Mosins

[mr.72]

M44 or 91/30?

Why?

[jlangton]

Both.
Because they're cheap enough,and diversity is always good.
JL

[mr.72]

Both.
Because they're cheap enough,and diversity is always good.
JL

These days, there's no such thing as "cheap enough".

[grim-bob]

both as well. Best prices are on the 91/30s. Good luck on an M44 search. if that's what you want then get it now cause they are drying up. A few months back everyone had them. Now only a few online vendors.

[Shiner Bock]

+1 for both.

[WarHawk-AVG]

You can also improve the accuracy somewhat by doing The Poor Mans Barrel Bedding

The bolts some times stick very hard when you fire quickly and the chamber heats up...you can fix much of this problem by getting a 20ga bore brush and polishing the chamber while using gun cleaner to remove the buildup thats causing the cases to bind

I like both of them..they aren't tack drivers..but are old, rugged, dang near indestructible, and very good enough for if it gets crazy...plus you can still get the ammo for pretty cheap (just remember to get some ammonia based window cleaner and douse the barrel and action after shooting to dissolve and deactivate the corrosive salts made when firing old milsurp ammo. Some people say the M44 kicks like a mule because its lighter than the 91/30...but the 7.62x54R is equivalent to the .30-06 so its gonna kick anyway

http://www.theboxotruth.com/docs/cr.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
A good site for old C&R guns

More great sites
http://7.62x54r.net/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I would absolutely thumbs up any Mosin Nagant purchase...heck you can find em for $80-90 all day long..well not right now..but not long ago they were selling by the case!!!

Mosin Nagant...how else are you gonna arm 5 people for $400 bucks!!!?

[mr.72]

You can also improve the accuracy somewhat by doing The Poor Mans Barrel Bedding

You know, I'd likely be replacing the stock anyway, with one of these:



FWIW I am looking not for an emergency-armament rifle but mostly a very occasional use hunting rifle on the cheap. I have been invited to go hog hunting... Figure even two 9mm pistols are not going to do the trick :)

Thanks for the cleaning etc. tips. Can one get new production ammo for these? "Kicks like a mule" does not sound like a gun I want to own, FWIW.. .but even including a replacement sporter stock it's $150 for an M44.

[bdickens]

Ya know, despite your best protestations to the contrary, you are rapidly becoming a "gun nut."

[mr.72]

Ya know, despite your best protestations to the contrary, you are rapidly becoming a "gun nut."

[WarHawk-AVG]

P.S. There are other types of C&R rifles out there...

I do know where you can still pick up the Mauser 24/47 Excellent Condition for $150 and a case of 900 8mm rounds for another $290

Some say the Mauser action is the best bolt action actions there is!

PM me if interested!

Oh and I am beyond a gun enthusiast..I am a certified gun nut!

[KBCraig]

The Texarkana Gander Mtn. had at least 20-25 M44s (Russian) on Wednesday, and a few 91/30s too.

Carbines were $99, rifles were mostly $129, I think.

[WarHawk-AVG]

The Texarkana Gander Mtn. had at least 20-25 M44s (Russian) on Wednesday, and a few 91/30s too.

Carbines were $99, rifles were mostly $129, I think.

Charging about 40% more than what they are worth!!!

Thats the thing that tweaks me....big name brand companies slapping large profits on these things...all you are paying for is their overhead..uggh!

[NcongruNt]

91/30.

I will give you a few of reasons why.

1) M44 production was started in the desperate times of WWII, and quality suffered. The 91/30 on the other hand, was produced up until that point, and you're more likely going to get a better gun.

2) The 91/30 is more accurate in general. There's more barrel, and from my experience, the bores are generally in better condition. You also have superior sight radius.

3) They are better balanced. An M44 is going to be more rear-heavy, and recoil isn't quite as smooth and straight-back as 91/30. While muzzle flip on both guns is very little (see none on the 91/30) compared to something like an Enfield, the M44 moves more after firing. It is also easier to get a steady sight picture with the balance of the 91/30. Remember that the M44 was essentially a quick cut-down of the 91/30, motivated by the need for a carbine because of the urban warfare going on in Russia at the time. The 7.62x54R round was designed for a longer barrel (the original M1891 rifle), so the cut-down M44 was a compromise to meet the compelling need for a close-quarters carbine.

Personally, I bought both at once as my first guns about 2 years ago now. Today, I seldom shoot the M44, while the 91/30 gets range time nearly every trip. Everyone I've taken shooting who has shot both guns prefers the 91/30.

On to the stock thing... why? The Mosin-Nagant rifles have perfectly good and functional stocks, and I don't understand the thinking behind "sporterizing" them. You have a good, heavy stock with full protection from the barrel. Changing the stock to the one you pictured not only lightens the gun (making recoil more harsh), but removes protection from burning your hands and other bodily parts with the barrel. It also throws the balance of the gun all out of whack, which I can only imagine worsens the accuracy. By going to a composite stock, you're reducing the functionality of the gun. It is a common thing for a new Mosin-Nagant owner to want to do, but I have never found anyone that can give me a tangible reason why they want to do it.

If you want to customize the gun, you'd do much better by upgrading the sights. I got a set of mojo sights for mine, and it made a world of difference in my accuracy with my guns. They are tandem peep sights that make acquiring your target much quicker and more defined. You can check them out at http://www.mojosights.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; . I would recommend the SnapSights, with the smallest set of apertures (.120" in the front and .090" in the rear) swapped in. It is money well spent that will make the Mosin-Nagant more accurate (for sighting, anyway). A slip-on recoil pad might also be something you want to look into, since you seem a little recoil-shy.

[nitrogen]

You can also improve the accuracy somewhat by doing The Poor Mans Barrel Bedding

You know, I'd likely be replacing the stock anyway, with one of these:



FWIW I am looking not for an emergency-armament rifle but mostly a very occasional use hunting rifle on the cheap. I have been invited to go hog hunting... Figure even two 9mm pistols are not going to do the trick :)

Thanks for the cleaning etc. tips. Can one get new production ammo for these? "Kicks like a mule" does not sound like a gun I want to own, FWIW.. .but even including a replacement sporter stock it's $150 for an M44.

Please link me to where you got that stock replacement.

That looks EXACTLY like something I'd do.

[mr.72]

On to the stock thing... why?

Because regardless of how functional, I don't like the looks of the Mosin stock, plain and simple.

The more I think about it, the more I think I just should not get a Mosin. It's probably not the right gun for me. At least they are not skyrocketing in price.