Mosin safety operation

Buckstopper · Aug 8, 2014

I recently had the chance to use my mosin on a agriculture damage tag hunt.
I understand that one of the objections against using a mosin for hunting is that the safety is a PITA to use in a hunting situation. As I was sitting for a few hours along a field edge, I had the opportunity to experiment with the process of disengaging and engaging the safety so that if, and when, the time came it wouldn't be a struggle. Doing it the usual one-handed way, bracing the butt against a hip or other body part was challenging to do smoothly and quietly. So I tried a different method.
I grabbed the cocking knob firmly with my left hand, (I'm a lefty so if you're not, mirror image the hand positions) and wrapped my right hand around the rifle somewhere between the rear sight and the rear barrel band. Hanging on to the cocking knob, I used my right hand to pull the rifle away from the cocking knob and twisting the rifle to the left to disengage the safety or to the right to engage it, then releasing the tension. I found I could do either with seemingly a lot less effort and a lot smoother and quieter than the one-handed method.
And no, the shooting opportunity didn't happen that night. Next time.

Spaxspore · Aug 8, 2014

easiest way to engage it.. is rotate the rifle.. not the knob when pulling it back.

rocker98 · Aug 8, 2014

To each his/her own. I have always rotated the knob/safety. After 11 years of operating Mosin Nagant safeties, that's the easiest way for me.

Spaxspore · Aug 8, 2014

Yep; many ways to skin a cat. The most important thing is that the safety is on and works.

armenjs · Aug 8, 2014

Yes, not the easiest thing to do. I have to admit, I rarely use it.

Stalin's Ghost · Aug 8, 2014

There is a large thread on the add-on ring-type Mosin safety, some like 'em, some don't.

Madmo · Aug 8, 2014

We don’t need no stinking safety – we are Russian soldier!

I polished all the contact surfaces on the bolt and that does a lot to improve the ease of turning the safety knob.
You still have to overcome the spring pressure but rotation is much easier.

Caribou · Aug 8, 2014

I, my wife, sons and daughters just do it the Soviet way

Grasp the fore stock with the left hand while you drop the butt into the inside of the right elbow, bracing it against the bicep muscle (that will swell and add to your strength when you pull the safety into position).....and then grasp/pull the safety , rotating it into and out of safety with ease. The bicep and the pull from the fingers is mucho easier when they work together, and a little girl can do it......all day long.

shmlnaaa · Aug 9, 2014

This. Also, it is easy to operate when the rifle is shouldered. The key is to have the butt braced against yourself.

Mosins aren't not particularly drop-safe (especially if the sear isn't ft correctly or the sear spring is weak), so IMO, it is a bad idea to transport them loaded with the safety off. Transporting them with the mag loaded and the bolt open is also a bad idea because you can lose the bolt and dirt can get in the action. The safety is easy to use when you manipulate it correctly and it is a very effective safety too.

Deutsche Vortrekker · Aug 9, 2014

I do it the Finnish way ; grasp the cocking piece with your teeth ,pull head to the rear and twist head to left to put safety on and reverse to remove . works every time and you keep your right hand free for your bottle of Finlandia.....

Joshua M. Smith · Aug 9, 2014

Hello,

I just pull and rotate either from the shoulder or with the butt rested against my bicep.

It's a very simple, positive safety and I prefer it to some other designs.

Josh

TANSTAAFL · Aug 9, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4Z1-ucpPMg

Mosin safety operation

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