The second half of the 19th century was marked by a jump in technological progress. New opportunities in the implementation of technical solutions and the transition to mass production have significantly expanded the field for creating a new type of magazine rifle. The most important role in this was played by the appearance of smokeless gunpowder. Reducing the caliber without reducing the power of the weapon opened up a number of prospects for improving the mechanisms of weapons. One of the results of such work in Russia was the Mosin rifle (pictured below) of the 1891 model.
A few words about the story
Keeping the first store rifles in service with the French army in 1886 raised the question of replacing obsolete weapons in the Russian army. Established in 1883 in Russia, the Commission for testing magazine guns examined more than 150 rifle options, both foreign and Russian designers. A skeptic about the rate of fire, in which the highest military officials saw the danger of excessive ammunition consumption, was a factor hindering the decision to introduce magazine weapons.
The first drawings of the Mosin rifle appeared on the basis of a four-line version with an applied store. Armed with the imperial army at the end of the 19th century, the four-line rifle of Berdan no longer corresponded to the realities of the time and had a significant number of shortcomings. In 1882, S.I. Mosin began to work on its modernization.
Mosin rifle arr. 1891 is a magazine rifle with a caliber of 7.62 mm. It is equipped with a sliding shutter that locks with rotation. The range is about 1000 meters. Mosin rifle sample 1891-1930. the following performance characteristics are inherent:
- its caliber is 7.62 mm;
- the length of the rifle with a bayonet - 166 cm;
- without cartridges and a bayonet its weight is 4.5 kg;
- fully equipped with cartridges, the clip weighs about 130 grams;
- magazine capacity - 5 rounds, cartridges are removed mechanically.
Upgrade Options
Throughout its service - and this is about 120 years - the rifle underwent only a few minor upgrades that were aimed at ease of use and low cost in production.
In addition to the "standard" infantry, soon armaments were adopted rifles of Dragoon and Cossack type, and somewhat later and a carbine. The carbine of the 1944 model had a fixed folding bayonet, the designer of which was Semin. The sighting of such rifles was carried out with a bayonet brought into a combat position.
As such, the changes that have occurred with the rifle over the years are few. They were mainly aimed at simplifying production, as well as reducing costs. So, the aiming bar was improved and the design of the receiver was changed.
Tuning "three-line" from the company ProMag
The most common tuning Mosin rifle received in the United States. About 10 years ago, rifles became available for purchase to civilians, as for the needs of the army the design of guns is obsolete, as well as due to the need to free up space in weapons depots.
It should be noted that the Mosin rifle in the United States is sold at a fairly affordable price and is in great demand among American shooters. The tuning of the Mosin rifle is diverse - from artisanal fakes to factory products of foreign companies such as ProMag or Timney. Improved even the standard rifle store. ProMag has released a ten-seat version of the store made of polyamide chambered for 7.62 x 54 R, designed for use with the ProMag Archangel box.
Orthopedic bed ProMag Archangel AA9130 is made of carbon and polymer. In fact, this box of reinforced plastic is completely devoid of the problems of a wooden fellow. Plastic is not afraid of moisture and, as a result, it is not threatened with geometry violations. The ability to adjust the butt plate and cheek height in a fairly wide range allows you to customize the rifle for individual use.
SSG-96 sniper rifle
In the 90s, arms designers from Finland introduced the SSG-96 sniper rifle - their version of the modern vision for tuning the Mosin rifle. Until now, this rifle is considered one of the best in the West.
This model is a store type, reloading is carried out manually. Has a device that adjusts the force of pressure on the trigger. Reinforced plastic was used for the manufacture of the bed, and the cold forging method was used in the manufacture of the barrel. It is equipped with a six-time sight with the ability to install night optics.
OTs-48K sniper rifle
In 2000, Russian gunsmiths subjected the Mosin rifle to serious tuning. Using the new-fangled bullpup system and bringing the trigger to mind, they gave the rifle the name "OTs-48K"
OTs-48K are produced by remaking sniper variants of the Mosin rifle, recovered from warehouses. The model is still used in some units of the Russian army.
Modern upgrade
One of the latest innovations on the market is tuning the Mosin rifle from the Crook company.
It produces and offers aluminum boxes for the “three-ruler”, which are suitable for all rifles, including early versions with hexagonal receivers, and do not require additional modifications. Just replace the old wooden box with a new aluminum one. You can see the tuning of the Mosin rifle in the photo below.
One of the interesting features of the box is the presence of a standard thread for tube stocks, so any butt from rifles based on AR is suitable for it. As well as a protective coating color Cerakote.
General rules for use and storage
Keeping your rifle clean, respect for it, careful monitoring of malfunctions and confidence in its combat readiness - these are the keys to a long-term and reliable service of the weapon. However, with prolonged use, parts will inevitably deteriorate, as well as mechanisms become contaminated, as a result of this or dishonest care, the rifle may have malfunctions that will interfere with its normal operation.
To prevent malfunctions, it is necessary:
- Strictly observe the rules of assembly, disassembly, cleaning, inspection and storage of the rifle.
- In the cold season, use winter grease to treat friction surfaces.
- Before shooting, it is imperative to inspect the cartridge and cartridges; dirty or defective cartridges cannot be charged.
- During firing, as well as during dashes and stops, carefully monitor and protect the rifle from clogging with dirt, dust and sand.
Whatever the conditions of the shooter, he must keep his rifle clean, handle it carefully, conduct regular inspections to be sure of its full serviceability and combat readiness.
In conclusion, I must say that the interest in the Mosin rifle, despite the deeply outdated system, has not weakened over the years. The rifle, as before, performs its functions perfectly.