differences in Mosin-Nagants

[kentucky_smith]

thinking about picking one of these up for no good reason. What is the difference between a M38, m44 and 91/30. They are all the same price. Which one should I get???

 

[Cpl Punishment]

The 91/30 is the long rifle. The rifle being 48" long overall, and you can add another foot and a half when you attach the bayonet. Quite fearsome looking.

The M44 was a later development of the Mosin. It is considerably shorter, has a 20" barrel, rather than 27", and has a swing-out bayonet semi-permanently attached.

Both the M91/30 and M44 were sighted in with bayonets attached and/or swung out. Some will shoot to nearly the same point of aimwith the bayonet removed or retracted, some will be off by several inches.

The M38 is the "cavalry" version with a 20" barrel and no provision for a bayonet.

 

[Poul D'eau]

Lots of info on Mosins
http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com/index.html

Details about the different models:
http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinM.htm

Picked up a m44 a month ago.... Its a kick to shoot.

 

[Cosmoline]

Get a Finnish M-39. Over 20 million Russian Mosins were made and they'll always be around, but the Finns won't.

 

[Cacique500]

Details about the different models:
http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinM.htm

+1 - an excellet site with TONS of Mosin info. Actually, he's got a new faster URL which is www.7.62x54R.com

I also second Cosmoline's comments - get an M39. Prices have really gone up recently and the rumors are there are only 13,000 left 'in country'...with no more left 'out of country'. Argueably the best Mosin rifle made. I've got 5 M39's and wish I had funds for 20 more...just beautiful, historic, accurate rifles!

 

[kentucky_smith]

Get a Finnish M-39. Over 20 million Russian Mosins were made and they'll always be around, but the Finns won't.

Where? I've found all the others.

Also got to reading, is there not non-corrosive 7.62x54r???

 

[DMK]

Where? I've found all the others.

http://www.gunsnammo.com/

http://www.empirearms.com/

Also got to reading, is there not non-corrosive 7.62x54r???

Not really. Well Barnual, Wolf and S&B probably isn't, but just buy surplus ammo and run a few patches of hot soapy water down the bore. Then clean normally. People get their panties in a wad about corrosive ammo, but it really isn't a big deal as long as you flush the salts out with water and clean your guns. These guns were made for the stuff and shot it all their lives. As were Garands, Springfields, etc.

 

[White Horseradish]

Where? I've found all the others.

Also got to reading, is there not non-corrosive 7.62x54r???

Sure. Sellier & Bellot, Wolf and Bear are all new ammo and non-corrosive.

 

[Cacique500]

The above is correct on the commerical non-corrosive. But you'll pay very high prices ($200+ per 1000 rounds and higher).

On the other hand, for a few extra minutes of cleaning, you can get corrosive surplus ammo for <$0.10/round. At the last local gunshow I got 880 rounds cases of Polish Silvertip for $68 each out the door...couldn't stack it on the dolly fast enough

Also keep an eye on the auction boards (Gunbroker, AuctionArms, Gunsamerica, & other forum classifieds) for M39's.

 

[Cosmoline]

Sure. Sellier & Bellot, Wolf and Bear are all new ammo and non-corrosive.

There is some old Russian commercial ammo that's corrosive, but the new stuff should all be fine.

 

[phoglund]

If you choose not to go the Finnish M39 route, I'd recommend the M38. Short and handy, no attached bayonett to worry about. Sweet carbines with a great boom!

 

[Cosmoline]

Wholesale guns & ammo (WGA) has been selling lots of antique receiver M-39's lately.

http://www.gunsnammo.com/

They're at a low mark right now but about once a month they get a new batch in and post them. No FFL or C&R needed, which saves the transfer fee and messing around.