WZ-48 .22LR Military Trainer

[Sharpie443]

I had seen these rifles around at gun shows and listed online but I never got around to picking one up. I have so many .22 rifles it's hard for me to justify buying another one. Yet somehow I always end up with another one like an addict that can't kick the habit. So now i have a WZ-48.

The first thing i noticed was that it was surprisingly heavy. It was made to feel like a Mosin nagant m44 (Although it looks like an M38) and in terms of weight it's nearly spot on. Saying that it's over built for a .22Lr is a massive understatement. it weighs 8.4 pounds and receiver looks almost like it was meant to fire 7.62x54R. So needless to say this is not going to be your favorite rifle to carry around the woods hunting small game.

However I found that that weight made it a very nice rifle to shoot and seemed to help accuracy. There is basically no recoil at all, the trigger is surprisingly good and it has the same sights as the M44. That all makes for a very fun and accurate target rifle. It's great for new shooters and just a blast to take to the range.

The sights are good as I said but it's very odd having a .22LR with high powered rifle sights. The front post is a bit large and it would be easier with a finer post but it works. Other than that it's an easy rifle to get use to.

I found that this rifle doesn't seem to like high velocity ammo. It didn't like the CCI mini mags and seemed to shoot much better with standard velocity Ammo. I would like to get some match ammo next time I have a chance and see what i can do with it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBkTzbK-rhg

 

[Geno]

I have never seen one. Over-built is an understatement for sure. Nice looking firearm.

Geno

 

[Fla_dogman]

I picked this Romanian military trainer up several years ago for my kids to use while learning to hunt. It has a horrible trigger but a tack driver otherwise. If you look closely at the stock you can see where I sawed it off to fit them. As they grew I added it back. I paid $39 for it

 

[aarondhgraham]

The nicest thing about these rifles is,,,

The nicest thing about these rifles is,,,
unlike many of the other military .22 trainers,,,
This rifle can usually be found for well under $300.00.

I paid $220.00 for mine and it's worth every penny.

Aarond

.

 

[trentcwwilson]

Where can I find one?

 

[Vern Humphrey]

One of my favorite .22s is my M1922 Springfield surcharged MKII. These were built at Springfield Armory for training, competition, and for sale to civilians to promote rifle marksmanship. It is essentially a M1903 Springfield, but with a .22 barrel and bolt, half stock, Lyman peep sight and a .22 magazine inside the .30 caliber magazine. Most parts will interchange with the M1903.

 

[Sharpie443]

I've seen those Springfields before. I'd love to have one but the price has never been right. I own some expensive .22 rifles but I think I've reached my limit. To many other guns i want right now.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

You're right about price -- the M1922 is now running around $1,500 or more. If you can find one.

 

[Sharpie443]

Ya I thought my Browning T-bolt was expensive for a .22lr at $750 so the $1.5K price tag is a bit to much for me. I would be getting a .45-70 rolling block if i wanted to drop that kind of cash.

 

[DMK]

I have one of these. It is definitely built like a tank. One guy at the range mentioned that it would be a good candidate to bore the chamber out for 22mag. It's an entertaining thought, but these are too uncommon to screw around with.

Picked mine up at a gunshow for $100 back around 2003ish. I didn't know what it was (and I don't think the guy selling it did either), but I saw the Circle 11 Polish markings on it and knew it was real deal milsurp so I quickly pulled out cash and snatched it up. Just by examining it, I knew it was worth at least that. After I bought it, I researched and found out that it was a training rifle for their M44 carbines.

Unlike the Romanian 1969 trainer, this is a single shot with no magazine. The build quality is also much, much nicer the the 1969. And of course, it looks just like and has the same manual of arms as the Mosin Nagant except the safety which is kind of odd since they went to so much trouble making it a pretty close replica in most other ways. The sights also have different graduations for the 22LR round, with markings for 25, 50 and 100 meters

 

[Panzerschwein]

Nice rifles. Would be a great squirrel hunter's rifle.

 

[aarondhgraham]

Hello Cooldill,,,

Nice rifles. Would be a great squirrel hunter's rifle.

It has all the accuracy needed for that use,,,
But is it a very heavy rifle.

I love that for general target shooting,,,
But for stomping through a forest,,,
I want something a tad lighter.

Aarond

.

 

[fpgt72]

I have one of these. It is definitely built like a tank. One guy at the range mentioned that it would be a good candidate to bore the chamber out for 22mag. It's an entertaining thought, but these are too uncommon to screw around with.

Picked mine up at a gunshow for $100 back around 2003ish. I didn't know what it was (and I don't think the guy selling it did either), but I saw the Circle 11 Polish markings on it and knew it was real deal milsurp so I quickly pulled out cash and snatched it up. Just by examining it, I knew it was worth at least that. After I bought it, I researched and found out that it was a training rifle for their M44 carbines.

Unlike the Romanian 1969 trainer, this is a single shot with no magazine. The build quality is also much, much nicer the the 1969. And of course, it looks just like and has the same manual of arms as the Mosin Nagant except the safety which is kind of odd since they went to so much trouble making it a pretty close replica in most other ways. The sights also have different graduations for the 22LR round, with markings for 25, 50 and 100 meters

Yes they are a little uncommon....you can find them but they just don't grow on every tree.

You really should respect the history behind them and not mess them up by opening up the Krylon and destroying them....that is what your 10/22 is for.

Yours is very nice....great example.

 

[aarondhgraham]

There's one on Gunbroker right now,,,
With a starting bid of $425.00,,,
That's a bit high.

Usually they have been going in the high 200's to low 300's,,,
But maybe this is a sign people are starting to notice them.

I was a bit surprised by only one being listed,,,
Usually when I search I find 2-3-4 of them.

Search under both the bolt action rifle and single-shot rifle categories,,,
Use the terms: WZ, or WZ48, or WZ-48, or Polish.

Aarond

.

 

[Sharpie443]

Wow $425 is way to much. There are at least 3 places selling them for $200-$250 right now. Gunbroker is cancer. It use to be good when it was just private persons selling their own guns. Now it's every gun shop in america listing their guns for top dollar because they don't care if they sell or not and want the highest profit. It's not even worth going on anymore.

 

[Panzerschwein]

There's one on Gunbroker right now,,,
With a starting bid of $425.00,,,
That's a bit high.

Usually they have been going in the high 200's to low 300's,,,
But maybe this is a sign people are starting to notice them.

I was a bit surprised by only one being listed,,,
Usually when I search I find 2-3-4 of them.

Search under both the bolt action rifle and single-shot rifle categories,,,
Use the terms: WZ, or WZ48, or WZ-48, or Polish.

Aarond

.

Yeah sometimes you'll find a seller who spells the name a bit differently and/or wrong and it won't show up during a normal search.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Well after this thread I just HAD to get me one of these! I have one coming from Bud's Gun Shop. I got it for a great price thanks to a tip from a fellow board member. Less than $200 shipped.

I will be doing a full review on it. This will be my only .22 long gun, and hopefully a great companion to my various 7.62x54mm Mosin Nagants!!!

 

[highlander 5]

One of my great uncles had a 22 Mauser training rifle. I played with it off and on. Nice rifle wish I knew what happened to it.