Gun cleaners

[jboot]

You won't find too many Mosins that don't have some pitting and a dark bore. Most of them are decent shooters anyway. As for pointers, You can ignore a dark bore but make sure that the chamber and crown are free of pits and scratches. Make sure the action locks down tight. The bolts were mix-and-match and Ivan wasn't too picky. I have seen a few that will "pop" out of battery. If it is possible, cycle a few rounds through the action. There is a spring that tensions the cartridge rim. If it is weak, you will only be able to chamber the first round. This is a relatively common problem. Other than that, it may be ugly but it should shoot great.

If you want a pristine Mosin, shell out an extra 3-4 bills and get a Finnish one. They are worth every penny. They were hand-fitted and most of them will shoot inside of any other stock battle rifle.