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Mosin Nagant Bolt

RedRalf
I recently purchased 2 of these for backup/spare parts. Neither one will close in my Finnish M91. I took them (along with my rifle) to a gunsmith and he told me the bolt face ring needs slight machining for bolt to close properly. My concern also is proper headspace with the "trimming of the bolt ring". Can anyone tell me if this is correct or not?

In addition, I disassembled the bolts to check firing pin length and cannot adjust either one of them any more and they are still too long according to the tool I have for checking for proper length. Can anyone tell me what I can do to remedy this if possible?

Thanks in advance
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8 comments

Date Votes
  • RedRalf
    Greetings!

    I have searched and found nothing. Sorry if this is a classic FNG question ... but ... I recently purchased a Mosin Nagant made in 1930. I cleaned it up before firing it.

    Now I notice that IF I PULL THE TRIGGER then pull the bolt back, it is difficult to pull back! That as compared to simply cycling the bolt back and forth WITHOUT a dry fire or pull of trigger, it goes smooth.

    Did I manage to screw something up when I reassembled my bolt? Do I have an issue for a Gun Smith?

    Curious and clueless here,

    Ralph
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  • rsnyder55
    Does this rifle cock on opening the bolt or closing the bolt after firing. That may be the reason.
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  • TRAP55
    Cocks on opening. Sounds like you didn't get the trigger/spring back together right.
    Did you have the bolt apart?
    Dis-Assembly/ re-assembly:
    http://www.surplusrifle.com/russianmosin189130/rifledisassembly/index.asp
    Bolt:
    http://www.surplusrifle.com/finnishmosin/boltdisassembly/index.asp
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  • jonk
    No you are fine. Heavy bolt lift is due to the fact that you are compressing the main spring on opening, whereas if you open it while cocked it is already compressed.

    A mosin isn't the smoothest action anyhow and should be operated 'smartly'- i.e. with a good whack with your upturned palm. I'd say that on my stickier ones it takes a good 5-8 pounds of force to cock and open the bolt.
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  • 11b6r
    Tool kit for a 91/30 owner includes at least 2 rubber mallets and a chunk of 2x4. If the difficulty is in OPENING the bolt (handle lift) as opposed to moving the bolt to the rear once handle is lifted, you may consider that normal. Was part of the Soviet training program for weight lifters. Design, angle of meeting parts, spring left over from building T-34 tanks, etc. If you have not already, good info and articles on a LOT of surplus firearms at surplusrifle.com.
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  • RedRalf
    Thank you ALL! Thanks especially to the person that sent the links, being a simple Army E-5 type ... pictures work wonders!

    I expected something less than a Mauser action, but this is pretty nuts. I will pull the bolt and see if maybe I managed to mess something up.

    Thanks to ALL for the help!
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  • Mgderf
    For Mosin-Nagants, go to:

    www.7.62x54R.net

    Just about everything you could want to know about Mosins
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  • beantownshootah
    Its actually pretty hard NOT to assemble the Mosin bolt correctly. The biggest problem in re-assembly would be not reinserting the firing pin to the correct depth. Too much, and you'll pierce primers on firing. . .NOT GOOD. Too little and you'll get misfires.

    That's why most Mosins come with a tool that is designed in part to measure firing pin protrusion. If you don't have one, they're readily available for only $5 - 7. Mine came with a mark on the pin mated to the bolt, so that when they are lined up you know the firing pin depth is right.

    Anyway, getting back to the question, the Mosin Nagant rifle was designed at the end of the 19th century. Consequently, the idea of "ergonomic rifle design" wasn't exactly well developed.

    The gun suffers from two issues that make opening the bolt difficult:

    a. Super strong spring that is designed to be cocked on opening, and
    b. Short bolt that yield little leverage.

    While the gun can be modified to make these things easier (ie reducing the power of the spring, and/or lengthening the bolt), the tried and true "answer" to this problem is to simply "whack" the bolt open hard with the palm of your right hand.
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