Help me shoot my new M44/Mosin Nagant...

[WeThree]

I'm looking for tips on how to shoot this variety of rifle. I don't have any experience with bolt guns, let alone one chambered in an (apparently?) powerful cartridge (7.62x54R).

I'm mostly concerned with how I should position myself behind the sights, I'm afraid it's going to come back and thwack me in the face/eye.

I'll be shooting it offhand, and off a bench with sandbags tommorow afternoon. I'd appreciate any pointers.

Regards,

Brian

 

[DMK]

Don't worry, it's not going to hit you in the head. It does kick pretty good though. Be sure to pull it tight into your shoulder so it doesn't smack back and hurt you there. A thick towel folded up and laid over your shoulder will help if you plan on shooting it for a while.

If you haven't stocked up on ammo yet, try something in the 147 grain range to make it easier to shoot. The so called heavy ball (172-180 grain bullets) kick a bit harder.

As far as sighting, get your cheek down on the stock so you have a straight line from your eye across the sights. Just keep your nose away from the back of the bolt.

It might shoot a little to one side. These were sighted in by the Russians with the bayonette extended. You can adjust that by knocking the front sight over with a hammer and a drift. Move it in the direction of where the shots are landing.

Don't forget to let somebody else shoot it so you can enjoy the sight of the muzzle blast from the little beast. Have fun!

 

[Feanaro]

As long as you hold on to it tight there shouldn't be any thwacking, except for your shoulder and the target. The M44 does have some fierce recoil but it's nothing truely terrible. I recommend a shoulder pad for extended firing though.

I also second letting someone else shooting it so you can observe the rather large muzzle flash. And it's REALLY fun at night.

 

[WeThree]

Thanks guys!

 

[Greg L]

These were sighted in by the Russians with the bayonette extended. You can adjust that by knocking the front sight over with a hammer and a drift. Move it in the direction of where the shots are landing.

Or just shoot it with that big pointed thing sticking out in front .

You will probably get a couple of these if you do, so just stick a marshmallow on the end and fire away. The muzzle blast & accompaning fireball should make it a nice golden brown within a couple of shots .

Greg

 

[Tropical Z]

YAH!
There should be a law requiring all M44's to be shot with bayonet extended.People who arent into military surplus can get a little freaked out though when they see you.

 

[DMK]

You never know though, not all your meek and mild mannored range goers are frightened by the sight of a bayonette or evil black rifle.

I when brought my newly built FAL carbine(with *loud* muzzle brake) and my new (to me) M44 to the range one day, one of the go-to-the-range-once-a-year-to-sight-in-my-deer-rifle guys came over to see what all the big booming was at my end of the range. He just stood there staring at me and my intimidating carbines. I took a break to rub my sore shoulder and talked with the guy a bit (answered his string of questions). He kind of had this confused look on his face the whole time.

About a month later, I saw the guy at the range again with a brand new Century Arms CETME Black Widow and he said that he was thinking of getting one of them rifles with the bayonette on the end.

Since then, he also picked up a 9mm pistol and I'm seeing him at the range more often.

 

[Oleg Volk]

I did not find the "extended bayonet" story to be true in my experience. To reduce muzzle jump, use the sling around your left forearm.

 

[MLC]

I'm with Oleg on the sling.
The ol' timers at a local range like to have the rifle(their Rem 700) rested on sandbags and the sling looped around the left forearm firmly holding the foreend in place but not pulling the rear end of the stock up.

 

[Erik Jensen]

what about the fact that both my 91/30 and my M44 shoot *WAYY HIGH* at 100yds?? what can I do about that? the romainian guy at work told me that they're set up to aim at the feet of your target? any ideas?

 

[DMK]

You need to make your front sight taller to bring your muzzle down a bit. Put a piece of shrink tubing or one of those little tubes on the nozzles of carb cleaner or WD-40 over your front sight. Then trim that to the desired height.

Also, lighter ammo will shoot to a lower POI. If you are now shooting 180-200gr. bullets, try some 147gr stuff like the Czech Silvertip that AIMsurplus is selling now. For me, that light stuff shoots like 6-8 inches lower than Bulgarian heavy ball or 200gr. Wolf at 100 yards.

 

[Cosmoline]

My usual advice when shooting any of the classic war rifles is to keep it at close to a right angle to your body with the stock resting on your chest muscle and your head held well back from the bolt. You should be able to cycle the action without moving your head. If you have to move your head out of the way, my bet is you're holding it at a more accute angle, like a typical American scoped rifle would be held. These guys were designed to be shot in a different manner. There's a great illustration of the proper techniques in an old Shotgun News IIRC. It shows a marksman shooting a Swedish mauser without moving his head and cycling the bolt and shooting with one smooth move of his hand.

I've seen many shooters pull their heads right back behind the bolt as if there were a scope mounted there. IMHO this is the cause of most painful recoil problems, since holding your head behind the bolt forces the metal buttstock to rest in your armpit or on your shoulder bone. Ouch!

 

[Zeke Menuar]

I bought a M38 two weeks ago and an Hungarian M44 today.
The big secret is to keep from tensing up and allow the body to absorb the recoil kinda like a shock aborber. Go ahead and rock back a bit on firing. Works for me.

I have also been on a heavy shotgun kick lately. I have been shooting the family 1897 Winchester alot. There is no recoil pad on it so my shoulder has become numb and impervious to pain or feeling of anykind.


ZM

 

[GigaBuist]

FWIW, the short bolt handle on the M44 was meant to be cycled with the left arm reaching over top of the bolt. Using the right hand works and all, but the left hand seems more natural, especially when using a rest. I've read, somewhere, that this is how the Soviets were trained to fire the weapon.

I'll have to modify my shooting position now that I've read Cosmoline's post. I usually pick my head up while cycling the action on it. Not having to do that, combined with using the left hand, would mean I'd be able to keep some kind of sight picture the whole time.

Oh, and using your left hand just seems naturally once you put 20 or so through the thing. Even with a sweater and a winter coat to protect my shoulder the right shoulder gets a little sore... so not having to MOVE my right arm is really nice!