Cutting down rifle barrel

[Markmonkey1]

I bought a mosin nagant with the barrel cut down (was told cut with hacksaw and jig and re crowned with DIY tool). The gun shoots 18" groups at 50 yards from a rest---I'm assuming it's due to the barrel cut/crown which may be done incorrectly (?)
--Any advice to verify this is the problem?
--Can (should) I recut and recrown myself, what all is involved?
Thanks!

[McSull]

Assuming the shooter is not part of the problem, I would take the gun to a professional gunsmith. 18" at 50 yards is worse than a poorly cut crown. You may have some issues in the action.

[ianb1116]

Assuming the shooter is not part of the problem, I would take the gun to a professional gunsmith. 18" at 50 yards is worse than a poorly cut crown. You may have some issues in the action.

Not worth it. Just buy a new one $170. Gunsmith work to rectify will be close to that if not more.

[Markmonkey1]

Yeah, based on what this is worth I wasn't going to take to a gunsmith...and I'll likely end up getting another unmodified mosin...buy I'd still want to try to improve this one. What should I look for in the action---the bolt was bent so a scope could be used, and it does occasionally jam.

[McSull]

Yeah, based on what this is worth I wasn't going to take to a gunsmith...and I'll likely end up getting another unmodified mosin...buy I'd still want to try to improve this one. What should I look for in the action---the bolt was bent so a scope could be used, and it does occasionally jam.

I can't really help you any further but, I wouldn't shoot that Gun again without a professional looking at it first. And like someone else suggested, the gun probably isn't worth taking to a gunsmith.

[HSMaxim]

[Bang]

I've done that to a few rifles with great success and reduction of group size. But I used steel carriage bolts and valve grinding compound.

[Bang]

Sorry, but 18 inches at 50 yards sounds like some of that is the nut behind the wheel.

[Delkal]

Sorry, but 18 inches at 50 yards sounds like some of that is the nut behind the wheel.

Agreed but I wouldn't say a nut. Short barreled Mosins are notorious kickers and flamethrowers. Not fun to shoot. The OP didn't say how short the barrel is but I would guess it is a big kicker and he is flinching badly

Check that the action is tight in the stock and there is no play. After that if the crown looks reasonably level and the barrel is not a sewer pipe or the bullets are keyholing........ I would suspect shooter error.

Try shooting it from a bench with sandbags. Better yet have someone experienced shoot it (if they want to).

[jakebrake]

Sorry, but 18 inches at 50 yards sounds like some of that is the nut behind the wheel.

or a barrel that's shot out.