Monday Gunday: Mosin Humor

One of the things I adore about my Mosin is that if the bolt is sticky, or the bullet doesn't want to feed, not only can I slap it around like a red-headed stepchild without fear of breaking it, but manhandling it is actually the proper course of action. It's a hundred year-old design built to be used by illiterate famers in the harsh Siberian winter. When the bolt would freeze to the receiver, a soldier would grab the heaviest thing he could find -- a chunk of wood, a hammer, his booted foot -- and wail on that bolt handle until it released.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's such a joy to know that if I get frustrated and force it, I won't break it. I can't break it, so I don't have to be all delicate and second-guess myself. I can just say "You're gonna WORK, ya bastard" and put all my strength into it. It's rather like having a car that's already a beater: If you have to bang it up, you won't care.

Apparently I'm not the only Mosin owner to experience "sticky bolt" syndrome, because over at 7.62x54r.net, they have a humor section entitled "AK vs. AR vs. Mosin-Nagant" filled with typical military dark/gallows humor with the following example:

You know you have an AK if... 

You consider it a badge of honor when you get your handguards to burst into flames.

You know you have an AR if...

You consider it a badge of honor when you shoot a sub-MOA 5 shot group.

You know you have a Mosin if...

You consider it a badge of honor when you cycle 5 rounds without the aid of a 2x4.

For the rest of the article, go here.