Mosin M38 range report

270Win · December 13, 2006, 07:40 PM

Today I took a friend of my wife's to the range - first time she's shot a gun in over 10 years - and let her go to town with my Ruger 10/22. She loved it, and was proud as anyone I've ever seen leaving the range - carrying home a target whose bullseye was blown out

I brought along my M38 and about about 80 rounds of Hungarian silvertip. After just plinking around as usual, I made a conscious effort to check out the fireball, and HOLY SMOKES - it's almost unreal. When I concentrate on sight picture, I somehow miss it every time. It had to extend 4-6' from the muzzle! The aforementioned friend was stunned - literally - by the first blast, even though I warned her several times.

The other shooter there was shooting a "20 gauge on a 12 gauge frame," trying out some slugs for deer season. He was exasperated with his Swift spotting scope, but I think the gun itself was pleasing him.

Anyway, I noticed that someone had left, up on my target, an NRA 100-yard paper. I decided to actually try and see how well the M38 could shoot with surplus ammo, and when aimed cautiously and carefully. So I aimed slowly and with great consideration... and let fly with my last 9 rounds (the 10th turned up in my range bag later). One 5-shot group and one 4-shot group.

Here is the target:

Needless to say, I was surprised. VERY surprised. When I plinking I usually got 2-3 MOA at 50-yards and the predictable 4-6 MOA at 100. To get 2" and 1.7" groups at 100 I thought was beyond the M38, especially with surplus.

I just ordered some Czech heavy ball from Widener's, I'll be curious to see how that performs also.

So if anyone has wondered about the accuracy of a Mosin carbine with surplus ammo... it's good!

December 13, 2006, 07:40 PM	#1
270Win Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2005 Location: Damascus, Maryland Posts: 921	Mosin M38 range report Today I took a friend of my wife's to the range - first time she's shot a gun in over 10 years - and let her go to town with my Ruger 10/22. She loved it, and was proud as anyone I've ever seen leaving the range - carrying home a target whose bullseye was blown out I brought along my M38 and about about 80 rounds of Hungarian silvertip. After just plinking around as usual, I made a conscious effort to check out the fireball, and HOLY SMOKES - it's almost unreal. When I concentrate on sight picture, I somehow miss it every time. It had to extend 4-6' from the muzzle! The aforementioned friend was stunned - literally - by the first blast, even though I warned her several times. The other shooter there was shooting a "20 gauge on a 12 gauge frame," trying out some slugs for deer season. He was exasperated with his Swift spotting scope, but I think the gun itself was pleasing him. Anyway, I noticed that someone had left, up on my target, an NRA 100-yard paper. I decided to actually try and see how well the M38 could shoot with surplus ammo, and when aimed cautiously and carefully. So I aimed slowly and with great consideration... and let fly with my last 9 rounds (the 10th turned up in my range bag later). One 5-shot group and one 4-shot group. Here is the target: Needless to say, I was surprised. VERY surprised. When I plinking I usually got 2-3 MOA at 50-yards and the predictable 4-6 MOA at 100. To get 2" and 1.7" groups at 100 I thought was beyond the M38, especially with surplus. I just ordered some Czech heavy ball from Widener's, I'll be curious to see how that performs also. So if anyone has wondered about the accuracy of a Mosin carbine with surplus ammo... it's good!