Ever have a lust for a gun you couldnt find or worse couldnt afford? Then ever think I can do that?

I cringe when I see a bad "Bubba sporter" of a military rifle; but when I see a truly nice job I think back the the gunsmith guilds between the world wars. When I stumble across a salvaged action my mind starts thinking "Project Time". A while back I ended up with a 91/30 Mosin that called my name. I suppose I could have restored it to full military pride; but I decided to break one of my rules. I started thinking "what if". What if all the guilds who built beautiful Mausers, also did their magic on Mosins.

I started with a laminated (military stock) that I stripped and shortened to be a full length stock for a new 24" barrel. I thinned the stock, removing the swell forward of the action and filled the cleaning rod cut with a dowel so that once refinished the dowel would show as different colour from the rest of the stock when finished. I wanted it to look like it came from a military rifle but was remade into a fine sporter. I left the sling swivel escusions in place but fire blued them. Then I filled the loops and added original Finn swivels for a more sporting type sling. After stripping the stock, I left it blond and seal it so it shows the laminate pattern.

The action was in good shape; but the bolt needed attention to make it a sporter. First it needed to be bent; but not just bent so I made a a cross between a butterknife and a spoon design. I wanted a double set trigger but couldnt find anything that would work, so I ended up with a Timney (safety) model.

I toyed with a few different cartridge choices. I really wanted something like 9.3x54 but I couldnt find any dies or ammo specs. I "know" the cartridge exists but without any specifics I decided 762x54 would be fine and set about finding a barrel for it. Finally I chose McGowen.

It needed sights and my first thought was a set of folding express sight, then thought that just didnt "fit" a Mosin. So I ended up going with Steyr style front and rear. I finished the front end with metal nose cap.

My original plan had been to use a PE scope and mount but I had better optics in mind so I used a Khales in a side mount. Im a huge fan of No1 reticles for fast use in heavy brush and limited light.

It turned out better than I imagined. Between the cost of the rifle, new barrel, scope and mount PLUS the gunsmiths time, its the most expensive Mosin youve ever seen but its all mine and it shoots great.

I had originally intended to build two rifles. One a full length stock with a "carbine" length with a 22" barrel and a second with a half stock and 26" barrel. The second is still on hold waiting for a suitable donner rifle.

If I ever get the second built, my plan is a farther and son hunt up north for wolf. Do you think they let me put a horse out for bait, so I could say "I put snow in my mouth to cool my breath....."