The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

It's not as buttery smooth as it could be. I've taken it apart and oiled it, etc. any ideas?
John

If the rifle is a refurb, use it and shoot it, I've had a few rough feeling bolts that got smoother with use, especially opening and closing the bolt.

I agree with Greasemonkey. These guns will get better with use. Some of these refurb guns have new parts like the ejector/interrupter and will get smoother as the springs get broken in.

Military firearms are not intended or designed to be smooth except for the US Krag. The mosin can be more of a pepper grinder than some, but a stiff bolt is expected so long as it chambers the round and extracts it without it sticking in or out of the chamber. Don't baby the bolt, smack the bolt knob hard using the palm of your hand to open it, carry it through to the end of it's travel, and slam it closed in one motion.

My M44s bolt was stiff. Regular use has "worn" it in to the point it's probably the smoothest bolt of any of the Mosins I own.


Sent from my iPhone 4S using Tapatalk

Sometimes a bit (lightly) of gun grease in the right spots on the bolt will help a bit, but these are battle rifles, not modern hunting rifles and they will always be a little tougher to use.

Dolk

I have to slam the bolt on my westing house like the fist of an angry god to get it to close on a chambered round.

Jackson wrote:I have to slam the bolt on my westing house like the fist of an angry god to get it to close on a chambered round.

both of mine are smooth. in fact all 6 bolts i have work smooth and i have checked head space on all so i know i can use any bolt with either rifle.

it's not the headspace, extractor doesn't want to slide over the rim.

If you pay attention to where bolt body and the cocking knob ride on each other, a little bit of lubrication in those areas goes a long way.

Jackson wrote:it's not the headspace, extractor doesn't want to slide over the rim.

did you polish the extracter? on you tube there is a video about doing it.
post modified for forum moderater.

Practically a legend around here.

Check the face of the extractor. sometimes it gets rough. If it has some deep lines in it then it could use a polish or replacement.

Just get another extractor and replace it.

Polishing the camming surface between the cocking knob and bolt make a difference too. I usually hit it with a buffer for a few seconds. A little grease there and work it for a while usually results in a nice smooth bolt on my rifles.


Sent from my iPhone 4S using Tapatalk

Also make sure that there is no gunk in the extractor relief cut - the cut runs from about 1 to 5 oclock on the face of the chamber.

I have a set of dental picks I use for cleaning that, then I blast it with WD40 to wash out the loose crud, all I use WD for on a firearm.

I think I got the pics from Sportsman's Guide, but Midway or a medical supply catalog could probably supply them. Very handy for getting at the tight spots.

there is usually cosmoline in groove and on extracter that can only be removed by removing extracter. to remove it from bolt head i use a drift to move it away from cartridge seat face in a straight direction towards opposite end of bolt face (linier direction/not side to side) then install opposite direction removed from.

Also make sure that there is no gunk in the extractor relief cut - the cut runs from about 1 to 5 oclock on the face of the chamber.


THIS is very good advice for ALL Mosin Nagants....often I find tiny bits of hard GUNK in many rifles in the recess......

Get some LOOONG Q-Tips, some Hopps#9 or GunScurbber and a BRIGHT flashlight and clean this area out.
It really makes a difference I have found. Damn Good suggestions from the rest as well.
I do admit to using a bit of "NeverDull" to go over "things" and it can and will make a difference.