Tikka M91/30 Project, Need Advice!

[BlackPowderBurner]

So this thing followed me home from a gun show and I'm trying to figure out how to get it running again. It seems that someone unscrewed the barrel and didn't go any further, I'm thinking that seeing as the barrel and receiver match it should be a quick job of re-torquing the action onto the barrel down to the pre-existing witness marks... Right?

The rifle itself has a pretty cool story, it's a 1939 Tula receiver with a 1944 Tikka barrel and a 1915/16 New England Westinghouse American flaming bomb marked bolt. I've tossed it in a sporterized Polish M44 stock I had laying around and I'm considering making that its home if I can't track down a proper Finnish stock.

If anyone can point me in the direction of someone capable of tightening the barrel I would be very thankful. I don't mind mailing it off to have the work done.

 

[bearhunter]

All you can do is screw it into the receiver and find out. The serial numbers are the same so it should work.

Liberty Tree Collectors in the US had some Finn stocks and accouterments to put it back into military configuration. Go onto their site and have a look, then give them a phone call. I haven't had any problems bringing stocks or other parts for these old girls into Canada from them. If they don't have what you're looking for, Boyd's also makes replica stocks.

The only issue I can see MIGHT be with the Remington bolt. I haven't seen one of them fitted to a 91/30 receiver before. The Finns were pretty good at making do with what was on hand and the internal differences between M91 and M91/30 rifles is minimal at best so it should be ok.

 

[dannyp]

The biggest question I have is how good is the barrel? Is it worth the investment?

Have you confirmed that these parts will all work together? Is the headspace ok?
If not. there is a GunNutz member that sells Okie style headspace gauges for a very good cost.

The last thing I would do is use the wrong stock. Why bother to restore a sporter.
It looks terrible compared to using a proper in cut 91/30 stock!

However if you can't find the proper Finnish stock create a replica Finnish stock if you have to.
Strip an old 91/30 Mosin stock. Do not sand it.
Even through the real Finnish stocks do not use Pine Tar, Pine Tar mix can replicate a Finnish stock reasonably well.
You can get a good Finnish 91/30 for around $400.00 $500.00 You will see some foolish adds in the 7-8 range.
I doubt they are actually getting anything near that.

Sometimes these project rifles can cost more than the real deal. Be careful and stick to a budget.
It all depends on the barrel condition. Is it worth doing?

 

[BlackPowderBurner]

Thanks for the input! The bolt I think should be fine, it is actually numbers matching to the barrel. I checked Liberty Tree and it seems they only have M27 stocks available and some post war Soviet stocks, I'd rather just keep it in the bubba'd stock I got for free than pay big bucks for the incorrect stock! Maybe I'll get lucky in the future and find a Finnish 91/30 stock or at least a Soviet pre/early-war stock that'd also be appropriate.

As to return on investment, the barrel is in excellent condition and I'm only $40 into it at this point so I think I'll do ok.