M44 Front Sight Removal

[Babarsac]

I'm making my Mosin into a nice little scout rifle and I've hit a brick wall. I've determined where the two pins are I need to punch out to get the front sight\bayonet assembely off. The rear one is moving a bit but the front one is....... :banghead: .....yeah you know.

I've looked at the articles on SurplusRifle a million times so I was wondering if anyone else has had an experience doing this. I'm starting to wonder if I should just replace the barrel with this one.

http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=7584642&aa=%20%20%20Barrel%20VG%20Bore%20M44%20Mosin%20Nagant%20Rifle%20(MN-43B)

Any thoughts?

 

[Cosmoline]

It shouldn't be a problem if you have the right punches. What are you using now?

 

[Jackal]

I will give you a huge chunk of advice. Don't try to "scouterize" the M44. If you want to scout anything, get an M38 instead. It's the same rifle, just without the big bayonet lug. I tried scouterizing my M44 and while I got it all together, after about 3 shots, my bullets would just start walking to the right. I attribute this to the massive bayo lug on one and only one side of the barrel.

 

[Cosmoline]

It's not the lug that causes drift like that, it's the pressure of the folded bayonet on the stock, which starts pressing on the barrel in one direction as it heats up.

I don't see a problem scouterizing it as long as you're not going to hack and slash the thing. I've drifted the front sight/lug assembly off SKS's and M-44's many times before.

I forgot to add, you can use the kroil that kreeps to get it to loosen up if needed. The stuff is scary.

 

[Babarsac]

When i got the M44 the stock was falling apart and not even worth putting in a fire. So what I've got is a barreled action and I'm okay with dinging it up a bit. Plus I've already got a Darrell's scope mount for it. Could I just whack the front assembely off?

 

[cracked butt]

Wow! A M44 Barrel $45 shipped? I paid less for the last M44 I bought.

 

[Babarsac]

Well the new barrel is a last ditch resort if I start to lose my sanity

I wonder if I can just grease the front bayonet lug and slide it off with some help from Mr. Hammer. Is the what you did Cosmoline?

 

[garanddaddy]

Got My M44 today, nice looking rifle a very nice stock. Am going to leave it like it is. My M38 now has a monte carlo stock and am in the process of scouterizing it. Just ordered new bolt handle from Brownells. Anyone had experience in welding on a new bolt handle I have both gas and wire welder.

 

[Jackal]

Cosmoline- I was getting the drift without the bayo attached, with the action in a floated sporter stock.

Anyone had experience in welding on a new bolt handle

Nope, but I just broke down and ordered an extended "sniper" type bolt from Ebay. It looks great and works super.

 

[Cosmoline]

Cosmoline- I was getting the drift without the bayo attached, with the action in a floated sporter stock.

Are you sure your action was properly bedded and the receiver screws were tight? I've shot a good dozen M-44's and I've never seen that kind of drift with the bayo off. But I HAVE seen it with loose screws and improper bedding in a sporter stock.

I wonder if I can just grease the front bayonet lug and slide it off with some help from Mr. Hammer. Is the what you did Cosmoline?

Once the pins are out, that's the general idea.

 

[Jackal]

I wonder if I can just grease the front bayonet lug and slide it off with some help from Mr. Hammer.

Heating the lug with a small propane torch is also said to help. Also, if you or a friend has the tools, you can just cut, then re-crown the barrel behind the lug. I have seen this done and it leaves the barrel at around 17 inches if I remember correctly.

 

[Kymasabe]

The last one I took off was a bugger to remove. I pushed out the pins, put a small 2x4 block against the sight block and smacked it off with a BFH. Definately had to put some muscle behind it.

 

[Cosmoline]

Cutting and re-crowning is both tricky and pointless. You end up with a genuine blowtorch and unless you do the job right it won't improve accuracy any. Besides, if you do happen to have a rare bird it destroys its value forever. There are far better cartridge/rifle combos for a short barrel scout. A Ruger New Frontier in .308 for example.