[454c]

I've been thinking of getting a short mosin nagant and putting an aftermarket stock on it.SOG shows to have 2 models.A 38 and 44.Any pro's or con's to either one?

[444]

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe they are basically the same rifle. The 44 has a side folding bayonet and the 38 has no bayonet. I own both. I personally don't want the bayonet, so if it was me I would get the 38. The bayonet on the 44 is permenently mounted to the rifle. It is heavy, awkward, and it changes the point of impact depending on whether the bayonet is extended or folded. There have been people that removed the bayonet, but if you were going to do that, why not just by the 38 in the first place.

[Okiecruffler]

One consideration is price. the 44's are abit cheaper, and you can always cut the bayo off.

[foghornl]

I have an M-44, just because I wanted the folding bayonet...figured I could fend off 1 or 2 while stuffing in more ammo :evil:

And the bayo folded vs extended does make about a 4" difference in windage @100 Yds in MY rifle...Your mileage (windage) WILL vary.

[No4Mk1*]

My first thought is to suggest you not alter a historically significant rifle, even one as plentiful as the Mosin Nagant.
If you do, simply changing the stock is a reversible change, but grinding off the bayonet mount is not.

That said, I would suggest a Model 1938, or one of the model 1959s that are cut down model 1930's.
I assume you will not like the bayonet on the Model 1944 because of the weight and point of impact changes mentioned above which are true.

[Slick]

If you like the M44, why not just remove the screw holding the bayonet onto the mount, and leave it off when shooting? That way the bayonet is out of the picture,but you can still reattach it if you decide you want to. Best of all, you haven't ground any parts off of your nice little piece of history!
?????????
Slick

[444]

I am kind of baffled here. Once again, if you don't want the bayonet why grind it off, why cut it off, why unscrew it ? Just buy the same rifle without the bayonet. If you buy a M38 without the bayonet and later decide that you can't sleep at night without having a bayonet, the bayonet from a MN 91/30 will fit right on the 38.
These rifles are real, real cheap the last I saw. I think I paid around $39 for my M44. Surely cost isn't an issue in choosing between the two rifles even it the price is three times as much as I paid for mine.

[454c]

SOG lists them as M-38=$110 M-44=$60 I'm not worried about having a bayonet.One thing I'm not sure about is if I take the bayonet off of the cheaper 44 by removing the screw will the bayonet lug interfere with the aftermarket stock?:confused:

[444]

I don't think so. The issued stock ends approx. an inch or an inch and a half from the bayonet. I have an ATI aftermarket Mosin Nagant stock sitting here. I never tried to put an M44 or M38 in it, but I believe it will work (I bought it for a 91/30). Assuming that it does work, it is shorter than the issued stock, so it should be no problem.
Edited: After thinking about it, certainly it shouldn't matter. After all, if the stock was designed for that rifle, it should accomodate the bayonet.

Once again, I mention, the rifle does not shoot to the same POI with the bayonet off. The rifle was built to be shot with the bayonet extended. You may be lucky, but my M44 front sight will not budge with a punch so I can change the windage. Several friends have had the same problem. If you buy the M44 and remove the bayonet, it might shoot a few inches to the left at 100 yards, which is not the end of the world or anything, just something to consider. You might also be able to get a MOJO sight. I don't know if they make an MN sight or not. If they do, you are in luck because they are adjustable.

[Big_R]

I put a corelite stock on my M-44. The bayo lug will not interfere with its installation. I removed the lug from mine, and it's not that big of a deal since the front sight mount/bayo lug is one piece and readily available if you want to put one back on. They pin in place. I also added a scout scope mount since the plastic stock does not allow me to get low enough to use the sights comfortably. Mine wears an old red dot scope and shoots OK.

Ryan

[Stinger]

My first thought is to suggest you not alter a historically significant rifle

First of all, there is NOTHING historically significant about a rifle. The rifle has no feelings, no soul, and can make no decisions. It is a tool, nothing more, nothing less. I'm not flaming here, but I take exception to those who somehow think changing a rifle is blasphemy. It is certainly not.

Secondly, removing the bayonet will change the point of impact, but that is a simple solution. Simply drift the front sight and rezero to the desired location. The bayonet has very little, if anything, to do with accuracy. I have shot at least a dozen different Nagants, with and without bayonets attached, with no measurable difference.

I have an M44. I removed the bayonet, but left the lug. I can consistantly shoot 2-3 inches with cheap ol' Wolf ammo, and I am not a great shot. I just consider myself average.

Just get one in nice condition and you will have a pretty good shooter.

Stinger

[PATH]

Alrigh fellas you have convinced me. I'll get the 44 and the 38 to complement my Finnish m39.:D

[Carlos]

Personally, on my M44, I prefer to shoot it with the bayo extended. Seems to balance the rifle just right, and it is extremely accurate for me at 100 yards shooting crap ammo.

Good Luck.