MN 91/30 Question

[lefty_red]

I've been hearing that they are dangerous due to not having something that could cause hot gases to blowback on your face. This has me a little worried about shooting and aquiring another 91/30. Is it true and what are they talking about?

Red

[RU shooter]

I've been shooting the Mosin Nagant rifles for quite a few yrs now and even with almost complete case splits with milsurp ammo and some pierced primers I have never had any serious amount of gas blow by the bolt in into the face. Dangerous? Not hardly! They are completely safe with any milsurp or sane reloads.

[Oldeyes]

Not exactly true.....Mosins do not have a bolt shroud like the 98 Mausers, which shields the shooter from a gas jet, BUT the multipiece bolt design allows a gas leak to bleed off in several directions. I had a primer blow out and the majority of the discharge leaked at the bolt head/connecting bar junction while only a little made it thru the firing pin channel in the bolt body. The mag well was filled with soot and I ended up doing a complete tear down for cleaning since I was shooting corosive ammo. The cocking piece was forcefully blown back into my thumb, so a redesign of the trigger might allow a self-cocking Mosin (lol)
BTW, I was shooting heavy ball ammo in a Finn M28 that was throated for light ball only. Pressure spike!!
Safety glasses are wise no matter what you are shooting.

[EMC45]

+1 on the safety glasses.

[txpete]

you only get issued 1 set of eyes.
I have never had a problem shooting any of my mosins but it only takes once ...
pete

[lefty_red]

I have a Russian in nice shape. I'm wanting a Finn 28!

I have shot my Russian and it is ok. I'm ordering a MOJO sight for it after my Enfield gets back from the gunsmith (recoil pad and new front sight).

BTW, I saw an article on converting the Enfield to 7.62 x 54r. It was on the JFPO website. Might get around to doing that if "Monty" doesn't do well with factory ammo.
http://www.jpfo.org/smle.htm

Red

[Ricochet]

I think they're about as safe in that regard as most bolt rifles. You could get your forehead directly sprayed from a burst case. That has happened with 1903 Springfields and others. You definitely should wear good eye protection when shooting any firearm.