16in50calNavalRifle
Member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2009
- Messages
- 355
Amazed, but happy, to hear your 9-yr old can handle a Mosin. A recoil pad is still a good idea. I use one because why collect bruises, esp. when I have a few other hobbies where they're harder to avoid.
Interesting that this category of Mosin rates only a 4 on the scale of 10 at 7.62X54R.net, if the numbers produced are indeed just around 150K (which tracks with the history, in which Tula was evacuated in '42, as Army Group Center approached). May be that the scale is sort of demanding, and only the really odd birds (like the late date hex receiver example mentioned above) make it into the top 5 slots.
Not sure from a technical wood-working point of view, but I don't think of arctic birch as a soft or crappy wood, and I've seen very nice refinished stocks, both oil and shellac. Have a "blonde" myself that I re-shellacked because the "original" was in such poor condition.
For "sticky bolt" and cleaning in general, my two kopeks. Heat and mineral spirits. For cosmo. Forget the temp at which cosmo liquifies, but it's low. My Mosins were were all cleaned by full disassembly and a routine of heating in boiled water/soaking in mineral spirits. Over and over until I couldn't find a speck of cosmo. Easy except for the receiver/barrel, with that I just stand one end, then the other, in the hot water/mineral spirits, over and over until clean.
Some stocks, as a commenter noted above, are simply too soaked with cosmo to be rescued. Though you might be surprised at some that can be rescued. Of all mine, only one had a trouble-level amount of cosmo in it. Made a solar oven out of a rifle box (cut one flat side off, painted inside black, covered open side with clear wrap). Crammed Viva paper towels (brand matters here) into every nook/cranny of the stock, wrapped it all tightly in the same. Baked in the hot summer sun, couple days, change paper towels, repeat. Eventually got most of the cosmo out.
MnFats you might find the stock "weeping" cosmo when shooting, esp. during hot weather. If so, try my method to clean the stock. Otherwise, very strongly recommend my heat/mineral spirits regimen for every bit of metal (regardless of how it seems/looks now). That way you should be done, forever. Not sure if lacquered ammo actually causes sticky bolt - if the action/bolt are already completely cosmo-free. Maybe.
Interesting that this category of Mosin rates only a 4 on the scale of 10 at 7.62X54R.net, if the numbers produced are indeed just around 150K (which tracks with the history, in which Tula was evacuated in '42, as Army Group Center approached). May be that the scale is sort of demanding, and only the really odd birds (like the late date hex receiver example mentioned above) make it into the top 5 slots.
Not sure from a technical wood-working point of view, but I don't think of arctic birch as a soft or crappy wood, and I've seen very nice refinished stocks, both oil and shellac. Have a "blonde" myself that I re-shellacked because the "original" was in such poor condition.
For "sticky bolt" and cleaning in general, my two kopeks. Heat and mineral spirits. For cosmo. Forget the temp at which cosmo liquifies, but it's low. My Mosins were were all cleaned by full disassembly and a routine of heating in boiled water/soaking in mineral spirits. Over and over until I couldn't find a speck of cosmo. Easy except for the receiver/barrel, with that I just stand one end, then the other, in the hot water/mineral spirits, over and over until clean.
Some stocks, as a commenter noted above, are simply too soaked with cosmo to be rescued. Though you might be surprised at some that can be rescued. Of all mine, only one had a trouble-level amount of cosmo in it. Made a solar oven out of a rifle box (cut one flat side off, painted inside black, covered open side with clear wrap). Crammed Viva paper towels (brand matters here) into every nook/cranny of the stock, wrapped it all tightly in the same. Baked in the hot summer sun, couple days, change paper towels, repeat. Eventually got most of the cosmo out.
MnFats you might find the stock "weeping" cosmo when shooting, esp. during hot weather. If so, try my method to clean the stock. Otherwise, very strongly recommend my heat/mineral spirits regimen for every bit of metal (regardless of how it seems/looks now). That way you should be done, forever. Not sure if lacquered ammo actually causes sticky bolt - if the action/bolt are already completely cosmo-free. Maybe.