Those Old Bolt's

[Terry G]

I finally got some range time after chauferring my Wife back and forth from her "lane change" Master's Degree program, don't ask me what was going on, "Cultural Diversity" was the theme. Anyway, a couple of friends cooked up a shoot at a prison range, only bolt actions, no Auto's or semi-autos need apply. I took about a quarter of a second to say yes, and scooped up a Russian M-44, a SMLE MKIII*, a Yugoslavian M48-A, and my BSA 7MM Magnum. 200 yard range and six-inch bulls-eye targets. My contemporaries brought pretty much the same, with the addition of an '03 Springfield, a SMLE MKIV, and an Enfield P-14. My BSA was dis-allowed because it had a 'scope. (Jealous Bastard's). Anyway, swapping them around, the consensus was: The Springfield was IT for accuracy. The SMLE was the smoothest and fastest for bolt work. The Mauser beat out the the M-44 overall, but the Russian had the best magazine system. The Russian was the worst "kicker" but not so bad as to affect accuracy. The surprise was the P-14. Heavy and awkward, it was accurate, relatively mild in recoil, and reloaded very smoothly. At day's end we had a "Mad Minute" with everyone firing the weapon of their choice at a Transtar II target at two hundred yards. I'll just say that every single one of these weapons are MOST effective.

[T. Daves]

Taking the #4mk1 out tomorrow to see how it shoots. The only rounds I could find in town are 174gr. metal case. It took me a week to clean it up, after being in the closet for so long. Was told linseed oil is what I need to use on the stock.

[Garand]

I'm going out tomorrow to try my #4 Mk1 (T) for the first time. I'll start with a rough zero at 25 yds and depending on the wind, I'll go from there. During the last week, we have had up to 55 mph winds around here which is not conducive to good shooting. I'm taking the M1A with me too as I picked up some Portugese ammo last month that I want to try.

[Magnum88C]

What made the P-14 awkward Terry? I never fired one, but it didn't seem the action was as quick as the other Enfields. It seemed like there was a lot mor emotion involved in working the bolt. Just wondered. Other than that, your report doesn't surprise me.

Has anyone fired a No5 Enfield? I hear they rival the short Mosins for muzzle blast and recoil.

[Flinter]

It took me a week to clean it up, after being in the closet for so long. Was told linseed oil is what I need to use on the stock.

I'll tell ya what I do, you can make your own mind up.

First thing I do is wipe the stock of an older rifle down with lemon oil. You can get it at Walmart or any hardware store. It is a very good cleaner and wood reconditioner that leaves no residue behind. One of the best kept secrets of lemon oil is that it cleans cosmoline like nobody's business. It is the absolute best C&R degreaser I've ever found.

I let that dry for a day or 2 and then rub in a really thin layer of linseed oil. You want just enough on your fingers that it will dry while you are rubbing the stock. You'll feel it heating up on your hands. Eventually it should feel dry and "squeeky" while you are rubbing........then I dab a little more on my fingers and proceed down the stock. If you apply too much at once it'll never dry........if you let it run between the wood and the metal it will stay wet and eventually begin to rot the wood. Use it often and use it sparingly.

The old standard for how many coats of linseed oil you apply goes like this;

Once a day for a week.
Once a week for a year.
Once a year for life.

If you do that you will end up with a really fine finish on your rifle. It's a lot of work though.

Most other finishing oils are just linseed oil with certain drying agents mixed into them..........tung oil and tru-oil are 2 that come to mind. They do dry faster, but IMHO they just don't penetrate into the wood the way linseed oil does.


I just ordered a Mosin-Nagant on Thursday. Should be here Tuesday. I can't wait. It's the 91 model with the 30 inch barrel. I paid a little more than I wanted to (95 bucks) but the guy said they were in unbelievable shape. Hopefully he meant unbelievably good........not unbelievably bad! :shrugs:

[RIKA]

This post is more to my liking. I want to carry my Springy 1903 and the MN38 to the range soon. Haven't shot them in a while and they're getting lonely.

RIKA

[Coyote]

What made the P-14 awkward Terry? I never fired one, but it didn't seem the action was as quick as the other Enfields. It seemed like there was a lot mor emotion involved in working the bolt. Just wondered. Other than that, your report doesn't surprise me.

Has anyone fired a No5 Enfield? I hear they rival the short Mosins for muzzle blast and recoil.
Yeah, the Jungle Carbine has some bite to it. Theres one in my basement.

Ive never fired a Mosin so I cant compare them, but putting two or three boxes of ammo through a No.5 will "build character".

[Terry G]

What made the P-14 awkward Terry? I never fired one, but it didn't seem the action was as quick as the other Enfields. It seemed like there was a lot mor emotion involved in working the bolt. Just wondered. Other than that, your report doesn't surprise me.

Has anyone fired a No5 Enfield? I hear they rival the short Mosins for muzzle blast and recoil.It felt like it just wasn't right for length when operating the bolt. Between 5"7 and 6"4, no one was comfortable with it. I'm in the middle and it didn't fit me either. Damn accurate, mind you.

[copycat]

The Mosin M38 carbine certainly has a bit of kick, after 50 rounds I could tell I'd been shooting.

[BigEd63]

The Mosin M38 carbine certainly has a bit of kick, after 50 rounds I could tell I'd been shooting.


Yep, I'm mosinless now and that's first on my buy list for one of them. :dgrin:

[Magnum88C]

The Mosin M38 carbine certainly has a bit of kick, after 50 rounds I could tell I'd been shooting.

LOL, yeah that happpens with those old steel-buttplated milsurps. You get the telltale "milsurp bruise".

[BoltTurner]

After hearing a lot of reports of bad accuracy with Mosins, I was pleasantly surprised when I finally got one. The sights aren't my favorites, but the only one that doesn't shoot so well is a Romanian M44, but there's some dings in the crown that would possibly cause that. Other than that one, they all shoot under 4 MOA (darned good for wartime rifles that are 60+ years old and look like they were milled with a dull spoon).
I've been altogether impressed with the Enfields. Accurate rifles (I do much better with the No4's sights), great action, and a round with enough, but not too much power.

[BigEd63]

After hearing a lot of reports of bad accuracy with Mosins, I was pleasantly surprised when I finally got one. The sights aren't my favorites, but the only one that doesn't shoot so well is a Romanian M44, but there's some dings in the crown that would possibly cause that. Other than that one, they all shoot under 4 MOA (darned good for wartime rifles that are 60+ years old and look like they were milled with a dull spoon).
I've been altogether impressed with the Enfields. Accurate rifles (I do much better with the No4's sights), great action, and a round with enough, but not too much power.

Amen bro!

My M-38 is a sweet shooter also. Can't wait to try out the Ruskie M-44 when I get it out of lay away. :)

[Magnum88C]

Funny, my Romanians shoot pretty darn well (the counterbored one better than the other, as is to be expected). I guess there was more quality variance int he non-Russian ones (excepting the Finn ones of course).

Hmmm, looks like a No4 Mk1* (Judging from the cocking piece) receiver in that avatar. Must have another member with some class.

[Timberlord]

Good ol' Longbranch No.4 Mk1*...ready for anything
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v322/Timberlord/LeeEnfield%20Longbranch/LBLEcombo.bmp