[Slater]

Pretty simple and a bit on the crude side, but fun to shoot if you wear something to pad your shoulder against that steel butt plate. One of the best deals going on Milsurps today, and the 7.62X54R ammo is pretty reasonable too.

[benEzra]

I, who don't even like bolt-action rifles, own two! Finn VKT M39 and Polish M44. Milsurp rifles are sneaky like that; let one into your safe, and they start inviting all their friends over . . .

[cookhj]

what is the AVERAGE accuracy that you normally get with the finnish nagant and the russian nagant? have you ever shot them at 200 or 300 yds? a friend of mine wants an inexpensive rifle for hunting that has reasonable accuracy, and i told him to go for a nagant or a mauser.

[sidearm]

Don't know quite how it worked out this way, but I bought a new in wrapper Russian m44 Mosin over a year ago and still havn't fired it. Looks nice though:D

[Sactown]

I have an M38, but my shoulder wishes I didn't. Accuracy isn't that great for mine. I like it more for the atomic blast out the bidness end. I think the 91/30s are more accurate as the sight radius is longer not to mention the barrel.

[sidearm]

Don't know quite how it worked out this way, but I bought a new in wrapper Russian m44 Mosin over a year ago and still havn't fired it. Looks nice though:D

[Dave Markowitz]

I have a Finn m/91, a Finn m/39, and a Soviet M1891/30. The only one I've fired for accuracy at 100 yards is the m/91.

With some 1980s-vintage Hansen heavy ball, the m/91 printed under 2" groups at 100 yards from the bench. With better sights the gun should be capable of MOA or better.

The m/39 would probably shoot at least as well, if not better.

The 91/30 should also be pretty accurate, but I've only fired it offhand at ~25 yards.

[cookhj]

i've heard that the finnish nagants had to shoot at least a 1.3" group at 100m to leave the factory, so i figured that if my buddy got an unissued one, it should shoot around MOA.

[Sleeping Dog]

cookhj, what are you hunting? 200-300 yards is a long shot with iron sights. I don't think my eyes can do that.

I'd have the most confidence in my Swedish mauser M96. The Mosin M44 gives me about 3" groups which would be fine for 100 yard shots, but not a clean kill at 200-300. The Swede normally shoots about 1.5" groups. Even with old eyes.

Regards.

[Destructo6]

Must confess that a Polish M44 holds an esteemed place in my arsenal. Bought it as a beater, then liked it too much to condemn it to that sort of duty/neglect. Still haven't found a worth(y)/(less) beater.

[Sir Galahad]

I have a 1944 Izhevsk 91/30 that's got a like-new bore and a VERY unusual stock. The stock is very thick at the wrist and rounded at the butt. Oil-rubbed not varnished. This thing will hit anything I can see. A winking piece of broken glass at 80 yards? It'll turn the lights out.

[The Silver Bullet 1719]

I have a Soviet M44 old warhorse. Great accuracy for what it is. Only thing is that mine does not like the Czech Silvertip ammo though (I think its probably due to the lacuer).

[aerod1]

I have an M-44 Mosin Nagant. This is a fun and inexpensive rifle to shoot. The actions seem very strong to me. They are not much to look at and the recoil and muzzle blast are forminable. For the money, I say they are great.

Jim Hall

[Okiecruffler]

Love them, my favorite of all the surplus rifles. I have a Hungarian M44 that will do 1 1/2 inches at 100yrds and does minute of coyote at 200yrds. My Russian M44 isn't too far behind. My 91 and my 91/30's don't shoot for a flip, but they sure look cool. If all goes as planned, I should add a Polish M44 next month. I'm even considering getting one of the wrapped russians and leaving it wrapped forever and ever.

[benEzra]

My M39 has put four shots into 1 3/8" at 100 yd from the bench, using the iron sights and Wolf 148-gr ammo (and I'm not all that good a shooter). I haven't shot my M44 enough to tell you how it groups yet.

[Watchman]

Ive got a Russian M39 and a Hungarian M44.

They both seem to display about the same amount of accuracy.

THe M44 ALWAYS get comments about it at the gun range. The fireball that appears is a natural attention getter. For some reason everyone wants to shoot it. Me being the nice guy that I am, naturally I always olbige. For some reason though, nobody wants to fire more than one magazine full though it...:what:

Its true...

A friend of mine gave me the M44. Next thing I knew, I currently own 7 milsurps.:scrutiny: No such thing as having just 1 I suppose.

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

I own a Hungarian M44 and my wife has a mint Polish M44. I like it. Planning to add a LER scope to hers sometime soon, maybe MOJO sights to mine.

We also have several Swedish Mausers which are our favorites, but the Mosin is my truck gun.

Regards,
Rabbit.

[444]

Oh, I might have one laying around:
Finn M39 x 3
91/30 x2
M44
M38


I put a no-gunsmith scope mount of my VKT M39 and fired a group of about 3/4" at 100 yards. However, POI climbs as it heats up, so you can't keep a good group after about 5-6 rounds. I have also used the same rifle to win a local Vintage Bolt Action rifle match, once, with shots out to 400 yards (against 03s, Sweedes, etc). At 400 I held COM on the target, hit, moved down about 6", hit, held at base of target, hit, held in the dirt, hit..................... Wish it didn't do that, but ?

[makdaddy03]

I have a Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant.(SAKO) This is the most accurate surplus rifle that I have ever owned. I paid $150 for it and its worth every dime.;)

ps
It loves the cheap stuff.

[agony]

I have a Polish M44.
It looks brand new.
Shoots well, but loses it's novelty after 40 rounds or so....that's when my shoulder starts wussing out on me.

[Tamara]

I've got two as well: a Russian M91/30, circa 1944, and a Hungarian M44, circa 1953.

[cookhj]

oh, my buddy won't be using iron sights on it. he'll be putting a 3-9X scope (or something along those lines) on it and using it for deer hunting out to 200-300yds.

[AV1611]

I got an unissued 1944 Russian M44 for Christmas last year. Best gift I've ever gotten. Bought myself a used Russian M44 as a beater. Stock not very good. Metal/bluing/barrel practically perfect. Putting it in new stock.

I love shooting the M44 because it sounds like an artillery shell landing next to you :)

AV1611 out...

[4v50 Gary]

Russian M91/30. Shot it at 100 yards only and have to wait to see how it'll do @ longer ranges.

[Tamara]

Perhaps a better question would have been "Does anybody here not own a Mosin-Nagant?" ;)

[goon]

I have two.
One is B barrel M-39 and the other is a run of the mill 91/30.
I like them both.
You can shoot them for a long time and the recoil still isn't too bad. The ammo is pretty cheap.
Most importantly, you can see leaves sort of float off the ground as the bullet passes by them.:D
They only cost about $100 for a VG+ 91/30.
With all of that, I can't see a reason not to own one.

[PrudentGT]

I just picked up my first the other day. Just finished taking it apart and cleaning it inside and out. Now to start thinking about refinishing the stock... :)

[OEF_VET]

I bought my Russian M44 3 years, while in Kosovo, thru gunhouse.com. I love it. Of course the recoil is tremendous. I put a slip-on pad on the butt and found a muzzle brake awhile back for it. I can't remember where I get the brake though.

[WhoKnowsWho]

Romanian M44 is the one I believe I have.

[Feanaro]

I co-own a Russian M44 Nagant(1946, arsenal refinished) with my younger brother.

[MarkDido]

Mosin Nagant is going to be my first C&R purchase soon.

Now I just have to decide which one. Max distance at my local range is 100 meters

[samwise]

I bought a Russian Izhevsk M44 2 weeks ago and I love it. I was in the market for a VZ24 Mauser but the Nagant just caught my eye and for I price the gun couldn't be better.

[foghornl]

Romanian 1954 vintage M-44. A real [ahem] blast to shoot.

[drannor]

I have a Finnish M39 (Valmet). During it's first range session I was managing to hit a silhouette target at 340 yards over iron sights with it. My eyes aren't the best, but a friend with a spotting scope did confirm quite a few hits. VERY pleased with the accuracy given the $115 price!

I also have a Russian Tula M38 that doesn't hold a candle to the Finn on the accuracy front. It's great fun to shoot though! Both are a little hard on the shoulder. :D

[DMK]

Let's see, I've got one, two... six! :)

Two M91/59 carbines, one 1938 carbine, and three M/39 rifles. I still need an M-44 with that cool bayo though.

I love 'em! Built like tanks and shoot cheap, powerful ammo.

[Freightman]

Got two one is a M91 Westinghouse 1915 in like new condition, and a Russian M44 lamanated stock good guns.

[Kestryll]

This thread brings to mind a question for any machinists, tinkerer's or 'smiths.
I own a 1945 Russian M44 and have an idea.
As most of us know, the bayonet mount and front sight are part of a tube held onto the barrel by 2 pins, The barrel having been turnd down underneath the tube.
Would it be possible to make a flash hider or muzzle brake that would butt up to the shoulder on the barrel and the muzzle and pin through the exsisting slots? It could be made larger than the barrel and tapered to fit the barrel shoulder and the same basic blank could be made into a flash hider or a brake.
What do you think?

[Freightman]

I do not see why not, let us know if you do this we might be intrested it buying one from you. I have a scout scope mount comming from M39scopemount and I will not need a front sight but do not want to permantly modify the rifle.
That would make a great looking rifle. DO IT!!!! look here.
http:www.armscenter.com/parallax/crhomepagepics/newscoutpage.html

[MuzzleBlast]

Perhaps a better question would have been "Does anybody here not own a Mosin-Nagant?" Well, yeah, but I have sent in my application for the C&R, so hopefully soon my Mosin-less condition will be rectified!

[OEF_VET]

Here's a pic of the muzzle brake I bought last year. Maybe one of you mechanical marvels out there can recreate one for everyone else.

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=343536

[OEF_VET]

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?s=&postid=343546

Of course, you can't extend the bayonet while it's on, but oh well. Guess you'll have to decide what's more important to you, reducing recoil or leading a bayonet charge.

[Okiecruffler]

mine included, is that they have a different POI with the bayonet folded.

[OEF_VET]

This is generally true Okie, but you can always take the bayonet off and the weight of the muzzle brake might partially compensate for the loss of the bayonets weight. Also, if you zero it with the brake on, bayonet folded, you should be good to go.

[macktruckturner]

I have an M44, from 1945. It looks like its been through a thing or two in its time. There's a sliver of stock missing near the back of the reciever on the left side. For a $50 rifle, it's pretty sweet. I haven't shot it in quite a while, but managed to pull a .78" 5 shot group at 100yds out of it last time I did. I've since improved my open sight shooting, so I'll take it to the range again before I leave for Ft. Benning.

Anthony

[thisaway]

One beautiful M1891 1917-vintage Tula ($110), and a M91/30 1943-vintage Izhevsk ($65). Surprisingly, the 91/30 seems to be the better shooter, even though it is literally as rough as a cob.

[MAURICE]

91/30 owner here. With the scope and bipod ( :D ), I can normally place shots at minute of squirrels head with fairly rapid fire (for a bolt gun)

[BowStreetRunner]

Dad and I got one at the last gunshow, a Hungarian M44
right now we are in the process of refinishing the stock and have reblued the reciever and other parts
BSR
Its looking good....I cant wait to shoot it!

[TNT]

I have only one. A russian m44 made in 1946. It's a blast to shoot, gotta love the recoil.:D

[Bainx]

A model 1891 [dated 1916] very accurate and an M44 Russian.
Both together for well under $100!

[firestar]

I bought 2 Russian M-44s, sold one. I found that I am liking it more and more. At first, I was a little dissapointed but it is growing on me.

[PATH]

M39 Finn that shoots swell. I am thinking of getting a 44.

[Hot brass]

I have owned three. Gave the long gun away. Bought an unissued and it is extremly accurate. Hit the 500yd gun open sights 3 uot of 5 times. The gun is so nice I bought a surplus to shoot so I won`t have to shoot the clean one.

[Kaxter]

Well this thread may be a little old, but I just wanted to say that I just put in an order for a sako m39. Cant wait to get her.

[Thrash1982]

I recently bought a Romanian m-44. Had a problem with it and had to take it back without shooting it. Exchanged for another. Can't wait to get out the the range again and give it a workout.

[M2HMGHB]

I too have two. One is a Finnish M39, VKT marked and the other is a M91/30 Finnish capture with a mauser front blade, guess the Fins replace the original sight. M39 can shoot about 1.3 inch groups the M91/30 was minuete of barn last time i shot it with milsurp ammo, gotta bring her out to the range with some wolf and Sellier and Bellot ammo.

[jsalcedo]

My First rifle was an M91 dated 1899 with the St Petersberg crest.

[cool45auto]

I've owned a 91/30 for a couple of months.

[Bainx]

My First rifle was an M91 dated 1899 with the St Petersberg crest.

jsalcedo,
I envy you!


:cool:

[Kalos]

I've got one too... an M44 from 1946. Nothing special to anyone but me, since it's my very first rifle...

[Cosmoline]

I respect the Finns for accuracy, but I've never hung onto one for long. They're too barrel-heavy for my tastes. The 91/30 is, in contrast, the best balanced military rifle I've ever held. It's extremely fast in the hand. I've got a fairly accurate pre-WWII one that will shoot about 2 1/2" groups, but I'm hoping to find something better in the future. Every 91/30 I see, my eye goes right to the crown and the bore.

Tip--bring some calipers to the store if you're looking at an array of Mosins. measure between the lands at the crown. A lot of these have been re-bored and counterbored. It's not as accurate as slugging, obviously, but it will let you know which one is the most tight.

[BudS]

My wife bought this for me on Father's day 2003!:cool: But, due to living at the speed of life, I have yet to fire it (although I keep buying Yugo ammo for it at the gun shows!). Now, you folks've scared me with the recoil stories!:what: Has anyone experimented with slip-on recoil pads?:scrutiny: PLEASE ADVISE! I am not a lover of pain!

[Kalos]

Winter's coming up... be true to the spirit of the weapon and just bundle up; it's how the Red Army dealt with the recoil, I'm sure. :D

Seriously, I didn't find it all that fiendish... my shoulder's a bit sore, but it makes me grin more than grimace to notice it.

Then again, maybe I'm just a recoil junkie in the making...

[Okiecruffler]

A slip on recoil pad would work, but the stories about recoil are blown out of proportion. My dad's synthetic stocked '06 kicks everybit as hard, and my 444 lever kicks quite abit harder. Just make sure you have a good hold on it and mate it to your shoulder correctly.

[cwalker3]

I've had a 91/30, 91/59, M44's and M38's. Sold them all to concentrate on M-39's. I currently have a Sako, 'B' barrel, VKT and 1968 Sneak. The Sneak is the most accurate rifle I have. I've shot 1.5" groups at 100 yards with iron sights with that rifle.

As far as recoil is concerned, it's considerable with the carbines but no big deal with the full length rifles.

[greyhound]

GF wanted to buy me one for Xmas till I explained about straw purchases. Looks like I'll be getting one myself next weekend as long as Shooter's Discount is at the Pikesville gun show. Can't wait as I have already bought Terrence Lapin's translation of the Soviet Mosin-Nagant manual.....

[iamkris]

The recoil stories are spread by those raised on poodleshooters...:D

[Cosmoline]

I dislike heavy-recoil firearms quite a bit, and I have to say the M-44 and M-38's never gave me any trouble. The key is to shoot them at a good right angle, square on the muscle. If you lean way in as you would with a scoped American rifle, you will end up with the metal stock resting on your shoulder bones and you will feel plenty of pain.

All this talk of Mosins inspired me to get mine out of the closet and sight in the scout scope, a Leopold 2x. It is, IMHO, the perfect rifle for winter and fall use in Alaska. Blew a stump clean in half with five rounds at 75 yards, after which the tree behind the stump fell over in a gust :D

[spook7073]

I only own 15 or 16 Mosins , mostly Finns but I also have 2 Russians and a gook capture T-53 .

Eddie:neener:

[goon]

I just read the original post. Last time I had my VKT out to the range, I was hitting steel NRA pigs at 300 meters with no problem at all.
It is an excellent gun. I would like to try it hunting, but I probably won't this year.
Anyhow, if you haven't bought one yet, I would suggest that you do so ASAP.

[jrhead75]

I've got a '43 Izhevsk 91/30 that's in beautiful shape. It closes on a no-go gauge though, so I'm going to wait until I can find a Field gauge to shoot it.

Also waiting on my C&R so I can "stock up" on Mosins (among others).

[yesterdaysyouth]

i have what use to be a 1943 91/30 ...
after i added the scope, cut and recrowned the barrel, and worked on the heavy trigger pull, and new stock, i can get some good groups...

best ammo that i've put through it yet is the 203gr. sp from barnnual... at 25 yds. i cut a dime size 5 shot group... at 200yds it was about 4 inches...

[Dorrin79]

I actually don't own one!

I bought a M48 Mauser instead.

Certainly wouldn't mind having a Finnish M39 though...