Mosin-Nagant Dot Net:

The Sniper Rifles

Of The Red Star

From Vic Thomas

10.26.2002

These are two Hungarian m/52 sniper rifles. The guns are stocked in two distinctly colored woods. The top in a beech stock and the bottom in a darker coarser grained european elm.

The m/52 was completely manufactured in Hungary using all indigenous parts from manufacture including the optics which were manufactured at the #41 optical facility. The guns serial number matched the optical package to each rifle. The slings were all un- tanned leather with blued steel buckles. The m/52 was manufactured in limited numbers from 1952 to 1954. The non sniper standard infantry version version without optics was refered to as the m/48.

Hungarian m/52 sniper rifles buttstock markings. These are consistent through out

Hungarian rifle models based on the Mosin Nagant design.

Hungarian m/52 PU mount and scope. Note the 02 marking on the scope denoting Hungarian manufacture. Also the leather lens caps tend to be a lighter tanned color than the Soviet versions.

Hungarian scope and mount dismounted with its Hungarian made and marked scope/breech cover and lens cleaning cloth in it’s tissue wrap. Twisting them tightens the scope caps slightly around the PU scope tube as pictured.

Hungarian m/52 PU sniper with its scope/ breech cover attached. The material is a finer grade canvas rather than the coarse weave found on its Soviet and Warsaw Pact counterparts.

The scope marking of the m/52 PU Hungarian made scope. The scope date of 1952 is below the number "41". It is not clear as to what this number represents-possibly the scope model of "1941". Below the date is the scope’s serial number. Towards the rear of the tube is the number 2118. This number is the gun serial number to match the scope to the gun. In some instances the number matches a separate serial number stamped on the trigger guard.

m/91-30 Polish PU sniper with it’s mount numbered to the gun. Not all but many Polish PU snipers exhibit this unique feature. Note the addition of the Polish property marking  "WZR" and the scopes refurbishment in 1960. The rifles are almost all rebuilt and restocked Russian WW2 era rifles fit with Polish rebuilt scopes and or mounts. The light colored beech wood stocks are very distinctive and attractive.

Polish m/91-30 PU sniper in a left side perspective full rifle view. Note the distinctive Polish wood type and color like on the m/44 carbines. The gun is also fitted with a Polish m/91-30 sling. This stock bears the diamond proofs as well.

Right hand side bolt view of the DDR m/91-30 PU. Note the wood is a unique type unlike other PU variants I have encountered.

Markings found on a DDR issued m/91-30 PU sniper. It is unknown what the code denotes

The unique plastic lens caps found on DDR PU snipers. Black plastic attached with a plastic cord and used and attached in the same fashion. This guns caps are inside the mount to prevent them from being lost.

Buttstock of an East German (DDR) m/91-30 sniper. The serial number is stamped, as are all parts in typical German fashion.

A refurbishment/rebuild marking found on the buttstock of a DDR m/91-30 sniper. This marking can be found on metal parts as well as the scope tubes. It is found primarily on Soviet weapons.

Vz54/57 full side view. Note the unique stock and sights used on the gun as well as the pistol grip stock.

Close up of the Vz54-57 sniper rifles barrel markings. The gun was built in 1956 in first series production of block "A" number 1539. The crossed swords are the Czech military acceptance proof as is the circle T

Bolt side view of the Vz 54/57 bent bolt and scope and mount. Note the rubber eyecup used with this scope. The bolt is bent very straight with little curve in the shoulder.

Scope mount view of the unique sweptback mount designed for the Vz54/57 with integral scope.

Czech m/54-57 sniper scope. It’s design is reminiscent of the PU but of an indigenous Czech design as evidenced by the elevation and windage adjustment knobs. The scope’s maker code of yal , its magnification of 2.5x and the serial number are seen. The crossed swords is a Czech military acceptance proof.

Vz54/57 with the scope/breech cover attached. The cleaning kit, optical filters and optical sun and rain shields as well as the sectional cleaning rods are enclosed inside.

Variety of ammo a Soviet sniper would carry. This would include the standard heavy ball, AP API, and tracer ammo for spotting in use with artillery in a direct fire support role. Two versions of standard ball are pictured. The early cupro-nickel jacketed version on the left in the early style stripper clip and the later copper jacket below loose. The package is marked with the words "sniper".

The transit storage crate for the PU style sniper. The crate holds 10 rifles in alternating fashion. The crate is lined with desiccant paper and oil impregnated paper that wraps over the top and is tucked in to create a "cocoon" type effect. As pictured you can see the dividers installed. The lid of the crate compresses a rubber gasket rimming the bottom edges.

PU storage transit case viewed from the end packed with 10 rifles in an alternating fashion.

Front view showing the storage control numbers on the bottom and the rifle case numbers on top. This crate is one of 179 of 221 in storage from this facility.

Front view of the PU storage/transit case packed with snipers.

SVD Dragunov sniper rifle. It was adopted and put into service in 1962 to replace the m/91-30 PU sniper rifles and remains in service today with the Red Army. The scope is a 4x magnification capable of range finding and illumination of it’s reticule in low light. It also has the capability to detect infra red light sources. A built in sun shade telescopes from the front while a rubber eyecup is used at the rear. The mounting rail can be used to fit a variety of specialty scopes such as light gathering night vision and infrared. It utilizes a 10 shot detachable magazine and is calibrated for the 7.62x54R round still in use with the Red Army for over 100 years.

For more information or comments on these rifles there is no better place than Tuco's Collectors Forum.  The knowledge base there is second to none and it is without a doubt the best place on the Net for the Soviet/Finnish collector.