Mosin Issue

[ShootinDave]

Got a new Chinese M53 Mosin.... from the source mentioned here on THR. There seems to be a small issue.

The bolt motion is fine when playing around with it...... and functions fine when dry firing it and working the bolt..... however,

When I fire a live round, the bolt is VERY hard to work from the down position up to where the bolt it pointed up..... but then comes back just fine.

What could be causing this?

 

[gaudio5]

mine did the same i took it apart cleaned and oiled it to death works fine now


P.S. when i say "i took it apart" i ment the actual bolt.

 

[Cosmoline]

It sounds like a classic sticky bolt. There could be any number of causes:

--First, check headspace or at least fire some quality brass rounds and examine them for incipient head separation, excess cratering and other sign.

--Second, clean the inside of the receiver and chamber very well. Bore cleaner and some chamber brushes will be good. Also take the bolt apart and clean it up. Watch for residual dried cosmoline which may need to be scrubbed for some time to eliminate.

--Third, after cleaning feel around the grooves of the chamber with your little finger for any obvious defects. A bore inspection tool is excellent for this.

--Fourth, try using different types of 54R. There are enormous variations between ball ammo of various nations. Some Mosins just don't like certain ammo. Even my best shooters usually have one type they will freeze up on.

 

[Mike U.]

Yes, and the Czech ammo I'm working thru now is causing sticky bolt syndrome. Some ammo has more lacquer on it than other country's ammo.

Now, the Czech stuff is quite accurate out of my M-44's, it just sticks the bolt some. I don't have that problem with the Prvi Partisan/Wolf stuff.

 

[Firehand]

Lots of rifles have that problem with the steel-case ammo, especially the laquered stuff.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Look here: http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com/sticking_bolt.htm for what you need to do to fix your Mosin. Don't worry, it's extremely common. I had the same problem with both my Mosin Nagant's....