m91/30 scope mount

[Mike82]

Ok, with the rear sights still on mine, I cannot 'see' the dovetail. Atleast I can't see the outline of it. There is a small 'flathead' screw that looks to be milled or smooth'ed down to being level with top of sight base. If someone has already mounted rings directly to receiver using 'stock' dovetail, could you please tell me the steps you did to remove the old rear sights?

And, I dont know if mine even has them, I know they changed designs alot. The info for gun is as follows if it'll help any:
Mosin-Nagant
M91/30 'long rifle' (not short infantry)
Tula Arsenal
Dated: 1936

Thanks a bunch for any info provided.

[SwedeSteve]

I'm still trying to figure out where there's a dovetail on the receiver? You guys have me lost or I'm having a brain cramp! If you're talking about the rear sight dovetail on the barrel of a M91 or a M91/30, ok!

[Mike82]

Yep, rear sights must mount on an unseen dovetail cut into receiver.
once freed, i'm guessing the sight block would have to slide forward to be removed, but I'd guess they won't come along as easily as I'd hope. Just now got my end-sight loosened for windage, it was stuck on there good, and was stuck too far to the right....of course my AK's front sights are same way, came from the factory like that i'd guess.

[Mike82]

If you look at Billy's post, #5 on this topic, you'll see where they removed not just rear sights, but the whole base,a nd mounted the scope rings directly to the barrel....the barrel(receiver) has what looks like factory-cut dovetails(slots) cut into it, and I believe they are about 3/8th of an inch apart, so 3/8th scope rings should work fine. Anyways, if mine has the stock dovetails, then I am going that route, it looks so....low-profile, deadly, all of the above

[SwedeSteve]

OK, then you are talking about the rear sight dovetail on the barrel. To get to ityou need to disassemblethe the sight, then tap the sight base forward and off the dovetail. Some of these were soldered on. So after persistent tapping, if yours doesn't budge, you may need to heat it up a bit.

[Mike82]

Good deal, hopefully no solder on mine, I'm not the best aim with a torch.... mainly dont wanna fudge the bluing on the barrel :P

[SwedeSteve]

Ya, I agree. Mooseman may have a better way.

[batjac]

I tried to take off my rear sights on one of my 91/30's. I punched out the two pins on the side, but I couldn't get that little set screw on the top rear of the mount to come out. It just stripped out the slot. I decided I didn't want to do any more damage to it and just put the two pins back in.


Anyone have good luck/technique removing that set screw?

[SwedeSteve]

I think you would probably have to soak it and work at it. Or you could just drill it out.

[Cyrano]

Billy, please tell me more about that dovetail in the picture. Is it part of every Mosin? Or only certain years, models or factories? I like what was done to that rifle!

And which long eye relief scopes do you recommend? Perhaps my trouble has been with the scope itself and not where it's mounted. As you said, if you can solve the scope problem by simply drifting out one pin to remove the rear sight, why put a rail in its place at all?

[Mike82]

cyrano, there are 2 ways of scoping the mosin by drifting pins....1) you drift the pin that holds the rear sight leaf, it's the hinge of the leaf, and a special adapter mounts where the sight leaf was...2) you remove sight leaf, and then remove the base, part that attaches to barrel, and it leaves a 3/8ths inch dovetail made onto barrel, factory dovetail hidden underneath sight base....those are the 2 different ways spoken about in this post....

[Mike82]

just replying to this so i may use billy's pic in post5 for a reply in "WORTHY SCOPES!!!" thread......took me 25min to find this topic again -.-

[Ellsworth]

Is this dove tail on all mosin's though? I don't want to pound off my rear site base of my M44 and not be able to put it back on.. lol That's the last thing I need.

And correct me if i'm wrong but won't you need Weaver style rings to mount to that piece under the mount? I looked up dovetail and the mounts look like they would not grasp the metal.

[Mike82]

Originally Posted by Ellsworth

Is this dove tail on all mosin's though? I don't want to pound off my rear site base of my M44 and not be able to put it back on.. lol That's the last thing I need.

And correct me if i'm wrong but won't you need Weaver style rings to mount to that piece under the mount? I looked up dovetail and the mounts look like they would not grasp the metal.

oh they grasp the metal alrite, that dovetail sticks out more than it looks, and it's only as long at the sight base, so mount ur rings as close to edge as you can....also the set screw is threaded in the base, not the barrel, there is a small hole in top of dovetail that the tip of screw sits in, to lock it in place....the solder is easily removeable with light heat applied....took mine to gunsmith with evrything still attached, 30bucks later sight base was removed, and all the solder was cleaned away....also, the set screw takes a special size flathead screwdriver to remove, so i wouldnt try removing it on your own, most flathead screwdrivers that small have a sharp edge, but the one required needs to have thick edge so it doesnt move around in slot....if you get it drilled out, use a bit about half the diameter of the bolt head, then dont worry about removing screw, cuz it tapers as it gets towards bottom of screw and the tip will come apart once u drill through screw head, then u just heat barrel to about 300-500 degrees F. the solder will melt right out, a few light taps on rear side of mount, and it will slide off dovetail..............as far as i know, all mosins that use the rear sight base, have the dovetail, since it's the major part that holds the sight base. if it didnt have the dovetail, i doubt the solder alone could hold the base on without some sort of hard-mounting....
hope this helps

[Ellsworth]

So i'm heavily debating this now thanks to Mike . But here's my issue, I have a new century scope, and the site adjustment is really thick, do you think i'd have enough rail to mound the rings?

[Mike82]

you mean enough length of rail i'm guessing, and the answer is when you mount your rings on each end of rail you have about 2inches or so between the front and rear scope rings. "sight adjustment", do you mean the center area of scope where the windage/elevation adjustment block is? if so, i'd think you'd have enough room, cuz i have an old 52mm scope and the adjustment block on it is about 1.5inches long. hopefully that answers your question, if not, just explain what u meant by 'site adjustment'

[SwedeSteve]

Ellsworth- There is no dovetail for a M44! Don't remove your sight! The M44 and M38 carbine have different rear sights.

"as far as i know, all mosins that use the rear sight base, have the dovetail, since it's the major part that holds the sight base. if it didnt have the dovetail, i doubt the solder alone could hold the base on without some sort of hard-mounting....
hope this helps"- Mike82

Wrongo! The M44 and M38 rear sights are held in place by pins, not a dovetail! They are short sights, NOT M91/30 sights. You need to do your homework before suggesting to someone they beat their sights off a rifle. Take a look here and you'll see what I mean Mike: Mosin Nagant Rifle Sight Comparisons

Not beating you up Mike! Well, maybe just a litte, LOL !!!

[texnmidwest]

Good info Swede! I think you saved some poor sap like me a lot of heart ache.

[Mike82]

sorry ellsworth, i had forgotten the sight bases on M44's were half length, check this link for an adapter mount if you want: https://www.crankyfarmer.com/shop/pr...cat=258&page=3

I'ma just shutup now -.-

[SwedeSteve]

No shuta up! Talky, talky! We like Mike!