The Russian Mosin Nagant Forum

Mikey_P, my friend Bob and myself were at the range yesterday for my annual Birthday Shoot. We conducted an experiment on the effect that a mounted bayonet would have on the point of impact (POI) versus point of aim (POA). Like yourselves, I had read and heard that the rifles were sighted in with the bayonet and the POI would be closer to the POA at reduced ranges.

The results are below. The results were shocking to us in person. Not only were the shots closer to POA the grouping was much tighter! The excellent Polish light ball and a like new 1943 Izhevsk 91/30 were used by my friend Bob to conduct the test. Unlike myself, Bob has excellent results shooting with the 91/30 open sights. The bayonet was chosen to fit very tightly yet still be easy to mount and dismount. I realise that this is only one rifle and particular bayonet with a certain type of ammunition conducted by one shooter in only one weather condition. Next time out I will try it with a different bayonet and rifle to see if similar results can be produced.

Edit: Forgot to add that five shots were fired at 100 yards for each group from a rest. One of the five from the "with bayonet" group was a called "flincher" the other four were grouped nicely in the circled area.

Yes, I have seen similar results myself, but I tend to get tighter groups without the bayo, just they are off to the rt as shown. The best groups came from the issued 91/30's, the no shellac once I got a few years ago, they shot to point of aim at 100 yards, no bayo, no sight adjusting. They had been set that way, all 12 of them, or how ever many it was I got back them, I was getting them cheap so I bought a lot.

Yes, JYD reminded me of something else to add: We didn't touch the front sight, this was with the "out of the crate" settings.

This would be a good experiment that all of us could easily try on the next range trip and post results to here. I have a couple of rifles that shoot good groups and to POA without bayonets, but I have not shot them with the bayonets. I will on the next shoot try the same.

SA1911a1 wrote:This would be a good experiment that all of us could easily try on the next range trip and post results to here. I have a couple of rifles that shoot good groups and to POA without bayonets, but I have not shot them with the bayonets. I will on the next shoot try the same.

Great Idea. Much bigger sample population under varying conditions.

So, is it normal to have to drift the front sight to the right for those who do not shoot with the bayonet attached? My Mosin (1943 Izhevsk) shot high and to the right when I first fired it. I've taken care of the elevation problem by installing a taller front sight post. Windage wise, I have had to drift my front sight to the right about 3/32" from the armorer's index marks in order to bring the POI to center. I would try to shoot it with the bayonet, but it is way too tight going on, and I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to get it off.

AoxoMoxoA wrote:So, is it normal to have to drift the front sight to the right for those who do not shoot with the bayonet attached? My Mosin (1943 Izhevsk) shot high and to the right when I first fired it. I've taken care of the elevation problem by installing a taller front sight post. Windage wise, I have had to drift my front sight to the right about 3/32" from the armorer's index marks in order to bring the POI to center. I would try to shoot it with the bayonet, but it is way too tight going on, and I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to get it off.

Yep. Sometimes the front sight needs to be drifted if you don't want to be shooting with the bayonet on all the time.