Home ] Up ] Nagant M1895 ] Gun Care Formulas ] What I Want ] Contact Me ]

 

Firing Pin Extension
for the
Mosin-Nagant Model 1891 Rifle

© 2010 and all subsequent years by h6x.net

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

          I'm the husband of the owner of this website and I would be pleased to share with you some information that took me years to figure out for myself.

        One of the unique features of the Mosin-Nagant Model 1891-type weapon is that the firing pin length can be adjusted. In other firearms, if it's too long or wears down over time, you must obtain a new firing pin (and hope it's the correct length). To clarify things, the amount a particular firing pin extends beyond the bolt face (when fired) is called the "Firing Pin Extension". As mentioned, this is fully adjustable on the M91 bolt. Normally, this will have already been adjusted before your M91 left Russia (or the importer). However, there can be serious problems if it's out of tolerances. If the firing pin is too short, it may not detonate the primer every time. If its too long, it may pierce the primer casing and cause gasses to blow back onto the shooter's face...a good reason to always wear shooting glasses! If this happens when firing corrosive military primers, then you'll need to strip the entire bolt and clean it (and the entire Receiver) with an ammonia-based neutralizing mixture (click here for details). Anyway, adjusting the firing pin extension is really simple...here's how:

     ADJUSTING THE FIRING PIN EXTENSION:  You will need to have a Dial Caliper (with a drop-gauge function) to accomplish this measurement (or the supplied gauge that may have been furnished when you purchased your recent import).

          1.  Remove the Bolt Assembly from the Receiver.

          2.  Grasp the Bolt Body of the removed Bolt Assembly...pull back...and rotate ¼ turn to the left (counter-clockwise). Be careful not to pinch your hand!

          3.  Do NOT disassemble the Bolt Assembly (although a couple of pieces want to start falling off at this point if you're not careful).

          4. 
Press the Bolt Head firmly against the Bolt Body and measure the distance between the Bolt Face and the end of the Firing Pin. This is the Firing Pin Extension and it must be within .075" to .095". A Dial Caliper is always best but you can get this in the "ballpark" by using the "Go" & "No Go" notches in that weird little tool that may have been furnished with your gun.

          5.  If the Firing Pin is too short, get a small screw driver and screw it inward (from the back of the Cocking Knob). If it's too long, unscrew it. Rarely is more than ½ turn necessary to bring the extension to within the above specifications.

          6.  Once the firing pin extension is within specifications, you'll need to re-cock the Bolt Assembly before you can reinsert it in the Receiver. Make sure everything is on the Bolt Assembly (especially the Bolt Head) and aligned properly.

          7.  Firmly hold the Bolt Assembly in one hand and press the Bolt Head firmly against a flat object. With the other hand, pull back on the Cocking Knob (while still holding the Bolt Head firmly against a flat object) and rotate the Cocking Knob ¼ turn to the right (clockwise). Make sure the Bolt Connector is properly aligned with the groves on the Cocking Knob and that the Bolt Head is within the proper groove of the Bolt Body and firmly against the Bolt Body. For the most part. if things didn't align properly, you'll immediately know it. In this case, just keep doing it till you get it right. This usually takes a little bit of coordination because you're pushing with one hand and pulling with another.

          8.  Make sure there is no ammunition in the chamber & magazine and then insert the Bolt Assembly into the Receiver. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and pull the trigger to see if everything functions properly. Recycle the Bolt Assembly a couple more times to see if everything works properly.

          9.  Take a final look around to see if there are any missing parts strung about. Of particular importance is the Bolt Head...if you forgot to assemble this, the firearm will still fire (and give you a terminal headache when the Bolt Assembly becomes imbedded in your skull).

© 2010 and all subsequent years by h6x.net
All rights reserved.