The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

A lot has been discussed here about the new looking bores on the Molot guns. I just figured I'd chime in as to what I've observed on mine. I'll try to get pictures, but it's difficult to get a good shot.

Anyhoo, this post isn't an attempt to sway anyone one way or another. It's just my observation. The barrel on my 1944 Izhevsk M44 Molot rifle is not counterbored. The muzzle is tight, and the lands look nice. Here's the important part though.....the grooves show light frost. The grooves appear identical to my 1943 Izhevsk M91/30, which is NOT a Molot rifle (but is counterbored). The frost looks very similar to the barrels on both my 1903a3 and my M1917.

I should also note that observing the lands at the muzzle, it is very clear that there is no copper fouling within the last quarter inch or better of the bore. The rest of the lands are fouled. Comparing that to Milsurp rifles I know to have new bores (unissued M39, arsenal rebarreled M96. I'm the only person to have fired them), it suggests that even though the muzzle looks nice, it's not as tight as it appears. I used a shrouded emitter Photon micro light to look down the muzzle, as it is small enough to fit into the bore with plenty of visible barrel to spare, it gives me an extremely good view of the lands and grooves.

Again, not an attempt to sway anyone in any particular direction. It doesn't really matter to me one way or the other. Just an observation based on my sample size of one. Like I said, I'll try to get decent pictures, but getting any sort of definition and focus is easier said than done.

Both my .303 Enfields have what I would consider light frost. Same for the Japanese Arisaka M38. All of them shoot very accurately.

I have two M44's and one M38. All are counterbored. None of the bores are what I would call perfect. However, on average the rifles all display better than acceptable accuracy.

Thank you for taking the time to give a clear evaluation of the bore, this is the sort of information that is needed
Even unissued rifles have been fired, they are proof fired at the arsenal, and then fired to set the sights.

I know they fire a few rounds through them. I guess I should have been a little more specific and said that aside from the arsenal, I'm the only other person to have fired them.