Getting an M44, need help...

[Russkie11]

Im getting a Russian M44 Carbine that is stamped 1944. It has the Hammer and Sickle intact on it and has the pigsticker also. I know several of you on the boards have an m44 and i was just curious of any tips for a newbie to russkie rifles...

P.s, i live in northern MN and was curious if hunting with one of these would work out ok?

[Polisheagle1939]

A catalog called Sportsman Guide (also online) has cheap ammo for your M44. It is corrosive but with the chrome lined barrel it's no problem.

[{YBBS}Sage]

Hunting would be ok with it... as long as it's not like huge bear or anything. :P The 54R is comparable to .30/06.


I'm trying to save up for a 91/30 or M44. Probably a 91/30. I plan on using it for some hunting, too.

Check out MosinNagant.net for more info (maybe too much of it.)

[Velcro Warrior]

I love my M44.

Posting some videos of the awesome muzzle flash in a few minutes.


Surplus ammo is cheap... under $100 for a crate of 800-some rounds. It will likely be my next purchase.


There are also a number of new-production ammo for about $10 for a box of 20. If your local dealers don't carry it, suggest that they do. Some names of new manufacturers are Bear, Wolf, and Olympic.

[User Name]

No Mosin Nagant ever had a chrome lined barrel. Even if they did I would still clean it like it didn't.

Hunting with an M44 is ok since the cartridge is in the same class as a 30-06. If you miss you can always burn 'em with the muzzle flash!

[Velcro Warrior]

If you want to burn em, see my thread which sports some of the mighty fireballs...

[=VolkssturM=]

I highly recommend the two pages below for everything you want to know about Mosin Nagant rifles.

http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com/

http://mosinnagant.net/

[[CiA]Stiletto]

ALWAYS clean (flushing with a hose is optimal; Windex and water-soaked patches work just fine, though) after firing corrosive ammo. Chrome bores need less cleaning than plain bores, but they will still succumb to the effects of corrosive primers given enough time and neglect.

[Hardware]

i suggest to get a 91/30 first, the carbine kicks like a mule with the rifle cartridge. the 91/30 tend to be cheaper also. all mil surplus ammo is corrosive and each batch fires different.

[necropimp]

Originally Posted by Polisheagle1939

A catalog called Sportsman Guide (also online) has cheap ammo for your M44. It is corrosive but with the chrome lined barrel it's no problem.

mosins do not have chrome lined barrels corrosive just means you HAVE TO CLEAN IT ASAP after firing

91/30s are generally not cheaper than M44s

the best thing to do with ammo is buy a 20 round bundle or two of ammo from various countries and years, find out which shoots best with your rifle, then buy a crate of it

[{YBBS}Sage]

I went Mosin shopping today.. the local gunshop had about 4 91/30's and one M44. A 91/30 (which I bought, but don't yet posess... stupid waiting period) set me back $90. The M44 was going for $125...

I think 91/30's are a bit cheaper, there were/are a whole lot more of them out there.

[Velcro Warrior]

You should be able to get a M44 for less than $125... The usual price I see is around $70

Also, Russkie11, if its from a retailer, make sure you get the oiler, ammo pounches, and universal tool. You should get them for free with the rifle. (I always have)

[User Name]

It used to be the other way around. About four years ago, when I got into collecting. M44s were common as dirt and 91/30s were the ones that were harder to find. Then this recent import from the Ukraine showed up and 91/30s are still all over the place, but M44s are harder to get. Of course, with 17 million 91/30s made vs around 8 million M44s I guess they would dry up sooner. M38s are a little harder to find since only around two million of those were made.

That's one reason I got into Finn Mosins. Even the highest production rifle they had, the M39, had only a little over 100,000 made.

[Velcro Warrior]

Originally Posted by Russkie11

P.s, i live in northern MN and was curious if hunting with one of these would work out ok?

If you plan on hunting, I recommend purchasing one of the new-market scopes that replaces your rear leaf-spring instead of drilling and marring your gun.


Another note, you will need an extended eye-relief scope. I thought I could get away with a regular one and quickly found out I couldn't.

[GonzoX]

I own about four flavors of Mosins now M44, 91/30, M91 and M38. And I would offer this wisdom.

1)If you get a carbine (M38, M44 etc) then recoil is cut in half when your standing up -vs- sitting at the bench. I can shoot standing up all day but 50 rounds at bench with a carbine is enough for me. Sitting bruises my shoulder black and blue but standing does not. Why? Because standing up your entire body soaks up recoil -vs- sitting your shoulder alone gets the brunt of it.

2)Sometimes mosins have a buildup of laquer inside the chamber fromt he cheap steel laquer coated cases. you can clean this out with a wire brush and cleaning rod attached to an electric drill. Use some kind of solvent when you do this. Some say to wrap some fine steel wool around brush before you do this but I would not recommend that as this will actually start taking away metal IMHO.

3)Many of these rifles were sighted with bayonet fixed (or extended). What this means is that since most ranges will not let you affix bayo, you will need to re-sight your iron sights windage setting. A small hammer and flat pin punch come in handy here and remember that only small amount of taps will move it usually. You will also need lots of ammo to test this out and start this on a short range 25-50 yards first then move on to 100yards or longer.

Most of all, be safe and always check to make shure gun is empty when working on sights. Take bolt out every time to be sure. You can also buy a laser sight at wallyword for $30 that will help you check alignment out to 50 yards before you even go to range.

These rifles are an absolute bargain in this day and age although there are millions of them, they won't always be this cheap so I encourgage everyone to get one, even if you don't shoot it. It makes a nice wall piece. Keep it for prosperity etc.

[{YBBS}Sage]

Originally Posted by GonzoX

2)Sometimes mosins have a buildup of laquer inside the chamber fromt he cheap steel laquer coated cases. you can clean this out with a wire brush and cleaning rod attached to an electric drill. Use some kind of solvent when you do this. Some say to wrap some fine steel wool around brush before you do this but I would not recommend that as this will actually start taking away metal IMHO.

I've heard from another Mosin collector/shooter that a brush for a 20 gauge shotgun works perfectly.

That same friend reccomended this site for help choosing ammo: http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinAmmo.htm