Effects of Altering a Mosin-Nagant 91/30?
Hi,
I recently bought a Mosin-Nagant 91/30 rifle, however, I would like to mount a scope. In order to mount a scope, I need to install a bended bolt but I’m worried that this may decrease the value of the gun, as I am altering the original design. Would bending the bolt or installing a scope cause the value of my Mosin to decrease?
-
They made millions of em. A lot have been modified simply because they were a cheap surplus rifle. Will it hurt the value, yes. By much no. 0 -
Oh, and welcome to the forums! 0 -
If it was built in the 1940-1945 period and is not already a sniper variant from the factory chances are that swapping out bolt handles and adding a PU side of the receiver mount scope base will not hurt the value of the gun - may increase it...
If however your gun is a pre October 1918 variant with czarist double head screaming chicken crest any change would hurt the value immeasurably...
If it's a Finnish variant or capture piece or an American manufacturer don't touch it...
We need to know the year of production - the arsenal - if it's numbers matching - arsenal rebuild forced match - parts gun that does not match - at a minimum to answer your inquiry.
Statistically your gun will be a 1940-1945 tula star or arrow variant post war arsenal rebuild and changes won't matter much - but measure twice and cut once...
Mike
0 -
There is a mount made that replaces the rear sight, it requires the removal of the rear sight pin and installing the mount. You use a red dot or EER pistol scope with this mount. It works great and does not modify the rifle. You will then have an original rifle and bolt handle but sporting a modern optic. I don't remember who makes the mount but a search for no-drill Mosin Nagant scope mount should get you on the right path. 0 -
"Would bending the bolt or installing a scope cause the value of my Mosin to decrease?"
Unless it's some sort of special specimen, nothing to worry about. I have a VERY low opinion of the MN but I'll withhold my snarky comments.0 -
@...: 31541910486811/comments/31541895494171
If it was built in the 1940-1945 period and is not already a sniper variant from the factory chances are that swapping out bolt handles and adding a PU side of the receiver mount scope base will not hurt the value of the gun - may increase it...
If however your gun is a pre October 1918 variant with czarist double head screaming chicken crest any change would hurt the value immeasurably...
If it's a Finnish variant or capture piece or an American manufacturer don't touch it...
We need to know the year of production - the arsenal - if it's numbers matching - arsenal rebuild forced match - parts gun that does not match - at a minimum to answer your inquiry.
Statistically your gun will be a 1940-1945 tula star or arrow variant post war arsenal rebuild and changes won't matter much - but measure twice and cut once...
Mike
My Mosin was produced in 1948, all the numbers are matching, and I believe the arsenal is Izhevsk, but here is an image to double check:
0 -
The very obvious import stamp sort of takes out of the collector grade IMHO. 0 -
The import stamp is a killer.
What did you pay for the rifle?
I say, scope it up! Mosins are freaky, they have a bizarro safety and I prefer Mausers, but, I like Mosins I have a Finnish M39.0 -
Unless you have a Russian army sergeant standing behind you holding a Tokarev pistol, telling you that he will shoot you in the head if you don't shoot your rifle, you should never fire a M-N. It kicks like a mule; no fun at all. The recoil gives me an instant headache from my brain bouncing back & forth inside my skull.
Consider it to be a collector, not a shooter.Neal
0 -
Sorry Neal. I have a couple MN Carbines. A M38 (bring back from my Dad,) [Korea/Vietnam I'm not sure.] and an M44. They are both shooters. (And) The Carbines have more severe kick than a full size 91/30. I do not find them unbearable. I have other firearms that kick worse. BTW.
Gavin, I installed a Mojo Microclick sight on my M44. Drift the rear roll pin out of the rear sight, install the Mojo rear set up, re-install pin. Front sight, drift out the front sight dovetail with a brass punch. Re-install the Mojo front sight. (minor filing may be necessary.) Google em'.
It is a doughnut inside a doughnut, sight. Very intuitive. Fast aquisition. Not a telescopic sight, but plenty accurrate with Microclick adjustments. It was $99 when I purchased mine years ago.
Welcome to the Mosin Nagant Family. It is addictive.
Disirregardless 😂 of what others who do not collect em' may say.
I do agree, with the prominent roll pin mark of the importer, don't worry whatsoever about any collecter value. (Learn to avoid those.) Mr.Mike discussed the things to look for on the 91/30's.
Stock up on "Spam Cans." If you don't know what that means, you will. 😁
0 -
Alter your rifle as you see fit - it's a working shooter and not a collectable - post war production date and giant font import stamp on the side of the receiver pretty much guarantee it's status as a truck gun or range day fun gun or project gun...
Not talking down to you or trashing your gun as I have a total of 10 mosin nagant variants...
Every single piece you would need to duplicate a factory built wartime production sniper rifle is available as a reproduction from scopes to mounts to bolt handles - etc...
In many cases made in the same factory as the originals on the same machinery - you might consider them continuation pieces rather then repros or knock offs...
And you can buy each piece one at a time or all at once in a kit.
Ghost ring iron combat sights or forward of the receiver long eye relief scout scope set ups using the existing rear sight as the scope base - adding a holo sight or red dot optic are all fair alternate choices...
As far as ammo and recoil goes - yes the rifle kicks hard - the short rifle and carbine kick harder...
Get a muzzle break and swap the metal buttplate for a recoil reducing pad - look at archangel synthetic tactical stocks...
Learn about the ammo - firing a heavy machine gun load with a heavy bullet through the carbine is a bad choice - firing light loads or hunting loads or standard rifle ammo helps a great deal - the bullet shape and profile and material surface and color painted tip can help you id the ammo - modern ammo will list the bullet weight - the lighter the bullet the lower the recoil in most cases.
There are an infinite variety of custom accessories for the gun - to build what ever configurations or appearances your heart desires.
And remember the factory sights are measured in arshins not in meters or yards - so research what an arshin is...
Unlike a .22 rimfire with zero recoil that you can shoot all day and run 100's of rounds through - you may find that 20 rounds through your gun leaves you bruised and tired and sore.
Look up mosin listings on the GB auction side to see what custom alterations others have done and what custom pieces are available at various price points before buying anything or altering anything.
Never try to strip and refinish the stock - arctic birch treated with chromium permanganate makes such projects nearly futile and difficult at best.
Hope that we have helped and answered many of your questions already asked or already on your mind.
Mike
0 -
In a lucky juxtaposition of spoken opinion and real world auction results - here is an article that focuses on a mosin nagant rifle that just sold on Gun brokers auction side for over $5,000.00 - from a top 25 GB rated / certified seller...
The blog authors remarks and the sellers description touch on many of the key bullet point value added collectable features that I briefly referenced above - points of interest that I have been discussing for years (with many of you laughing at me or poking fun at me or flat out disbelieving me)
This may be the highest mosin auction final bid sale price ever recorded for one of these rifles - certainly a top ten yield earner in the history of firearms auctions or sales...
It's a perfect storm - the gun contains almost every positive value modifier feature I have ever referenced here on the forums - an unlikely almost statistically impossible confluence of features - it's unobtainium / its a unicorn / a white whale...
It's a talisman possessed of great import imbued with special properties - it's a divy magnet and a history sponge - imagine it's narratives and the road it has traveled - it's a Forest Gump gun.
This is a textbook example - a high water mark teaching tool.
A $5000 Mosin Nagant Rifle? | John1911.com Gun Blog
There has been some hubbub and debate over a recent sale on Gunbroker. It seems a US Military Marked Mosin Nagant Rifle has sold for $5025. The seller is listed as one of the top 25 dealers on Gunbroker. I am by no means a Mosin expert, but I do know some of the appeal of the type is the affordable price and ammunition.Mike
0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
12 comments