Mosin-Nagant M91/30 PE
Tula Arms Plant / Izhevsk Arsenal · Sniper Rifle · Out Of Production · 1932
Also known as: M91/30 PE Sniper, Mosin PE, Snayperskaya vintovka obr. 1891/30 PE, Mosin-Nagant Sniper (PE scope)
Overview
The Mosin-Nagant M91/30 PE was the first mass-produced Soviet sniper rifle, introduced in 1932 with the PE (Pritsel Yediniy) 4x telescopic sight manufactured at Factory No. 19 in Krasnogorsk. The PE scope was a Soviet copy of the German Zeiss Zielvier 4x scope and was mounted atop the receiver using a dedicated bracket, requiring the bolt handle to be bent downward. Selected from standard M91/30 production for superior accuracy, the PE sniper was the primary Soviet sniping weapon through the 1930s and into the early years of World War II, before being superseded by the simpler PEM and then PU scope variants.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4500 g (158.7 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4750 g (167.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1232 mm (48.50") |
| Barrel Length | 730 mm (28.74") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 20 N (4.5 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 800 m/s (2625 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3780 J (2788 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 800 m (875 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 240 mm (9.45") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- 7.62x54mmR · primary — also known as 7.62x54R, 7.62 Russian, 7.62 Mosin-Nagant
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Internal Box Magazine, Stripper Clip
- Safety mechanisms: Bolt Safety
- Features: Pe 4x Scope, Top Mounted Scope, Bent Bolt Handle, Hand Selected Barrel, Hex Receiver
Variants
- Mosin-Nagant M91/30 PEM — Improved Pe Scope
- Mosin-Nagant M91/30 PU — Simplified Wartime Scope
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Soviet Red Army · adopted 1932 · as M91/30 PE Snayperskaya
- Finnish Defence Forces
Conflicts
- Winter War (1939-1940)
- World War II (Eastern Front) (1941-1945)
- Battles of Khalkhin Gol (1939)
Production
Estimated total produced: 54,000 · Production years: 1932-1938
Estimated 54,000 PE-scoped sniper rifles produced from 1932 to 1938 at Tula and Izhevsk. The PE scope was manufactured at Factory No. 19 in Krasnogorsk (formerly Pavshino). Production ceased in 1938 as the improved PEM and later PU scopes were adopted.
Origin
Country of origin: Russia
Designer: Sergei Mosin / Leon Nagant
Discontinued: 1938
Notes
The PE scope was officially designated the 'rifle scope model 1931' and entered service in November 1931, with mass production beginning in 1932. The scope was redesigned several times during 1932, with the earliest models featuring a distinctive box-shaped middle section that was later rounded. Unlike the later PU scope which mounted to the side of the receiver, the PE scope mounted on top, preventing the use of stripper clips for loading. The PE was larger, heavier, and more optically complex than the PU, which ultimately led to its replacement. Many PE-scoped rifles survived into WWII and were used alongside PU-scoped rifles. The hex receiver common on pre-war M91/30 rifles is a distinguishing feature of many PE sniper conversions.
Background
Vasily Zaitsev initially used a Mosin-Nagant M91/30 with a PE scope during the early stages of the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942 before transitioning to a PU-scoped rifle. Soviet sniper training schools established in the 1930s used PE-scoped rifles extensively, and the doctrine developed with these weapons - emphasizing patience, concealment, and precise shot placement - would produce some of the most effective snipers of World War II. The PE scope's superior optical quality compared to the later PU meant that experienced snipers often preferred it when available.