The Deer Hunter
Member
Hey guys
Picked up a box of surplus ammo from the gun store the other day. I forget what it is, but it's had the copper washed case with "10" over a "84". I paid $10 for the box of 20. $.50 isn't that bad, I would expect surplus ammo to be a little cheaper. What really got me was that he told me it wasn't corrosive
which it most certainly is. It doesn't really matter though, I hadn't shot my M44 in quite a while, and I was happy to be able to shoot it.
My range trip was a spur of the moment thing, 9:30 in the morning. It was beautiful; sunny, and warm, no breeze. Nobody at the range, the day was still young, nice.
This is the first centerfire rifle I have had. Got it from ammo reloader at a gunshow in Florida a couple years ago for $150. Overall it wasn't a very good deal, but it was my rifle and I was happy.
It's the typical Hungarian M44. 1942. The barrel has some pitting, although there is a lot of rifling left. The finish is probably 85% (blueing), the wood is all banged up, and the occaisonal sticky bolt. The picture actually makes it look better...
I picked up the ammo pouch and sling at a different gun show a year or so later.
It's fun using these:
Here is the rifle/pistol range at the club:
Here is a closer view of the targets:
As of right now, the only distance you can shoot sitting at the benches is 100 yards. The right burm is the "pistol" burm. You can only shoot pistols and .22s into it. Apparently rifles and shotguns send ricochet off the concrete blocks. I can't, for the life of me, figure out how pistol bullets don't...
Overall I have to say I'm impressed with the results. From shooting it in the past, I have done terrible. Shooting at 100 yards on the bench, I would get maybe 15" groupings (if you can call them that...).
I shot the first two strippers at 100 yards, sitting with that cutout rest.
Here is the first group:
And the second group:
It's not 1 MOA, but I'm happy with it. They have improved significantly since last time I shot. It could be the ammo type, or just as easily I got better at easing the trigger.
Then, standing, at 25 yards using the sling:
And with the last 5 rounds, I shot this at 50 yards. Standing, using my sling for support:
Here is a picture of the target with a pen for size comparison:
I am very happy how it shot at 25 and 50 yards standing. The original purpose of this rifle was for deer. I have a Remington 700 now, but I am happy enough with these groups to take it into the woods now.
With the exception of that one flyer at 50 yards, it was a very good group size considering I'm standing, and it's a 60 year old rusty rifle shooting low quality surplus ammo from 1984.
I experience rim lock loading the rifle a couple times. I think it's because of the clips. I bought them at the gunshow where I bought the rifle, but from pictures I have seen, they are a little different and allow the cartridges flip around pretty freely.
Not much sticky bolt, too. The first 10 rounds was a bit difficult closing and the rifle, but after it warmed up It was basically trouble free.
Oh and of course, Cosmoline Coming out the woodwork:
It's the greasy looking stuff around the seam of the hand guard and stock.
Well guys, thanks for checking this out and I hope you enjoyed reading.
Picked up a box of surplus ammo from the gun store the other day. I forget what it is, but it's had the copper washed case with "10" over a "84". I paid $10 for the box of 20. $.50 isn't that bad, I would expect surplus ammo to be a little cheaper. What really got me was that he told me it wasn't corrosive
which it most certainly is. It doesn't really matter though, I hadn't shot my M44 in quite a while, and I was happy to be able to shoot it. My range trip was a spur of the moment thing, 9:30 in the morning. It was beautiful; sunny, and warm, no breeze. Nobody at the range, the day was still young, nice.
This is the first centerfire rifle I have had. Got it from ammo reloader at a gunshow in Florida a couple years ago for $150. Overall it wasn't a very good deal, but it was my rifle and I was happy.
It's the typical Hungarian M44. 1942. The barrel has some pitting, although there is a lot of rifling left. The finish is probably 85% (blueing), the wood is all banged up, and the occaisonal sticky bolt. The picture actually makes it look better...
I picked up the ammo pouch and sling at a different gun show a year or so later.
It's fun using these:
Here is the rifle/pistol range at the club:
Here is a closer view of the targets:
As of right now, the only distance you can shoot sitting at the benches is 100 yards. The right burm is the "pistol" burm. You can only shoot pistols and .22s into it. Apparently rifles and shotguns send ricochet off the concrete blocks. I can't, for the life of me, figure out how pistol bullets don't...
Overall I have to say I'm impressed with the results. From shooting it in the past, I have done terrible. Shooting at 100 yards on the bench, I would get maybe 15" groupings (if you can call them that...).
I shot the first two strippers at 100 yards, sitting with that cutout rest.
Here is the first group:
And the second group:
It's not 1 MOA, but I'm happy with it. They have improved significantly since last time I shot. It could be the ammo type, or just as easily I got better at easing the trigger.
Then, standing, at 25 yards using the sling:
And with the last 5 rounds, I shot this at 50 yards. Standing, using my sling for support:
Here is a picture of the target with a pen for size comparison:
I am very happy how it shot at 25 and 50 yards standing. The original purpose of this rifle was for deer. I have a Remington 700 now, but I am happy enough with these groups to take it into the woods now.
With the exception of that one flyer at 50 yards, it was a very good group size considering I'm standing, and it's a 60 year old rusty rifle shooting low quality surplus ammo from 1984.
I experience rim lock loading the rifle a couple times. I think it's because of the clips. I bought them at the gunshow where I bought the rifle, but from pictures I have seen, they are a little different and allow the cartridges flip around pretty freely.
Not much sticky bolt, too. The first 10 rounds was a bit difficult closing and the rifle, but after it warmed up It was basically trouble free.
Oh and of course, Cosmoline Coming out the woodwork:
It's the greasy looking stuff around the seam of the hand guard and stock.
Well guys, thanks for checking this out and I hope you enjoyed reading.
