Mosin Nagant Won't FEED?!?

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LJ-MosinFreak-Buck

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I know, I know, it sounds crazy but the gun won't feed.

My question is this: Can you help me out with figuring out my problem?

Let me describe the situation.

As most Nagant owners do, I use stripper clips to load my rifle. They were designed for the use of the stripper clips. Another "duh". But the thing is, a lot of the time, the gun will lock up without loading a round. The bolt just hits the rim of the shell and stops.

I know for a fact that the Mosin Nagant isn't supposed to do this.

However, when I load with a stripper clip, then empty out the magazine through the floor plate, then load all but one round in down past the interruptor, then take the last round and place it in the chamber, it will lock up on two or so rounds out of the five.

Can anyone give me some advice? Do I have a bad interruptor? What's the deal?

Thanks in advance,
LJ-MF-B
 
Sounds like the rims locking.

Make sure the bottom of the rim of the top round is against the front of the rim on the round under it. Stripper clips, the quickest way is to load one into the clip, make sure it's pointed down, and load the next in under it. Flip it and it's right. Loading one at a time, push one in slightly forward of the one below, and push it back once it clicks in.

Some Nagants will lock on any round loaded incorrectly, which it sounds like yours is. Mine only locks up on the top round if it's wrong. Some don't even do that.
 
Smack it?

Maybe I misunderstand the symptoms. It is a Russian battle rifle. Smack the bolt hard.
 
Rim lock is (most likely) the correct diagnosis.

To solve this problem, when using the stripper clips, lift up on the nose (bullet end) of the top cartridge with your index finger (and others if you desire) while pushing the rounds down with your thumb. Using the stippers in this manor will stack the cartridges in the correct manner (ie top cartridge's rim in front following cartridge's rim, and so on). BTW, it does take a bit of practice to get quick at it.

This should clear up the problem. Let us know if problems persist.

Wyman
 
Almost definitely rim lock. I get it once in a while with both my M44 and 91/30 if I'm not carefully when loading the magazine by hand (not using a stripper). I learned the hard way on Enfield stripper clips that you have to alternate them front,back/front,back and the top one in the mag had better have it's rim in front of the one below it, otherwise the cartridge will hang up.

It's obvious when you try to close the bolt and you see the nose of the top cartridge try to dive back into the mag below the feed ramp.
 
I avoid all posibility of having this problem...I load by hand. God, I hope those targets and deer don't realize I'm taking an extra 30 seconds on reload and rush me!
 
Rim Lock

JWF has it right. Lift up the nose on the top round of the stripper clip and push down on that case to drive the other rounds into the magazine. You shouldn't have any problems after that.
Post back if you do.
 
I would say rim lock also. I've had the same thing happen to an Enfield, bolt action but still kind of annoying. .303 Brit is also a rimmed cartridge.
 
+8 Rim Lock. The top cartridge that is attempting to be feed has it's rim behind the rim below it. It should have it's rim in front of the cartirdge below it to feed properly.

Watch this video and notice how the cartridges line up in the magazine.
 
Howdy,
Just as a devils advocate, I'll say it is probably the interrupter and or it's spring. The interrupter is designed to prevent rimlock IIRC. I load all mine by hand or clip without regards for the rims and haven't had any problems. Anyway good luck.
rhtwist
 
I vote for the interrupter as well. One of the benefits of vigorous manipulation of the bolt handle is that the case head hits the ejector/interrrupter, ratcheting up the next round to be fed into the chamber. If the interrupter is working correctly rim lock is a non issue in this rifle.
 
Or just the spring. Maybe even the screw is loose that holds the assembly. Look it over.
rhtwist
 
I also suspect you need a fresh interruptor/ejector. If you look at the lip of the interruptor you may notice it's rounded or worn. These parts are very easy to find on line. The other possibility is weak magazine springs, which are also easy to replace. If the mag springs aren't pressing the rounds against the interruptor, they can jostle and rim lock.

Apart from that, this is the method I use to avoid rimlock:

Stripper.jpg
 
would think it could be:

1) a mosin, and you just need a hammer to work the action (mine often requires a good pounding, and i know my head space and rim space are correct cause i've checked them)

2) rim space is off

3) interruptor needs replaced.
 
If you've removed it from the stock and assured yourself that the packing grease has been removed first, and put a drop of light oil on the pivot point for the interrupter, then I'd consider replacing it. But chances are it is just sticking.
 
There wasn't a trace of cosmoline on the rifle when I bought it, inside and out, so we can rule that out. Come to find out, doing what the pictures in POST #17 says, it will load the first cartridge in MOST of the time, but not always. So maybe just a bad interruptor?
 
A working mosin should not have rim lock. The interrupter prevents this. You do not have to stagger the rounds. If you are getting rim lock then replace the interrupter. I have over 30 mosins of various types and none of them get rim lock no matter how I load the ammo.
 
GD said:
A working mosin should not have rim lock. The interrupter prevents this. You do not have to stagger the rounds. If you are getting rim lock then replace the interrupter. I have over 30 mosins of various types and none of them get rim lock no matter how I load the ammo.
Click to expand...
You nailed it, GD. I might also add that if a round does rimlock, simply smack the bolt. Due to the 7.62x54R's beveled rim, the rimlocked round will force the other round (below it) down, on its way into the chamber.
 
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