In Soviet Russia, after 1931, sniper weapons were developed mainly on the basis of self-loading rifles, sniper versions of such rifles as: Degtyarev self-loading rifles (arr. 1930), Rukavishnikov (arr. 1938), Tokarev (SVT- 40), Simonov automatic rifle (AVS-Z6). However, due to their shortcomings, they did not reach the level of accuracy and reliability of the Mosin rifle of the 1891-1930 model. Therefore, in 1931, Soviet snipers received the first serial Mosin sniper rifle of the 1891-1930 model. with a PT sight.
The sniper version of the rifle differed from the standard sample by smaller manufacturing tolerances, better barrel processing, a change in the bolt handle and the installation of a sniper sight. The first samples of these rifles were equipped with a PT brand sight, which was quickly replaced by an improved VP sight, and by 1941 a PU sight appeared, developed for SVT rifles.
This rifle, like any other rifle, had both advantages and disadvantages. The disadvantages of this sniper system were revealed already in the first years of operation, so the rifle was constantly modified. But, despite the positive qualities such as good ballistics, failure-free operation of mechanisms, simplicity of the device, greater survivability of the barrel and bolt, a number of defects were not eliminated. In 1930, the rifle was seriously modernized (a plate holder for cartridges was adopted, the cut-off reflector was divided into two parts, the muzzle became a part of the weapon barrel, the false rings were simplified), but even after this modernization, a number of shortcomings migrated to the sniper rifle adopted in 1931 … In the 30-40s, gunsmiths realized that a sniper rifle should combine all the best qualities of military and hunting weapons. Weapons experts came to the conclusion that such main parts of the rifle as the barrel, trigger, stock, sight and other parts must be specially designed.
The well-known encyclopedist V. E. Markevich wrote in 1940: Shooting accuracy mainly depends on the shooter, weapons and cartridges. The following requirements are imposed on a modern sniper rifle:
1.the greatest heap
2.complete reliability of action
3.the rifle must be designed for cartridges in service with the army
4.the ability to conduct the most accurate fire on moving small single targets
5.the best maneuverability
6. rate of fire - not lower than an ordinary magazine rifle
7. the system is simple and inexpensive to manufacture; simple and cheap repair
8.the best accuracy (sighting, reconciliation of the battle at a distance of up to 1000 m, starting from the smallest)
… The main parts of a rifle such as the barrel, sights, stock, trigger and other details must be skillfully designed. The barrel is taken from a standard military rifle, which is in service, picking up the most heap-firing specimens at the factories.
… In addition to the orthoptic (diopter) sight, the sniper rifle must have an optical (telescopic) sight. The multiplicity of the pipe is from 2, 5 to 4, 5 times, the most suitable for sniper shooting. Too high magnification makes aiming difficult, especially when shooting at moving and suddenly appearing targets. The magnification of 6 and more is mainly suitable only for shooting at stationary targets. Also, the optical sight should have, like a through sight, vertical and horizontal installations.
The trigger is essential for marksmanship. Good sniper shooting is impossible on bad descent. The descent should not require large pressing force, should not have a long stroke and free swing.
As you know, all of the above qualities are possessed by the triggers of new modern rifle systems of military models. Thanks to this, there should be no problems with the selection of a good descent.
Also, the rifle bed has a significant effect on accuracy. Gunsmiths and designers of hunting weapons are well aware of this fact. The stock of a sniper rifle should be stronger than a hunting stock, but the action should be similar. The length of the stock also depends on the thickness of the clothes for different weather conditions and seasons, so the stock should be made of variable length with detachable wooden pads allowing you to adjust the length of the stock. The neck of the stock should be pistol-shaped with scales, it allows you to hold the rifle more firmly with your right hand. The forend should be a long rifle with such a forend more convenient to use, especially in winter. It is better to make a stock from a walnut tree, such a bed is more tenacious and practically does not damp.
… Since the main parts of the rifle are selected from the serial ones, the rifle cannot be expensive. If you install new sights on the rifle, a new front sight stock and a trigger mechanism, then, on the whole, the new weapon will almost completely satisfy point 8. (VE Markevich. "Sniping and sniper rifles").
But all these proposals were never implemented.
Although without them, the sniper rifle of the 1891-1930 model honestly passed the Finnish war of 1940 and the entire Second World War.
With well-chosen serial cartridges, the rifle gives groups of 10 shots the following accuracy: at 100 meters the radius of a circle containing all holes (R100) is 3 cm, at 200 meters, respectively 7.5 cm, at 300 meters - 15.5 cm, at 400 meters - 18 cm, 500 meters - 25 cm, 600 meters - 35 cm. The results on accuracy will be much higher when using target or sniper cartridges. A well-aimed and calibrated rifle ensures a defeat from the first shot of a head figure up to 300 m, a chest figure - up to 500 m, a waist figure - up to 600 m, a tall figure - up to 700 m. In this case, the effective fire range is considered to be up to 600 m. (According to the instruction on shooting).
The first sniper optical sights for Mosin rifles were ordered at the German Zeiss factories. But already from the beginning of the 30s, the production of its own PT sights (telescopic sight) arr. 1930 of the year. PT sights provided a 4-fold increase in diopter adjustment, the sight length was 270 mm. The PTs were attached directly to the receiver, which did not allow the use of an open sight. In 1931, the PTs were replaced with a new sight with the VP marking (rifle sight) mod. 1931, but this sight did not fully meet the necessary requirements.
Mosin sniper rifle model 1891/1930 with a VP telescopic sight
7, 62-mm magazine sniper rifle mod. 1891/30 with sight PU
In 1936, a new, simpler and cheaper PE sight (Emelyanov sight) with 4, 2 times magnification appeared. Especially for the PE, large side brackets were produced that made it possible to mount it on the side of the receiver. PE were also installed on a small batch of AVS-36 (Simonov automatic rifles)
Around 1941, a PU optical sight was also installed on Mosin's rifles, which was used for a sniper modification of the SVT (Tokarev self-loading rifle). The PU sight was the simplest, cheapest to manufacture, and technologically advanced wartime sight. The multiplicity of the launcher was small 3.5x, but this was enough for a successful sniper war at a distance of 500-600 meters. The PU was mounted on the rifle using the Kochetov vertical-base bracket. The weight of the sight together with the bracket was 270 g. the net was a T-shaped mark (aiming stump and side alignment threads). The width of the hemp and the threads is 2 thousandths, and the gap between the threads is 7 thousandths, which made it possible, when using the thousandth formula, to determine the distance to the target. The main disadvantage of the PU was its location directly above the barrel, the shooter had to put his chin on the crest of the butt, which was rather inconvenient.
For shooting, the rifle cartridge 7, 62x54 was mainly used, designed by Colonel N. Rogovtsev, which entered service with the Mosin rifle. The cartridge has undergone repeated upgrades. In 1908, the blunt-pointed bullet was replaced with a pointed one, the muzzle velocity of the new bullet reached 865 m / s, while the old bullet had only 660 m / s. Later the lead core was replaced with a steel one, in 1930 a heavy bullet "D" (mod. 1930) and an armor-piercing bullet B-30 were adopted for the cartridge; in 1932, the B-32 armor-piercing incendiary bullet and the PZ sighting incendiary bullet were adopted; even later, a bimetallic sleeve was developed for the cartridge instead of a brass one. Russian rifle cartridges of 7, 62 mm caliber were distinguished by significant penetration, excellent accuracy, flatness of the trajectory and were one of the best live cartridges of this type. Serial rifle cartridges produced by the Russian industry made it possible to conduct fairly accurate aimed sniper shooting, which made it possible to solve most of the fire missions.
