M44 Gunstore Price Check

Big 5 sports has them regularly on sale for under $100. That seems high to me.

Big 5 sports has them regularly on sale for under $100. That seems high to me. Get your C&R you can get them for way cheaper then.

The price is about right, like the poster above says a little on the high side but if the condition is good you’re not getting ripped off.

Check out this site:

http://www.7.62x54r.net/

There’s a section on what to look for, print that and take it with you when you give the gun a more detailed inspection.

Yes, milsurp can be hard on the wallet but some of my best shooting guns are milsurps.

Get the C&R by all means, it will pay for itself after just a few purchases. Also, some of the best milsurps may be getting rare soon: unissued Yugo SKSs, K31s, and the excellent CZ82, to name a few.

Last spring I paid $129 OTD for 1948 M44 that was probably never fired.
It was from a gunstore so all the cosmoline was cleaned up. Gun looked like it came straight from a factory.

$119 sounds fair enough if it appears like new and is cleaned up

$100 even here in MA.
Century guns, a few R Guns imports

I bought mine for 89.99 at Big 5 and it has the laminate stock with a '44 dated receiver. I also, got my 91/30 from Big 5 and got it for $75 with a '42 dated receiver.

89.99 at Big 5

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+1 for big 5 Sports

It's a good price for this area, North Central Indiana.

Josh <><

Saw 12 of them for sale today at the Gun Show in Topeka ks for $79.95, so I would have to say its a little high.

also to answer your other questions. Should have the head space checked. Always a good idea on surplus. And ammo is still available, lots of surplus ammo around for cheap $$$. I need to go buy some at one of the shops I frequent, they have it for $2.50/20. The average price I have seen has been $3-$4.50/20 for surplus.

I picked one up last fall from a pawn/gun shop.
Out the door and only $79 lighter in the wallet.

$120 isn't a bad deal if the bore looks mirror bright. If it looks dark or otherwise worn, pass it up until you find a shiny unfired one.

That sounds about right. It all depends on your location. The local funshop has 3 of them in stock for $109 each. At the once a month gunshow they usually go for $125 or so. AIM has them for $69. Once you factor in shipping ($13 or so) and FFL transfer fee ($25 in my area, unless you have a C&R license then it can be shipped to your door) and you're looking at $107. So your $119 is not a bad price.

When checking them out, if you want a shooter and not a "pretty" collector, disregard the exterior and get a good bore light and check out the bore. Try to get one that has not been counterbored also, but almost all of them have. Make sure the bolt is easy to open and close. It's not a Mauser action and will be stiffer/rougher, but shouldn't be too tight. Lastly look at the wood and see if there were any funky repairs. The laminated stocks are more highly sought after, but they still won't win any beauty contests.

Yes your wallet will begin to hate you once you dip your toe into the milsurp pool, but believe me, there are other much much worse gun diseases out there you can get (BRD, 1911-itis, Glockaholism). Milsurps are just a gateway to more expensive habits, unless you can keep it under control. Good luck.

$69.99 OTD here in very good to excellent condition, from R Guns, the majority are post-war (1946+).

I've picked some up for between $59 (J&G Sales) and $89 (BIG 5)...pick through them!

Good advise jpwilly, some are better than others. Even though a guy I worked with bought one that had a really rough stock, but someone had gave it a trigger job and it had a near perfect bore.

i just bought a russian unissued M44 for $75 plus tax from big 5 last night. its in awsome shape.

I paid $119 at a Gander Mountain last year for one that looked to have sat since it was made. YMMV.