Rebarreling Mosins?

FS00008 · 06-27-2008, 12:22 AM

So is it possible to rebarrel a Mosin easily? I have the opportunity to get a 91/59 with a shot out barrel for a pretty good price ($90 plus CADOJ Registration Transfer fee from a family friend). It has a Hex receiver. Is it worth it?

Is it possible to rebarrel one?

Expensive?

SwedeSteve · 06-27-2008, 09:53 AM

Yes it is possible. No it is not expensive. I would suggest having a competent gunsmith set the headspace though. Look here for barrels:
Mosin Nagant Rifle Barrels : Buymilsurp.com, Your source for military surplus.

R5CYA · 06-27-2008, 11:15 AM

i can't believe someone cut up all those m39's. makes ya wanna cry.

SwedeSteve · 06-27-2008, 11:48 AM

A lot of times, the receivers were not serviceable. But in a lot of cases, it is a matter of being able to sell the barrels to a wider market. As in, no FFL required.

gandog56 · 06-27-2008, 11:55 AM

I don't know. You could probably get a hex that doesn't have a bad barrel for that price.

SwedeSteve · 06-27-2008, 12:29 PM

FS- As you want to rebarrel, I am assuming you want a shooter. I would look for a M38 barrel in good condition. Look on Gunbrokers. Maybe Reich as well. Here's a 91/59 for a good price: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=102446576

FS00008 · 06-27-2008, 01:18 PM

Yes Swede, I want a shooter. I'm a little confused as to whether or not he's giving me a good deal on the 91/59 though. If I were to re-barrel I'd have to swap out the entire assembly (Receiver included)? I just wanted to double check that is what you were saying. I do want a shooter, and I'd like to have a good one if possible. I like the feel of that M91/59 so much more than my M44 it's amazing...

FS00008 · 06-27-2008, 01:23 PM

Ok, I just checked further on that site and saw the M38 stuff you were talking about. Can you tell me why I ought to go with one of those? Besides the obvious lack of 91/59 specific stuff on that site.

haha, I feel like such an idiot when it comes to MNs now.

SwedeSteve · 06-27-2008, 01:55 PM

You would have to pull the barrel off only. Then put the new barrel on. Then headspace (getting the distance right between barrel and receiver basically). Iin lieu of a true M91/59, a M38 barrel will be as close to original as you can get. You will have to get M38 sights though. Add all of this up and add gunsmith time, and the one on Gunbroker is starting to look good !!

FS00008 · 06-27-2008, 02:11 PM

You're making good sense here Steve, I may tell him all this and see if he'll knock the price down. He's a family friend, so it's possible. I may also go the GB route. I may just wait until I can find a suitable M38. We'll see. Thanks for the advice though Steve and everyone else.

SwedeSteve · 06-27-2008, 04:23 PM

Another thing to consider is you will have to inlet the barrel channel to accept the M38 barrel.

troy2000 · 06-27-2008, 05:05 PM

How shot out is that barrel? Hard to believe a 91/59 has that much wear on it... And have you actually tried shooting it? Some Mosins with horrible-looking bores shoot fine anyway.

91/59's with hex receivers are relatively scarce. If it's a decent shooter at all, you may want to keep it intact as a collector's piece. Especially since for what it'll cost you to buy the rifle, round up a barrel and make the swap, you could have another 91/59 maybe, or a good M38 for sure.

And of course, there's a basic question I hesitate to ask, lest I insult your friend. No offense intended, but has he gotten his nomenclature mixed up, and called a 91/30 or some other model a 91/59? Have you had a chance to actually look at the gun?

SwedeSteve · 06-27-2008, 05:43 PM

Those are all good points.

gandog56 · 06-27-2008, 05:47 PM

Scarce? AIM has them for $79.95. Can't be too scarce.

troy2000 · 06-27-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gandog56

Scarce? AIM has them for $79.95. Can't be too scarce.

Hex receiver 91/59's? I doubt that. I took a quick look, and the only hex receivers that came up at AIM for $79.95 were 91/30's. Am I not looking at the right page?

According to 7.62x54r.net, "The majority of M91/59s are from later round receiver M91/30 production, but hexagonal ones are known."

toolman · 06-27-2008, 06:35 PM

Keep in mind that rebarrelling a Mosin isn't as easy as your average Mauser, Arisaka, etc. The barrels are usually extremely tight and\or rusted into the receiver and no one makes speific tools to do it. A lot of M\N receivers have been ruined by someone trying to wrench it off the barrel and twisted it. I'm not trying to dissuade you, just saying...

gandog56 · 06-27-2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troy2000

Hex receiver 91/59's? I doubt that. I took a quick look, and the only hex receivers that came up at AIM for $79.95 were 91/30's. Am I not looking at the right page?

According to 7.62x54r.net, "The majority of M91/59s are from later round receiver M91/30 production, but hexagonal ones are known."

Ooops, misread the 59. Price was for a 91/30

troy2000 · 06-27-2008, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gandog56

Ooops, misread the 59. Price was for a 91/30

I didn't have a lot of hope. But if it turned out you were right, I was gonna hop on a couple of them...

FS00008 · 06-27-2008, 08:14 PM

Troy, yes it is an original HEX 91/59. I've looked at it. Even has the ground off sight markings above 10. Beautiful stock, originally an Izhevsk 91/30. The bore is pretty bad, I have not shot it, but it is pretty bad looking. I'll see if I can't borrow a DigiCam and take a few pictures and post them. I got pretty excited when I verified on 7.62x54R.net that it was a 91/59 with a Hex and he wasn't wrong. I am going down to Santa Clara this weekend so I'll check up on it and see if he'll let me shoot it at his place (He's already letting me use my new M44).

troy2000 · 06-27-2008, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FS00008

Troy, yes it is an original HEX 91/59. I've looked at it. Even has the ground off sight markings above 10. Beautiful stock, originally an Izhevsk 91/30. The bore is pretty bad, I have not shot it, but it is pretty bad looking. I'll see if I can't borrow a DigiCam and take a few pictures and post them. I got pretty excited when I verified on 7.62x54R.net that it was a 91/59 with a Hex and he wasn't wrong. I am going down to Santa Clara this weekend so I'll check up on it and see if he'll let me shoot it at his place (He's already letting me use my new M44).

A hex 91/59? Do you remember what year it is? For that price, I'd keep it original unless the bore was totally hopeless, in which case I'd sell it for a profit and buy something else (actually, I'm fibbing; I'd put it away in the safe with its Russian brothers and sisters and its Finnish cousins, and go buy another one anyway...

).

If you don't want it as is, talk to me before doing any drastic surgery on it.

And you may be pleasantly surprised; some Mosins with bores like a gravel road shoot straight anyway.

06-27-2008, 12:22 AM	#1
FS00008 Сергей Иванович Мосин Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 707 Trader Rating: (0)	Rebarreling Mosins? So is it possible to rebarrel a Mosin easily? I have the opportunity to get a 91/59 with a shot out barrel for a pretty good price ($90 plus CADOJ Registration Transfer fee from a family friend). It has a Hex receiver. Is it worth it? Is it possible to rebarrel one? Expensive?

06-27-2008, 09:53 AM	#2
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 8,875 Trader Rating: (0)	Yes it is possible. No it is not expensive. I would suggest having a competent gunsmith set the headspace though. Look here for barrels: Mosin Nagant Rifle Barrels : Buymilsurp.com, Your source for military surplus. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

06-27-2008, 11:15 AM	#3
R5CYA Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Bruno, Republic of Kalifornia Posts: 402 Trader Rating: (0)	i can't believe someone cut up all those m39's. makes ya wanna cry. __________________ Soylent Green is people!!!! (Charlton Heston)

06-27-2008, 11:48 AM	#4
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 8,875 Trader Rating: (0)	A lot of times, the receivers were not serviceable. But in a lot of cases, it is a matter of being able to sell the barrels to a wider market. As in, no FFL required. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

06-27-2008, 12:29 PM	#6
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 8,875 Trader Rating: (0)	FS- As you want to rebarrel, I am assuming you want a shooter. I would look for a M38 barrel in good condition. Look on Gunbrokers. Maybe Reich as well. Here's a 91/59 for a good price: http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/Vie...Item=102446576 __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers Last edited by SwedeSteve; 06-27-2008 at 12:35 PM.

06-27-2008, 11:55 AM	#5
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery, IL. Posts: 3,116 Trader Rating: (0)	I don't know. You could probably get a hex that doesn't have a bad barrel for that price.

06-27-2008, 01:18 PM	#7
FS00008 Сергей Иванович Мосин Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 707 Trader Rating: (0)	Yes Swede, I want a shooter. I'm a little confused as to whether or not he's giving me a good deal on the 91/59 though. If I were to re-barrel I'd have to swap out the entire assembly (Receiver included)? I just wanted to double check that is what you were saying. I do want a shooter, and I'd like to have a good one if possible. I like the feel of that M91/59 so much more than my M44 it's amazing...

06-27-2008, 01:23 PM	#8
FS00008 Сергей Иванович Мосин Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 707 Trader Rating: (0)	Ok, I just checked further on that site and saw the M38 stuff you were talking about. Can you tell me why I ought to go with one of those? Besides the obvious lack of 91/59 specific stuff on that site. haha, I feel like such an idiot when it comes to MNs now.

06-27-2008, 01:55 PM	#9
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 8,875 Trader Rating: (0)	You would have to pull the barrel off only. Then put the new barrel on. Then headspace (getting the distance right between barrel and receiver basically). Iin lieu of a true M91/59, a M38 barrel will be as close to original as you can get. You will have to get M38 sights though. Add all of this up and add gunsmith time, and the one on Gunbroker is starting to look good !! __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers Last edited by SwedeSteve; 06-27-2008 at 01:59 PM.

06-27-2008, 02:11 PM	#10
FS00008 Сергей Иванович Мосин Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 707 Trader Rating: (0)	You're making good sense here Steve, I may tell him all this and see if he'll knock the price down. He's a family friend, so it's possible. I may also go the GB route. I may just wait until I can find a suitable M38. We'll see. Thanks for the advice though Steve and everyone else.

06-27-2008, 04:23 PM	#11
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 8,875 Trader Rating: (0)	Another thing to consider is you will have to inlet the barrel channel to accept the M38 barrel. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

06-27-2008, 05:05 PM	#12
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 8,909 Trader Rating: (0)	How shot out is that barrel? Hard to believe a 91/59 has that much wear on it... And have you actually tried shooting it? Some Mosins with horrible-looking bores shoot fine anyway. 91/59's with hex receivers are relatively scarce. If it's a decent shooter at all, you may want to keep it intact as a collector's piece. Especially since for what it'll cost you to buy the rifle, round up a barrel and make the swap, you could have another 91/59 maybe, or a good M38 for sure. And of course, there's a basic question I hesitate to ask, lest I insult your friend. No offense intended, but has he gotten his nomenclature mixed up, and called a 91/30 or some other model a 91/59? Have you had a chance to actually look at the gun? __________________ If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. -Anatole France Last edited by troy2000; 06-27-2008 at 05:14 PM.

06-27-2008, 05:43 PM	#13
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 8,875 Trader Rating: (0)	Those are all good points. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

06-27-2008, 05:47 PM	#14
gandog56 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Montgomery, IL. Posts: 3,116 Trader Rating: (0)	Scarce? AIM has them for $79.95. Can't be too scarce.

06-27-2008, 06:35 PM	#16
toolman Mr. Fixit Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 5,310 Trader Rating: (0)	Keep in mind that rebarrelling a Mosin isn't as easy as your average Mauser, Arisaka, etc. The barrels are usually extremely tight and\or rusted into the receiver and no one makes speific tools to do it. A lot of M\N receivers have been ruined by someone trying to wrench it off the barrel and twisted it. I'm not trying to dissuade you, just saying... __________________ Don't be messin' with my gun!

06-27-2008, 08:14 PM	#19
FS00008 Сергей Иванович Мосин Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: California Posts: 707 Trader Rating: (0)	Troy, yes it is an original HEX 91/59. I've looked at it. Even has the ground off sight markings above 10. Beautiful stock, originally an Izhevsk 91/30. The bore is pretty bad, I have not shot it, but it is pretty bad looking. I'll see if I can't borrow a DigiCam and take a few pictures and post them. I got pretty excited when I verified on 7.62x54R.net that it was a 91/59 with a Hex and he wasn't wrong. I am going down to Santa Clara this weekend so I'll check up on it and see if he'll let me shoot it at his place (He's already letting me use my new M44).