The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Whenever I remove the hand guard retention rings in order to remove the action from the stock I haven't been able to avoid scraping the shellac off of either the stock or the hand guard. Can anyone recommend a way to avoid this damage?

I have had luck opening the spring on the bottom with a screw driver while carefully working the band up the forestock. Careful that the screwdriver blade doesn't come in contact with the stock. With some barrel bands, there is no give so think twice before removing them again or only remove them to clean the inner workings which should not have to be done very often. The parts that really need to be cleaned can be cleaned without fully disassembling the rifle

qz2026 wrote:I have had luck opening the spring on the bottom with a screw driver while carefully working the band up the forestock. Careful that the screwdriver blade doesn't come in contact with the stock. With some barrel bands, there is no give so think twice before removing them again or only remove them to clean the inner workings which should not have to be done very often. The parts that really need to be cleaned can be cleaned without fully disassembling the rifle

A good coat of lemon oil before you remove them. Works good for me.

I found it hard to get bands off too, although I usually only do this on the first breakdown to remove cosmoline and check for rust under the wood line. Here is what I do if I don't have a helper. Remove the cleaning rod. I pad a small C Clamp and use it to depress the springs fully (rear first). Then I oil up the stock ahead of the band and tap it with a flat wooden paint stir stick and mallet till it is over the spring. The screw driver in the bottom cut area of the band will spread the band enough to get it moving. Remove the C Clamp and reposition it to the front spring. Lube well ahead of the band as you inch it up the stock until easy to move. Work both sides. Don't rush. Repeat on the front band. I use lube like CLP or thicker gun oil. I suppose Vaseline would work too, but I like easy cleanups. If the inside of your rings is rusty, this must be cleaned off, or the roughness will scratch up the shellac no matter what you use.

This is what I use, it expands it enough. A small screw driver a piece of wood and a external retaining ring tool.
Sometimes you need the screwdriver to open them up a little more to get the tool on, when taking them off you use the wood to expand them enough to get the screwdriver on then the tool on but once you have the tool in it works like a dream doe's not even touch the wood.

It doe's not damage the rings that ring was ugly they always snap back tight when on or off the rifle.
I have taken apart over 25 mosin's in the last year. I was real anal about getting those rings off without scraping .

Obstreperous wrote:This is what I use, it expands it enough. A small screw driver a piece of wood and a external retaining ring tool.
Sometimes you need the screwdriver to open them up a little more to get the tool on, when taking them off you use the wood to expand them enough to get the screwdriver on then the tool on but once you have the tool in it works like a dream doe's not even touch the wood.

This is what I am looking for! Thanks for an eloquent way to remove those pesky rings without damaging the wood finish. I have ordered one of those ring tools!

+100

Not a bad idea There are occasions when the ring is fully expanded already by either a slightly smaller barrel band than spec or the handguard or stock have swollen. Then, if you must remove the rifle from the stock, you lube it up and hope for the best.

If it's not breaking any rules, where did you get that retaining ring tool? I have a pair of "reverse pliers" that have not lived up to my expectations (understatement).

Thanks.

djbuck1 wrote:If it's not breaking any rules, where did you get that retaining ring tool? I have a pair of "reverse pliers" that have not lived up to my expectations (understatement).

Thanks.

To be honest I found them in my toolbox and I have no idea where I bought them, maybe the big hardware chain
This is the brand. If this should not be posted here I will remove it if someone will please let me know.

Thanks!

The firing pin gauge slash screw driver works great. Use the last slot in the gauge to go over the tooth in the band and push the tool into the band. This works well on all of mine.

milmike wrote:The firing pin gauge slash screw driver works great. Use the last slot in the gauge to go over the tooth in the band and push the tool into the band. This works well on all of mine.

An even more elegant way of doing it. Only requires one tool, and it's one every Mosin owner should have any way.

entropy wrote:

milmike wrote:The firing pin gauge slash screw driver works great. Use the last slot in the gauge to go over the tooth in the band and push the tool into the band. This works well on all of mine.

An even more elegant way of doing it. Only requires one tool, and it's one every Mosin owner should have any way.

I can't visualize what is being recommended here. So:

The tool shown here are called ,"Snap ring pliers". They come in several sizes. Every hardware store should have them.

Remember some time ago that JYD said he used his trusty leatherman, needlenose in the gap and spread the ring apart. I've used this ever since and have no trouble - Just make sure you lube up the stock and hand guard well.