Firearm with no serial?

[scythefwd]

Again, as it seems in all of my posts, I have received my grandfathers (ha, not my fathers this time) Mossberg 44u.s. (a). I read that they were made in the 30's - 40's and that they are very good target .22's. I can attest to the accuracy, but the rifle has no serial markings anywhere. It has a side mount scope rail, a redfield rear aperature sight, an adjustable shrouded aperature sight on the front, swivel sling mounts, and is in excellent condition. I, for the life of me, cannot find a serial number on it. I love this firearm, as it is what I started shooting with at 8yrs old. Is there any precedence for a serial number less rifle? There are no grind marks at all and the bluing looks very good.

What can yall tell me about redfield sights while we're on it?

 

[rcmodel]

Serial numbers were not required by law until passage of the 1968 Gun Control Act.

Many less expensive old guns don't have one.


Redfield, at one time, made arguably the best iron sights going.

Redfield & Lyman aperture sights ruled long range high-power for many years.

rcmodel

 

[scythefwd]

So my grandfather wasn't exagerating when he called them $200 sights. I knew they were good, both windage and elevation adjustments on the rear, windage on the front. They had me Mickey Mousing 3 shot groups at 50 yards with no rest at an outdoor range. My grandfather could keep a 1-2 inch group at 100 yards. When you consider that there could be a cross breeze, a 90 - 100 score on a 10 rd target is pretty good. He is the only man I know with a 3 inch shake and a 2 inch group.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

That's because he knew when to squeez the trigger. Never underestimate old timers, especially with their own gun.

 

[rcmodel]

a 3 inch shake and a 2 inch group.

Ha! I believe it!

One of the best Army AMU pistol shots I ever saw looked like his gun wobbled off the paper all the time.

But he could shoot one ragged hole with a .45 pistol at 50 yards, and win a national championship match while doing it!

rcmodel

 

[scythefwd]

It gets interesting when he got into his sling and shooting jacket (extra padding / grip in the right spots) and shooting glove. You could see his hearbeat in the front sight from 5 yards away, and the sling would vibrate so quickly you could almost hear it like a bass guitar string. When he got into his match setup, there was a marlin involved with glass bedding, an 18 lb barrel, thumbhole laminated stock, and a 2 oz trigger (with a set trigger to make it almost safe to handle)

He actually called me on Easter to ask me how his gun was doing Gotta love the old timers, too bad he can't shoot anymore.

 

[TAB]

He is the only man I know with a 3 inch shake and a 2 inch group.

My grandfather is the same way... he always said the only time that matters is when you pull the trigger.

 

[rcmodel]

It's called "trigger control".

The secret is continually increasing pressure on the trigger each time the sights are aligned on the center of the target. Hold that pressure when you wobble off target, then increase it slightly more as the sights come back again.

Eventually, the gun will go off at the right time when the pressure is increased enough.

You can't really just "pull" the trigger all at once and expect to get good scores.

rcmodel