making my mosin M38 more comfortable without bubba-ing it

[jason41987]

well, i posted a thread recently saying i was looking for a new bolt action, but some AK projects are taking priority so for the time being im going to stick with my M38 mosin nagant as my main bolt action.. but if im going to use this thing more often im going to need to make some improvements on it without bubba-ing it, and i refuse to use anything besides the military stock even though i absolutely hate the color red, it just looks so much more gorgeous on the M38

so im wondering what i could do to make this more comfortable for me.. its still in completely and totally original condition.. even using the off-green military sling that came with it.. storing my gun oil and solvent for cleaning it in the original oil can that came with them, and storing my loaded 7.62x54R ammo in the ammo pouch that came with it (this nagant game with everything when i purchased it.. full kit)

so the number one issue i have is my right wrist.. im not sure if other people have this issue, or if its because some of the damage ive done to my hand in the past, but it can actually get to be pretty painful with the straight comb of the stock.. now i dont want to replace this stock, but i notice there are cheek rests that tie onto bolt action stocks, is there anything like that that could give me a little more to grip onto?

my second issue is something personal with me.. ive actually messed up my neck pretty bad both muscles in each side of my neck, so having something to rest my head on will help a lot too.. again, looking for accessories i can attach without any kind of modification, so probably one of those tie on cheek rests i mentioned above

i typically shoot this thing with the original steel buttplate.. actually.. i figure even without ammo that steel buttplate would make it more useful than a baseball bat should i need it for an intruder.. i may keep it, i may put something else on, i dont know

so.. what would you do to make improvements without modifying the components of the rifle?

 

[MAKster]

The Limbsaver slip-on recoil pad costs only $25. Put it on when you shoot and then you can take it off when you display the gun. Regarding your problems with the stock shape, you could buy the Archangel stock but that costs more than the rifle. At that point you might as well just buy a different gun. Sometimes an inexpensive rifle isn't really a good deal.

 

[jason41987]

yeah, i dont want a new stock.. and i seen a vertical pistol grip modification but those look kind of dumb.. i mean, your thumb is hooked around the grip and then having to remove it to operate the bolt.. rather have my thumb over the top

what i was thinking is maybe something that ties on like a cheek pad thatll give me that little extra something to hold on to youd find in a monte carlo stock.. the way i hold it now is my thumb over the top, finger in the trigger guard and all three of my remaining fingers balled up like in a fist

 

[LAGS]

@ Jason 41987
I hate to say it, but the MN stock is pretty unforgiving.
And with the European Hump back comb on the stock is just not what us Westerners are use to.
The cheapest route I would recomend is to install an ATI monte Carlo stock on your rifle when you shoot it.
I have two of the ATI's for my rifles that I install while I an either Modifying the original stock, or building a custom stock from a blank.
The True Pistol Grip stock that I designed and built is one of the most comfortable stocks on the MN.
I can not post pictures on the forum because of my internet connection, but if you PM me your Email address, i can forward you some pictures.
But adding a cheek rest might help for you, but I found for me, I couldnt get my face down to see the sights real good with the MN's short length of pull.
And the cheek piece does nothing about getting your wrist to not be straight out.
The suggestion about adding a 1" aftermarket recoil pad when you shoot it is your best option, because of the MN's shorter than standard length of pull.
The short length of pull is for smaller stature soldiers, and the Rusians generally were wearing Heavy Winter Coats.
The longer LOP may help the angle of your wrist also.

 

[Jackal]

Just get used to it. Its a M38, its not made to be comfortable, its made to shoot Nazi's.

 

[wrc]

Take a look at these folks. I've had good luck with their lace-on recoil pad.

I've also used a Limbsaver slip-on pad for both my M44 and M38. It worked well, but it didn't fit as well as it could have.

As for the grip, you could use narrow leather straps or thongs to both cushion and change where your hand sits.

 

[LAGS]

@ WRC
They do make a recoil pad that replaces the original buttplate with out modification.
I have shot rifles with them on, and they are a lot more stable than the slip on type for good accuracy.
But the Slip on pads, even though they do not fit perfect allow a longer LOP and shoulder savings with out modifying your rifle for that Occasional trip to the range.
But I agree with the OP.
If a gun isn't comfortable, then you wont want to shoot it.
Thus your accuracy will suffer, and your fun just went down the crapper.
But that is one of the drawbacks of shooting Original Configureation Military rifles.
I too suffered from the same problem, so I just have some original, and some Sporterized, and others Full Custom in the same Models.

 

[Bored1]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-MOSIN-N...812?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d4458d0b4

<10$ shipped to give it a try. May be what you looking for, just replaces the stock buttplate. Makes quite a difference in comfort shooting mosins!

 

[LAGS]

@bored 1
That is the puppy i was talking about.
The longer LOP does make a big differance, I hope the OP trys one.
I think he will be very pleased.

 

[Mk VII]

Download for it, or shoot cast bullets. I do, and can go all day long with it.

 

[thralldad]

I put on of those butt-pads on my M44. The extra length of pull is awesome and no more bruises! Best $10 you can spend.

 

[lathedog]

Are you shooting from a bench at the range?

I see lots of people doing this (I do it too) and it can be painful.

Shoot from the standing position facing right (or left) with the body completely bladed to the rifle, muzzle down range. Roll your head onto your shoulder to pick up the sights and see if the rifle's recoil doesn't feel better to you.

 

[jason41987]

i dont find bench shooting all that useful for any real world applications, so i shoot standing mostly, in a t-shirt usually because im awesome like that.. and when i want to take a brake from the mosin nagant punishing my shoulder ill relax and take it easy by firing slugs through my 12 gauge

its actually not that bad of recoil, granted theres less felt recoil in my 12 gauge firing slugs but thats probably because of the recoil pad, and i was firing the MN in a t-shirt

anyway, thats not even the big issue i have.. the biggest issue i have is with the wrist on the straight comb stock.. im aware of the recoil pads that are made for it, they even make it in brown to match the leather on the sling.. and i know i can get a tie on cheek rest too... so my only real problem is with that straight comb stock.. its enough to make my want to put my original stock in the closet and put something else on it purely for the added comfort for my messed up hand and neck