Ammo Choices for Mosin M44

[TargetTerror]

I picked up a nice M44 at my gunshop today. The salesman said he owned a bunch of Mosins, and recommended the "light ball" ammo (147 grain?) for the M44. He mentioned something about the heavier bullets causing the steel cases to stick more because there is more backpressure (admittedly I forget what his other reasons were).

I know every gun is unique, but do the M44s tend to favor a specific type of ammo or bullet weight over the 91/30?

 

[esmith]

He was probably just trying to sell you what he had. Heavy ball ammo doesn't stick. Just get whatever ammo, make sure it isn't split or has dents in it, and go shoot the thing.

 

[Bartkowski]

It hasn't stuck for me in an m44, m38, or a 91/30 so I don't think that it sticks. Just buy the cheapest ammo you can find.

 

[TargetTerror]

He was probably just trying to sell you what he had.

To his credit, he had heavier new production ammo that was much more expensive than the lighter surplus ammo he recommended.

 

[Hoppy590]

heavy ball is waht MOST mosins prefer from my experience

 

[esmith]

To his credit, he had heavier new production ammo that was much more expensive than the lighter surplus ammo he recommended.

Well, even so, heavy ball will not usually stick. Never had it happen.

 

[TTR]

I just bought 300 rounds of this ammo. 182 gr.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=424742

It is brass and the ammo looks awesome.

 

[sarduy]

Ammo Choices for Mosin M44

anything that read "7.62x54R" i dont really care about light or heavy ball

 

[funkerbunny]

I seem to have occasional issues with the heavy ball in my M44, usually just the uber cheap stuff from AIM (headstamp looks like 60 47). Other than that everything runs fine

 

[dmftoy1]

If you have access to a Micrometer or Caliper I'd see if he'd let you pull a bullet to measure the diameter. As long as they're bigger than .309 then you'll probably be reasonably happy and I'd buy the cheapest you can find. If they're at .309 then they won't shoot worth a damn. (Bigger is better . . . .312 has been ideal in the M44's I've been playing with)

Just my .02

Regards,
Dave

 

[ChopMeat]

I know with my old crocodile, I shoot what ever.
Hell it's Russian and built for true Red Commies.
It will shoot, and if not use the bayonet. Hell it's heavy enough to bash whatever with the butt.

Ammo is cheap though-

 

[AmishFury]

heavy ball tends to have better results in the carbines... but each rifle has it's preferred flavor of ammo

 

[Matt-J2]

As was mentioned, if it's actual 7.62x54, it'll function. Lead core, steel core, light ball, heavy ball, extra light training stuff, Czech, Russian, whatever, doesn't matter.

What it's most accurate with, of course, is another matter. But the function issues like bolt sticking will be a function of how well the cosmoline(not to be confused with THR's own Cosmoline)was cleaned out of the chamber.
Also check with any range you frequent to be sure steel core ammo is allowed. If not, it'll cut down some on your ammo choices.

 

[Rmac58]

I fire these, no issues.
Cheap too, yellow tips, what ever that means.

 

[308sc]

Bulgarian heavy ball?

 

[jaak]

my mosin HATES czech ammo. it makes the bolt very hard to eject the casing(just to get it to unlock) after a shot is fired. i think its from the lacquered ammo. but i dont know, because im not openeing up the other crates i have... yet.

 

[CBS220]

Bulgarian heavy ball is consistently the most accurate in my three mosins.

However, in my M38, it does cause sticky bolt, where light ball does not. I can almost feel a little more stick in my 91/30 as well, but I can't decide if I'm imagining it or not.