Average Mosin accuracy

[John Galt]

Hello all,

Just wondering what the average Mosin 91/30 can do at 110 yds.  I know there a lot of variables to consider, but what is reasonable to expect from an average condition Mosin?

John Galt

[Greasemonkey]

I'd guess 4-6 inch, most would or can do better, it's a basic infantry weapon, minute of man is all thats required.  Like they were trained, aim for the belt buckle, pretty much gets ya center of mass shot.

Most I've seen, with an ammo the rifle likes, and practice, 2-4 inches, some Finnish built variants can even pull better numbers.

[Dannyboy53]

I recently read some fellow claiming 1 to 2 inch groups at 100 yards with his SKS! I figure mine is doing danged good at 6-7 inches at that distance. I get 3 out of 5 head shots on an "E" type target.

[Garand1957]

I'd guess 4-6 inch, most would or can do better, it's a basic infantry weapon, minute of man is all thats required.  Like they were trained, aim for the belt buckle, pretty much gets ya center of mass shot.

Most I've seen, with an ammo the rifle likes, and practice, 2-4 inches, some Finnish built variants can even pull better numbers.

Finnish Mosin rifles shoot much better.
The trigger plays a big part and Russian Mosin triggers are about as bad as they get.

[Power Surge]

I recently read some fellow claiming 1 to 2 inch groups at 100 yards with his SKS! I figure mine is doing danged good at 6-7 inches at that distance. I get 3 out of 5 head shots on an. "E" type target.

Was he claiming that with or without a scope? I'm getting 4-6" groups at 100 yards from both my SKSs with open sights. I would bet I could get 2-3" with a scope on there.

[Carl in CT]

Are you guys shooting your Mosin with the bayonet on? I found that mine shoots consistently to one side with it off but the groups are in the 4-6" range at 100 yards. I have never tried it with the bayo on.

[Dannyboy53]

I recently read some fellow claiming 1 to 2 inch groups at 100 yards with his SKS! I figure mine is doing danged good at 6-7 inches at that distance. I get 3 out of 5 head shots on an. "E" type target.

Was he claiming that with or without a scope? I'm getting 4-6" groups at 100 yards from both my SKSs with open sights. I would bet I could get 2-3" with a scope on there.

Power Surge I don't remember him mentioning a scope but it would come near doing what he said as opposed to just iron sights I would think. I'm seriously considering sending my trigger groups in to get an overhaul, I know I could tighten the groups with a slick pull.

[Dannyboy53]

Are you guys shooting your Mosin with the bayonet on? I found that mine shoots consistently to one side with it off but the groups are in the 4-6" range at 100 yards. I have never tried it with the bayo on.

Carl I have never had the opportunity to fire a Mosin but with and without the bayonet made a noticeable difference with our SKSs. Give it a try and let us know how it turns out.

[Carl in CT]

I have always heard that the Russians set the sights to be used with the bayonet attached and if you take it off you will need to adjust the sights. I wasn't sure if that is true or if I just needed to adjust my sights in general. It could be me but my buddy was having the same thing with his Mosin so maybe it's true.

[Dannyboy53]

I have always heard that the Russians set the sights to be used with the bayonet attached and if you take it off you will need to adjust the sights. I wasn't sure if that is true or if I just needed to adjust my sights in general. It could be me but my buddy was having the same thing with his Mosin so maybe it's true.

Carl this was posted by routeus1 on another thread a while back. Appears it isn't anything wrong you or your buddy is doing!


Re: Shooting with/without bayonets
« Reply #14 on: 10 October 2014, 06:50:49 »

From the , Instructions for Use and Maintenance, 7.62mm Simonov Self-loading Carbine (SKS) Military Press, Ministry of Defense of the USSR, Moscow 1963
(translated by Major J.F. Gebhardt, U.S. Army, Ret)
Page 42, Chapter VIII 79.

"Confirmation of a carbine's zero and bringing it to normal zero are accomplished by firing normal ball ammunition with steel core. All the rounds should be from the same lot. The range of fire is 100 meters, with the sight set on 3. The position for fire is prone with a rest. The carbine's bayonet should be in the combat position."

The stance of the USSR was that if it had a bayonet it was zeroed with it, affixed/deployed/combat position.

From the translated manual regarding M91/30, M38, M44. Page 50, Chapter 5 101.
"Confirmation of the zero of Model 1944 is conducted with the bayonet in the combat position [deployed]." Translated by Major J.F. Gebhardt, USA Ret.

Russian Military Translations

[Carl in CT]

Thanks Dannyboy! Well there it is then, I'm not crazy or a horrible shot!

[Garand1957]

Russian M91/30 rifles typically hit high to POA anyway.
If your serious about being able to hit right where you aim buy a Smith Sight http://www.smith-sights.com/
Then find a Finn M/39 trigger off e-bay. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Finnish-M39-Mosin-Nagant-Complete-Trigger-Spring-Set-Up-Upgrade-Lighter-Pull-Exc-/351300387817?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51cb2283e9
Then add a "trigger return Spring" http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mosin-Nagant-Trigger-Spring-Kit-shorter-lighter-trigger-pull-/321082471597

Here are some tips you can do to squeeze some more accuracy from the rifle http://www.smith-sights.com/article-accurizing-mosin-nagant.php

[John Galt]

Thanks for all the info guys!

I was wondering about accuracy because I have a mosin that I did some work to that I have not fired yet.  I did not change out any of the trigger parts but did add a sear adjustment screw and adjusted the sear "spring".  Hours of polishing and a safetypin-trigger return spring and I have a very crisp, no creep, no wobble, 3 lb. trigger without adding the "mosin shims".

I have cocked the bolt and dropped the rifle on the buttstock and/or banged it in many and varying ways with no sear disengagement.

It is too cold to go to the range and looking at it is making me wonder what I can expect out of it, especially with the really nice trigger.

Thanks,

John Galt

[Garand1957]

Sounds like you have the trigger all worked out.
A taller front sight post will make it easier to zero with different types of ammo.
My experience has been with the rear sight lowered all the way they still shoot high even with heavy ball ammo.
This is a cheap way to solve that problem. http://www.ebay.com/itm/MOSIN-TALL-RIFLE-SIGHT-POST-PIN-FITS-RUSSIAN-M91-M91-30-M38-M44-91-59/191516357477?_trksid=p2047675.c100012.m1985&_trkparms=aid%3D444000%26algo%3DSOI.DEFAULT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D29310%26meid%3De0b6953ec8c8476996e95ded9ccceb50%26pid%3D100012%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D3%26sd%3D190579215546

[M26PERSHING]

Iraqveteran8888 on youtube did the bayonet test and its true, quite the difference.

[reloader762]

Jerry Miculek shoots the M44

[Ol Relic]

Depends on what you mean by "average", and what kind of ammo you're using.

It's a crap shoot with surplus ammo (and it's not just a matter of how "good" a particular can of ammo is, it's also a matter of how much the individual gun "likes" that particular can of ammo).

With handloads tailored to the individual gun, a 91/30 with an excellent bore will normally shoot around 1 moa (sometimes quite a bit better than that).  Finnish rifles have some advantages over Soviet models, but the performance difference is surprisingly small in my experience, and is much exaggerated on the 'net.