Model 1944 Mosin Nagant Carbine

[rambone]

Questions from a brand new Mosin user. Gray questions are already answered.

1. What would you offer someone for a Model 1944 Mosin Nagant Carbine rifle? It comes with a sling and swivel mounted bayonet. Wood is in pretty good shape, bolt action. Original, Soviet. I paid $100 for mine, from a friend.

2. I didn't get any stripper clips that came with it. I've never used a stripper clip either. From what I am reading, it is just a tool that lets you have your rounds lined up and ready to be pushed in to the gun? The stripper clip does not actually enter the gun I assume?

3. Any recommended brand or supplier of stripper clips, to have known reliability? I read something about "Izhevsk" style stripper clips being reliable. Any comments? I need to find some. Anybody selling any?

4. I'm considering buying some Czech FMJ Light Ball ammo. Does one Eastern European Socialist country make better ammo than another? Any comments about what to buy?

5. What tools should I be concerned about buying, if any? I have seen specially shaped tools (like shown in the picture below) and I don't know what they are for, or why I would need them. I don't think I need them to clean the rifle.

Clockwise from ten o'clock: bore guide, multi-tool (screw driver and firing pin protrusion gauge), cleaning rod handle, and cleaning jag.


6. Anybody have a link to any PDF operations manuals for a M44?

7. Can somebody explain the adjustable sights to me? It slides from a setting of "1" to "10" but I need to know what that translates to in terms of distances. An explanation would be helpful. I am told that the range is 100-1000 meters.

[samrothstein01]

You will find lots of Mosin addicts and experts on this site. These were for the most part fairly easy to find until recently. They are still available, but getting harder to find as the surplus is being bought up. It seems to me that these have taken on a sort of "cult" type following and once you own one....you will own two, then three, and so on and so forth. They are an aboslute blast to shoot (no pun intended.) It is by far one of my favorites to take out. They are loud and obnoxious, and the M44's have a fireball that projects from the end of the barrel when shooting. I don't know how else you would classify a good time!

The going rate for an M44 is about $100 to $140. With $100 being a decent deal, $120 about normal, and $140 being an outstanding rifle or someone is charging too much.

The 7.62x54R ammo is fairly easy to find, and fairly inexpensive as it relates to other rifle ammo. From AIM or Sportsmansguide and other retailers you can find 440 rounds for about $90, and most surplus ammo is about the same, approximately 400-500 rounds for $100-$120. Now you can certainly buy much more expensive ammo for it, but this is the cheapest. Also, much of the ammo for the Mosin's is corrosive, so make sure you clean it properly after use with some windex or water.

Also the site below has a TON of great info and everything you would want to know about the Mosin's.

7.62x54r.net

[caneman]

As the surplus corrosive, berdan primed stuff tightens up in supply, you can buy good brass, boxer primed from Midwayusa and I'm sure from other suppliers. Dies are available.

My biggest problem with all the mosins and other military rifles I've shot is my age and the steel buttplate. As I've aged, I've list some of the meat (Muscle) in my shoulders and the steel hits my shoulder as hard as the bullet hits the target. I'd like to try one of those slip on rubber pads to see how much difference that makes. Ear protection is a must.

[SouthBendIN]

I heard the Mosin Carbines are getting harder to find. Maybe someone else can chime in on that.

They were 100$ for a while but recently I think they are around 120$-150$ now.

Check sportsmansguide.com and wideners.com for 7.62x54r. Thats where I bought my last to spam cans (440rounds per) It was 93$ or something after shipping for each can. That was 4 months ago and I haven't check prices lately but i think I saw them in my recent sportmansguide catalog for 130$ per can.


I'd buy it because I think everyone should own a Mosin

[jtmarine1911]

Honestly, I wouldn't give over $100 for a M44 unless it was perfect and had all the goodies with it(cleaning accesories, ammo pouch, stripper clips). The big thing to look for in one is bore condition. The rifle might be absolutely beautiful and still have a junk bore. Inspect for bore for rust, pits, lack of rifling. Most of these rifles if they have a good bore appear to have fairly deep rifling.

Another thing about the M44's or any Mosin in general is accuracy is picky when it comes to ammo selection/bullet selction because of the great variances in bore diameter. Mosin's bore diameters can vary anywhere from .308 to .312", one reason why most reloading dies come with two expander balls.

Surplus ammo is usually your best bet when it comes to cheap ammo, but the down-fall is the corrosive primers. If the bore is not cleaned often it can destroy it. I have had instances of the bore starting to rust in less than 30mins in mine, most likely accelerated due to the humidity at the time, but none the less, maintainance is a must.

And as forementioned, HEARING PROTECTION IS A MUST with the M44. The large round combined with a short barrel sounds more like a bomb than it does a gunshot. If you don't wear any, expect permanent ringing in your ears for the rest of your life.

[88E30M50]

I'd love to find an M44 for $100 in almost any condition. 6 months ago, that might have been possible, but I don't think I've seen a nice one for under $130 lately. I paid $120 for an M44 in January and $140 for a really nice one in March. Since then, I just have not seen them around except at the 1500. IIRC, they were going for around $140 at the show. I have not seen any at Bradis since March and was not impressed with the condition of the ones they had then.

[fullauto 45]

Someone at the 1500 last week-end had one with 200 rounds of ammo for $250.

[crmguns]

if it is in good shape I think it would be a great deal at $100. porbley go up to $125. Ammo is still easy to find, you need to be carefull though to not over pay. I have been getting it for $5.19 for 20 rounds.

[thej27]

My cheapest M44 cost me $125. That seems to be the going price. Just follow the previous suggestions and you will have no problem. The earlier M44s are usually counter-bored about two inches when they were arsenally refinished. I got 800 rounds of Czech 7.62 from Aim Surplus for $178 shipped right to my door. It great ammo. Russian and Hungarian seem to be good to. One thing to remember is the rifles were sighted with the bayonets extended.

[88E30M50]

This has me thinking that I need to take the M38 out to the range tomorrow. All this Mosin talk makes me want to shoot the beast.