Mosin M44

[gunlover_06]

Need some help I found a very nice M44 today at a friends shop, it is in really great shape, the bluing is perfect which I'm sure was done as a re-arsenal the bore is perfect and shiny doesn't look like the rifle has ever been shot but I'm sure it probably has. My question is, is $200.00 dollars out the door a good price for one of these, I haven't priced them in a long time and truly don't know much about them other than just reading what I have found on them.
My next question is how is the recoil on these ? the reason I ask is because I have cancer and have a port for when I do chemotherapy, and don't want it banging against it and possibly damage the port.
Any info would be appreciated especially on the price.

Thank you in advance

 

[Sergei Mosin]

$200 is an excellent price for an M44. They do kick pretty hard though; a full power round, short barrel, and steel butt plate see to that. A padded shooting jacket is money well spent.

Prayers for a full and speedy recovery.

 

[gunlover_06]

$200 is an excellent price for an M44. They do kick pretty hard though; a full power round, short barrel, and steel butt plate see to that. A padded shooting jacket is money well spent.

Prayers for a full and speedy recovery.

Thank you for the response, the rifle is very nice so I think I will pick it up in a couple of weeks can figure something out on the recoil, may look into a padded jacket

 

[morcey2]

As Sergei Mosin said, they have pretty good recoil. A slip on recoil pad will help, along with making the LOP a little longer. Something else to look into is a PAST recoil pad. I have a field pad and use it all the time. It really helps with felt recoil. Another option, if you reload, is to do some reduced loads with H4895 ( see : https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895 Reduced Rifle Loads.pdf ) or really light loads with Trail Boss or Red Dot. I've done both and red dot is a little more accurate, but I load them mostly so my neices, nephews, and grandkids can shoot "the big guns" without retinal detachment or flying backwards into orbit.

Good luck with the chemo.

Matt

 

[boom boom]

Prices have been climbing even on plain jane Mosin 91/30's and the rarer variants are drying up. Sergei is correct--buy it.

 

[Rubber_Duck]

For $200 buy any Mosin-Nagant you see, prices are only going up. The slip-on recoil pads are my top suggestion for recoil. They don't modify the rifle in any way and they add an inch to the length of pull which helps because the Mosin-Nagant rifles were purposely designed with short stocks to accommodate winter clothing.

 

[ontarget]

They are good rifles, they do kick. You should try shooting from your weak side. It's not that difficult and you'd be surprised how accurate you may be since you will have to concentrate more on form.

 

[gunlover_06]

Have thought about trying to do that, I'm going to pick this rifle up in a couple of weeks was really surprised how nice it is

 

[kozak6]

Yeah, it does pack quite a wollop.

I've had good success with a slide on recoil pad.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

I have a ChineseType 53 (Chinese copy of the M44) with a transplanted Russian M1944 stock (the original stock was crappy).
I don't think it's any lighter than my hex receiver 91/30 (1926 stamped): the barrel is thicker on the shorter rifle. They both heft about the same blindfolded.
And they do kick. Last vintage military match 30 rounds 7.62x54R left red marks on my shoulder. 7.62x54R compares to the .308 Win and .303 Brit according to my shoulder. Some shooters in the military matches handload for accuracy and reduced recoil. I do not know the implications of a port for chemotherapy, but for target shooting only, reduced recoil handloads might be an option. Wish you a speedy recovery.

 

[Capybara]

Don't know if you reload but if you do, a lot of reloaders create powder puff loads in 7.62x54r that barely have more kick than a .22 mag. The Mosin is not the most accurate rifle in the world so plinking at 50-100 yards it it's forte. It's too bad it's not 2013, I scored a few thousand rounds of Czech low recoil training ammo, the stuff is great for kids, women and recoil averse shooters, it uses a very light bullet that ends up over 3,000 FPS and the stuff has all of the boom but non of the recoil of the regular Mosin ammo. But the Czech stuff is done and gone, my supply is dwindling but it was fun while it lasted. M44s are a blast, I own half a dozen of them but with regular ammo, yes, they have a good jolt for your shoulder. I use a slip on recoil pad called a Limbsaver and it helps a lot but even with that, still a good jarring kick. Looking forward to cold weather, then I can shoot it with a jacket on. Shoot yours at night or evening, the fireballs are amazing.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

^ "... Czech low recoil training ammo ..." Was that the white painted round nose stuff? I have an envelope with six rounds and a sectioned bullet. Should I keep it as a curio?

 

[kBob]

Gunlover 06,

NO WAY! I would NEVER fire a Mosin Nagant 91, much less a 1944 from the same shoulder I had an Infuss-a-port in. About a year after my very experienced at High Power Rifle shooting had his he decided to fire a Mini-14 Ranch rifle in .223 from his shoulder that supported an Infuse-a-port. He collapsed and dropped the rifle right there on the range and was not in good shape.

You really do not want the recoil of anything slaming into something with a direct route into your aorta! He eventually did manage to shoot some .22 LR rifles from that shoulder, with careful positioning, but gave up centerfire rifles and shotguns he could not shoot left handed.

As to the M 1944 specifically. I first fired a bring back during the VN war with some ancient US made ammo. I had found a partial box at a local hardware store and had access to the rifle via the owners Mom. I ha cleaned it up and taken it to School to show off in classes and just had to shoot it. I thought I was a whimpy teen for feeling the recoil, but with only a half a box of ammo and several friends I only fired it a couple of shots.

The next time I shot one was when my girl friends (not a typo) bought me one in about 1989. The only ammo I could find then was the Red Chinese stuff sold in 15 round brown paper and string wrapped bundles. The same buddy mentioned above accompanied me to a friends private range for a class and after we did our teaching I broke out the M44. As I was having problems with the kneeling position, I did most of my casual shooting in that position at the time (after knee surgery, no problem as I CAN NOT even come close to getting into even a "bad" knee"). After I set off my first round of cheap Chinese surplus in my free-bee Russian rifle I knelt wondering if I had forgotten to pull the butt into my shoulder with enough force or if a passing mule had kicked me when I felt a tap at my off shoulder. It was my buddy.

"Hey, are you alright?" he asked and when I responded asking him why he asked he stated that the assembled witnesses though the rifle had exploded "Man dust flew off your back and sweat flung off the back of your head! There was a huge fireball!"

Naturally I thought this all funny and after a brief inspection of the rifle and myself went back to shooting. I know the Mosin fan boys will tell you that M1944s are not "that" bad. Honestly I would rather shoot slugs from my plastic stocked 18.5 inch Mossberg 500GS than shoot the Mosin.

If I was planning on shooting one a lot I would reload for it, maybe dropping the velocities down to .30-30 levels for whatever bullet weight I used.

Despite this I have often wished I had gotten one of the bayonet free M38s when they were cheap. The folding bayonet on the M44 does come in handy though when shooting on a grass range area and one needs to lay the rifle down a moment on wet grass. Extend the bayonet and stab the planet and let the rifle stand there like a field grave marker.

-kBob

 

[wojownik]

That is a very good price. Low enough that you could resell the rifle with a reasonable markup if you decided that the recoil was too much.

Personally, I find the m44 to be a bit of an unpleasant little beast, unless you are in the right mood. Very stout recall, big fireball, very loud report, and mine are not very accurate unless the bayonet is extended (which is prohibited at my local range anyway). Oh, and did I mention the recall.

The longer M91/30 has a more manageable recoil. And I like the long rifle better (probably a Freudian thing there).

 

[Sunray]

"...figure something out on the recoil..." Slip on recoil pad from Pachmayr. Think they run about $20 or $30.
An M44 weighs 8.9 pounds with a 20.5" barrel. A 150 grain bullet at 2800 fps 7.62 x 54R recoils with 13.1 ft-lbs., but it's more the muzzle blast that scares people.

 

[hdbiker]

I have a 1946 Model 44 in mint condition, all metal parts matching, perfect bore.It'll shoot into 4 inches at 100 yds from my Lead Slead with my old eyes .The short barrel displays a large flash.Fun rifle to own and shoot. hdbiker

 

[entropy]

^ "... Czech low recoil training ammo ..." Was that the white painted round nose stuff? I have an envelope with six rounds and a sectioned bullet. Should I keep it as a curio?

Yes. It is quite scarce these days. I only use it letting new shooters try one of my Mosins. If you reload, there's lots of data around for 123 gr. AK bullets in 7.62x54R. You can make some nice plinkers that way.

 

[kBob]

Guys,

If the OP has an infuse-a-port under the skin in his shooting shoulder that is basically a plastic cup a bit bigger than a quarter with a soft plastic section directly under the skin. A tube from that goes from the port inside his rib cage and a catheter extends into his decending aerota. Think a squeeze bulb with the open end in the biggest artery in your body and very near the heart.

Do you really think shooting a 7.62x54 ANYTHING with even the best recoil pad ever made is really a good idea in his case?

-kBob

 

[Merle1]

Don't know if you reload but if you do, a lot of reloaders create powder puff loads in 7.62x54r that barely have more kick than a .22 mag. The Mosin is not the most accurate rifle in the world so plinking at 50-100 yards it it's forte. It's too bad it's not 2013, I scored a few thousand rounds of Czech low recoil training ammo, the stuff is great for kids, women and recoil averse shooters, it uses a very light bullet that ends up over 3,000 FPS and the stuff has all of the boom but non of the recoil of the regular Mosin ammo. But the Czech stuff is done and gone, my supply is dwindling but it was fun while it lasted. M44s are a blast, I own half a dozen of them but with regular ammo, yes, they have a good jolt for your shoulder. I use a slip on recoil pad called a Limbsaver and it helps a lot but even with that, still a good jarring kick. Looking forward to cold weather, then I can shoot it with a jacket on. Shoot yours at night or evening, the fireballs are amazing.

Actually a M-N that has been put together properly AND uses quality ammo can be surprisingly accurate. Problem is, many of them can claim neither of these conditions, plus many are a bit on the weary side. Take a look at the Finn snipers & Olympic rifles from recent years.

 

[gunlover_06]

Gunlover 06,

NO WAY! I would NEVER fire a Mosin Nagant 91, much less a 1944 from the same shoulder I had an Infuss-a-port in. About a year after my very experienced at High Power Rifle shooting had his he decided to fire a Mini-14 Ranch rifle in .223 from his shoulder that supported an Infuse-a-port. He collapsed and dropped the rifle right there on the range and was not in good shape.

You really do not want the recoil of anything slaming into something with a direct route into your aorta! He eventually did manage to shoot some .22 LR rifles from that shoulder, with careful positioning, but gave up centerfire rifles and shotguns he could not shoot left handed.

As to the M 1944 specifically. I first fired a bring back during the VN war with some ancient US made ammo. I had found a partial box at a local hardware store and had access to the rifle via the owners Mom. I ha cleaned it up and taken it to School to show off in classes and just had to shoot it. I thought I was a whimpy teen for feeling the recoil, but with only a half a box of ammo and several friends I only fired it a couple of shots.

The next time I shot one was when my girl friends (not a typo) bought me one in about 1989. The only ammo I could find then was the Red Chinese stuff sold in 15 round brown paper and string wrapped bundles. The same buddy mentioned above accompanied me to a friends private range for a class and after we did our teaching I broke out the M44. As I was having problems with the kneeling position, I did most of my casual shooting in that position at the time (after knee surgery, no problem as I CAN NOT even come close to getting into even a "bad" knee"). After I set off my first round of cheap Chinese surplus in my free-bee Russian rifle I knelt wondering if I had forgotten to pull the butt into my shoulder with enough force or if a passing mule had kicked me when I felt a tap at my off shoulder. It was my buddy.

"Hey, are you alright?" he asked and when I responded asking him why he asked he stated that the assembled witnesses though the rifle had exploded "Man dust flew off your back and sweat flung off the back of your head! There was a huge fireball!"

Naturally I thought this all funny and after a brief inspection of the rifle and myself went back to shooting. I know the Mosin fan boys will tell you that M1944s are not "that" bad. Honestly I would rather shoot slugs from my plastic stocked 18.5 inch Mossberg 500GS than shoot the Mosin.

If I was planning on shooting one a lot I would reload for it, maybe dropping the velocities down to .30-30 levels for whatever bullet weight I used.

Despite this I have often wished I had gotten one of the bayonet free M38s when they were cheap. The folding bayonet on the M44 does come in handy though when shooting on a grass range area and one needs to lay the rifle down a moment on wet grass. Extend the bayonet and stab the planet and let the rifle stand there like a field grave marker.

-kBob

That is why I gave up all my center fire rifles three and a half years ago when I was first diagnosed with cancer I do shoot my 22's and 22 magnums but always place my weak hand behind the butt while against my shoulder, I don't even want them banging into port with their minimal recoil

 

[gunlover_06]

Guys,

If the OP has an infuse-a-port under the skin in his shooting shoulder that is basically a plastic cup a bit bigger than a quarter with a soft plastic section directly under the skin. A tube from that goes from the port inside his rib cage and a catheter extends into his decending aerota. Think a squeeze bulb with the open end in the biggest artery in your body and very near the heart.

Do you really think shooting a 7.62x54 ANYTHING with even the best recoil pad ever made is really a good idea in his case?

-kBob

Thank you Bob that is why I do not shoot big caliber guns anymore do not want to damage the port in any way, I may just buy it to have for trading fodder

 

[Merle1]

In my defense I'll have to say I had no idea what a port was, nor how complex it is.
I'd also join you in saying that this level of recoil could be serious!

 

[Sergei Mosin]

Learn to shoot with the rifle against the other shoulder?

 

[kBob]

Gunlover 06,

My buddy spent a lot more time with his S&W 27 tweenie barrel ( longer than 4" and less than 6") and his 6 " S&W 28 revolvers and warm and heavy .357 loads after his port was installed. He called them his Holster Rifles and worked them well out to a good 200 meters.

Might be your best bet as much as I am sure you would rather do rifles.

Despite his dislike of cruiser model (pistol grip only) shot guns he went the NFA'34 AOW route and had our manufacturer friend make him up a 12 inch barreled stockless Mossberg 500 with a shortened magazine. It was pistol grip only but featured a second pistol grip on the slide. Felt pointed and shot completely different from the 20 inch untaxed models and he felt it gave him the needed uuphm for home defense. As much as he liked his rifles and handguns he had always liked a shotgun for home defense. Being able to use this one without bring it to his shoulder seemed the answer to him. IIRC thanks to some loop hole in the "sawn off shotgun" tax scheme he had a tax of only five bucks rather than $200 as the gun cut up started as a 20 inch Cruiser "pistol" at the factory.

-kBob

 

[wojownik]

Having now learned what this medical device is, I would not even think of subjecting my shoulder to the recoil of a 7.62x54R round ... maybe not even a .22lr round for that matter. Best thoughts to the OP.

Guys,

If the OP has an infuse-a-port under the skin in his shooting shoulder that is basically a plastic cup a bit bigger than a quarter with a soft plastic section directly under the skin. A tube from that goes from the port inside his rib cage and a catheter extends into his decending aerota. Think a squeeze bulb with the open end in the biggest artery in your body and very near the heart.

Do you really think shooting a 7.62x54 ANYTHING with even the best recoil pad ever made is really a good idea in his case?

-kBob