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Mosin Nagant Caliber 7.62mm Sniper Rifle

Zhang Taofang, 214 kills, searches for more with a Mosin Nagant sniper rifle, basically the M1891/30 with a telescope and handle modified to clear a sight. Firing the Russian Light Ball 148 gr bullet, muzzle velocity 2850 fps, the effective range was 1000 meters, although most of his victims died within a few hundred yards.


CCF Sniper

Top CCF Sniper Zhang Taofang, credited with 214 kills in Korean War's "Underground Wall Of China" using this Mosin-Nagant M-44 carbine, not scope-mounted, at least in this Chinese news photo.

M91/30 Mosin-Nagent sniper rifle

Mosin-Nagent M91/30 sniper-rifle with 3.5 power PU telescopic sight
Mosin Nagant Carbine


Caliber: 7.62 mm Length: w/o bayonet 48.5 in.
Length: w/bayonet 65.4 in.
Weight w/o bayonet & sling: 11.3 lb
Barrel: 28.7 in, 4 grooves, right hand twist
Magazine: 5 round integral box
Ammo: Russian Light Ball M'08; bullet 148 gr, charge 48 gr
Muzzle Velocity: 2850 fps
Effective Range: 1000 meters



This is one of the sniper rifles used by the North Koreans from the beginning, and Chinese Communists about a year later, during the Korean War.

An adaptation of the basic Soviet infantry rifle, a turned-down bolt handle was used to clear the sight. Communist snipers were trained by Soviet advisors, who were reputed to try their hand at killing American troops whenever the opportunity offered.

The rifle M1891/30 is about the same length as the M1891 Dragoon, but with many improvements. Used in large numbers by the Soviets early in WWII, it was replaced by the carbine M1944 as the standard Soviet infantry shoulder weapon at the end of WWII. The rifle was very accurate, and evidently a scope was not always essential for a sniper to fire effectively.

The sniper rifle M1891/30 is basically the M1891/30 adapted for use with a telescope. The telescopes were somewhat similar to those used on US hunting rifles. Both the rifle and the sniper rifle were standard issue in some Soviet satellite armies into the 1970s.

I've mislaid the source for the following interesting commentary. (If the originator sees this, please let me know and I'll correctly cite you. The article has been confirmed by "Jarmo Mikkonen"; jj.mikkonen@kolumbus.fi ):

"During the Winter War of '39-'40 the Russians learned from the Finns through bitter experience the value of snipers. Simo Hayha, a farmer, is credited with the killing of over 500 Russian soldiers in fifteen weeks with his Model 1928 Mosin-Nagant rifle. As a result, the Russians began to place more emphasis on their sniper training programme.

Production of the 1891/30 sniper rifles began in 1937 and ended in 1963 when the 1891/30 sniper rifle was replaced by the Dragunov sniper rifle. Sniper rifles were chosen for accuracy from the production lines, had the bolt turned down, and were fitted with a telescopic sights. Apart from these differences, they were the standard 1891/30 rifle. Two types of scope were used, the earlier 4 power P.E. scope and the compact 3.5 power P.U. scope. The best of the Russian snipers preferred the 1891/30 to the SVT40, which was also issued in a snipers model, because they were more reliable and the action made practically no noise."

Extract from: "Enemy at the Gates - The Battle for Stalingrad." by William Craig:

"The Russians backed out of their trench. Anxious to put the German sniper in a maximum amount of blinding sunlight, they followed the irregularly curving front line until they found a spot where the afternoon sun would be at their backs... Aware that the sun would reflect on their scopes, they waited patiently for it to go down behind them. By late afternoon, now wrapped in shade, they had Konings at a disadvantage. Zaitsev focused his telescopic sight on the Germans hiding place. A piece of glass suddenly glinted at the edge of the sheet. Zaitsev motioned Kulikov, who slowly raised his helmet over the top of the parapet. Konings fired once and Kulikov rose, screaming convincingly. Sensing triumph, the German lifted his head slightly to see his victim. Vassili Zaitsev shot him between the eyes...

Zaitsev is credited with 242 kills in Stalingrad before he was injured by a landmine."


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