So I walked to the local gun shop today on foot, because I don't drive at the moment, and purchased a Ruger 10/22 that I'll probably be picking up on Monday. Form cleared out, just can't walk across town with a rifle slung over my shoulder.

Then a friend and I went to the local combination target range/gun store, and while I was still on the range, a friend was checking out the gun store section, which, by the way, I didn't know was there. Before we left, we walked over to this area, and I inquired as to the presence of either an SKS, Mosin-Nagant, or Tokarev.

Thus, I present you --

http://i38.tinypic.com/34goxm9.jpg

It's a 1935 Mosin-Nagant from the Tula Arsenal. The bayonet needs a little oiling to fit, the bolt is a little difficult once fired, and I'd like to replace the strap, but considering having spent $106.50 on the piece, I'm pretty thrilled!

From the picture it looks in good condition. Congrats, I'm looking to pick up one of these in the near future.

From the picture it looks in good condition. Congrats, I'm looking to pick up one of these in the near future.
Thanks, for the most part it is fairly decent -- the friend I was with purchased the other they had in stock, so the guy called NICS at the same time concerning both purchases. His is in better condition for the most part, easier slide on the bolt, bayonet slides in place perfectly smooth, etc. I was originally going to pick that'n up, but the stock was rather dinged up -- not uncommon for these -- though I don't regret my decision too much! The serials on his don't match.

The main problems I have at the moment are:

A difficult slide after the trigger is pulled. The bolt action slides fairly easily before locking into place and pulling the trigger, then it becomes fairly difficult to reset.

The bayonet doesn't lock into place, as a matter of fact I had a damned difficult time getting it back off once it was half-on -- for a short period of time this evening all I owned was a much glorified spear.

And then the sight is about 1/16" out of the slide mount to the left, so that'll have to be fixed.

Sounds like you need to polish your chamber. What you've got there is classic mosin-nagant "sticky-bolt" Get a handheld electric drill and a 12ga barrel brush (nylon or the real fluffy cloth kind), whcuk it in the drill, and polish the chamber/inside reciever. This will somewhat eliviate the problem. What sort of ammo were you shooting btw? Avoid anything laquered, as it makes it worse, also make sure there is no cosmoline in the parts.

Congrats and welcome to the club :D .

I'd suggest the same as Mephistos, be sure to get all the cosmoline out because that will cause problems like you're explaining. I wouldn't touch the sight untill you have a chance to shoot it over bags at 50 or 100, it probably had to be moved there by the previous owner to get it to shoot POA. I had to drift my M44 a good deal off center to get it zeroed.

The bayonet thing seems to be pretty common from what i have read, doesn't really matter since you'll never need to make a bayonet charge. Give it a coat of oil and throw it in the cupboard is my advice ;) .

What sort of ammo are you using?

Sounds like you need to polish your chamber. What you've got there is classic mosin-nagant "sticky-bolt" Get a handheld electric drill and a 12ga barrel brush (nylon or the real fluffy cloth kind), whcuk it in the drill, and polish the chamber/inside reciever. This will somewhat eliviate the problem. What sort of ammo were you shooting btw? Avoid anything laquered, as it makes it worse, also make sure there is no cosmoline in the parts.
After reading up a bit on the Mosin "sticky bolt" syndrome, I'm beginning to think that I don't have a problem on my hands concerning such, I'm just not so strong in the arm!

I still plan on giving the thing a good cleaning, having just read an article a bit ago on the subject:

http://tinyurl.com/4s5wxx

Also, do you think that an electric drill would help round out the bayonet socket so that I may mount it when in the mood?

After reading up a bit on the Mosin "sticky bolt" syndrome, I'm beginning to think that I don't have a problem on my hands concerning such, I'm just not so strong in the arm!

I still plan on giving the thing a good cleaning, having just read an article a bit ago on the subject:

http://tinyurl.com/4s5wxx

Also, do you think that an electric drill would help round out the bayonet socket so that I may mount it when in the mood?

I'd just slightly polish the bayonet with 400 sandpaper and steel wool, then grease it up well. Might be the bayonet mount on the rifle accumulating a little rust too.

Congrats and welcome to the club :D .

I'd suggest the same as Mephistos, be sure to get all the cosmoline out because that will cause problems like you're explaining. I wouldn't touch the sight untill you have a chance to shoot it over bags at 50 or 100, it probably had to be moved there by the previous owner to get it to shoot POA. I had to drift my M44 a good deal off center to get it zeroed.

The bayonet thing seems to be pretty common from what i have read, doesn't really matter since you'll never need to make a bayonet charge. Give it a coat of oil and throw it in the cupboard is my advice ;) .

What sort of ammo are you using?
Hey, I must've missed your post earlier -- guess you had replied whilst I was responding to Meph.

To answer the question, was only able to pop off a few Yugoslav surplus rounds to ensure the internal mechanisms worked. Placing the bolt into firing position, pulling the trig, and releasing the bolt provides as much resistance as with cartridges ready to fire, so I'm assuming both that I have a weak arm and it needs to be cleaned.

Insofar as the bayonet is concerned, I'm quite aware of the lack of necessity. :D I'd just like it to fit so that when a guest comes over, I can crack it out and say, "Here's the rifle that won the battle of Stalingrad. Complete."

Holding it a little earlier I was awed by the potential history of such a weapon. Who knows? Perhaps some brave Russian was cut down whilst holding it, or perhaps he sat in the rubble of an abandoned building picking off German soldiers far from home.

I understand completely, showing off an old rifle like a MN just isn't complete without the bayonet ;) .

Holding it a little earlier I was awed by the potential history of such a weapon. Who knows? Perhaps some brave Russian was cut down whilst holding it, or perhaps he sat in the rubble of an abandoned building picking off German soldiers far from home.
Indeed, I can't put a finger on exactly why i like the Mosins, they're ugly, uncomfortable and inaccurate (compared to what i'm used to)...all the things i hate, yet some how cool :D .

Completely separate the stock from the rifle and inspect it. I had pitting on the bottom of my barrel, but I couldn't see it because the wood blocked it.

Completely separate the stock from the rifle and inspect it. I had pitting on the bottom of my barrel, but I couldn't see it because the wood blocked it.

Yeah I had that with a FN Mauser in 30-06, there was pitting under the upper handguard, still shootable, and you cant see it, bit I knew it was there :(

Congratulations you have obtained your second penis

Here's my second penis:

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/964/dsc02061xj2.jpg

Try the Bulgarian yellow-tip heavy ball 7.62x54r in the galvanized steel spam cans if you can find it. It kicks like a son of a bitch but it's accurate as hell, cheap and surefire. It's corrosive like all x54r surplus but as long as you clean your weapon it's not a problem.

Completely separate the stock from the rifle and inspect it. I had pitting on the bottom of my barrel, but I couldn't see it because the wood blocked it.
This I'll have to do. What exactly is pitting, and how does it affect the weapon?

Congratulations you have obtained your second penis
Thanks, I'll be sure to share many masturbatory stories. :cool:
Here's my second penis:

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/964/dsc02061xj2.jpg

Try the Bulgarian yellow-tip heavy ball 7.62x54r in the galvanized steel spam cans if you can find it. It kicks like a son of a bitch but it's accurate as hell, cheap and surefire. It's corrosive like all x54r surplus but as long as you clean your weapon it's not a problem.
I'll have to look for that, if I can find it I'll be sure to let you know how it works out.

By the way, what year and model is your Mosin?

Pitting is where rust forms and eats away some of the metal and you're left with little dimples everywhere. How it affects the weapon depends on how bad it is and where it's located, If it's only minor and on the outside it won't cause any problems, If it's minor and inside the bore it can wreck you're accuracy, if there is any really deep pitting it would probably pay to get a gunsmith to give it a look over to see if it's safe or not.

Exothermia, what finish did you use for your stock?

^

'44 Izhevsk 91/30 ex-PU sniper. The stock finish is original, which is amber tinted shellac.

^

'44 Izhevsk 91/30 ex-PU sniper. The stock finish is original, which is amber tinted shellac.
Nice -- do the serials all match, and how well does your bayonet fit?

The friend who was with me yesterday and purchased his at the same time got a Tula receiver, the rest was Izhevsk.

Later on this week I'll post pics of the 10/22 when I pick it up.

Next I've got my mind on an SKS, and perhaps a Remington Model 870. Upon turning 21 in a few months I've got my heart on a .45 M1911, and my mind on a Walther 40 cal PPS.

Nice -- do the serials all match, and how well does your bayonet fit?

The friend who was with me yesterday and purchased his at the same time got a Tula receiver, the rest was Izhevsk.

Later on this week I'll post pics of the 10/22 when I pick it up.

Next I've got my mind on an SKS, and perhaps a Remington Model 870. Upon turning 21 in a few months I've got my heart on a .45 M1911, and my mind on a Walther 40 cal PPS.

Yep, all matching. The bayonet on/off is very stiff. I only tried it once, I can't remember if it was going on or coming off but I remember it was a very tight fit. I'd guess that's normal.

Sounds like good choices so far, I'm mostly into AKs but I need to pick up a Russian SKS sometime too.

Yep, all matching. The bayonet on/off is very stiff. I only tried it once, I can't remember if it was going on or coming off but I remember it was a very tight fit. I'd guess that's normal.

Sounds like good choices so far, I'm mostly into AKs but I need to pick up a Russian SKS sometime too.
Cool, my buddy's bayo slides on and off no problem. I'll probably try the sandpaper, steel wool and grease routine so that mine fits nice 'n flush.

The interest in AK-47s compels me to ask as to whether or not you possess a class III -- maybe someday in the far future I'll pick up both.

The interest in AK-47s compels me to ask as to whether or not you possess a class III -- maybe someday in the far future I'll pick up both.

No, unfortunately. They aren't legal in my state anyway. Mine are all semi's.

No, unfortunately. They aren't legal in my state anyway. Mine are all semi's.
Bummer. A few years down the road even if I did have the money for a Class III weapon I'm not sure I'd be able to acquire one -- apparently such requires the signature of a high-ranking, local law enforcement official, with whom I am assuming myself to be unpopular because of political disagreements concerning town issues such as eminent domain and taxation.

Reinspecting the Mosin a few minutes ago, I noticed that while the trigger assembly, bolt, receiver, and butt plate all have the same five-digit number stamped in, the bolt bears the mark of the Izhevsk Arsenal. Can anyone explain this? I'm assuming these numbers must've been stamped on at a later time?

Most, if not all, of the 91/30s imported were rearsenalled sometime after the war, probably in the '50s. If the original bolt was lost or damaged, they would've replaced it and either restamped or electropenciled the numbers on a new (or just surplus) bolt. They also refinished the metal at that time and counterbored many of the muzzles.

cool, i bought a 1943 mosin nagant for $79, looks exactly like yours, i just love shootin mine, bruises up my shoulder every time

And I present you all with a picture of both my new treasures:

http://i37.tinypic.com/317jitk.jpg

Picked up the 10/22 this afternoon when work was over. Put $100 down on it Saturday, payed the rest today and that was that!

And I present you all with a picture of both my new treasures:

http://i37.tinypic.com/317jitk.jpg

Picked up the 10/22 this afternoon when work was over. Put $100 down on it Saturday, payed the rest today and that was that!

Good job, congratulations, and once again a hearty welcome into the manly man community of gun owners. :cool:

Good job, congratulations, and once again a hearty welcome into the manly man community of gun owners. :cool:
Thanks again! :cool:

At the range Saturday I rented their 10/22 since I was unable to pick mine up from the shop until this afternoon -- what a great little rifle, it is. I blew through 250 rounds in a little less than an hour, getting decent groupings at 25 yds. with open sights and the friggin' neon-tinted shooting glasses they provide. Next time I'll just bring my own! Lol.

Good job, congratulations, and once again a hearty welcome into the manly man community of gun owners. :cool:

Says the crossdresser :p

Says the crossdresser :p

Says the San Franciscan :p

Says the San Franciscan :p

Touché

Says the crossdresser :p

An extremely manly man must necessarily have a very feminine side to him. To keep the ying and yang in place and all :p.

And I present you all with a picture of both my new treasures:

http://i37.tinypic.com/317jitk.jpg

Picked up the 10/22 this afternoon when work was over. Put $100 down on it Saturday, payed the rest today and that was that!

Guns and empty whiskey bottles, what a wonderful combination! Am I the only one that noticed that? I do hope it was just a coincidence they where there and you aren't drinking when the guns are out. Not that I think you are, it's just something that can't be reiterated enough.

Gratz on your new acquisitions and welcome to the world of freedom loving gun-owners.

Guns and empty whiskey bottles, what a wonderful combination! Am I the only one that noticed that? I do hope it was just a coincidence they where there and you aren't drinking when the guns are out. Not that I think you are, it's just something that can't be reiterated enough.

Gratz on your new acquisitions and welcome to the world of freedom loving gun-owners.
No worries about combining guns with firearms. Atop that little dresser is where I keep my "trophy" collection of empty liquor bottles, which were only consumed when no firearms were accessible to the drunk! (Me.) As well, last week at home from a couple of hours at the range a friend and I had a few drinks -- after we'd ensured the weapons we own were unloaded and put away.

Thanks for the welcome, I'm quite excited to be part of the unique community of those who take up the Constitution on our Second Amendment rights.

Good. One look around this forum can, sadly, show how negatively just a few experiences with mind-altering substances can impact your right to bear arms. Congrats, by the way. Try to take your friend shooting. Mine always have fun, even when it's their first time. We need as many gun owners as we can get.

An extremely manly man must necessarily have a very feminine side to him. To keep the ying and yang in place and all :p.

I have one... It's called a girlfriend :p

All joking aside Lava, are you gonna start work on suppressor MK. 3 soon?

We need as many gun owners as we can get.
Agreed.

Even more so, we need more Second Amendment supporting politicians elected to office. Unfortunately I think sometime during the upcoming Presidency we'll see another Federal Assault Weapons Ban or Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act.

I say this with the prediction that Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States of America:

Obama has supported banning hundreds of rifles and shotguns commonly used for hunting and sport shooting.
Illinois Senate Debate #3, Obama vs. Keyes, 10-21-04

Obama supports a mandated national registry of all firearms owners.
Obama campaign website, 12-11-07

Obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting.
S. 397, v. 217, 7-29-05

Obama supported increasing taxes on firearms and ammunition by 500 percent.
Chicago Defender, 12-13-99

McCain isn't looking much better.

McCain isn't looking much better.

How's that? He was pushing for some gun locks and made a couple comments about the AWB (which was very popular, and might not have been understood properly seeing as how many people supported it). What has he done that's tantamount to taxation to insane levels, mass bans, registry, etc?

I don't see him as being the "best" candidate on the issue, but I don't see the comparison on the Second Amendment alone.

Bummer. A few years down the road even if I did have the money for a Class III weapon I'm not sure I'd be able to acquire one -- apparently such requires the signature of a high-ranking, local law enforcement official, with whom I am assuming myself to be unpopular because of political disagreements concerning town issues such as eminent domain and taxation.

Aquiring an NFA weapon requires that you properly register it and obtain a tax stamp. For an individual, this does require the signoff of the local Chief Law Enforcement Officer. However, the weapon can also be transferred to a legal entity such as a corporation or trust without need for such permission. You also get to skip the fingerprinting, and transfers tend to go through more quickly. Any good Class 3 dealer should be able to point you in the right direction for setting up a trust for this purpose. As an added benefit, you can add family to the trust, so that they can play with your toys when you're not around and so they won't be liable for constructive possession of illegal NFA weapons just because they know the combo to your safe...

Guns and empty whiskey bottles, what a wonderful combination! Am I the only one that noticed that? I do hope it was just a coincidence they where there and you aren't drinking when the guns are out. Not that I think you are, it's just something that can't be reiterated enough.

I sometimes have a glass of bourbon or beer when i'm cleaning my guns after i come back from shooting, i don't see it as a problem it's not lke a couple of drinks is gonna make you load a round look down the barrel and press the trigger. Drinking before or during shooting or reloading is a serious no-no for me tho.

How's that? He was pushing for some gun locks and made a couple comments about the AWB (which was very popular, and might not have been understood properly seeing as how many people supported it). What has he done that's tantamount to taxation to insane levels, mass bans, registry, etc?
Admittedly this was a rather unfair comparison which upon having read further into I'll gladly retract.
However, the weapon can also be transferred to a legal entity such as a corporation or trust without need for such permission. You also get to skip the fingerprinting, and transfers tend to go through more quickly. Any good Class 3 dealer should be able to point you in the right direction for setting up a trust for this purpose. As an added benefit, you can add family to the trust, so that they can play with your toys when you're not around and so they won't be liable for constructive possession of illegal NFA weapons just because they know the combo to your safe...
This. Is. Brilliant.

I have one... It's called a girlfriend :p

All joking aside Lava, are you gonna start work on suppressor MK. 3 soon?

I also have a fiance thank you very much, but habits and preferences die hard :D.

On the serious side, I don't think there will be a Mk. 3 within the next six months. Firstly because I have generated a good amount of publicity with my thing, so I'll wait until it dies down a bit, and secondly, Mk. 3 is most likely going to be a PVC 1.5 OD body with cemented endcaps and ceramic baffles with PVC spacers. Not a survival grade unit like Mk. 2, but a specialized, high maintenance affair for plinking with my .22 LR rifle.

Nice price on the mosin, I got mine (my first rifle) for about $100 even a while back. Be careful putting the bayonet on, mine got stuck and I had to use lots of oil and the tool that came with it to pry it off.