Soviet Ex-Sniper or Repro?

lejarretnoir

lejarretnoir

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What are your thoughts on this?

I can obtain a new PU mount and scope from the Ukraine easy enough and redrill the ex-sniper mounts and refit. One also needs a bent bolt done correctly too. Who does that? I suppose this would make it somewhat original.

or

Just buy a repro and go have some fun. It's not historically correct though. Are they setup and properly zeroed to the gun? Is the new PU scopes better than the originals?
 
My repro sight mount needed to be zeroed to the rifle. This involves shooting and then filing some metal off a tab to move the group to the right until it is in the center.

Not a big deal and part of the charm of the Soviet design.

I have some original sniper rifles and some repros. i prefer shooting the repros, sicne I shoot a lot and wear and tear on a real sniper cannot be reversed.
 
Jim,
OK, from what I understand with the PU scope is you have to zero it first via the mount for elevation and windage. How are the turrets used after zero is complete for long range or extreme windage?

Did you find the repros as accurate as the originals and well made?
 
I built my own repro. Unless you are good with making sure everything is done properly, buy the ready made ones. Mine turned out fine, but I can see people who aren't used to working on stuff like that drilling the holes on an angle or snapping off a tapp in the hole or something equally problematic.

For refurbishing an ex-sniper, keep in mind you probably won't be able to drill the original spot for the mount. The weld is often far harder than the surrounding metal and the drill bit will wander and dig in elsewhere. Because of that you can grind the hole or take a chance with the drill. Also, ex-snipers may have been de-sniperized because they were worn out, so unless you know the gun, might not be a good candidate.

Overall, the ready made repro's seem decent. They'll likely have to be zeroed, first coarse vertical adjustment with the vertical mount screws, then fine windage/horizontal adjustment with either fine shims or a fine file on the base/mount interface.
 
H Wally said:
Also, ex-snipers may have been de-sniperized because they were worn out, so unless you know the gun, might not be a good candidate.
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Good point. No one really knows 100% why the "ex-snipers" were de commissioned as sniper rifles. I have heard theories of being too worn out to be "sniper grade" aswell as "the Soviet Union simply didnt need that many snipers anymore". H Wally makes a very good point, it would be a kick in the nuts to find out the rifle you just spent "converting to a sniper" is lucky to hit air at 100m! The ex snipers are legit pieces of history aswell, converting one can EASILY turn into a bubba job if not done right.
 
OK, Ex-Sniper retrofit is a bad idea. Read on other forums also that a lot of ex-snipers were decommissioned because of being worn out.

So technically, a Repro is just a rack grade 91/30 refurb that has been modified with new mount, scope and bolt? They want $700-800 in Canada for these while the USA has them for $400-500.
 
lejarretnoir said:
So technically, a Repro is just a rack grade 91/30 refurb that has been modified with new mount, scope and bolt? They want $700-800 in Canada for these while the USA has them for $400-500.
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Yes and no. They are standard 91/30s for the most part. The craftsmanship however I have found to be first rate, and the rifles themselves to be very "scope worthy". They are great shooters and a fair representation of the real thing. In regards to prices unfortunatly thats the way it is up here in Canada. Down in the US you can also buy a real, legitimate Soviet PU sniper for 800$ (Rguns). Try that up here in Canada :p
 
lejarretnoir said:
OK, Ex-Sniper retrofit is a bad idea. Read on other forums also that a lot of ex-snipers were decommissioned because of being worn out.

So technically, a Repro is just a rack grade 91/30 refurb that has been modified with new mount, scope and bolt? They want $700-800 in Canada for these while the USA has them for $400-500.
Click to expand...

Add import fees, tax, shipping and handling and you're just about at the canadian price anyways, minus the ability to inspect or send back to the dealer if you get screwed.

I haven't heard any complaints about the mosin repros so far, and they have been selling, so it it's the price that's getting you, lurk on the EE, they do show up.
 
I was checking online and found a good explanation on how to mount and adjust the PU scope at mosinnagant.net. Thankfully, it looks from my boresighter as though the rifle I bought probably won't need any shims or filing, and I've adjusted the vertical screws enough so that the crosshairs are at the centre of the reticle. We shall see when I take her to the range.

Does anyone who shoots these use the Czech corrosive ammo, and if so, how accurate are they with it? If the rifle shows enough promise, I'll probably buy some dies and components to get the most out of its accuracy, to lessen the concerns about shooting corrosive (I'm the type who's always prone to second guessing these things), and to load hunting ammo.

As a kid I can remember when the original snipers sold for $399 a LeBaron. At least I'm glad to have one of my own that I can play with even if it's not original. If it shoots without hiccups, It will probably end up as my stand rifle come deer season.

Cheers,

Frank
 
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Russian sniper rifles

Tradeex has been offering 91-30 sniper rifles for under $900 CDN.

My original is a Hungarian model, but my shooter is a repro that I made up about 10 years ago. No problems with obtaining a zero.

Filing the mount was a standard practice to zero a rifle, according to an old late 1930s Russian sniper manual.

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