[Dorrin79]

other thread about truck guns reaffirmed my desire to get a short Mosin-Nagant.

I'd prefer an M-38, since it doesn't have the bayonet... but they seem to be a lot harder to find.

So, how much of an affect on point-of-impact does the fugly bayonet have? I certainly don't want to have to extend the thing to shoot it, especially in a stress situation.

Does it have an appreciable impact at <100 yd ranges?

As a side note, where do you get stripper clips for it?

[444]

On my rifle, it moves the point of impact about two inches left at 100 yards. Depending on what you are shooting at, it may or may not make a difference. If you were defending your life against a human target, I doubt it would matter. If you wern't defending your life, you would probably have enough time to consider the difference and hold off Kentucky windage.
By the way, I tried, hard, to adjust my windage by drifting the sight in the dovetail. No dice. It is staked in place and isn't moving with anything I am willing to pound on it with.

[Okiecruffler]

I have a Romanian and a Hungarian that both shoot 2-3 inches left at 100 yrds, but then I have a Russian that doesn't care one way or the other and shoots about 2'' to the right at 100 yrds. The Romanian and the Hungarian both shoot dead on with the bayonet extended.

[No4Mk1*]

About 6-8 inches left at 100 yards with the bayonet retracted. I would get one without the bayonet since that seems like what you want. As far as it being harder to find, don't give me that if you are on the internet. I found one by moving my fingers for 20 seconds. (burnsbro.com)
Oh I found another! but this one took 60 seconds at www.aimsurplus.com.
10 seconds later I found a Mosin Nagant 91/59 at AIM which you should consider too. The 91/59 started off as a 91/30 and was cut to a 20 inch barrel later, making it the 1959 model. It does not have the bayonet.

[Dorrin79]

Soo... after looking at AIM, is a M1938 basically what I want?

[Freightman]

All the 91/59's I have seen have been basically new or unissued if that makes a difference.

[JeFF D]

About 3 inches to the left at 100 yards for me.

An M1938 is indeed a M-44 lacking the bayonet. That may be a better choice for a truck gun, but them bayonets are just so dern cool!

[Navy joe]

Mine is 8" left with bayonet folded, dead on and range officer whining "we don't need stuff like that here" with it extended. :evil:

Found my clips at a gunshow, work on them and deburr each one and play with tension, and polish the charging groove on the gun I didn't and I ran a stripper right down the middle of my thumb, bled all over the gun.

[No4Mk1*]

http://www.mosin-nagant.net/
Click on Russian-Soviet area.
Scroll down and click on the Model 1938 and M91/59 areas. It is good reading.


To compare the Model 1938 and Model 1959:

91/38 This was the carbine used during all of WWII. Many of these show some wear, but they have more historical appeal because they are unchanged from how they were used to defeat Germany in WWII.

91/59 These also saw action in WWII, but they were full size 91/30 rifles at the time. Only later was the barrel cut to 20 inches. So is the 91/59 a rifle with history? YES, but not in the form you will have. It MIGHT be in better condition than a 91/38 because the muzzle crown has not seen all of WWII. I would also assume that good 91/30 rifles were used to cut down to 91/59 carbines.

So read up and get what you want.
I suggest AIM for ammo.

[Stinger]

I have a 38 and a 44.

The 44 is more accurate, and yes, the bayonet does impact POI. However, I never attach the bayonet, so I just drifted my front sight to suit my needs.

The 38's accuracy is quite acceptable, though, and I prefer it. It balances out much better, and I don't hit things with the bayonet lug.

To each their own,

Stinger

[Slick]

Mine shoots 3-4" left with bayonet retracted and right on with it extended.

Quick question.
Will removing the bayonet yet (obviously leaving the lug), accomplish the same thing as extending it, as far as returning POI to POA?
Thanks,
Slick

[Dorrin79]

i second Slick's question.

If removing the bayonet restores the POI to "normal" as if it were extended, then a M44 would work fine.

Anybody know one way or the other?

[Marcus]

My POI changed about 2" also. I just drifted the front sight so it`s dead on with the bayonet folded. They`re staked in pretty tight as stated above. At first I tried normal methods and failed to phase it. Then I remembered where it came from...I got a pine board with a notch in it for the sight to fit into,a good hardened steel punch and a *BIG* ball peen hammer. I set the barrel on the block so the barrel and sight base would be well supported but the insert could still move unimpeded. Then I carefully placed the punch and hit it HARD...it moved a little tiny bit. So I carefully placed the punch again and hit it REALLY HARD...it moved a little more. I fired a few rounds and I was almost there. One more time REALLY REALLY HARD. A few more shots,dead on. Shooting from a bench with the sling but no sandbags or rifle rest it`ll shoot 1.5" groups all day long with Wolf ammo. Best $79 I ever spent! :D Marcus

[Dorrin79]

thanks for the tips, Marcus.

Perhaps I'll try that if I can't find a M38 for a good price around here

[foghornl]

On my M-44, POI shifts about 4" @100Yds with bayo folded vs bayo extended.

Makes for interesting comments from others while shooting w/bayo extended. Best comment was from a young shooter about age 18-20 I would guess...
"Hey, mister, why do you have that long screwdriver bolted on your rifle? ? ? "

"It isn't really a screwdriver", I said, while poking one of the gallon water jugs I brought....


His facial expression...:what: :what: