[LDBennett]

As with virtually anything Russian, often the quality isn't there. Agreed its utilitarian but never beautiful or near perfect. The biggest problem with accuracy in a M-N is the bore itself. Few of the surplus barrels are pristine on the inside and few are the same diameter. They do fall into a range of sizes that are really bigger than any component bullet you can buy for reloading or you can get in commercial ammo.

The accuracy can be made better by slugging the barrel (force soft lead lump down barrel to be able to measure across the resultant imprint of the barrel grooves) and picking a component bullet closer to the measured diameter. Most all need at least commercial component 303 British bullets. Typical is lands at 0.312 to 0.314 inches in diameter with some a little bigger. About the only bullets that are close are 0.312 inches and are 303 Brit bullets. The 8mm bullets at 0.323 inches are WAY too big so don't use them! Even the 303 Brit bullets are not the correct size for these extra large bores based on the rule of thumb that a jacket bullet should be about 0.001 inches larger in diameter than the grove diameter.

With better home reloads the M-N rifles will start to shoot better but they are no Mauser for accuracy.

NOTE: That is NOT to say use 303 Brit ammo but to use 303 Brit component bullets in 7.62 x 54R cases.

LDBennett