Need more info on this rifle

[mwenger]

Hello everyone. I am pretty new to Mosins and also new to this page. I recently picked up what I was told was a Mosin Sniper rifle. The rifle itself has matching serial numbers, from 1934, hex receiver, and a bent bolt handle. My problem is that it comes with a PU scope and an electropencil mount. From what I have researched so far, it seems like that scope wasn't even around in 1934. Also, I'm guessing my side mount bracket isn't correct for the rifle either. Does this sound like something that would have been common or did I get screwed over for $600 by my gun shop?

~Mike~

[Jumperwire]

Sounds like the latter. Sorry about that, but when purchasing a sniper rifle, one needs to do their homework. Actually on anything that is worth a lot of money.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Better than a decade before the PU sniper was introduced, what you have is a reproduction sniper put together out of ordinary M91/30 refurbs and reproduction sniper scope/mount/bent bolt $600 was a bit high for one, most went in the $400 range a few years back . Sorry for the bad news, but welcome to the forum anyway, we all start out someplace, and make mistakes along the way.

[mwenger]

Is it possible that the rifle itself is a legit sniper rifle? I don't.know of any other 91/30 variants with a bent bolt. And like I said, the bolt is a matching serial number, not an electropencil. I guess best case would be that it was a sniper rifle and someone just threw on the reproduction later on. Oh well...time to get on the horn with cabelas to see what they can do because they told me it was authentic prior to my purchase.

[desdem12]

That is a good option there, to contact cabelas. It definately is not a authentic PU sniper. Those started in 42 and went to 44. There is a slight chance of it being a sniper i think i would have to check the numbers but it is very ..VERY unlikely. If you could give us pictures of the marks on the rifle and maybe of the metal out of the stock we could tell you much more. I would think cabelas would no better but maybe not.

[Jumperwire]

Cabella's probably bought it from one of those distributors, selling "authentic" snipers. Get your money back, put $200 more with it and buy one shipped to your door in a hard case that is real.
BTW Welcome to the forum. Don't take it to hard. We all make mistakes. Mine was buying a bubba T99 for $80 Oh well, I didn't know.

[mwenger]

Ya I ended up taking that one back and got a refund. Apparently all of their snipers were using reproduction scopes. Oh well, lesson learned. Even though I only had it for a few days, it really grew on me. Guess that means I will need to look for an authentic one sometime. What should I be looking for in the scope to tell that it is real? I would probably want a PU. I just think it would be an awesome piece of history and a great piece to start a WWII arms collection.

[desdem12]

Start at Rguns. Known real snipers. There has been talk of other real ones from somewhere but not sure how that stands as of now. I think it is ATI but i would have to look.

[Darryl]

OK,
First thing to look at if you decide you are going to buy another one.

If it has a Hex receiver and a PU mount, it's a fake. Never made PU snipers on Hex receivers.

1942 or newer for a PU mount. Any rifle older than that is a fake. If the rifle is fake, you can bet the mount and scope are also.

Dolk

[WeldonHunter]

These are the ones they're talking about. http://www.rguns.net/rifles/rifles-bolt.shtml These are real snipers...for sure! No doubt about. Here's some reading to help you understand why. http://www.russian-mosin-nagant-forum.c ... f=36&t=556 and http://www.russian-mosin-nagant-forum.c ... =36&t=3688
Accept no substitutes.

[Darryl]

These are the ones they're talking about. http://www.rguns.net/rifles/rifles-bolt.shtml These are real snipers...for sure! No doubt about. Here's some reading to help you understand why. http://www.russian-mosin-nagant-forum.c ... f=36&t=556 and http://www.russian-mosin-nagant-forum.c ... =36&t=3688
Accept no substitutes.

Just a clarifications here. On the referenced page, there are "real snipers" on top. The rifles with the turned down sniper bolts are not sniper rifles. They are just regular <01/30's with a turned down bolt. They never were sniper rifles.

Just so they don't get mixed up. It's the $800 ones that are real sniper rifles.

Dolk