Back when Mosins were $69, I stopped in at Fleet Farm and looked at the Mosin M38's for a guy I worked with, who wanted one for a deer gun. (I was the "gun guy" at work) I picked out a nice 1941 M38 and a box (big mistake, only one box) of HotShot 7.62x54R. Got home, degunked it enough to shoot it, (Fortunately, Fleet Farm had done most of it), and prepared myself for some hellacious recoil. (My experience with a No5 Jungle Carbine had left a distinct impression) It wasn't bad, thanks to the wide buttstock. I shot that whole box in about 3 minutes. I reported back to him that it wouldn't be a good deer gun because of the arcane safety, but it was still a heckuva deal for a range toy that shoots cheap ammo.
Shortly after, I found two Mosins at a gun show, One an 1899 Finned Ishevk but the Finn stock had been cut off. The other was a "sporterized" M91/30, Tula 1938, that was a barrelled action and magazine/trigger group. (No wood) $50 for the 1899, $25 for the other. I found a Hungarian M44 stock to put the 91/30 in on eBay for $10, so for $35 I had an accurate, albeit ugly, Mosin. I call it FrankenTula™, and it is my most accurate Mosin; I have hunted with it several times, and my boys are already fighting over who gets it when I'm gone.