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I'd like some opinions from any M91/30 owners/shooters out there. I've got a 1942 Izhevsk M91/30 and, frankly, it's killing my shoulder. That steel butt plate and nice square corners is beating me to death. I love the thing and enjoy shooting it, but after a few rounds I'm starting to cringe from the recoil. I'm considering replacing the stock with an Monte Carlo style composite made by ATI. I plan on keeping the wood stock (of course) and preserving it. Is this a good idea or is there something else I should do to deal with the recoil? FYI, I've tried a wearable recoil pad but found it somewhat uncomfortable.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Buddy of mine put a limbsaver on the end of his. It extended the length of the stock which helped more than anything.

I've seen one with the ATI stock conversion and it looked awful. You can find shoulder pads online for about $15 that use the same screws that hold the steel butt plate on. I haven't got one yet, but will in the future. In the meantime I made a shoulder pad of my own that drapes over my shoulder and will be trying it out this Saturday at Elm Fork. The shoulder pads online will add an inch or so to the length of the stock, which is desirable for most, as it appears that many of the late 19th/early 20th century Russians were short limbed and stocky types.

For me, "sporterizing" my M44 Mosin just isn't an option. It's just too darn good looking the way it is.....

I found a scope mount somewhere on line that allows you to continue to use the iron sights up to 100 yards if desired, so I'm going to hunt that puppy down and see if its worth it. Not one of those types that replaces the rear sight with a rail. I'm staying well clear of them, but would like a long eye relief scope, about 3x or so so I can pin the tail on the donkey at the rifle range.

Any of the above that appears as any kind of advice may be worth exactly what was paid for it.......nothing. Follow at your own risk!!!

I've heard these work well. Seems a lot cheaper than replacing the stock on such a classic rifle.

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_kw=mosin&_ ... nt&_kw=pad" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I went to wal-mart and bought a slipon recoil pad for mine and that did the trick. I am not recoil shy,but that short stock made it bad.

Rifleman55 wrote:I went to wal-mart and bought a slipon recoil pad for mine and that did the trick. I am not recoil shy,but that short stock made it bad.

I did the same thing today. Next time I'm at the range I'll see how it handles.

Thanks for all the replies, folks.

I only fired 10 rounds out of mine and did not think the recoil was all that bad it seemed more like a very strong puch then a kick, now with that being said for the following 3 days my shoulder was sore.

suthdj wrote:I only fired 10 rounds out of mine and did not think the recoil was all that bad it seemed more like a very strong puch then a kick, now with that being said for the following 3 days my shoulder was sore.

I fired 20 rounds the first day and, while a little sore, sent another 20 downrange 2 days later. That's when I decided that it was too much. I've got no visible bruising, but when my wife hugs me (over the shoulder) or comes up behind me and rubs my shoulders, I feel like whimpering in pain.

Think about the guys that shot those rifles all the time to beat back the Germans. Keep it as it is. I wouldn't modify it in any way. Maybe a slip on recoil pad or a towel. And beware they tend to multiply. Up to seven of them now and the wife is starting to wonder why I have so many of the "same" thing.

sookandy wrote:Think about the guys that shot those rifles all the time to beat back the Germans. Keep it as it is. I wouldn't modify it in any way. Maybe a slip on recoil pad or a towel. And beware they tend to multiply. Up to seven of them now and the wife is starting to wonder why I have so many of the "same" thing.

Yeah, but they were mostly wearing thick winter coats. And while I could do the same thing, this is Texas and I'd sweat to death! Seriously though, I've got a limbsaver I'm going to try on Friday and I'll also be bringing a towel along as a backup.

As for multiplying, my wife's response was "After we both get our CHL you can get as many as you want but you have to shoot every one of them at some point". So we'll see how long her patients stretches with that.

At Elm Fork today we put lots of rounds through the Mosin. I had a slip on shoulder pad that I picked up, but we never used it. Instead we used the homemade pad I created and it worked GREAT!!!!!! Maybe my old brain still has some steam left in it, but I would bet that recoil was minimized by well over 80%. I would realistically say that I could put 100 rounds downrange with no bruising. Very pleased with it. Next time I may try the slip on, but if it doesn't work well I am pleased I have a good back up.

Lonewolf, how is that range? Can you use surplus ammo? And do you have to have a scope on rifles?

Took the M91/30 to GPSR for lunch today and used the new limbsaver. I put 60 rounds downrange and never once had a problem with the shoulder. She felt great.

On a side note, Buddy, one of the RSOs at GPSR, loaded some ammo for me. This was a total surprise. For one thing, I didn't know he loads his own and two, he refused any form of payment (he said it's illegal w/o a manufacturer's license). He loaded some 7.62x54R 150gr SPs for me. These were the smoothest, flattest trajectory rounds I've ever fired. Here's my target from 100 yards w/ stock iron sights.



Now this was a great day at the range!

Glad you found something that works. I make my GF wear a shooters vest with padded shoulder when she shoots my 91/30. Mine is a 1931 Ishvesk 91/30 Hex reciever in absolutely amazing shape and I love it to death. Great rifle, it replaced the Mauser I lost.

Sookandy,
I really like the place. Range officers are good. You can use FMJ rifle ammo in the 30 yd "tactical" bay with iron sights. When we were there for the DFW get-together Saturday the tac range was closed so we shot rifles iron sights on the 30 yd pistol bays (I shot FMJ surplus). 100 yd range requires optics (3x or better, I believe) and they are building a 50 yd range as we speak (requirements unknown). The RO was impressed with the Mosin and asked if he could put a couple of rounds downrange. No problem there. Everytime we shot it (and that was a LOT) someone's car alarms went off. Way too funny! One of my boys got a video of his brother shooting it and you could hear the car alarm go off....every time.

My homemade shoulder pad worked GREAT. Older son (17) had quite a bruise because he was trying to be manly and not use the pad. I'm old and wise and don't do things that will hurt me the next day.