Mosin Nagant project

[Budasac]

Hey guys, I was wondering who here has a Mosin and what you've done to it (if anything). My buddy picked one up a while ago and restored very nicely. It looked like a fun project , and I am planning to ceracoat a 1911, so I thought I would pick one up to fool around and practice on. My intention was to simply refinish the stock and ceracoat the barrel (mainly just to practice).

Well, as with most things I do, it got a little involved. The barrel was beat up, and not very well machined it the first place, so I spent quite a bit of time just trying to smooth it all out. Then I came across the ArchAngel stock. It was a little pricey for a cheap rifle build but, I helped out my neighbor and did some work on his house so he ordered the stock for me. Unfortunately I don't like the scout scope set-up, so I had to drill and tap the receiver for a rail. Also needed to cut the handle off the bolt and make a new one to clear the rail. It got a little bit more involved then I was planning but, I like the journey, and it's fun. Not done yet but I figured I'd start a thread and see if any one has suggestions before I finish. I've only been shooting for about 18 months and this is my first gun project but I enjoy working with my hands and am willing to try anything.

Here is what a stock Mosin looks like if there is anyone who doesn't know what they look like.

 

[Budasac]

Here it is when test fitting the stock:


Mounting the rail:


I mounted a scope I had just to make sure the rail was straight:

 

[Budasac]

Then I cut the handle off the bolt and drilled it out for a new one:

 

[Budasac]

Once it was installed I cut it to the desired length, reattached the ball on the end, and gave a little polish.


I still need to thread the barrel and ceracoat it. Also trying to decide what to do with the dovetail for the original rear sight base. I can either shave it off or get an 11mm to weaver/picatinny rail for a laser. Not quite sure yet.

 

[66snub]

You've done a beautiful job so far. What, may I ask, would the value of this gun be after the make over?

 

[CatSnipah]

You've done a beautiful job so far. What, may I ask, would the value of this gun be after the make over?

You can find complete Mosins in an archangel stock in the $250-300 range, depending on who and where (and mosin manufacturer - Chinese vs Russian).

 

[Budasac]

You've done a beautiful job so far. What, may I ask, would the value of this gun be after the make over?

Thank you.
The stock was kind of a gift for helping a friend but, if I add up the price tags on everything, I'm around $300 right now. I still need to buy a brake ($50?) and a scope. I'm not including the cost of the ceracoat because it will be used for multiple projects. So basically $350 plus a scope. I also plan on refinishing the original stock and selling that along with all unused parts and accessories (bayonet, oil can, etc.) to to recoup some $$. I've seen them selling for as much as $80!

I'm really doing it for the experience and enjoyment of it though. I could have just bought a rifle for $350 but there's no fun in that. Plus it shoots real cheap ammo so, if I shoot it enough I'll make my money back!??

 

[sheepdawg]

Sorry but to me another decent milsurp bites the dust. All of it's history is now gone forever. Most collectors say that dressing up a surplus military rifle is taking a $150 rifle and making a $100 rifle out of it. You might enjoy what you have come up with and it's your rifle to do with as you please but it will never be worth the money you put into it.

This is known as a "Bubba" job to us collectors.

 

[poorjohnny]

nice it looks like you had fun remodeling. i would agree with sheepdog but i dont think you plan on living for 100 yrs so price dont much matter.
enjoy ,nice job .if i see you at the range i would like to try it.

 

[Rick_A]

These are nice variants to copy:

Not a fan of such sporterizations myself.

If you wanna go cheap just buy a Savage 10FP.

 

[Budasac]

Sorry but to me another decent milsurp bites the dust. All of it's history is now gone forever. Most collectors say that dressing up a surplus military rifle is taking a $150 rifle and making a $100 rifle out of it. You might enjoy what you have come up with and it's your rifle to do with as you please but it will never be worth the money you put into it.

This is known as a "Bubba" job to us collectors.

Meh, I don't think it had much value to begin with. To me it was simply an old *** that would otherwise never get used. It served as a cheap platform to experiment with and have some fun. To me it's worth much more now, and I enjoy the process. It has nothing g to do with money or value.

If I come across a nice Mosin with matching numbers I'll likely pick it up and restore it just so I can take it out once in a while and shoot it side by side with my "bubba" Mosin.[emoji6]

 

[Arik]

Hey guys, I was wondering who here has a Mosin and what you've done to it (if anything). My buddy picked one up a while ago and restored very nicely. It looked like a fun project , and I am planning to ceracoat a 1911, so I thought I would pick one up to fool around and practice on. My intention was to simply refinish the stock and ceracoat the barrel (mainly just to practice).

Well, as with most things I do, it got a little involved. The barrel was beat up, and not very well machined it the first place, so I spent quite a bit of time just trying to smooth it all out. Then I came across the ArchAngel stock. It was a little pricey for a cheap rifle build but, I helped out my neighbor and did some work on his house so he ordered the stock for me. Unfortunately I don't like the scout scope set-up, so I had to drill and tap the receiver for a rail. Also needed to cut the handle off the bolt and make a new one to clear the rail. It got a little bit more involved then I was planning but, I like the journey, and it's fun. Not done yet but I figured I'd start a thread and see if any one has suggestions before I finish. I've only been shooting for about 18 months and this is my first gun project but I enjoy working with my hands and am willing to try anything.

Here is what a stock Mosin looks like if there is anyone who doesn't know what they look like.

Please tell me this is not the one you screwed with?! The pictures you posted are no M91/30 but M91. The first Mosins. The difference in price between the two are generally $300 and can be A LOT higher.

 

[Budasac]

Please tell me this is not the one you screwed with?! The pictures you posted are no M91/30 but M91. The first Mosins. The difference in price between the two are generally $300 and can be A LOT higher.

No, just a stock pic I found online. I purposely picked out a cheap beater for this project.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Please tell me this is not the one you screwed with?! The pictures you posted are no M91/30 but M91. The first Mosins. The difference in price between the two are generally $300 and can be A LOT higher.

I believe that's just a stock photo he posted as an example. To me it looks like a Dragoon not an M91.

http://mosinnagant.net/USSR/Soviet-M9130.asp

 

[Arik]

I believe that's just a stock photo he posted as an example. To me it looks like a Dragoon not an M91.

http://mosinnagant.net/USSR/Soviet-M9130.asp

I only see a little photo but the sights stuck out as M91.

 

[shocker]

I picked a 43 Izzy off the rack for $99. Bore turned out to be shiny after thorough scrubbing. Trigger pull is pretty good for a milsurp. Like the typical mosin, it was refurbished and came with a prewar stock.
Now to the mods, ATI polymer stock, and aperture sights front and rear.
What i have is recoil trainer that eats the cheapest high power ammunition in existence. I've put two cans of ammo through it so far and when I finish the can I still have I'll probably demil and dispose. It will have served its purpose.

 

[Arik]

Why demil?

 

[PA Guns & Ammo]

Sorry but to me another decent milsurp bites the dust. All of it's history is now gone forever. Most collectors say that dressing up a surplus military rifle is taking a $150 rifle and making a $100 rifle out of it. You might enjoy what you have come up with and it's your rifle to do with as you please but it will never be worth the money you put into it.

This is known as a "Bubba" job to us collectors.

As much as I agree with you, the fact is their are millions of 91/30's out there and their is no shortage of them. Not every milsurp can be owned by a collector. I'm glad he chose this rifle instead of some rare Mauser or Springfield. People tend to forget that after the wars back then, most people bought the milsurps and turned them into sporters. It is an American tradition whether we like it or not. Think about it this way, where can you buy a 30 caliber cartridge for 20 cents around and a rifle that fires it for a $150? You can't and that is why so many people sporterize the Mosin.

James

 

[Arik]

I'm glad he chose this rifle instead of some rare Mauser or Springfield. People tend to forget that after the wars back then, most people bought the milsurps and turned them into sporters. It is an

James

This is why what's left today is so expensive. Because they were plentiful and people hacked them. There are also different styles of collecting. Everyone wants a mint #s matching Garand or Springfield. When it comes to Mosins that criteria is of course a huge plus but people collect them for their uniqueness and battle use. For example one of my Mosins was made in 1901, captured by the Austrians in WW1, had things changed by them. Then sold to Finland and used to fight the Soviets in the winter war. Later is was most likely re captured by the Soviets because it was sold to the Balkans. Contains markings from all Imperial Russia, Austria, Finland, and Serbia. Also looks like the Austrians re chambered it for 8x50R. It's full of European history from the first 50 years of the 20th century.

Then there are ones that you really have to know what it is your looking at. You can have a early 30s typical 91/30 and think it's just whatever when in fact it came from the Spanish Civil war. They have a few tell tale signs but they are easily overlooked by someone who thinks it's just another 91/30.

Btw, one m38 carbine just sold for $1500. No import marks, none referbed, contained the early sale sight base of the M38 and Fin capture. The last part is really what makes it rare as there were not a lot of M38s used against Finland. An M 44 would cost even more and be even more rare cause there is something like 120 known Fin capture M44s

 

[Richard Simmons]

I only see a little photo but the sights stuck out as M91.

Correct. The Dragoon was a transition between the M91 & M91/30. The stock and fittings are from the M91/30 but with the M91 rear sight and without the hooded/globe front site of the M91/30.