRIBLE, but at 100 meters it's going to be around 4 or 5 inches, unless I can find a better shooter to give it a try and prove me wrong ( I don't advertise myself as a great marksman or even an adequate one, but I had it at 7 inches on a cold day with no rest).

out of curiosity, IS there a way to keep the shape of the factory crown? I'd rather not counterbore, as it seems a waste with a perfect bore all the way up.

also if someone could tell me how to attach images, then I can better illustrate the issue, as I've got a perfect photo to show it.