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The
Sniper Rifles
Of
The Red Star
Mosin
Nagant M91/30 Variants
From
Vic Thomas
www.mosin-nagant.net
The Homepage For Mosin Nagant Rifles And Colletors
Finnish -
Soviet - Russian Collector's HQ
The
principal task of the sniper is the destruction of the most important
enemy targets he can find. Officers, observers, scouts, liaison officers,
enemy snipers, gun crews, trench mortars and machine guns, anti-tank
rifleman and motorcycle skirmishers are to be his primary targets. He
shall blind enemy armored car and tank drivers by firing at their vision
visors. He is capable of independent action under the most difficult
conditions of battle. (2)
INTRODUCTION
This statement was from an official Soviet military
publication dated October of 1943. It clearly shows the importance the
Red Army gave to the sniper in its ranks. The Soviet Union more so than
any other combatant in W.W.II, used the sniper in the greatest numbers
and capacities. The sniper was a key element in the doctrine and actions
taken by the Red Army on a platoon or company basis. He served as the eyes
and ears as well as the unseen soldier that bogged down and created fear
amongst the enemy. No other nation involved in W.W.II fielded as many snipers
as the USSR. Both men and women served in this capacity to a devastating
effect.
Orders were often given on the platoon or company level
to directly support the actions of the group. Whether it is for scouting
or the elimination of key enemy personal in preparation of an attack or
in defense, the sniper was always involved. In a defensive position, as
the Soviets found themselves so often in the early portion of Operation
Barbarosa, the sniper served as an observer to enemy movements. These observations
were quickly relayed back to the company commander and up the chain of
command. When need be the sniper used his hidden position to slow the enemy
advance and to hamper armored vehicles with aimed fire at the drivers
slits with 7.62mm AP rounds. The Soviet policy was to operate the
sniper in pairs or teams, a shooter and an observer to record necessary
data or scout for targets. Many times the snipers formed small groups of
3-5 to bring concentrated fire upon advancing troops, resulting in slowing
the advance with a devastating effect on morale not to mention manpower.
Often times the Soviet sniper allowed the advance to pass by his concealed
position in order to bring fire upon the officers directing the attack
from the rear. When operating in these groups it was not uncommon for the
observer or other team members to be armed with a sub- machine-gun to provide
close quarters support should they be detected.
m/91-30
PE and PEM (1932-1940,1942)
The
Soviet Union took the task of telescopically aimed riflemen very seriously
early on. The use of snipers to tie down enemy troop concentrations was
not lost on the Soviets in their brief experiences in the First World War.
In response to the use of snipers by both sides in the conflict, the Soviets
began testing and obtaining optical sights from aboard, primarily from
the Carl Zeiss company in Germany. The serious experimentation with telescopically
sighted rifles began in the mid 1920s. Initial experimentation began by
mounting commercial scopes then military contracted optics upon
the m/91 Dragoon.
(photo right)
By
the 1930s the Soviets had adopted a style of mount and scope based upon
Zeiss designs, and had begun production. The adoption of the model 91/30
fitted with a telescopic sight of Soviet manufacture but based upon Zeiss
designs, and reportedly manufactured with machinery purchased from Zeiss,
was in 1931. By the following year of 1932 the first rifles were in production
and being distributed to the Army. The rifles were fitted with a unique
over the bore mounting system that incorporated a base that mimicked the
hexagonal shape of the receiver. The base was retained on the rifle with
6 screws, 3 per side and often times silver soldered as well. The
mount was a uniquely Soviet design. It was a two-ring set up with a rectangular
shape. The center being open to allow use of the rifles iron sights should
the need arise. It was retained upon the base by two large thumbscrews.
These screws when tightened forced a triangular wedge against the angled
rail of the base. A block retained in the rear of the mount provided the
correct placement in regard for forward seating of the mount.
This
system was fairly effective in providing a reasonable self-zeroing effect.
The scope was of a 30mm tube diameter and initially was focus adjustable
by means of a knurled focus ring on the rear ocular. Some transitional
versions are known and have been examined that use a focus ring set in
front of the rear lens housing. These examples are dated between 1935 and
1937 and seem to bridge the gap in PE production changes between the PE
and the PEM. A standard European three-post reticule was used.
This
scope with focus capability was referred to as the PE and in Soviet nomenclature
is "unified model"(3). There are some references which
refer to it as a VT; however, no other documentation can be found
that explains this use so in this reference the scope will be referred
to as the PE scope. The rifles to be used for snipers were specifically
selected and a more precise polishing of the bore and chamber area was
undertaken as well as a trigger tuned for smoother operation and lighter
pull. The fitting of the stock and bolt were held to a better tolerance
as well. A small amount of stock relief was needed to accommodate the base
when seated upon the receiver. Production of the PE sniper rifles of the
Red Army began at the Tula arsenal in 1932 when 749 rifles were produced
and remained there until 1940.
The
bolt of the new sniper rifle was turned down and elongated to allow clearance
of the mounted optics. The PE scope was an improved Zeiss design according
to the Soviets and the initial production version with focus capability-the
PE- remained in production from 1932 to 1936. These initial production
versions utilized brass lens fittings, which were later replaced with aluminum
or steel. In 1936 a simplified version was produced and the earlier model
discontinued. The new scope was referred to as a PEM, "unified model-modernized"(3)
. It was identical to the earlier model but for the lens fittings and the
lack of the focus adjustment capability.
PE
Top PEM Bottom
Also
at this time the base for mounting the scope was changed as well to correspond
to the newly modified receiver shape of the Mosin Nagant m/91-30 in the
later half of 1936. This new base was changed from the earlier hexagonal
shape to the round interior needed to fit upon the new round receivers.
Round
Receiver Mount
It
was retained in the identical fashion as earlier and the mount was not
changed at all. This version of the rifle, top mounted scope and round
receiver remained in production for approximately 1.5 years, until 1938.
Another version of the round receiver base also appeared at this time,
1936-1937, in extremely limited numbers. This base utilized only two screws-front
and rear of the base on each side. This base was used with the transitional
version of the PE/PEM scope with the tube mounted focus ring. This base
and configuration is the rarest of the PE/PEM styles and only a few are
known. It was produced in extremely limited numbers prior to the return
of the six screw version as reported by my friend and colleague Karl-Heinz
Wrobel, author of Drei Linien Die Gewehre Mosin Nagant.
In
1938 the PEM was again modified to a newly adopted mounting system. This
system moved the base and the optical mount to the left side of the receiver
in a long side rail configuration. This new system used a raised
wedge shaped rail upon the base to retain the mount. A protruding pin mated
to a slot in the mount indicated full seating of the mounted optics. The
mount itself was retained in place by a lone thumb screw that was conically
shaped at the tip to provide a self seating capability when screwed into
the corresponding hole in the base. Again a self zeroing system was attained.
The new mounting system incorporated the PEM scope again and was used until
the rifle was discontinued as a sniper in the spring of 1940. The rifle
was discontinued in favor of the self-loading SVT 40 fitted with optical
sights that were specifically produced for the rifle. These short optics
would later be redesigned and fitted to the venerable Mosin Nagant in a
sniping role only two short years later. The side mount PEM is a respectable
sniper but its weight was increased dramatically by the large base and
mounting system. It is the heaviest of the Mosin Nagant snipers at 10.5lbs
compared to 9.5lbs for the earlier versions using the top mount system.
By the 1930s the Soviet Union possessed a considerable
number of sniper rifles. A Soviet document indicates that 54,160 rifles
were produced in the PE form between 1932 and 1938. Production of the PE
was very slow at first due to the complicated and time consuming nature
of machining the mounts. Production in the first year of 1932 was only
749. In subsequent years, recorded numbers are as follows. 1,347 in 1933,
6,637 in 1934 and 12,752 top mount hex and round receiver PE/PEMs in 1936.
No data is given for production in 1935 as all Mosin production was slowed considerably that year. 13,130 top mount
round receiver PEMs were produced in 1937 and 19,545 of the new long side
rail mounted PEMs were made in 1938. No production numbers are available
for the final two years of PEM production. (1) While many rifles were randomly
selected for accuracy potential, there is an indication from my research
and that of a friend/colleague (4) that blocks of snipers were produced
at Tula. This is supported by a sampling of PE snipers all in the same
letter prefix and serial number block indicating a planned production and
not a random pull of rifles off the line. All Tula produced snipers, including
the later version produced during wartime in 1943 and 1944, bear an accuracy
mark above the five-pointed star logo of the factory. This proof is a C and
an upside down U for lack of a better description of Cyrillic letters.
This marking is the designation of sniper on Tula produced guns. The
marking literally translates to " Snayperskaya Provernnaya" meaning
tested for use as a sniper. .
Tula Sniper Marking
Ishevsk did not mark their rifles in this unique way
to differentiate them from standard rifles. The production of Mosin Nagant
snipers was halted at Tula in 1940. By October of 1942, the SVT40 proved
to be a failure as a consistently accurate sniper rifle. Manufacture of
the Mosin Nagant m/91-30 was again ordered back to full production capacity
at both Ishevsk and Tula. The need for a capable, accurate snipers rifle
was urgently needed. Ishevsk began production of the Mosin Nagant side
mount PEM in early 1942. This production was a stopgap to provide optically
sighted rifles for the front until the newly designed and still in its
infancy, m/91-30 PU, could be swung into full production. A 1942 dated
PEM is an extremely rare rifle. Only one is reported in US collections.
Tula did not produce any snipers of Mosin Nagant configuration from its
last PEM in 1940 until its resumption of production with the PU in 1943.
Another use of the PE/PEM scope was the Finnish army
during W.W.II. On every occasion that presented itself the Finnish army
captured and reissued any m/91-30 sniper rifles they had. Most were returned
to front line service immediately upon capture but those that suffered
damage were returned to the arms depots for either repair or cannibalization
of the optical components and mounting hardware. The rifles captured by
Finland and in use were given a special code designation of TJ34 to hide
the use from enemy spies (4). The number of rifles that were captured during
the Winter War was rather small due to the Soviets doctrine trained snipers.
These soldiers were not normal conscripts but highly trained professional
soldiers and thus they did not tend to surrender easily. The bulk of Finnish
captured sniper rifles came from positions quickly overrun. Soviet snipers
were trained to damage or destroy their equipment in the event of defeat
or imminent capture. The other problem encountered was the propensity of
Finnish soldiers to keep the captured rifles as war booty and not report
them. An inventory in June of 1940 indicated that 213 sniper rifles of
almost exclusively the top mount PE design was in store.
Finn Capture
To illustrate the
difficulty in capturing these rifles and the lack of reporting to company commanders,
the inventory of rifles from the Continuation War declined dramatically. In
1941-1942 the first year of the Continuation War, only 32 rifles were reported
captured to divisional HQ. The following year of 1942-1943 only 24 more were
reported captured and finally in the last year of hostilities a meager 11 were
reported captured. That gives a total of only 67 the entire three years of
the Continuation War. (4) A veteran of both Finnish wars reports to me that
number is truly a fabrication as he had some 6 in his unit alone for some time
and knew of many, many more. He reports that these guns were prized hunting
rifles and often disappeared quickly! (5). Initially the captured units that
were damaged were kept for repair of other rifles that were captured and required
parts, but the inability of the Finnish war industry to meet the demands for
sufficient quantities of optical sights soon found these mounts and scopes
being fitted to the m/39 rifle.
M/39SOV
This match of Soviet mounts and optics as well as bases
to the m/39 created the Finnish armys m/39SOV sniper rifle. Supply of
captured optics and their mounts soon was not meeting the demand for sufficient
numbers and the Army placed an order with the State Rifle Factory or VKT,
to begin production of a Finnish version of the Soviet over the bore mount
for the PE as well as bases. VKT did begin production and approximately
150 units were produced to be used on the m/39SOV in conjunction with captured
PE/PEM scopes from 1943-1944.
The order was also given to begin production of 2000
telescopic sights and parts were obtained from abroad to begin this project
but it was never realized and abandoned. The bolts of the m/39 were elongated
and turned down to provide clearance of the mounted optics and some minor
stock relief was done to accommodate the mounting of the base. Only 200
or so rifles were produced during the war. This rifle is one of the rarest
snipers of W.W.II, as well as all Finnish used sniper rifles owing to the
extremely small numbers produced and or captured. (4)
m/91-30 PU (1942-1963)
The new model 91-30 PU sniper was hurried into production
in 1942 as the field reports regarding the SVT40 sniper were not promising.
Even after various attempts to remedy its first shot inaccuracy; they
were not corrected sufficiently for the SVT40 to remain the primary sniper
rifle of the Red Army. In October of 1942 the SVT 40 was no longer produced
in a configuration that would mount an optical sight. The PU sniper rifle
was an attempt to update and lighten the earlier PE/PEM and restore to
the sniper the first shot accuracy that is so crucial . The Red Army was
pleased with the new 3.5x short scope that was designed for the SVT series
of rifles and decided to continue its use with the new PU in a slightly
altered form. The new scope was to do away with the raised seating portion
of the scope in its center that allowed proper placement in the SVT mount.
It also streamlined the tube to a consistent diameter from front to back
to simplify manufacture. The initial PU scopes though did however have
some design features of the earlier PE/PEM scope. These early scopes were
constructed using some prototype patterns, materials and design. The earliest
of the scopes produced for use in 1942 had an elevation and windage housing
very much like the earlier PE scopes.
Early Scope
Lightweight Alloy
The lens fittings were also made using the earlier
brass fittings. Some tubes were manufactured using a lightweight alloy,
presumably aluminum, to lighten the weight. These scopes are extremely
rare. These features were quickly abandoned in favor of the final result
that emerged in late 1942-early 1943. These scopes utilized a steel tube
and fittings. The tube was now streamlined to an even diameter from front
to back. The windage and elevation knobs now protruded directly from the tube. A new mount and base was also
developed for the rifle. A side-mounted base on the left of the receiver
was agreed upon as the last previously produced PEM was. This mount was
again simplified to provide a basic self zeroing feature. A small knob
in the anterior acted as a ball and socket for the mount and the rear
of the mount was held in place by a large knurled thumbscrew through pressure.
Vertical rough elevation was done with the use of an upper and lower set
screw on the base as well.
Ball And Socket
Base
The base was affixed to the left side of the receiver
by means of two locating pins and two screws. The screws were retained
and prevented from loosening by two setscrews. (see above photo) The receiver
of the new rifle also was different. The left wall of the receiver was
not milled out to an angle sloping towards the wood line as in previous
standard infantry rifles to reduce weight. It remained high to provide
a high wall to affix and support the scope base. This feature was also
used in the lean mid-war years as a time saving production procedure. This
feature can also be observed on the carbine variants. After rough elevation
was attained the screws were either staked or noted in a notebook of their
position and not touched again and conventional zeroing was undertaken.
The earliest versions of the new mount, which rose vertically then at a
right angle to place the scope over the bore, utilized two small cutouts
in the center portion to reduce weight and bulk.
This proved to time consuming and the feature was dropped
in favor of two dished out slots and one large cutout. The mount incorporated
two split rings that allowed the scope to be slid into the mount from the
rear and then tightened by four screws, two in each ring. It was a simple
and effective design. The snipers were initially not impressed with the
new rifle and scope. They favored the earlier 4x scope, which provided
a larger field of view and an easier eye relief. The new rifles scope
is placed higher up so slight adjustments needed to be done before becoming
comfortable with the arraignments. The rifle soon won over its users and
became a favorite owing to its smaller scope which eased handling and
the reduced weight from the earlier PEM. The rifle proved to be deadly
accurate. Range estimation was taught by placing and measuring the amount
of target mass between the horizontal cross hairs which were as before
on the PE, a typical European three post design. Typical target engagements
were 200-400 meters but many were undertaken at its extreme range of 900
meters.
Scope production
was undertaken at five different optical firms. Each of these firms stamped
the logo of the factory on the scope tube as well as the date of production
and the serial number. Many scopes do not exhibit a date and it is not
known as of yet why this is so. It is possible that these scopes are replacement
or inventory models. One maker did not use a traditional date as the others
did. They incorporated the year of production into the serial number of
the scope. The first two digits identified the year of manufacture. An
example of this would be the traditional marking of 1943 - 23455, while
the other maker would mark this scope as 4323455. The dating of the scopes
began in 1932 and ended in 1945 with the close of the war. PE scopes were
initially dated on the rear inside the optical makers rectangular logo.
Later PEM scopes were dated on the side of the elevation turret with the
makers logo appearing on the rear bell. Many PU scopes exhibit an "inspection/refurbishment date
upon the tube below the optical makers logo. The diagonal slashed box
proof of the refurbishment often splits these. Dates observed are often
in the 50s through late 60s. Some are marked POM 59 indicating an inspection
repair in 1959. The PU remained the Red Armys primary sniper scope through
1962 when the self-loading SVD or Dragunov replaced it.
The Infamous SVD
It is not unusual to see some SVT scopes used in a
PU sniper mount. The quantity of SVT scopes on hand at the close of production
was considerable and these scopes being useable in the new PU mount were
fitted until existing supplies were exhausted. These scopes are often the
1942 and 1943 dated examples, early 1943 being the last year of SVT scope
production.
Production of the PU sniper began at the Ishevsk arsenal
in early 1942 and remained in production there through 1944. No known examples
recorded or observed are dated 1945. In the excellent book Drei Linien
Die Gwehere Mosin Nagant by Karl-Heinz Wrobel, he reports that 2483 rifles
were produced at Ishvesk in 1946. An example known in the authors collection
is dated 1947. A small batch of 150, 50 in 1948 and 100 in 1958 were produced
at Ishevsk. (3) Total Ishvesk production of the PEM and PU sniper rifles
from 1942 through 1958 amounts to approximately 275,250 rifles. Ishevsk
in its first year of production in 1942 produced 53,195 alone. (1)
Tula
began production of the Mosin Nagant sniper rifle again in 1943 and 1944
. This brief production was of only the PU variant. The production totals
are not known for the Tula produced weapons that can be differentiated
from the combined totals recorded. There are some small production deviances
between the Tula produced guns and the Ishevsk made guns, such as stamped
magazine covers that can be found on some Tula produced snipers. Fit and
finish seem to be more consistent on Ishvesk made guns in comparison. The
Tula made PU is by far the rarer of the two makers.
Accessories
The PU sniper and
PE/PEM were issued with some specialized accessories specific to a sniper
rifle. The primary accessory would be the scope/breech cover. This cover
was used to protect the optical package both mounted and dismounted from
the rifle of dirt, debris and field wear. There at least 12 different versions
of this cover depending on time frame and country of manufacture should
you consider the post war Warsaw Pact makers. The earliest versions for
the PE have two variations. One with an exterior pocket and one without.
They are constructed
of a rough khaki colored cotton weave material trimmed in leather for reinforcement.
The end caps of the cover that were placed at each end of the scope were
also reinforced with leather. Some of these covers had exterior pockets
to hold the optical cleaning tools and field bore sights for scope calibration. A
leather strap and buckle attachment secured the cover over the mounted
optics by passing through the trigger guard. A separate buckle was sometimes
fitted to the top of the bag on the exterior to allow the cover to be rolled
up and secured to protect the mount and scope while dismounted from the
rifle. The scope was issued with a set of lens caps connected by a leather
strap. These covers were then twisted around the scope to tighten them
securely. Later versions of the scope cover for the PE /PEM were of darker
green cotton and used a tie string to secure it to the rifle.
Later Cover
The early version of the PU cover mimicked that of
the PE/PEM and SVT covers but without the exterior pocket. The pocket was
instead moved to the interior of the cover and any cleaning materials or
optical records were placed there. These covers have a wide range of variants.
At least 12 alone in the PU version.
These range from the earliest version described above
to a simple tie string pattern introduced in 1942. There are variation
in the strap and its length, short to go through the trigger guard and
longer to go around the magazine and back up to the buckle. Post war Warsaw
Pact versions are of different material from a rough weave as the Soviet
version but of a deep olive green used by Poland. And bordered in white
cloth and tie. A light buff color cotton cover marked 0/2 on the interior
with an ink stamping identifies a Hungarian made cover for the m/52 sniper
rifle. The lens caps have also as many variants as the covers. The standard
Soviet lens covers are a light brown to dark brown mixture of leather.
The Hungarian lens caps tend to be a very light almost whites leather while
the East German covers were made of plastic with a plastic cord connecting
them. No unusual varianances are know in Polish caps as no large grouping
of them have been observed. The Poles used refurbished PU snipers and it
is an educated guess that the covers were not different in any substantial
degree. The covers on the authors Polish made PU are of dark chocolate
brown leather.
Slings were the standard issue m/91-30 slings for the
Soviet sniper; both web and leather versions. The Polish produced
slings for the sniper and all long rifles are identified by a bright green
color and green painted buckles. Often a P-1 within a diamond will appear
as an ink stamp on the slings interior. The Hungarian sling was a light
tan colored sling of all leather construction and polished steel riveted
fixtures. Markings on the interior will include possibly a date as well
as a 02 designation.
Stocks of the snipers were primarily of a hardwood
construction. A Soviet gun exhibiting the standard red/orange hue and varnish
finish. The Soviets did however experiment with a laminated stock for the
Infantry rifles beginning in 1943. This included the m/38, m/44 and the
m/91-30 including the PU sniper. These are extremely rare variants and
rarely encountered. Two variants seem to be evident, varnished and
unvarnished. These snipers in this type of stock are all reported to be
Tula made guns. It is evident that the Soviet experimentation with the
use of laminated stocks began in 1943 as no known weapons dated prior to
1943 are reported to have this type of stock. A matching set of unvarnished
laminated Mosin Nagants are in the authors collection m/38 ,m/44, m/91-30
and m/91-30 PU all dated 1943. These stocks have an additional rear cross
bolt/recoil lug installed in the wrist area.
The Czech Army
also produced a variant of the m/91-30 PU sniper rifle. The rifle was produced
at Povzske Strajirny Narodni Podnik in Slovokia. This translates to the
Povazska Engineering Peoples Enterprise and is abbreviated on the weapon
as SHE. This version initially called the Vz-54 and in some nomenclature
the ZG51, was later refined and produced in greater numbers as the Vz54/57.
This weapon outwardly resembles a Mosin mated with some Mauser style features.
These include the front and rear sights as well as the lock screws that
Mausers utilized. The stock on this gun is only a half stock, being cut
to expose the barrel just in front of the rear barrel band. The bolt knob
of the rifle was designed to allow the tightening and loosening of the
scope mount retaining screws. The head portion of the screws had a raised
slot that corresponded to a recessed slot in the bolt head. While the initial
production versions used a Soviet PU scope the later versions incorporated
a Czech designed scope of 2.5 power marked Yal 2.5x and the crossed swords
marking of Czech military acceptance.
A rubber eyecup
was also issued with the scope as a sun shield for the rear ocular. This
scope was affixed to the rifle on the left side by an angled rail that
allowed the scope to be centered over the bore. The mount was also swept
back to improve the scope position in terms of eye relief.
The buttplate on
this model is also similar to a Mauser style and is checkered. The rifle
stock is the only version that utilized a pistol grip design in the wrist
area. The bolt on the scope was designed to also allow the tightening and
loosening of the scope mount retaining screws. These screws passed vertically
through the mount and base then tightened securely. The head portion of
the screws had a raised slot that corresponded to a recessed slot ion the
bolt head. Thus the bolt could be used to remove or tighten the mount.
The gun was issued with a unique breech/scope cover as well. It again was
reminiscent of the Mauser design with a full coverage of the mounted optics
and action from the rear sight to the wrist of the rifle.
It was affixed
with two leather straps and buckles. Inside the cleaning rods, oiler, jag
and brush, as well as the colored lens filters in their fitted bakealite
case. These filters were gray for sunny days, red for dusky times and yellow
for low light conditions. Also a rain shield that snapped on the end of
the scope and of a wire grid design in the end was stored in the cover.
These rifles are considered extremely rare and not often encountered in
the US.
While the Finnish
Army did not produce the m/91-30 sniper rifle of the PU version, they did
use them when captured. Small numbers were captured during the Continuation
War and, as before, put back into service immediately. Those that required
repair were often returned to the arms depot were necessary work was performed.
In some instances the guns were modified to some Finnish specifications
either by order or just by availability of parts. The author has two Finnish
captured PU snipers; one is a typical Soviet gun made at Ishvesk in 1942
that exhibits little change if any. The other is a first year production
gun from Ishvesk dated 1942 that has undergone some major modifications.
Its stock has been replaced with a Finnish made version and the front
sight changed to the Finnish style high blade. The bolt also has been renumbered
to match. These snipers are again extremely difficult to obtain in original
shape. It is not known exactly how many PU snipers were captured by Finnish
forces, the numbers reported are insignificant quantities numbering less
than 100 (4). Unfortunately Century International Arms built many replica
PU snipers using Finnish captured m/91-30 rifles they had on hand. These
guns are easily detectable though as they are often ,if not always, in
the improper date ranges. Almost all are 1930s production were an authentic
PU sniper would not be dated prior to 1942. The stock relief for the base
is freshly cut and the bolt handles show a hasty cut and weld job.
The recent imports
of many of these fine snipers have made them finally available to the US
collector. All of the recent imports are of the Soviet manufacture guns.
These guns were rearsenaled than packed away for long-term storage should
the situation arise that they be needed again. These guns are in unissued
condition and show matching of the mounts to the guns by means of an electro-penciled
serial number on the mount. These numbers, scope serial numbered to mount
and mount to gun, were placed by the Soviets to prevent a mismatch of mated
optics to the guns.
These numbers were placed on the
mounts by the Soviet arsenals and not by the US importers
The final fitting of the mount to the base entailed
an adjustment of two small pads on the rear of the mount. These were ground
down slightly to bring the mount to a parallel relationship to the bore.
Unground/unissued mounts not fitted to a particular rifle will appear to
be canted to the right of the bore line. These numbers were placed on the
mounts by the Soviet arsenals and not by the US importers. The optics with
inspection papers included in the scope pocket was packed with covers on
and cosomline paper to seal against moisture on the lenses and turrets.
Guns were packed ten to a crate with optics mounted in a muzzle to butt
fashion-alternating direction.
The crates were lined in a desiccant oilpaper and folded
over and sealed. The crate was then closed on a rubber gasket and latched
shut and pinned. A banding strap is then added with a wire lead seal to
prevent opening. The number of PU sniper rifles imported into the US number
less than 2500. Many rare and unusual maker and variants can be encountered
in these guns such as Tula made guns and late and early models.
I hope that this article is informative and helpful
to the collector in identifying and recognizing the Soviet snipers built
on the m/91-30 rifle from 1932-1963. As with all references this article is not meant to be the
definitive end all word on the Soviet snipers as many variants unknown
or unobserved can and will be revealed. Production numbers for some years,
Tula as an example, are impossible to ascertain due to loss of the archives
or simple refusal by Soviet authorities to release the information without
substantial payment. Information can and will be added to the text if and
when it becomes available. Good hunting and collecting!
Vic Thomas
References
- Soviet Small Arms and Ammunition
(Both Russian and English versions)-D.N. Bolotin
- The German Sniper-P.R. Senich
- Drei Linien Die Gewehre Mosin-Nagant-K.H.
Wrobel with some personal additions from this fine author
- Soltiasksiaseet Suomessa 1918-1988-M.
Palokanagas
- Lt. Umro Al䓔 Lehikihoinen-Veteran
of both Finnish wars and an invaluable asset in transcribing and translating
of Finnish documents as well as personal insight
- Brian Johnston- Advanced Mosin
collector
- International Armaments by George
B Johnson and Hans B Lockhoven Vol 1-2
- Guns of the World by Ed Ezell
-first edition
- Many unnamed/unaccredited bits
and pieces of information and data as well as 17 years of accumulated
data and all of the physical examples pictured from my personal collection.
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