[Slick]

Help!
Finally finished refinishing my M44's stock and took it to the range. It's shooting about 6-8" left (at 50 yards!). I shot it with the bayonet folded, and have heard that may make a difference. (???) I can see that the front sight has been pushed left quite a bit already, so I think someone else may have experienced the same thing.
Does anybody have any ideas? (other than shifting the sight further to the left, which I will do). That seems like an awful lot to be off at only 50 yds., especially since the sight has already been moved about half way over to compensate.
Thanks,
Kurt

[Badger Arms]

IIRC, the front sight assembly is pinned to the barrel. Your sight assembly has most likely rotated on the barrel. This is common with this gun as rough handling and that big bayonet attached ofen cause this problem. Center the front sight in its mount and then remove the pins. Rotate the whole sight assembly and then you might have the pin holes off a bit. You might have to enlarge the holes a bit and perhaps use a roll pin or something. I don't know without looking at your gun.

This is best done by a gunsmith if you are unfamiliar with tools and metal. Make sure you check the barrel to make sure it hasn't backed out of its threads a bit. A gunsmith can use barrel blocks and a vice to tighten the barrel. It should go a little bit. Because the gun is shooting the direction you would expect if the barrel has loosened a bit, tightening it might just solve your problem.

[No4Mk1*]

That sounds correct with the bayonet folded. they shoot about 2-3 inches left at 25 yards with the bayonet folded and dead on with it extended. Shoot your rifle with the bayonet extended as that is how you are supposed to shoot it. Folding the bayonet is for transport.

[Cosmoline]

The cheapest route is to get two more M-44's and put the best shooting one in the stock you fixed up.

I've found that the M-38's (the earlier carbine w/out the bayonet) shoot better than the M-44's in general. They are also much better balanced.

[foghornl]

My M-44 shoots about 4 inches left with the bayo folded, extended is dead on. Your barrel could be a bit loose, as others have suggested.

Just my humble 1/50th of $1.

[DMK]

I've found that the M-38's (the earlier carbine w/out the bayonet) shoot better than the M-44's in general. They are also much better balanced. 91/59s shoot even better!