Author Topic: Good buy on a Mosin Nagant M44 (Read 2335 times)

jack19512 · « **on:** July 16, 2006, 01:51:54 PM »

Went to a large flea market today. A dealer there had a shooter grade M/N M44 for only $200.00.

Robert357 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 16, 2006, 06:56:46 PM »

I hate to burst your bubble, but a stock MN 1819/30, M38 or M44 runs about $89 to $99 at Big 5 sporting goods along the west coast on sale. Not on sale (if you can't wait two weeks) they run about $159 to $199. That includes the bayonet, oiler, sling, ammo pouch, cleaning kit, etc.

Unless there is something very historic abou the MN44, $200 is a bit high. I have often thought of buyin Big 5 MN's on Sale, cleaning them up, taking them to the range, adjusting the front sight and then selling them at gun shows-with a target that shows their accuracy for say $100.

In case you don't believe me I thought I would provide a URL with even better prices.

http://www.southernohiogun.com/surplusrifles2.html

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2006, 02:27:31 AM »

Mosins are hard to pass by. Less than $100 for a ready made deer rifle with a 20" bbl. Perfect for woods hunting.

We don't have a Big 5 in our area, but we have Dunhams. They usually run sales throughout the hunting season on 91/30's and 44's for $79 and Mod 38's for $89, more for laminated.

You can often find them at the local gun show at the same prices. Again, more for particular versions such as laminated, wrapped or Finnish models.

EVOC ONE

jack19512 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2006, 05:04:01 PM »

Quote from: Robert357 on July 16, 2006, 06:56:46 PM

I hate to burst your bubble, but a stock MN 1819/30, M38 or M44 runs about $89 to $99 at Big 5 sporting goods along the west coast on sale. Not on sale (if you can't wait two weeks) they run about $159 to $199. That includes the bayonet, oiler, sling, ammo pouch, cleaning kit, etc.

Unless there is something very historic abou the MN44, $200 is a bit high. I have often thought of buyin Big 5 MN's on Sale, cleaning them up, taking them to the range, adjusting the front sight and then selling them at gun shows-with a target that shows their accuracy for say $100.

In case you don't believe me I thought I would provide a URL with even better prices.

http://www.southernohiogun.com/surplusrifles2.html

No problem, you're not bursting my bubble. I havn't figured out how to add any emoticons for sarcasm to my posts yet. I asked the dealer if he was serious and he said yes.

Robert357 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 17, 2006, 06:39:19 PM »

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I ususally use (/sarcasm), but you may figure out something better.

I was feeling kind of bad, but figured you should really know. I didn't realize you already did know the market value. Actually, if you compare an MN to say most commerical rifles, it is worth $200, even if the market values it at just $79 to $99.

I sure like my MN 1891/30 Tula manufactured in 1939. I wonder what battles it has seen? They are an incredible value and shoot very well for iron sighted rifles, especially if you free float the barrel and do a few things.

Glad you weren't taken advantage of.

jack19512 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2006, 01:54:13 PM »

I have 4 Mosins. A round receiver 91/30 and a hex receiver 91/30, a M44 and a M38. My M38 is very accurate with my handloads. Because my eyes aren't what they use to be I just about have to have a scope for serious shooting. Here is a pic of my M38 that I just finished installing a scope mount and bolt handle on this evening.

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #6 on:** July 19, 2006, 12:54:08 AM »

Oh, Yea. The ever re-occurring "my eye's are not what they used to be syndrom". I know it all to well.

Good looking Mosin. Nice job with the mount/bolt installation. I'm interested in hearing if your groups tighten up.

What scope did you use?

This thread has re-ignited my interest in Mosins. Think I may have to seek another one out. Thanks guys!

EVOC ONE

jack19512 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 19, 2006, 03:50:25 AM »

Quote from: EVOC ONE on July 19, 2006, 12:54:08 AM

Good looking Mosin. Nice job with the mount/bolt installation. I'm interested in hearing if your groups tighten up.

What scope did you use?

EVOC ONE

For now I am using a inexpensive Bushnell I had lying around. Hope it holds up long enough to evaluate this setup. I will post my results, I am shooting it this mourning before it gets too hot.

simonkenton · « **Reply #8 on:** July 21, 2006, 02:59:06 AM »

Jack, I have learned to my chagrin that sarcasm does not come across well on these forums.

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2006, 10:49:03 AM »

I've had good luck with Bushnell scopes. I have more Banner models that any other scope and also a couple of Sportsmans. I've been very impressed with the Sportsmans clarity and ability to hold a zero. Although, they are mounted on .22 LR's and one on a .223 Handi.

I have a sporterized .303 Enfield with a $30 Wal Mart Tasco 3X9 that has done wonderful. Although I don't shoot it as often as others, I have probably put close to a hundred rounds through it and the Tasco is doing well. I've found that the military rifles can be a bit thicker at the reciever and heavier overall than commercial rifles. Even sporterized, the Enfield is heavier than any of my commercial rifles. This may be why the Tasco has held up. Perhaps your Bushnell will do well mounted to the Mosin, as it is also heavy. The only potential weak link I can think of is the scope mount. If I recall correctly, the one you used appears to be from Advance Technologies and, if so, I believe is aluminum. The mount on my Enfield is an old Weaver one piece steel "TO" model, which seems to add a good deal of strength.

I look forward to reading how it does.

Good Luck.

EVOC ONE

jack19512 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2006, 06:46:13 PM »

I didn't get to shoot the M38 as much as I wanted, it felt like it was 120 degrees the day I was shooting. I kind of strayed from my better reloads and tried some reloads using some powder I pulled from some military surplus ammo.

I think the scope setup is going to work out OK though. The military surplus ammo powder I think does show some promise. This is the only load I have tried using the surplus powder and it wasn't half bad. I think I will do better when the temp cools off some. This is a four shot group from 100 yards.

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #11 on:** July 22, 2006, 02:11:38 AM »

Good Shooting! Nothing wrong with that group. Even the flyer isn't that far out.

Keep up the good work.

EVOC ONE

Cheesehead · « **Reply #12 on:** August 25, 2006, 06:05:15 PM »

These rifles are currently on sale at the local Dunham's store. 89 bucks. I am tempted. I have no experience with these guns. 89 bucks is very cheap for a shooter. I reload for so many calibers I don't want to add another. Is ammo cheap and available? How about hunting ammo of quality? The carbine version looks interesting.

Cheese

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #13 on:** August 26, 2006, 03:49:07 PM »

For $89 they are hard to pass up. I've owned several Mod 38's as well as Mod 91/30's. Each has shot very well. My eyes are not what they used to be, but I find the wide rear sight is easy to sight at 100yds. 3" groups with have been the norm. Some say the carbine versions (Mod's 38 & 44) have more recoil than the rifle version. I've not found that to be true. Recoil is very tolerable.

Ammo is pretty easy to find at gun shows and not very expensive. I personally stay away from corrosive ammo, stricly because there is enough non-corrosive out there to avoid the hassle. Winchester sells both ball and soft point ammo. I've used that with good success. I have read that the Winchester stuff if foreign made. The Dunhams I deal with often has 7.62X54 ammo for sale. The Win ammo is usually around $13 per box. I've had good luck finding gun show ammo in the $7-$10 range. That will probably change, however. Guns shows in my area are just starting again and there has been much talk on the web about rising ammo cost. Dunhams is about the same as the gun shows.

They are sturdy built rifles that can take abuse. The safeties are not very user friendly. You have to pull the knurled rear of the bolt and turn it. Not a very smooth/quick operation for hunting. But, like anything else, practice makes perfect.

Its hard to find a ready made deer rifle with a short barrel for $89. I say jump on it. I've loved each of mine. By the way the 7.62X54 is in the catagory of the .30-06, but due to the shorter case, falls behind with bullets heavier than 180 gr.

Good Luck!

EVOC ONE

USMC0332 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 26, 2006, 09:08:57 PM »

I hunt with an M38 with a $30 BSA red-dot mounted scout style. The mount replaces the front sight blade. I took 2 deer last year with it using 203grn Silver Bear ammo. Silver bear and Brown Bear are from Barnaul. The silver is plated steel casing, brown is laquered, both good. I have shot this gun 100s of times and the scope is holding in there. I use the safety fluently due to much practice. Put the butt in your elbow to gain leverage and go shoot it and practice- it gets easier with time.

jh45gun · « **Reply #15 on:** August 27, 2006, 09:20:37 AM »

Nothing Wrong with Mosins I have had several and they shot ok and mine were the cheaper ones that the bores needed some work but after cleaning they shot fine. The thing is I really like my Swiss K31 and my Swede 96 scout rifle. Along with my other centerfires I figured I had to pare down the collection as I bought these to shoot not to collect. I reload but still my budget only allows to do so for my favorites and still at that I reload for 5 calibers. I figured I would rather buy brass for my K31 ( 284 to resize) and My 6.5x55 than for the mosins.

jack19512 · « **Reply #16 on:** August 27, 2006, 03:30:46 PM »

I am in the same situation when it comes to reloading for my rifles. I have more rifles than I can reload for. I have to pick which ones I like the best and which ones show the most promise.

So I reload for my M/N M38 because it shows a lot of promise and will eventually see some deer hunting, hopefully this year. I reload the Berdan primed brass for my K31 for the same reason as my M38.

I reload for my K98 because it has shown outstanding accuracy with mil-surplus ammo and my reloads.

I reload for my 223 Ultra just because I want to.

I reload for my new B/C 45/70 for the same reasons as my M38 and my K31.

I have a Weatherby 30-06 that I took my first deer with about 3 years ago, yes I just got back into deer hunting 3 years ago, hadn't deer hunted since I was about 15 years old. But the Weatherby hasn't been out of the safe since I started collecting all of these other rifles.

So, I also reload for 5 different calibers. Wish I could reload for them all but I just can't.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #17 on:** August 27, 2006, 03:59:51 PM »

I just took a quick count. I reload for 15 different cartridges. Thats enough for me. Maybe just one more could be added. Here they are.
222 mag
30 carbine
6.5x55
308 win
30.06
3030
8mm mauser
45-70
7mm rem mag
300 win mag
7.5x55
45 acp
44 special
44 mag
45 lc

Cheese

Ambushhunter · « **Reply #18 on:** August 31, 2006, 09:48:10 AM »

Cheese
With surplus 7.62x54R so cheap, why bother to reload for another cal.?? Just buy the rifle...and forget the reloading for this gun, will ya! From what I read about them they are usually good shooters for the $$$. Mine is. I bought a laminated M38 for $99, cleaned it up and shoot the heck out of it. Non-corrosive mil-surp ball is all I shoot from it. 3" groups at 100 yds. not uncommon. I like it so much, I'm gonna buy a few more mosins...

jack19512 · « **Reply #19 on:** August 31, 2006, 04:32:33 PM »

Quote from: Ambushhunter on August 31, 2006, 09:48:10 AM

Non-corrosive mil-surp ball is all I shoot from it. 3" groups at 100 yds. not uncommon.

And where did you find some mil-surplus 7.62x54R ammo that isn't corrosive? I could be wrong but I would recheck that if I were you.

You must not reload because you would understand if you did. I have 4 Mosin Nagant's and none of them shot near as good with the mil-surplus ammo as they do with my reloads. Plus, those that hunt with their military rifles like to be able to tailor their ammo to what they are hunting. Here is what my M38 will do with my reloads. Beats your 3 inches badly.

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #20 on:** September 01, 2006, 01:38:32 AM »

Jack19512: Here are some non-corrosive 7.62R ammo I use.

Winchester 180 Gr FMJ Brass Case, Made in Czech Republic
Olympic 180 GR FMJ Brass Case, Made in Greece
Prvi Partizan 180 Gr SP, Made in Yugoslavia, White box with red & blue stripes on one end

I find the Olympic is most common at gun shows and Dunhams. I have also bought the Winchester at Dunhams and occasionally at gun shows, but I find it more often at gun shops. I've only seen the Yugo ammo at gun shows and I've not seen it for while. Unfortunate, 'cause it really shot well from gun to gun.

I have been shooting these brands for over three years now and have had no corrosion issues. While Winchester and Olympic do not indicate so, the Yugo ammo box is printed with; " Mercury free primer, Corrosion & Erosion Resistant".

Hope this helps.

EVOC ONE

jgalar · « **Reply #21 on:** September 01, 2006, 03:37:15 AM »

There isn't very many milsurps that I can see the original sights to be able to shoot. I have bought a bunch of the mojo replacement sights and found them to be an inexpensive and quality replacement for standard military sights. Installation is easy and no permanent changes need to be made to the gun.

http://www.mojosights.com/

jack19512 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 01, 2006, 09:18:47 AM »

Quote from: EVOC ONE on September 01, 2006, 01:38:32 AM

Jack19512: Here are some non-corrosive 7.62R ammo I use.

Winchester 180 Gr FMJ Brass Case, Made in Czech Republic
Olympic 180 GR FMJ Brass Case, Made in Greece
Prvi Partizan 180 Gr SP, Made in Yugoslavia, White box with red & blue stripes on one end

I know there is 7.62X54R ammo being produced by several manufacturers. The subject was mil-surplus ammo. I don't think the ones you mentioned are considered mil-surplus. I could be wrong though. All I know, and I havn't tried them all is that the mil-surplus ammo I have used has been corrosive. I take that back, I don't think the Swiss mil-surplus 7.5X55 ammo is corrosive. But all of the mil-surplus 7.62X54R ammo I have tried has been.

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #23 on:** September 01, 2006, 04:01:23 PM »

Jack19512: Oops! I should have read your comment more closely. I would have to agree that probably most "surplus" is corrosive. I'm pretty sure those I mentioned would be considered commercial. Thanks for setting me straight.

EVOC ONE

jack19512 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 01, 2006, 04:47:06 PM »

The wood on mine was in bad shape so I really didn't lose anything by doing what I did to mine. On your bolt handle, is it a replacement bent bolt or is it one of the bent bolts like I used that you have to cut your original bolt and install ?

My bolt handle works good but if I do another(91/30) I will use a regular bent bolt. Don't you like the top mount for your scope? It is made of aluminum but is easy to install and it seems to work fine.

I wish I had a camera that would take good close-ups I would post a pic of the new crown I cut on my metal lathe. It looks real good.

Ambushhunter · « **Reply #25 on:** September 05, 2006, 08:31:33 AM »

jack19512
for what is worth, check the belted russian ammo here...ad says non-corrosive. I bought some and have been using it for awhile.
http://www.southernohiogun.com/ammo.html
I dunno, maybe the ad is wrong??

BTW your dime sized group definately beats what I'm getting!! Then again, I'm using open sights with 48 Y.O. eyes

However, reloading may be in my future.........

jack19512 · « **Reply #26 on:** September 05, 2006, 04:01:48 PM »

There could be some mil-surplus ammo that isn't corrosive, I'm sure no ammo expert. The general rule is to treat all mil-surplus ammo as corrosive unless you are certain it is not. There has been ammo advertised as non corrosive in the past and it turned out to be corrosive.

For me handloading is the only way to go with a lot of these rifles. The M/N's are a perfect example. I cannot remember the exact story but a lot of the M/N's had different bore diameters so they were able to shoot the various ammo that was manufactured by different countries.

My M38 shoots well with the .308 diameter bullets where my 91/30 that I shoot a lot likes the .311 diameter bullets. You need to slug your bore to be sure which diameter bullet would be right for a particular rifle if you handload for the M/N's.

NRAJOE · « **Reply #27 on:** September 14, 2006, 07:15:15 AM »

I shot my all matching Lammy M44 last month at the range using 44 grn Czech practice ammo and 147 grn Czech silvertip....toooo much fun!