Objective 01NOV2008

The Russian/Soviet PU sniper rifle is the main focus of my curio and relic firearm collecting and shooting interest. I have shot the PU type sniper rifle regularly for over 15 years in the manner I have demonstrated in the following video (or see side bar and click on video with targets):

I have shot these rifles in this practical manner up to a distance of 900 meters. This type of shooting tests the entire sniper rifle system, not only the accuracy and consistency of the rifle, but also the precision and repeatability of the optical sight.

I have every expectation that the rifles in my collection will be able to perform to the highest standards of what a PU sniper rifle would be able to do when it was in service. The Russian/Soviet PU snipers I have collected are from the original transit/storage cases from known real PU sniper rifle import batches. None are restored ex-sniper, replica mount, importer/dealer put together or replica scoped rifles. These are all real, already set-up, adjusting-screws-staked-in-place-from-the-armory rifles. Many are in their original wartime dated and arsenal marked stocks with a soft, thick, dark lacquer preservation coating, every rifle part with the correct arsenal marking, and with the scope lenses carefully desiccant paper covered as prepared for long term storage.

Owning a number of original PU snipers and having extensively studied and shot them has given me insight into the "how’s" and "why’s" of PU rifle set up and has unveiled clues to unlocking the legendary performance of its over twenty year military history as an issued optically sighted sniper system. I shoot these rifles in the sincerest manner to the utmost of my ability with the best new production and surplus ammunition that is available to me. Through my interest in collecting and shooting the Mosin Nagant PU sniper rifle, I seek to answer the question: “How good was it?”