Mosin m44 counterboring service

pidevildog07 · Nov 29, 2019

Anyone know of anyone that does this locally or where to get a second opinion on whether or not the barrel itself may need to be replaced?

It looks like the first 1"+ from the muzzle back is fried. Confirmed visually as well as slugging the bore from both directions. Frosty looking bits I assume is the lead being scraped off the lead ball when being tapped through.

When going from muzzle end back (past initial resistance from ball being tapped into muzzle) started tight then became tighter. From chamber forward, tight then lighter, roughly an inch from muzzle. Also ran an endoscope through and the rifling looked typical of Mosin's compared to pictures I've seen of other bores minus the muzzle end, but again I can't call it good either way and need someone that has the experience with them to tell me if I need to re barrel or counterbore.

John from MD · Nov 29, 2019

Have you tried shooting the rifle first? I have seen many rifles with sewer pipe barrels that will give acceptable accuracy for punching paper. Doing barrel work on a M44 is a pain in the ass and I doubt any of the dwindling amount of gun smith's would be interested. There may be a hobbyist that has a jig set up for it but this isn't the place to look for him. There are websites for milsurp collectors that may bring you better results.

https://www.milsurps.com

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com

I don't know if this one is still active but Parallax's Curio & Relics Firearm Forums was one of the original and most active sites back in the milsurp heyday.

Good luck,

Red1917 · Nov 29, 2019

Maybe its just the pictures, but that looks to be a pretty decent muzzle for a mosin, especially a carbine, how does it do on the bullet test?

Doco Overboard · Nov 29, 2019

+1 as above. Shoot it first and see how it does. Doesn't look that bad to me from what I can tell from the pictures. I can see defined rifling in one or two of the shots. I would clean the barrel well and then slug it again with a film of light oil. Once you get an average measurement of the slug you may be able to select ammo that fills the grooves nicely.
A lot of European rifles already have land and groove measurements that are on the plus size to begin with and it would not surprise me to find ammo in bulk that is up to .001 or 2 over on bullet diameter.

The other thing is looking through bore scopes will make you nuts when you start to see what is really going on in there. If your still not satisfied with results on paper find someone who has a muzzle chamfer tool first. The tool will cut back the crown sometimes enough to do a relatively satisfactory job of cleaning the muzzle up restoring happiness.

John from MD · Nov 29, 2019

Nothing wrong with that crown Doc. I see some pitting but not enough to worry about unless you are shooting lead bullets.

GuitarmanNick · Nov 29, 2019

In agreement with those that advise shooting it followed by a thorough cleaning. Perhaps a little JB's bore paste and some 0000 steel wool wrapped around a bore brush will improve the internal appearance.

Remember to extend the bayonet before shooting as they tend to shoot way off to the left with it folded back.

pidevildog07 · Nov 29, 2019

Appreciate all the replies and suggestions.

- I have shot it and it's tumbling bullets at 50 yards. I was using Brown Bear 174gr.

- Slugged barrel again and came out to .311 groove to groove. There was some variance (.001-.002 +/-, confirmed with two calipers) when taking measurements.

I wasn't expecting this thing to put holes on top of each other or even near it but I definitely didn't expect to cause tumble in flight. I've read that shooting the heavier 208gr sp's exclusively may accelerate wear?

John from MD · Nov 29, 2019

Try some milsurp or Privi Partisan 150gn as that is what the 91/30's on were designed for. .311 is fine for a MN barrel and should shoot fine. Only some models of the MN28's had .308 barrels.

Check that Brown Bear ammo and make sure it doesn't have .308 bullets. Russian milsurp ammo is usually .310

Doco Overboard · Nov 29, 2019

Whats the bore diameter and how many grooves does it have?

John from MD · Nov 29, 2019

Op, where are you located. If not too far, I would be willing to come and take a look at it for you.

pidevildog07 · Nov 29, 2019

John from MD said:
Op, where are you located. If not too far, I would be willing to come and take a look at it for you.

Snow Hill, about 10min from Salisbury.

noddaz · Nov 29, 2019

Counter bore?

I have a Mosin that has something like a 1/2 counter bore. And that rifle shoots bad. Bad as in I couldn't hit a 8 1/2 x 11 sized paper target at 50 yards. I was shooting surplus ammo, but a 6" to 8" spread from shot to shot was horrible.

Try different types of ammo in your rifle. Maybe it will be happy shooting something else.

pidevildog07 · Nov 29, 2019

Doco Overboard said:
Whats the bore diameter and how many grooves does it have?

.311 and 4 groove

John from MD · Nov 29, 2019

Sorry chum, Snow Hill is just too far for me these days.

pidevildog07 · Nov 29, 2019

Any brand ammo recommendations to try?

Doco Overboard · Nov 29, 2019

pidevildog07 said:
.311 and 4 groove

So take a pulled jacketed bullet and center it into the muzzle with the point facing the breech.

With the barrel or rifle clamped into a vise so it doesn't easily move, give the jacketed bullet a couple light taps with a hammer. What your trying to do is grave the jacket with the ends of the lands.

(This is where your going to be able to see your minor or bore diameter) ( the copper jacket should be swedged rearwards forming four ridges)

Once you remove the bullet which should fall right off the muzzle have a look at it and see if you can tell if it has been formed evenly around the circumference. Even and concentric is good here were trying to figure out key-holing. If one of the ridges is less pronounced than the others this could be part of the problem.

Now, take your calipers over the point of the bullet and move them rearwards towards the base of the bullet until they stop against the four ridges (gouges) and take a measurement.

Subtract from your outside diameter of your lead slug. It's important to know that lands will wear out faster than the grooves. Have a peek in the breech with your bore scope and see if it looks like dried cracked mud in there or if it looks like 60 grit sandpaper.

John from MD · Nov 29, 2019

pidevildog07 said:
Any brand ammo recommendations to try?

Get some of this and try it. This is good ammo and will let you know whether it is the ammo or the barrel.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1001868624?pid=773893

pidevildog07 · Nov 29, 2019

Doco Overboard said:
So take a pulled jacketed bullet and center it into the muzzle with the point facing the breech.

With the barrel or rifle clamped into a vise so it doesn't easily move, give the jacketed bullet a couple light taps with a hammer. What your trying to do is grave the jacket with the ends of the lands.

(This is where your going to be able to see your minor or bore diameter) ( the copper jacket should be swedged rearwards forming four ridges)

Once you remove the bullet which should fall right off the muzzle have a look at it and see if you can tell if it has been formed evenly around the circumference. Even and concentric is good here were trying to figure out key-holing. If one of the ridges is less pronounced than the others this could be part of the problem.

Now, take your calipers over the point of the bullet and move them rearwards towards the base of the bullet until they stop against the four ridges (gouges) and take a measurement.

Subtract from your outside diameter of your lead slug. It's important to know that lands will wear out faster than the grooves. Have a peek in the breech with your bore scope and see if it looks like dried cracked mud in there or if it looks like 60 grit sandpaper.

Will do and get back to you. Again thanks everybody.

pidevildog07 · Nov 30, 2019

John from MD said:
Get some of this and try it. This is good ammo and will let you know whether it is the ammo or the barrel.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1001868624?pid=773893

Thanks for the link. Failmart only had tula and those bullets are a bitch to get out.

dieselfarmboy · Nov 30, 2019

If you need a couple diff rounds I prob could dig some up for you.

Mosin m44 counterboring service

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