Hello to everyone..Newbie here with question

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ken2925

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Hello to everybody. Just signed up! I do have a question that I need advice on. I'm seriously thinking about buying a Mosin M44. I have a DPMS 223, a Norinco SKS, and a Yugo SKS. I know nada about the Mosin. What do you Pro's think? Any advice is appreciated. Again, glad to be here.
 
I did not really like mine. I know that there are people that rave about them...

They kick like hell, so you will need a recoil pad. They shoot high, so you will need to adjust for that.

They can get a disease called Sticky Bolt, where the bolt becomes hard to work.

I am not sure why anybody likes them. I read a review in The Backwoodsman Magazine a few months back, and the reviewer and I agree on these things. I understand that they are inexpensive, but the ammo adds up.

Just my opinion, which is what you asked for.

If you go to a forum called gunandgame.com, they have a Mosin section in the military rifle section. Many different Mosin threads there.

By the way, they are 7.62 X 54, not 7.62 X 39. You cannot use SKS ammo.
 
It's an unstoppable bolt gun. It shoots a bigger round than anything else you have. I really like mine. It's probably killed more Europeans than any other gun.
 
The recoil is the main thing that has stopped me from ordering. I do not like getting thumped hard now. The 7.62x39 I like. It is fun to shoot. Thanks for the help.
 
Not much less! I had the 91/30 and a Chinese T 53, the Mosin 44 knock off. They both slammed the hell out of me. The little extra weight of the 91/30 did not really do much.
 
True, the 91-30 (full size rifle) is probably more pleasant to shoot.

(I have a Finnish 28-30, but I got it long ago when Mosins were uncommon here, so I got it as an interesting oddity.)

I don't really get the popularity of the Mosin, except they're

A) cheap and

B)available.

Now that's plenty good in my book. A wise man once said,
"When kisses are a shilling each, we should adventure on a few."

Which is another way of saying, "When Mosins are cheap, load up on 'em."

I think they're clunky, myself. Once you try a Lee-Enfield, you'll never be so impressed with a Mosin. The Mosin is no more powerful than a K98 or a Springfield, and either is a better rifle. (That's why sporters like the Winchester 70 are based on the Mauser, not the Mosin.) Blah Blah, yadda yadda.

Mosins are cheap, and available.
What is more, AMMO is cheap and available.

Mosin bolts are fun to disassemble. Sort of like a Chinese puzzle.

Listen, oh Youth: I look back over the years and I KICK myself for not buying more guns when they were cheap and available.

I'm glad I bought every one I did, even that clunky Finnish Mosin.

I profoundly regret selling the ones I sold. (Oh, where is my 03-A3?!)

So why, oh Youth, WHY do you come here and tell us "I'm seriously thinking about buying a..."

Buy it! How can you go wrong? A robust, powerful, clunky rifle for under $100! One that uses readily available cheap ammo!

Hell, boy, buy the whole set! M91! M91-30! Finnish M39!

Gather ye rosebuds while ye may!

Adventure on them kisses.

Anyway, that's my suggestion.
 
I checked a recoil table.

7.62 X 39 in a 7 pound rifle gives 6.9 pounds of recoil.

7.62 X 54 in a 9 pound rifle gives 15 pounds of recoil, or a little over twice as much.

Google "Rifle Recoil" and a table from Chuck Hawks is available.

This depends a bit on the ammo, too. It lists a .303 Brit as 15 pounds, and my .303 was shootable without a recoil pad!
 
I have not heard more an eloquent word spoken! Thank you Threeband for such inspirational and truthful words. I shall order with much haste, for when will the Government buy me another firearm? Has anybody tried a recoil pad on the rifle? Limbsaver appears to make a good one. Thanks folks for your help.
 
I used a slip on rubber job. It made it tolerable. I heard a fellow on G&G used a Limbsaver, but I do not even know what they are.
 
Even a cheap slip-on pad helps. Interestingly, I sat down at the bench one day and fired off 30 of some mil-surp hungarian 60's make. Light ball, 150gr or so. Brused my shoulder so bad that I quit when I couldn't make myself pull the trigger. Now, I hand-load some 174gr bullets on Varget, and the recoil is oh so nice. Then again, I've only fired my hand-loads from my 91/30 not my M44, so that might be part of it.

The M44 is the gun you use to impress/irritate others. Short of someone with a 460 XVR or 500S&W (or a 50 BMG, but thats a given) stepping up to the line, you'll probably be the loudest one there. If you're shooting further than 50 yards, make sure you extend the bayonette. The gun will shoot 2 inches left or right (I can't remember which) at 100yards if you don't. Something with the barrel harmonics as the bullet travels down it.
 
You guys crack me up.

My Russian friend bought a 91/30 because he has this thing for...Russian rifles. After shooting it, I *had* to get one for myself, and got the M38.

Beast of a gun. It's secondary mission is flamethrower. It'll light anything on fire within 5' of the muzzle. Small children anywhere within 50' of one being touched off run back to mommy and daddy. More seasoned shooters instantly know it's a Mosin and come up for a Q&A session.

But I kid, somewhat.

There's only one other Mosin I'd like to have, the one turned into a pistol. Oh heck yeah.
 
Threeband,

You're so... poetical. About a gun no less.

Mausers are cool
Mosins are neat
I've got both
They're pretty sweet
 
Beast of a gun. It's secondary mission is flamethrower. It'll light anything on fire within 5' of the muzzle. Small children anywhere within 50' of one being touched off run back to mommy and daddy. More seasoned shooters instantly know it's a Mosin and come up for a Q&A session.
Click to expand...

I have an M38 as well. Its gotta be my favorite bolt rifle. Not only are they flamethrowers, child terrifiers, and conversation starters, but they'll set off car alarms within at least 50yds!
I'll be rounding out the collection with a 91-30, and an M44. I would only recommend a recoil pad if shooting from a bench. From standing, if you have your sling rigged properly, you can shoot all day and not be sore at all. go buy it, get some cheap surplus ammo online, and go have the loudest fun at the range!
 
Go over to Gunboards.com and ask the experts, read up at Mosinnagant.net and Http://7.62x54r.net, and buy with confidence, knowing they are the best bolt action rifle out there.
 
The MN 91/30 isn't as bad in recoil as the Springfield. Many many many soldiers lived with the Springfield and its full-house .30-'06 load.

I think the main problem nowadays is everyone's gotten used to 7.62 X 39 and 5.56 NATO recoil levels in gas-operated guns, which spreads the recoil out a little.

Believe me, I'm no "recoil junkie," but the 26" barreled 91/30 is not that bad, even with 165 grain loads.

And let's face it, if the most famous Russian Sniper, who killed over 300 Germans with a 91/30, was a lady, you can handle it, too.

And with that monstrous cruciform bayonet on it, it is majorly impressive!

Mine has good wood on it, an excellent bore, and my only problem with it is that the extractor doesn't slip over the rim of the round if you work it quickly. Go slow, and it's pretty slick.

Reassembling the bolt isn't bad if you follow the intructions exactly.

If you go buy one, bring a BoreSnake and a flashlight along with you to inspect the bore. Looking at a bore without running something through it first is like kicking the tires on a car. Doesn't tell you anything.

Big 5 usually has them on sale at about $90. They go on and off sale periodically.

And cheap is good.
 
Just load 'em down and they wont kick ya. Most of the bores are oversize, the ones I have shoot the 123 grain .310 diameter AK47/SKS bullets accurately and have little recoil. Full military loads will kick you over the moon. Use the same powder charge as recommended for 30-06 cast bullets and you will have an enjoyable time with these clunkers.

The sticky bolt problem is from ancient preservative in the chamber that has turned to varnish, causing the fired cartridge to stick in the chamber. A vigorous scrubbing of the chamber with a .45 caliber bore brush and some good solvent will usually cure the problem.
 
My M44 weighs more than my 91/30 (sans bayonet). Don't be fooled by the size.

Do they kick? Yes. I don't shoot hundreds of rounds per session so I don't need a recoil pad. If I was going to shoot that much I would use one though.

These are great, fun, historic guns. Enjoy.
 
The recoil isn't that bad. I do use a slip on recoil pad, and I shoot with the bayonet fixed- that's the way the gun was sighted in. Shoot the light ammo (around 147 grn). Don't forget to clean properly for the corrosive surplus ammo.

My 91/30 is pretty accurate and simply beautiful. Best $100 I ever spent.

Hell, even if you absolutely hate to shoot it, it will make a cool wall hanger For $100 or under, you can't go wrong!
 
get a small size recoil pad; also I prefer a 38 to a 44, it comes without the
heavy pigsticker up front. It is one rifle that is fun, affordable, will bring down a house, and both the rifle, and the ammo is very affordable. I think every one should have one. They are super easy to work on, super easy to do a trigger job, and can be fairly accurate.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/russianmosin189130/index.asp
http://7.62x54r.net/
 
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