Author Topic: M-38 ? (Read 708 times)

257Robt · « **on:** January 03, 2005, 07:49:33 AM »

I got back from a local store and they had Century Arms International (I think thats what they were) M-38 in 7.62 * 54r for $90. The rifle was ugly as sin but yet I liked it for some reason. Does anyone here have one?

1911crazy · « **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2005, 08:09:11 AM »

Yes I have an M38 mosin, M91/59 and an M44 all are the same barrel lenght. The M38 and M91/59 have been hard to find in the last few years and some just became available but who knows for how long and how many there are. Thats not a bad price too I've seen them over $100 too. The M91/59 is a shortened M91/30 you can pick these out by the longer 91/30 rear site a mile away. The M44's have a attatched bayonet lug on the end of the barrel on the right side. The M38 was a new model and the shorter barrel does bark a little but overall its a nice mosin. And yes if you like it buy it!!!!! Ya its a little ugly and looks a little crude but they do shoot good!!!! The plus is the surplus 7.62x54 ammo is cheap too. BigBill

257Robt · « **Reply #2 on:** January 03, 2005, 10:54:45 AM »

BigBill,
Does the M-38 have a safety on it? Also, the one I looked at had a laminated stock I believe. I found them at Century Arms website.

Geno · « **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2005, 11:24:30 AM »

I just bought one on Saturday, the local Fleet Farms just got some in for $89. The one I picked up looks like it's never been fired. That will change very soon. Yes, there is a safety, but probably not one like you were expecting. You need to pull the knob on the back of the bolt back towards you and twist it to the left, that's the safety.

257Robt · « **Reply #4 on:** January 03, 2005, 11:35:24 AM »

The one I looked at was at our Fleet Farm also. Is the stock laminated? Does a person kinda fumble with the safety or is it pretty straight forward to use?

RB Rooson · « **Reply #5 on:** January 03, 2005, 12:59:58 PM »

Geno hit it right on the head with the safety!! PULL the bolt knob TOWARD YOU; TURN it to the LEFT; and EASE it FORWARD......it will set into place with a slot on the bolt.

TO RELEASE - REVERSE the process......

This was basically a 'soldier-proof' gun and everything was designed for simplicity. The Russian infantry was not known for its' candidates on Jeopardy!!!!

I personally find the Mosin-Nagant to be a fascinating rifle. It is extremely durable; accurate for the use intended; parts are interchangeable with almost any other Mosin; absolutely inexpensive to shoot and used by over 60% of the world's armies at one time.

For $100.00, you are holding and get to shoot a piece of history......count yourself lucky because of all the shooters who have "passed up this $100.00 gun", don't know what experience they could have had.......

Geno · « **Reply #6 on:** January 03, 2005, 01:55:19 PM »

I'm not overly knowledgeable or much of a collector of these things. But like RB Rooson says, they are fascinating to own, shoot and in their simplicity an engineering marvel (to me anyway). Reminds me of 10 or more years ago I started buying SKS's. Everyone said I was crazy. They're cheap, poorly made etc...... Until they shot one, then they started buying them. Try to find one of them for $59 today!! or at any price sometimes. so for now, buy em, and shoot em, have a ball. I have heard there were some with laminate stocks, never have seen one, would suspect they are more rare. If I see one, the credit card will be on the counter fast. I hear there were Hex shaped receievers on some early ones too. I'll be buying one of them if I ever see it too. Ammo is cheap, ballistics look about like a .308, accuracy can be very good depending on the rifle.

MGMorden · « **Reply #7 on:** January 03, 2005, 02:19:07 PM »

There are some laminate stocks out there, though I don't know the specifics of when they are used. AFAIK (I could be wrong) the Hex receivers were only on the M91/59.

I managed to pickup an M38 from Aztec International a while back for $55. Great looking little gun, but with that steel butt-plate the recoil is pretty stiff. Well worth the price though.

kevin.303 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 03, 2005, 02:33:55 PM »

AFAIK( and i could be wrong as well) but early Russian anf Finnish M91's also had a hexagonal reciever.

1911crazy · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2005, 02:55:10 AM »

Sometime in the early 30's the Russians switched from Hex Recievers to Round Recievers. All of the Finnish M39's are hex recievers. And yes most of the M44, M91/59 and M38's do come in a laminated stock. I was lucky back in the 80's to buy a brand new Russian M44 with a laminated stock. The date in the reciever matches the date on the barrel and she was still in the arsenal wrap too. I didn't have a clue back then I just wanted a cheap new rifle and the $114 price tag sure was attractive back then. I did buy it to sporterize but it sat on the back burner for so long which was good for me after i realized it was a brand new M44 I'm glad i didn't touch it and I did purchase a half done sporter that i thought was an M44 but after researching and looking at the longer rear site it turned out to be a M91/59. The gun has an awesome bent bolt and newer front sight too and all the work looks to be done by a smith. These mosins have to be the best buy out there right now in the surplus military bolt action catagory. I have to add the mosins seem to be the easiest surplus gun to collect and there still affordable too so if you want some now is the time to buy them. These M38's and M91/59's seem to drop out of site at times and i'm not sure how long they will be available to us too.
If your going to collect mosins just a few will make a nice selection/collection; The russian mosins M91/30, M91/59, M38 and M44 and the finnish mosins M91/30, and M39 sure do make a nice collection of mosins. If you can drop some cash a russian sniper 91/30 and finnish M27 is a nice addition too. You can still find finnish civil guard 91/30's at Samco but i'm not sure what the condition is of what they have left. But i did get a few nice ones from them marked [SA] and one was #41 marked. Some mauser owners may argue with this but the mosins seem to be a tad more accurate that the mausers. These old mosins sure are made simple and a little crude but the shoot good like i said before. And its good that some will pass up these cheap, very affordable, pieces of history, its just more for us the ones who enjoy them!!!!! BigBill

I really don't think there is another hobby that is this affordable right now. I think now is the time to open up the piggy bank and buy a few military surplus guns because in the years a head who knows where the prices will be?? I think everything will follow in the path of the '41 Johnsons in the future and its long over due. All these guns have fought in the same wars and seem the same action and there all old war horses now and have become very collectable treasures now. I'm starting to see an average low price of $200 on mausers now in my area. With the supply of the 8mm surplus ammo running low and some of the surplus guns starting to run out and some are already gone the prices can only go up. My point is even if you buy it and don't like it you can sell it and not lose anything. So don't stick your big toe in the water, JUMP IN!!!!!!!!!

Fact; Mosins with Laminated stocks will have two stock bolts one in the center of the stock and one in the hand grip area just behind the bolt. Having the two stock bolts is a dead giveaway its a laminated stocked mosin.

257Robt · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2005, 07:41:15 AM »

I took a look at the M-38 again today. The safety isn't so bad. The one I looked at had a wood stock, not laminant like I thought. Overall though the stock that is on it looks really nice. The more I look at it, the more I think I want it. The guy working used to work at a local gun store and has some knowledge on them. He told me that the people that have bought them and have been very pleased. He said that alot of people are buying them to have an extra rifle at deer camp. The rifle I looked was stamped 1943 just ahead of the bolt. Does that sound right? Also, are there serial numbers on the bolt handle? There were several on the bolt that matched the receiver. Just curious.

1911crazy · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2005, 09:08:04 AM »

It sounds like you have a matching number gun (reciever matches the bolt) even though its not a laminated stock its no biggie it still sounds like a keeper!!!! There maybe another date/year on the rear of the reciever when to take it apart the reciever out of the stock to clean it. Right near the rear screw hole there should be another date/year. If it doesn't match the year on top of the barrel the gun was rearsenaled/rebuilt at sometime and thats ok too. Go buy it quick before someone else does!!!! BigBill

Airsporter · « **Reply #12 on:** January 11, 2005, 10:36:00 AM »

My son bought a good looking model 38 at a gun show last month for $89. They had a boat load of them plus model 44s and 91/30s at the same price.

They were all arsenal reworks (look for sloppy shellac finish, counterbored barrels, an electro pencil number, and restamped parts 'force matched' by the arsenal). In spite of that, and the awkward safety, they have to be the bargain of the year.

Came with an unissued 'dogcollar' sling & cleaning kit, and a used ammo pouch. Wolf 148 gr. ammo was only $25/100.

Had a blast at the range Sunday - literally. Lots of muzzle blast from that 'short' barrel and a fairly stiff recoil (from the sitting bench). Also shot some reduced power handloads I put together (40grs. of H4895 behind a 123 gr .310 bullet - made for the 7.62x39). What a difference. They shot almost 5" lower at 50yds. than full power loads while still exceeding 7.62x39 power levels!

If I get the chance again, at those prices I may buy one of each model.

VFR · « **Reply #13 on:** January 12, 2005, 08:47:29 AM »

Maybe one of you guys can help me. On the subject of M38 action, I have just acquired a Husky M649 in 9.3x62 built on a M38 Swede action. This action has no thumb cut on the left side of the receiver for using stipper clips. Is this common to all M38's? I just assumed all the military actions had the thumb slot. Thanks, Bob

Airsporter · « **Reply #14 on:** January 12, 2005, 10:51:17 AM »

Actually, I don't think most military actions do have them. Mauser put them on many, but not all, versions.

joev · « **Reply #15 on:** January 18, 2005, 11:59:29 PM »

I picked one up this past Saturday, it is a 1941 low wall in a correct m38 stock,Century import ,counterbored and very good to excellent bore. I removed the shellac and applied an oil stain to seal the wood( DID NOT SAND!) and now the rifle is beautiful. It is probably my favorite rifle of my Russian guns. I have yet to shoot it but it can probably shoot better than I can hold it. I am going it to the range and wring a few rounds out of it and if it is accurate enough, use it to hunt with. Not bad for $100.00 for an all matching refurb.

MGMorden · « **Reply #16 on:** January 19, 2005, 02:06:05 AM »

Quote from: VFR

Maybe one of you guys can help me. On the subject of M38 action, I have just acquired a Husky M649 in 9.3x62 built on a M38 Swede action. This action has no thumb cut on the left side of the receiver for using stipper clips. Is this common to all M38's? I just assumed all the military actions had the thumb slot. Thanks, Bob

Completely different M38 action. The M38 the guys are discussing here it the Russian Mosin Nagant M38. The Swedish M38 is based on a small ring Mauser design. They're similar in name only. IMHO the Swede is the nicer of the two (I"ve got one of each).