What to do with a BEAT Mosin 91/30?

[Clay]

At the gun show last weekend at the Lost Creek Conservation Club (Seelyville, IN), I found a rifle I didnt need to buy, but couldn't pass up. A 1941 beat to hell Mosin Nagant 91/30. Its pretty rough compared to a LOT of what Ive seen on the shelf, but for $50, I couldn't leave it there

Im debating what to do with it. Leave it alone and let it bask in its really beat up condition? The thought has crossed my mind to spoterize it, which is not my typically thing. I typically like rifles in their at least semi-original condition (as I get older anyway). I also had the thought to give it to a good friend of mine for Christmas, as I think he might enjoy the big boom and cheap fun.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the worst condition 91/30 Ive seen yet.

 

[redneck919]

you could always go with the aftermarket ati stock,put a scope& scope mount on it.possibly a bipod.the way the ammo for these guns are so cheap you might as well get it out and enjoy it.just my 2 cents.

 

[Clay]

Yup, thats what I mean by 'sporterize'. Just dont know if I like the idea of an ATI stock for some reason.

 

[Big John]

WOW That is rough, was it stored in the ocean??? I have never seen one that oxidized.

How is the bore?

How is the bolt face??

 

[VERT]

$50? I am like you in that I would probably have brought it home. Heck I have more invested in a set of oars for my boat. Probably should have bought a pair of old Mosins instead. They would probably hold up better then the oars.

 

[Bruenor]

Hmmm...that does look to be in bad shape. If the bore is any good, I'd say it's worth saving. $10 on some sandpaper and stain couldn't hurt, and you may end up with a decent looking stock if you took the time to refinish it.

 

[IndyGunworks]

that would be a fun gun to refinish.... sandpaper and stain for the stock... and a pillar file and cold blue for the pitting on the metal... you wont decrease its value, but could learn tons about refinishing on this and maybe learn enough to get a deal on a nicer beater gun that you refinish to turn it into a shooter in the future.... it could be refinished for about 50 dollars in overhead if you have nothing... sand stain files cold blue polishing compound and sandpaper.... it would probably take around 10 man hours to do which spread out would make for a nice winter project... plus there are some cool trigger jobs you could try on it while you have it apart.

 

[BloodEclipse]

Man that thing looks like it has been dropped more than the traditional "Once".

 

[steif]

mosin

WAIT!!
Don't refinish it yet... lol.. I've seen several rifles that were in that condition that were battlefield pickups in Vietnam, but there would be no way to prove that without the paperwork where the guy shipped it home.
I've had one in comparable condition, and it still will shoot just like it should.
It might be worth $150-200 to a collector of Vietnam era stuff just because it looks like it came from there.

 

[SamW]

That's the kind you wrap up in a tarp and bury it in the back yard... JUST IN CASE!

 

[littletommy]

WAIT!!
Don't refinish it yet... lol.. I've seen several rifles that were in that condition that were battlefield pickups in Vietnam, but there would be no way to prove that without the paperwork where the guy shipped it home.
I've had one in comparable condition, and it still will shoot just like it should.
It might be worth $150-200 to a collector of Vietnam era stuff just because it looks like it came from there.

+1 I would leave it exactly as it is. It could have a hell of a story behind it. It does look like its been under water, or at least in a very damp place for awhile. I woulda paid 50 bux for it in a heartbeat.

 

[csm47362]

Sorry guys but I am going to have to go the other way.. I got a super nice one a few weeks ago for $75. I would have passed on it and spent the extra $25. That said I might have gotten it just for the project, if the bore was really good....

 

[Denny347]

At the gun show last weekend at the Lost Creek Conservation Club (Seelyville, IN), I found a rifle I didnt need to buy, but couldn't pass up. A 1941 beat to hell Mosin Nagant 91/30. Its pretty rough compared to a LOT of what Ive seen on the shelf, but for $50, I couldn't leave it there

Im debating what to do with it. Leave it alone and let it bask in its really beat up condition? The thought has crossed my mind to spoterize it, which is not my typically thing. I typically like rifles in their at least semi-original condition (as I get older anyway). I also had the thought to give it to a good friend of mine for Christmas, as I think he might enjoy the big boom and cheap fun.

Anyway, here are some pictures of the worst condition 91/30 Ive seen yet.

Does it have import markings? If so, where?

 

[IndyGunworks]

It could have a hell of a story behind it.

and so what if it does? if you dont know the story and cannot find the story out then it having a story is pointless..... nothing more than a bad knock knock joke..... i would rather have the enjoyment of refinishing it and showing before and after pictures than showing it to someone and saying, yea it has one heck of a story behind it.... chirp..... chirp.

 

[paperboy]

I personally would check the markings for rarity. If it's not rare I probably would sporterize it. For the cost of refinishing, you may have one heck of a varmint rifle. I agree that these old military rifles are awesome and would never convert a nice one. One that's this rough, I would probably play with. I have seen one that the rear sight was taken off and the scope rings attached right to the dovetail. Let us know what you do, it will make for a great thread,,,,

 

[originalhonkey]

ive been doing some work on some old ones. my is leave the steel alone buy $8 of sandpaper and $6 worth of stain i use 2 part. give it a quick once over,some stain, and it will look great.then give it to your bud and go have fun.

 

[GetA2J]

I would use it to learn about gunsmithing. do a trigger job on it, put an aftermarket stock on it a little cold blue and have an original type wood one and a sporterized one. I have two sks's with the same concept, one original and one with a modern plastic stock and a red dot sight. just my

 

[Clay]

Does it have import markings? If so, where?

yup, on the receiver:

Because of these import marks, I just assumed it was a recent import, though my retired sniper 91/30 has the import marks on the end of the barrel, so something changed.

The bore is really pretty good. Every mosin Ive seen has a dark bore, and this one does as well, but the lands/grooves are nice and crisp, very well defined. The bolt face is nice as well.

When I first saw the pitting, beside 'ouch' the first thing that came into my mind was pitting from blood stain because most of it is around the receiver and first steel band.

 

[Indiana Steve]

Hang it on the wall and take a few months to decide - the answer will come to you.

 

[OneBadV8]

that would be a fun gun to refinish.... sandpaper and stain for the stock... and a pillar file and cold blue for the pitting on the metal... you wont decrease its value, but could learn tons about refinishing on this and maybe learn enough to get a deal on a nicer beater gun that you refinish to turn it into a shooter in the future.... it could be refinished for about 50 dollars in overhead if you have nothing... sand stain files cold blue polishing compound and sandpaper.... it would probably take around 10 man hours to do which spread out would make for a nice winter project... plus there are some cool trigger jobs you could try on it while you have it apart.

Do this...