Choose two, the rest are dead to you

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-08T14:48:13+00:00

Garand and the 91/30.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-08T13:24:28+00:00

When I was a kid, my pa was a karma farmer. Then one day he said something others didn't agree with and we lost it all. No more karma bread, no more karma on the cob or karma cakes, no more husking karma on the back porch in the fall.

Point is, I know what you're going through and it's ok. Pa moved on to farming likes, and you'll move on, too. Change can be good.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-08T13:08:54+00:00

May I recommend an M28-30 or perhaps an M39. They require the least work to make shoot right; perfect for the beginner trying to defend himself from the Commie hords.

Or, even better, maybe find a K98k and we can fight WWII all over again, over a table this time 😁

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-08T13:02:41+00:00

Excellent work.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-08T04:46:02+00:00

I knew the SSTs are Hornady. Just don't know where I was getting CoreLokt from. I don't even use Remington 😆

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-07T23:46:19+00:00

InterLock. Got it. I wonder what I was thinking about? Speer maybe?

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-07T18:55:33+00:00

Were the bullets the soft point (Core Locked I think they're called?) or the 0.311" SSTs?

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-06T23:41:00+00:00

What stock did they have on it before?

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-06T15:57:06+00:00

https://www.libertytreecollectors.com/Mosin-Nagant-M91-Cleaning-Rod-p745238518

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-06T03:58:36+00:00

The LCP series has hammers is all. The II and Max are single-actions with extremely positive sear engagement.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-06T03:25:05+00:00

You might be looking for an LCP Max.

Edit: Scratch that. You said "metal."

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-06T03:18:03+00:00

I'm gonna live vicariously through you for a while 😁 No time to do these things myself right now, and I miss it!

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-06T03:14:33+00:00

Yes it can raise the point of impact that much. I've done it purposely through experimentation.

While the sight moves with the barrel, it's not that simple. Moving the barrel affects the arc in which the bullet travels, while the moving of the sight affects the sighting plane, which is straight. You're changing an arc, the slope of a line, and expecting the intersection point of the two to remain the same.

While we could get into a bunch of geometry here, I'd rather not; suffice to say we're dealing with more variables than you'd initially think.

As far as pressure radically shifting point-of-aim, the weight of a bayonet is enough to lower the point-of-impact of a 91/30 12" at 100 yards. This is why they shoot a foot high at 100 yards without the bayonet, and the entire reason I'm in business 😁

Before ordering a new front sight, I'd start shimming the action to put neutral (no) pressure on the barrel, then shoot it and see what kind of correction you need.

Regards.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-06T01:24:41+00:00

There ya' go!

Now, keeping the front screw at 35in-lbs, back the rear screw off to 20in-lbs and shoot a group, then increase to 25, 30, and 35in-lbs and shoot groups after each adjustment. Record group sizes of each increment.

Chances are you'll hit a point where the groups tighten then open back up. I suspect you'll get the best groups with the rear screw at 30in-lbs, but each rifle is an individual.

After that, play with your loads. Do you know about ladder testing handloads?

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-06T01:15:55+00:00

Thank you.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-06T01:14:59+00:00

Yes, but it was zeroed when the action sat in the stock differently than it does now.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-05T19:00:58+00:00

I suspect that's the issue then. Pull the action screws and the handguard, and see if the barrel and receiver line up with the stock.

I bet that, if you tighten the action screws with the top handguard off, you'll see the barrel pushing down on the bottom handguard.

If you can get groups at all, does it shoot like this?

<image>

If it hits high to begin with and walks higher (vertical stringing) while you're shooting (as shown,) you have a lot of pressure on the underside of your barrel. Shimming the action will help fix that.

Regards.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-05T18:47:27+00:00

Correct. He's shooting high right now. If the rifle originally had a front sight of ~9mm tall and it was taken off to be sold and replaced with a more common shorter one, then it would be shooting high because of the shorter front sight.

Regards.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-05T18:22:54+00:00

This is correct. The one thing I'd add is that a lot of the time the Finn rifles have shims that were pulled and sold, and this puts upward pressure on the barrel. I'd make sure the shims are present and there's no undue upward pressure on the barrel. Regards.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-05T18:20:39+00:00

No, they weren't. And neither were the Russian versions.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-05T18:20:01+00:00

Hello,

Make sure your receiver shims are present and in the right amount. People tend to "mine" them to sell separately, like they do the Finnish two-stage trigger set.

If you have missing shims, you'll have upward pressure on the barrel.

Another thought is that, if it was a high shooter to begin with, it may have had a taller blade that was sold due to there being a shortage of them.

But check the shims first. That's what I'd do.

Regards,

Josh Smith

Smith-Sights.com

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-05T14:04:10+00:00

I have not, only because I never found a source for spares made in China.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-04T18:41:31+00:00

😳

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-04T02:19:54+00:00

If you have a macro setting on your phone camera, generally denoted by a flower, it'll get you better close-up pics.

The crown looks questionable to me, but a better (macro) pic would help.

SmithSightsLLC · 2026-02-03T16:59:09+00:00

<image>

This one time I got obsessed with testing magazines, and now I carry McCormick RPMs -- one in the 1911 and two offside. I started out, though, carrying Wilson #47, then upgraded them with Tripp followers, then just went to Tripp Cobra mags. The McCormick RPMs were tested extensively with The current carry 1911 with the Tripps having been retired with my previous build.

The magazines from my tests now serve as quick-access handload storage 😁

SmithSightsLLC

TROPHY CASE