A) M44 with barrel set back one thread, so I could ream out the rust spot in the bottom of the chambers. Perfect bore. Borrowed Dennis' reamer years ago and did this, finally test fired with Preston's stock. Vari X-III 6.5x20x40 boosted by Premier Reticule to 13x40x40, large un cut Limbsaver recoil pad, Boyd's stock pillar bedded and glassed to fit Preston's 91/59, Paul welded the bolt handle, ATI scope mount with third mounting hole drilled and countersunk, 150 gr Hornady 3130 spire soft point .3125" diameter, moly, S&B brass, Rem 9 1/2 primers, 2.950" OAL, trimmed to 2.1", 50 gr Surplus IMR4895 = H322 in Quickload performance and density, 20" barrel, predicts 61.4 kpsi, 2921 fps. 9.5 pounds as tested.
I fired 9 rounds from the big Doggone good bag and rear wedge.
Gun did not group great. At least it stayed on the paper at 50y.
2" 3 shot group at 50y.
Shows no sign of Copper fouling.
B) 1937 Iz Mosin Nagant receiver, VZ59 barrel turned round and an internally stepped sleeve added with Loctite. ATI scope mount with third mounting hole drilled and countersunk. Pillar bedded. .045" shim under rear of sear. Sierra .311" 180 gr Soft point #2310 47 gr Surplus IMR4895 = H322 in Quickload predicts 59.8kpsi 24" barrel 2744 fps
16 pounds as tested.
I fired 8 shots from bi pod in front and mono pod in rear.
Gun groups well. The vertical adjustment in the rear is really nice, but the swaying side to side is not. I need to put an ejector in that rifle.
.5" 3 shot group at 50y
.96" 3 shot group at 100y, there was a 10 minute cease fire between the first two shots and the last shot of this group. During that time I got in a snit with another old geezer [ I could crush him like a bug] over me taking a shot during the 1 minute to cease fire time, and he had his ear protectors off. There were a dozen guys there, including the range master, shaking in fear as the two titans faced off with angry words.
Then my trigger ceased working.
The shim may have got knocked out by the wimpy recoil.
The rear action screw was not accessible at the range, as it is under the scope.
There are 4 lands in the muzzle and two of them show a little Copper.
When I got home, the postman had left my new Timney Mosin Nagant trigger on the doorstep.