1943 Tula Pu accuracy issues

[skyhawk72]

Hello guys, I was looks for a little help on my PU sniper. I recently purchased one of the rifles from AIM's. I took it to the range, and with a little shimming and wrapping of the barrel I was able to hold about 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards. I was very happy with the way it had been shooting. Until the time before last it was holding the same size groups and all at once the groups opened up to about 4 inches, and moved considerably to the right. I thought it was just me so I packed it up for the day. When I cleaned the rifle I found the recoil lug screw was loose and figured that it didn't help the issue. I took it back out on Saturday and had the exact same results. The groups stayed about 4 inches no matter what I tried.
Anyone have any ideas??

[cam98k]

Did You Check your Action Screws?

[skyhawk72]

Yep sure did. Tight as I could get them.

[skyhawk72]

Ive thought about removing the shims and trying it but Im not sure why it would have shot great for two range sessions.

[skyhawk72]

So today I took apart the turrets and they were completely full of Cosmo. So I cleaned them out and put them back together only to realize that I was missing one of the washers inside the turrets. I'm not sure that it was ever in there. Either way im thinking that the cosmo could act like grease or the lack of the washer could allow the zero to wander Anyone know where to get pu parts?

[WeldonHunter]

So today I took apart the turrets and they were completely full of Cosmo. So I cleaned them out and put them back together only to realize that I was missing one of the washers inside the turrets. I'm not sure that it was ever in there. Either way im thinking that the cosmo could act like grease or the lack of the washer could allow the zero to wander Anyone know where to get pu parts?

I have the a the same rifle you have, 1943 Tula PU, but only shot it for the first time this past weekend so my experience with them is limited. I haven't come across any place the sells parts for PU scopes yet but I'll look around and if I find some I'll let you know. If no one here can help you look here, , http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread. ... ics-inside!) . This is a post by a guy in the Ukraine, username Ratnik, that collects PU scopes and knows a lot about them. There's also a bunch of guys that collect these there too that might know where to get parts or might even have what you need. That post is a disassembly, repair and reassemble how to and may give you some idea what you might be able to do.

[neorebel]

Hummmmm.....interesting question. Without looking at he breakdown of the scope I wouldn't know check this out,,,http://mosinnagant.net/sniper%20section ... ghting.asp


I just shimmed my action, corked the lower end cap and put a sliver of cork under the top caps on the hand guard. The barrel is free floating now as well. I am getting 1 1/2 groups with milsup ammo.

Pretty consistent even with this milsup ammo.

Before this it was stringing them 2" wide by 6" high...nice improvement.

[neorebel]

Mosin Nagant PU sniper rifle - warfare photo history

[bunkysdad]

Why is it needed to do all this messin with these rifles to make them shoot right? I would contact AIM if your rifle is missing parts as they may be able to help. I just don't understand all the shimming and corking and such. I wouldn't glass bed one with Acraglass but then I realize that is a permanent stock alteration. I realize that shimming and corking isn't permanent, just wondering if it's necessary. Don't these Sniper rifles already shoot good? That is what I would expect from a Sniper rifle.

[Junk Yard Dog]

People forget that these are relics of history, they are ancient, most are near 70 years old and saw action in a major war. We collect relics, under NRA guidelines bore condition on antique firearms is not even a consideration. Being the relics that they are some will shoot surprisingly well and other just will not . All depends on the wear they have received on their journey through time. My new $2300 commercial sporter fails to zap the bullseye every shot and I would raise ten kinds of hell with the manufacturer until the problem was rectified, because that level of performance is expected of a high end commercial new sporter. With milsurps I long ago learned to expect shit performance and that way I am pleasantly surprised when they perform well, but not when they don't.

[WeldonHunter]

Hummmmm.....interesting question. Without looking at he breakdown of the scope I wouldn't know check this out,,,http://mosinnagant.net/sniper%20section ... ghting.asp


I just shimmed my action, corked the lower end cap and put a sliver of cork under the top caps on the hand guard. The barrel is free floating now as well. I am getting 1 1/2 groups with milsup ammo.

Pretty consistent even with this milsup ammo.

Before this it was stringing them 2" wide by 6" high...nice improvement.

There's a break down of the scope here. http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread. ... tructions-(Many-pics-inside

[WeldonHunter]

People forget that these are relics of history, they are ancient, most are near 70 years old and saw action in a major war. We collect relics, under NRA guidelines bore condition on antique firearms is not even a consideration. Being the relics that they are some will shoot surprisingly well and other just will not . All depends on the wear they have received on their journey through time. My new $2300 commercial sporter fails to zap the bullseye every shot and I would raise ten kinds of hell with the manufacturer until the problem was rectified, because that level of performance is expected of a high end commercial new sporter. With milsurps I long ago learned to expect shit performance and that way I am pleasantly surprised when they perform well, but not when they don't.

You know I shot mine for the first time this past weekend Jim and I was surprised actually. I think with a little time spent practicing it'll still shoot better then me but it's fun shooting it as it is, a war relic. You saw the goups I was getting and we were just palying around using feedbags full of dirt as rests, lol. I've seen some of these rifles that are real sweet straight from the box with little to no adjustment or screwing with them and a few were rough and one was downright nasty. That one along with another was from Classic Arms and when they shipped it they put them in a box together if I remember correctly and the big thrumbscrew to hold the scope on had poked through the box during shipping and unscrewed and fell off. That wasn't a problem with the rifle but the seller and how they shipped it. The other rifle had the lower scope mount installed a few degrees to far to the right and the guy found a washer like shim in the box that he suspected was to correct the problem. This guy had seriously bad luck but he did say Classic was supposed to be sending a new thumbscrew. I would have sent the other one back with the quickness. I mean the mount being wrong, no way I'd keep that.

[neorebel]

I will post pics tomorrow...the wife wants to go for a walk...no kidding. As the wise man said to the man argueing with his wife.....you can either be right or happy...your choice.....I chose happy....lol

[Junk Yard Dog]

Classic has a history with me when it comes to shit poor packing. before they well and truly pissed me off for the last time some years back they shipped me two 91/30 " rifles of the day" packed in the same box with just a little paper stuffed in with them. One rifle was poking through the box when it got here and both had put some scratches in each other. I raised hell, and it was blamed on some FNG in the shipping department. I repaired the damage with a Q Tip and some Vodka, and as I needed the dates I kept the rifles. It's nice to see that they still have that same FNG working in shipping.

[skyhawk72]

Today I purchased an m6 washer and it worked perfectly. I think the reason we have to shim and such is because the barreled actions were fit to new stocks at refurb. So the job that an armourer would normally take on to make the rifle right we are doing. Something that I don't understand this rifle with surplus ammo was putting rounds through the same hole aiming at the previous shot. It was scary accurate after I got it hitting right. But them that accuracy just went away. I'm really wondering with all the Cosmo that was in the turrets it was keeping the washers from applying the correct amount of pressure. Then each shot moved the turret a little at a time. It wouldn't take much to throw the shot off at 100 yards.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Grease can act in such a way , had it been cosmoline it would have been hard enough to keep things in place, but grease is fluid.

[skyhawk72]

Im pretty sure it was cosmo, as I had to dig it out with a precision screwdriver on the underside of the turret. I know the cosmo will usually act stiffly, but it was even between the washers and was acting more like grease in being slippery. My theory is that it was just enough to allow the turrets to move ever so slightly with each shot. Then when you look at the markings on the turrets it may be almost imperceivable to see the movement. Im keeping my fingers crossed on this one, as I dont really understand what is going on. It hit great for two range sessions and I changed absolutely nothing, then the accuracy went all to hell.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Grease dries out also when it gets old enough, cosmoline is a chemical compound similar to wax that was a western innovation. It goes on liquid and dries to a semi solid forming a brown wax like coating on anything it touches. It's an expensive preservative that Uncle Sam could afford but the commies never had the budget for. Even in the 1960's and 70's they were storing away the Mosins slathered in a light grease as we are now seeing in the latest crates to be opened. Cosmoline comes in a big solid block, it must be melted at low temperature, like candle making wax, and applied with a brush, a very messy, and smelly job.

[skyhawk72]

So what your saying is that when most people are saying cosmoline, it is actually a true grease? Hmm that would be really interesting. Any ideas why the turrets would be full of it?

[neorebel]

So after all of this you just need a spring washer?