Posted on 06/09/2012 11:47:25 AM PDT by mnehring
Today, I started a project I've been wanting to do for a long time. Take an original Mosin Nagant and turn it into a modern hunting rifle.
I purchased two Mosins at the first of the year. One I want to keep original, one will be my conversion. The top one is the gun I will be converting. I wanted to post this here as a step-by-step process if anyone else wants to do this.
So far, I've purchased an ATI stock and bipod.
This morning, I began the stock replacement process. (Note, this gun has been fired and shoots great).
Removal of the bolt.
Removing the barrel bands and top hand guard. The front barrel band was a challenge because I didn't want to remove the front iron sight just yet (scope is a future project). I did have to bend that but they are very cheap to replace if I ever want to take her back to the original configuration.)
Removing bottom magazine screw.
Removing top receiver screw. 
Remove barrel and magazine assembly.
The magazine assembly with the new stock. This did take a little work with the dremel to help it fit cleanly. 
Anyone who has bought an old Mosin knows there usually is a thin coat of paint on the barrel that was put on in storage. After shooting again, it starts to flake. I took the opportunity to polish a lot of this off. In a future project I will work more on finishing the barrel at which time I'll clean it up better.
Reassembled magazine and barrel assembly.
Added the bolt back.
Bipod before assembly.
Bipod after adding. The barrel is sitting a little high. I will need to go back with the dremel inside the stock and work on that. 
This is all I've accomplished so far this morning. 
Next steps are to work on tightening up the fit on the stock some more. I will then replace the rear sight with a picatinny rail specifically made for Mosin conversions and add in a LER scope. Finally, I plan to do something with the barrel, either have a new black finish (I've seen bedliner paint done awesome) or have it nickel plated.
I like it!
It won’t feel the same without the steel butt plate.
Sure looks good though.
Ozzy, I am actually a little confused by your insistance that these rifles are junk. If they were junk how is it that they are still around and functional after 70 + years? If you get a cartridge stuck in one of them, you can lay it on a flat surface and stomp on it and the rifle will be fine afterwards. Don’t try that with a newer rifle or even most other vintage rifles. Mosin Nagants are the ultimate tough rifle. If you find a good one and actually do take care of it, they can be pretty accurate also.
Looks like fun. I am messing with a 1942 Tula 91/30 with a very worn bore and flaking, peeling shellac, that I tried to make look like the “russkie red” shellac finish. The color turned out well, but it looks like “Ivan” aka Dynachrome was drunk when the shellac was applied! I’ll probably try tru-oil after stripping the shellac again.
I put on a Mosin shoot where we shoot half shilouettes (20” wide) at 2,3 and 600 yds. Prone, unsupported with a sling for support only. Good shooters hit at 600. Most rifles can outshoot 99pct of shooters.
Yes, but half of those killed on the Soviet side were killed by Stalin.
They're obviously not "junk". I was a 2111 in the Marine Corps (small arms repair, hence my FR name). The simplicity and ruggedness of the Mosin design is in my opinion quite an engineering accomplishment.
The Mosin I own is quite accurate. You obviously don't own one or you wouldn't be making such ridiculous statements.
Wow! Looks great. I have an 1894 Mosin. I love the fact that it was made under the last Romanov Czar.
Nice work.
Yes it incorporates a miniature clay bird thrower under the barrel, and has both a screw on choke tube or a rifled extension so you can shoot regular .22 LR's and not just shot shells.
Get it crowned properly.
It can be. It is going to take a lot of tweaking and sanding down the inside of the stocks. Considering it only bolts in on the receiver and magazine, it screams to have it float.
I’ll probably add that to the last step, fine-tuning.
***Wow! Looks great. I have an 1894 Mosin. I love the fact that it was made under the last Romanov Czar.****
I would love to have one of those made by Remington for the Czar’s armies back around 1917.
The ones made in the US are very rare collectables. Not ‘throw-away’ like most Russian made ones.
Just a side note, If anyone has seen the 1967 Russian version of WAR AND PEACE, if you look closely some of the troops in the background are carrying Mosins while the ones nearest the camera have flintlocks.
In one scene at the battle of Bordino one Russian soldier runs across the screen with his “musket” in his left hand. You can clearly see the Mosin bolt sticking out.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063794/
That looks like a fun gun. I may have to keep my eyes open for one like that.
I own several Mosin-Nagants, including M91s, 91/30s, M38s, M44s, M59s and a Finn M39 plus a repro 91/30 sniper and an SVT40. So much for your assumption of the “obvious”. They can be quite accurate, but the action is hopeless. Are you aware the Finnish sniper you refer to only used iron sights?
Yes
I assure you I will do it correctly. I’m looking for a weldable front sight that can include a sling mounting. I may have to make one from ‘parts’.
I’m sure this has been posted before, but it always brings a laugh. http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinHumor.htm
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.