How To Build A Budget "Sniper" Rifle Part 2 - Mosin NagantThis is a featured page

How To Build A Budget "Sniper" Rifle Part 2 - Mosin Nagant - Zombie Survival & Defense WikiHISTORY OF THE MOSIN-NAGANT RIFLE

The Mosin-Nagant series of rifles has a history that extends back to 1891, when the first rifles went into mass production. Since then, this rifle has had the longest serving military history, as the rifle is still currently in use today by the Finns in the form of the "TKIV 85" sniper rifle. There are TKIV that have receivers that date back before the turn of the 20th century; these rifles are literally over 100 years old! The Mosin-Nagant has been used in virtually every major conflict since 1900, making it truly one of the most influential weapons in human history!

Choosing the Mosin-Nagant series rifle for this project and tutorial was not a difficult decision because the rifle has so much going for it right now. First and foremost, excellent examples of this rifle can be found in new to like new condition as many rifles never saw combat - they were assembled after World War Two and immediately placed into crates, then preserved in cosmoline in wait for the next big World War. That war never came, and the rifles have since been brought out and sold to us here in the United States. The rifles that were used to restored to new condition (barring barrel - important) and crated up, also to be preserved as well. If you have a Curio and Relic FFL license, you can purchase one of these rifles for under $100 USD, shipped directly to your door, but a gun shop will charge a little bit more on top of this in the form of a transfer fee.

The Mosin-Nagant is a bolt action rifle that uses the 7.62x54R cartridge. This cartridge is comparable in power to the .308 or 30-06 cartridge, and at range is more powerful due to superior ballistic performance. It is capable of dropping just about any game in the world, but certainly any game in North America within 500 yards if a solid strike on a vital target can be made. The internal box magazine holds five rounds, and can be reloaded one at the time or en-mass via stripper clip; though once traditional eye-relief optics are mounted on it, the rifle can only be loaded one cartridge at the time. There are three main variations that are commonly seen today: the long Model 91/30, the M38 carbine and the bayonet-equipped M44 carbine. Both the M44 and the M91/30 have bayonets, but the M38 does not and cannot mount one. Typically when purchased, the rifles come with full maintenance kits, an oil can, an ammo pouch, a sling, a cleaning rod and if it's a M91/30 it'll typically come with a detachable bayonet.

It really doesn't matter what model of Mosin-Nagant you choose for your sniper project. All of the different variations are suitable for use in a sniper rifle conversion.


How To Build A Budget "Sniper" Rifle Part 2 - Mosin Nagant - Zombie Survival & Defense WikiCOSMOLINE
This is a great time to tell you about cosmoline - our greatest ally and worst enemy, all in one. Cosmoline is a petroleum-based preservative that is similar in color and consistency to earwax, and it's used (liberally) to protect the rifles from rust and corrosion so that the rifles can be stored for long periods without decay. In this sense, it's a good thing as it does it job admirably.

The down side of cosmoline is that it can be extremely difficult to remove completely and it inhibits your ability to inspect the rifle's bore condition at the gunshop, a critical concern that we'll touch base on later. It literally covers every square inch of the weapon, including the accessories that come with it. Sometimes its even gotten into the wood underneath the barrel and receiver, which is an extra special sort of turd!

The best way to remove cosmoline is lots of heavy duty paper towels, WD-40 (or equivalent cheap gun oil) and tons of elbow grease. You'll also want to have a trash bag handy to dispose of cosmoline-covered paper towels. Disassemble the rifle completely and clean in sections - bolt first, barrelled receiver second, stock third, accessories last. Make sure to avoid getting gun oil or WD-40 on your wooden stock as it will damage it. Make sure to clean out the bore, but this should have already been done by you at the gun shop. (BIG HINT)

SELECTING AND PURCHASING YOUR RIFLE
Once you've finally decided to purchase a Mosin-Nagant rifle for conversion into a sniper rifle, there are several steps that you need to take to spare yourself a hard time at the gun shop - because "Mr. Gun Sales Guy" may not appreciate you making a mess of his establishment - even though you're not going to make a mess. My advise is to contact the gun shops you frequent (or have in mind) and find out a few things. Remember, it is best to call in the middle of their business day, not at the very end of it. Ask the following questions.

How many Mosin-Nagant rifles do they have in stock?

What models do they carry?

What condition are they in?

Do they mind if you clean the crud out of the barrel to inspect the bore condition of each? (If not, take your business elsewhere.)

What is the going price for the different models?

It may be beneficial to do a little bit of high-risk haggling to get yourself a better deal or a better rifle. When you're on the phone, if you're speaking to the owner of the gun shop, offer to pay them a little bit extra for the hassle and time you're there, or offer to buy the man lunch from Burger King. A little bit of courtesy can go a long way in terms of getting what you want from a sales person. Keep the ball in your park and you might be able to secure yourself a discount and make a new friend at the same time.

Back to business - so you're at the gun shop that is willing to let you inspect multiple rifles, and you've got the money (plus a bit extra) to buy the rifle with the best barrel. What are you looking for, and how do you remove the "cosmoline butt plug" from the rifle's barrel? Well, removing the plug is easy - bring along a cleaning rod and push the plug (from receiver to muzzle) into a trash can after removing the bolt. To inspect, hold the rifle up pointed toward at a light source and look down the barrel from the breech end, not the muzzle. You can also use a flash light to illuminate the bore. The lands and grooves should be reasonably sharp and defined through the entire length of the barrel - but the most important part of the barrel is the last inch or two. These last couple inches of rifling determines how the bullet will leave the barrel!

If all of the rifles have bores that look like the one on the right, have no fear - just choose the one that looks the best! All other considerations should be ignored in lieu of barrel quality, except regarding safety or function concerns.


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LJ26's Weapons and Practical Skills Corner by (LJ126) is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.zombiesurvivalwiki.com.



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UBCS1 non standard stocks 2 Dec 3 2009, 10:02 AM EST by LJ126
Thread started: Dec 3 2009, 12:25 AM EST  Watch
I am looking for a replacement stock with a more updated design. I was thinking along the lines of a pistol grip and side folding stock. the one on my mosin nagant had this huge crack running along the receiver. If anybody knows where i could acquire one it would be a HUGE help if you could tell me thank you.
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