Mosin M44

**GOVT1911** · June 12, 2012, 08:49

OK guys, I don't know crap about Mosins, except they're inexpensive rifles to buy/shoot, and they kick like a mule.

I have a buddy that has one he's had for years, and hunts with it. Only shoots maybe 10 rounds a year.

He brought it to me because I'm his "gun friend" and might be able to help him out.

The bolt cycles fine when empty, but when you try to chamber a round, the bolt won't close. I haven't tried to force it closed on a live round, but with "moderate" hand pressure, it just won't close with a round in the chamber.

He's never had a problem with it before, says he pulled it out of his safe and wnet to verify the zero and just couldn't get the bolt closed.

He gave me a 20 round box of Russian steel case ammo (commercial packaging) that he picked up at the local pawnshop/gunstore. I haven't tried any other ammo...

Should I just try to FORCE the bolt closed with a round chambered? Should I go grab a different box of ammo?

Is it "normal" for the bolt to be VERY hard to close?

All I've done so far is clean the hell out of it, didn't disassemble the bolt or anything, just cleaned it as best as I can while it's still assembled.

**308bolt** · June 12, 2012, 09:01

I'd pull the bolt and see if I could chamber a round by hand before I did anything else.

I haven't shot my Nagants for a while now but I do seem to remember the bolts being quite stiff.

Scott S · June 12, 2012, 10:31

Could the neck of a fired round be stuck in the chamber?

**bykerhd** · June 12, 2012, 11:39

Bolt maybe not correctly assembled ?
They're VERY simple rifles built originally to be issued to illiterate peasants.

http://7.62x54r.net/

The place for pretty much all things Mosin.

**308bolt** · June 12, 2012, 15:00

If you try a cartridge by hand and you can't chamber it, check the overall length of the ammo he's using.
Rifles seldom develop problems in the safe.

randy762ak · June 12, 2012, 18:13

Rifles seldom develop problems in the safe.

Unless the owner shot some corrosive ammo and let it set and the chambers all rusted up so the round cant go full into battery !

Sgt_Gold · June 12, 2012, 19:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOVT1911

Should I just try to FORCE the bolt closed with a round chambered? Should I go grab a different box of ammo?

Is it "normal" for the bolt to be VERY hard to close?

All I've done so far is clean the hell out of it, didn't disassemble the bolt or anything, just cleaned it as best as I can while it's still assembled.

It could be corrosive ammo and a buildup of crap where the rim of the cartridge contacts the chamber shoulder. A good cleaning should show if this is the case.

Commie QA\QC leaves a lot to be desired. I've seen Nagant owners have trouble closing the bolt because the cartridge rim was too thick. I'd try another type of surplus or maybe something current production.

**BUFF** · June 13, 2012, 09:38

I am sure you have already, but try loading th cartridge into the magazine first and then closing the bolt. Extractor may not want to slide over that big rim.

biyf · June 20, 2012, 16:19

I've seen and dealt with this exact issue. You've got tons of gunked up lacquer in the chamber that needs to be cleaned out. First remove the bolt all the way out of the receiver. Then try attaching a cleaning rod to a drill and use a 20 guage or so shotgun brush and a bunch of your favorite cleaning solvent to clean out the crud.

Dirt1042 · June 20, 2012, 16:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by biyf

I've seen and dealt with this exact issue. You've got tons of gunked up lacquer in the chamber that needs to be cleaned out. First remove the bolt all the way out of the receiver. Then try attaching a cleaning rod to a drill and use a 20 guage or so shotgun brush and a bunch of your favorite cleaning solvent to clean out the crud.

I haven't had the bolt closing issue but have had the opening the bolt issue after firing because after a few rounds of certain ammo the lacquer build up made it difficult very quickly. To the OP I would do as biyf suggested and tell your buddy to buy brass cased stuff if he's not going to clean his rifle every time he shoots that lacquer steel cased stuff.

ronpaulFAL · June 22, 2012, 16:01

I have the same problem with one M44, and another without the problem. I believe it may be due to the extractor being out of spec or too stiff to easily pop over the rim. The rifles have both been headspaced.

Best option is to keep it for spare parts and just buy another. They're so cheap that there is no point in spending the money on a new bolt and headspace gauges. You should be able to find a primo M44 for <120.

That said, if you're going that route, consider an SKS. They aren't much more and they are a lot more fun, easier to mount optics, etc.

**Hebrew Battle Rifle** · June 23, 2012, 12:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOVT1911

OK guys, I don't know crap about Mosins, except they're inexpensive rifles to buy/shoot, and they kick like a mule.

I have a buddy that has one he's had for years, and hunts with it. Only shoots maybe 10 rounds a year.

He brought it to me because I'm his "gun friend" and might be able to help him out.

The bolt cycles fine when empty, but when you try to chamber a round, the bolt won't close. I haven't tried to force it closed on a live round, but with "moderate" hand pressure, it just won't close with a round in the chamber.

He's never had a problem with it before, says he pulled it out of his safe and wnet to verify the zero and just couldn't get the bolt closed.

He gave me a 20 round box of Russian steel case ammo (commercial packaging) that he picked up at the local pawnshop/gunstore. I haven't tried any other ammo...

Should I just try to FORCE the bolt closed with a round chambered? Should I go grab a different box of ammo?

Is it "normal" for the bolt to be VERY hard to close?

All I've done so far is clean the hell out of it, didn't disassemble the bolt or anything, just cleaned it as best as I can while it's still assembled.

Try surplus ammo. It reads as if the head space on the commercial rounds is too long. Have you tried all of the rounds in that box?

**GOVT1911** · June 23, 2012, 18:42

Sorry it took me awhile to reply. My buddy was shooting mostly surplus ammo out of it. The box he gave me was russian steel case that was packaged for commercial sale.

I cleand the hell out of the chamber and that fixed the problem. It was all gunked up with corrosion and laquer. I used a piece of "green pad" in a large patch jag thingy and spun the hell out of it with a drill in the chamber. Cleaned it up nicely.

Thanks for the advice guys!

**Hebrew Battle Rifle** · June 24, 2012, 12:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOVT1911

Sorry it took me awhile to reply. My buddy was shooting mostly surplus ammo out of it. The box he gave me was russian steel case that was packaged for commercial sale.

I cleand the hell out of the chamber and that fixed the problem. It was all gunked up with corrosion and laquer. I used a piece of "green pad" in a large patch jag thingy and spun the hell out of it with a drill in the chamber. Cleaned it up nicely.

Thanks for the advice guys!

Good to know. Thanks for the update.

gman · June 24, 2012, 18:32

Better slug the bore to check the diameter. I owned two, one was around 0.313" and the other was 0.315". Neither would shoot at all.

June 12, 2012, 08:49	#1
GOVT1911 Curio & Relic Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 9433 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Raeford, NC Posts: 3,215	Mosin M44 OK guys, I don't know crap about Mosins, except they're inexpensive rifles to buy/shoot, and they kick like a mule. I have a buddy that has one he's had for years, and hunts with it. Only shoots maybe 10 rounds a year. He brought it to me because I'm his "gun friend" and might be able to help him out. The bolt cycles fine when empty, but when you try to chamber a round, the bolt won't close. I haven't tried to force it closed on a live round, but with "moderate" hand pressure, it just won't close with a round in the chamber. He's never had a problem with it before, says he pulled it out of his safe and wnet to verify the zero and just couldn't get the bolt closed. He gave me a 20 round box of Russian steel case ammo (commercial packaging) that he picked up at the local pawnshop/gunstore. I haven't tried any other ammo... Should I just try to FORCE the bolt closed with a round chambered? Should I go grab a different box of ammo? Is it "normal" for the bolt to be VERY hard to close? All I've done so far is clean the hell out of it, didn't disassemble the bolt or anything, just cleaned it as best as I can while it's still assembled. __________________ I don't make policy, I just enforce the last 300 Meters of it.

June 12, 2012, 09:01	#2
308bolt Heathen Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 19255 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,027	I'd pull the bolt and see if I could chamber a round by hand before I did anything else. I haven't shot my Nagants for a while now but I do seem to remember the bolts being quite stiff. __________________ "The bandwagons rumble past. I sit here on the curb," ~ John Hartford ~ "Nil desperandum, -- Never Despair. That is a motto for you and me. All are not dead; and where there is a spark of patriotic fire, we will rekindle it." ~ Samuel Adams ~

June 12, 2012, 15:00	#5
308bolt Heathen Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 19255 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,027	If you try a cartridge by hand and you can't chamber it, check the overall length of the ammo he's using. Rifles seldom develop problems in the safe. __________________ "The bandwagons rumble past. I sit here on the curb," ~ John Hartford ~ "Nil desperandum, -- Never Despair. That is a motto for you and me. All are not dead; and where there is a spark of patriotic fire, we will rekindle it." ~ Samuel Adams ~

June 13, 2012, 09:38	#8
BUFF Old Fart Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 789 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 7,141	I am sure you have already, but try loading th cartridge into the magazine first and then closing the bolt. Extractor may not want to slide over that big rim. __________________ BUFF

June 23, 2012, 18:42	#13
GOVT1911 Curio & Relic Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 9433 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Raeford, NC Posts: 3,215	Sorry it took me awhile to reply. My buddy was shooting mostly surplus ammo out of it. The box he gave me was russian steel case that was packaged for commercial sale. I cleand the hell out of the chamber and that fixed the problem. It was all gunked up with corrosion and laquer. I used a piece of "green pad" in a large patch jag thingy and spun the hell out of it with a drill in the chamber. Cleaned it up nicely. Thanks for the advice guys! __________________ I don't make policy, I just enforce the last 300 Meters of it.

June 12, 2012, 10:31	#3
Scott S Registered FALaholic #: 355 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 3,416	Could the neck of a fired round be stuck in the chamber?

June 12, 2012, 11:39	#4
bykerhd Dinosaur Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 2798 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Burlington Vermont area Posts: 13,262	Bolt maybe not correctly assembled ? They're VERY simple rifles built originally to be issued to illiterate peasants. http://7.62x54r.net/ The place for pretty much all things Mosin.

June 12, 2012, 18:13	#6
randy762ak Registered FALaholic #: 25888 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: From the commie state of stinking NY Posts: 1,486	Rifles seldom develop problems in the safe. Unless the owner shot some corrosive ammo and let it set and the chambers all rusted up so the round cant go full into battery !

June 20, 2012, 16:19	#9
biyf Registered FALaholic #: 41593 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Central TX Posts: 581	I've seen and dealt with this exact issue. You've got tons of gunked up lacquer in the chamber that needs to be cleaned out. First remove the bolt all the way out of the receiver. Then try attaching a cleaning rod to a drill and use a 20 guage or so shotgun brush and a bunch of your favorite cleaning solvent to clean out the crud.

June 22, 2012, 16:01	#11
ronpaulFAL Registered FALaholic #: 65535 Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: somewhere Posts: 2,169	I have the same problem with one M44, and another without the problem. I believe it may be due to the extractor being out of spec or too stiff to easily pop over the rim. The rifles have both been headspaced. Best option is to keep it for spare parts and just buy another. They're so cheap that there is no point in spending the money on a new bolt and headspace gauges. You should be able to find a primo M44 for <120. That said, if you're going that route, consider an SKS. They aren't much more and they are a lot more fun, easier to mount optics, etc.

June 24, 2012, 18:32	#15
gman Registered FALaholic #: 1176 Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: The Great Frozen North Posts: 2,743	Better slug the bore to check the diameter. I owned two, one was around 0.313" and the other was 0.315". Neither would shoot at all. __________________ ******************************** You can piddle with the puppies, or run with the wolves... Better living through chemistry.

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