A Project; 1MOA Mosin-Nagant!
 

OK folks, here's a little fun for all. This is a project I've been wanting to try for a couple of years now; I am going to attempt to build a rifle capable of 1MOA or less for under $300.

The action and barrel are an unissued M-91/30 Mosin-Nagant in 7.62x54R. The stock is a FibreForce "monte carlo" style which will be relieved significantly to free-float the barrel, filled with some variety of epoxy to reduce tympanicity, and fitted with a bipod. The trigger will be replaced with an aftermarket 3-lb two-stage. The scope will be a weaver-mounted PSO-type with BDC.

Here's the challenge; to assemble this weapon, using only off-the-shelf parts, and shoot a 1" or smaller 100 yard group, using match-grade ( silvertip ) surplus ammo. I'll post updates and pictures as things happen. Anyone else interested in doing this with other rifles? Mausers, K-31s?

Not a rifle guy myself, but I am interested to see the results.

It might work, but what's more likely is that you'll have to handload your ammo to really get everything the gun is capable of. As an example, I have a national match Springfield Arms M1A1 that shoots about 10Moa with off the shelf ammo. Even Black Hills shoots bad. Hand loads are .75Moa, and yes, that's center to center. the hand loads use trimmed cases with cleaned and sized flash holes and RCBS competition dies. OAL is matched to the chamber using a Stony Creek gauge.

In other words, there is a heck of a lot more too it than just the gun. I didn't even go into concentricity, bullet jump, neck-only resizing, powder/primer combinations etc. etc. Even with the gun there is a lot of tuning that might need to be done, some of it requiring a machinists' lathe. Check out David Tubb's books and videos to see what I mean. They will give you a lot of info to work with.

If you start out with a non-abused MN, you should be able to get a sub-MOA out of it. I'd start simply by making some match grade ammo for it and see how close to MOA you come on a benchrest.

Often, it's the "loose screw behind the buttplate" that's causing a non MOA grouping with guns like that....

Daswig,
That's what I've noticed as well. I figure that if I can get an honest centre-to-centre 1MOA group out of it with surplue silvertip, some good handloads pushing Sierra Matchkings should get into sub-MOA territory without too much trouble.

What ever happened here, Dunedan?

Damn, I'm curious too.

I find it interesting that this thread was resurrected on its five-year anniversary.

I have nothing else to contribute.

Back from the dead. Count me as curious as well.
I shot a Mosin sniper a little bit ago and was getting palm sized groups at 300 yards with surplus ammo and the original 3.5 PU scope, (and me not being the best) so this doesn't sound like much of a reach, Those guns are real shooters.

I'm sending a message to one of my friends who got 1MOA out of a surplus M44 with off the shelf ammo, as long as you're a good shot you can pick off golf balls at that range over the iron sights. I'm fully confident that you were able to do this.

Actually, this project never went anywhere. Other things came up, but I may attempt it one day in the future. Not a lot of time for personal projects these days, unfortunately.

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there was a gun shop in Anchorage way back in the 70's that sold military surplus rifles and they were kept in oak barrels $50 each your choice i bought 3 an old 30.06 a british .303 and my favorite was Moisin Nagant. that rifle killed a lot of game for my family at a 100 yards it would kill a moose ... so is that 1 moose of angle? :)