More mossin question...

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vega

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I finally got my M38 and I put it side by side with my son's M44. I noticed that the muzzle of the M44 is a bit thicher than my M38. I measured the bore and the M44 is .310 and the M38 is .357.

Upon closer inspection it looks like that the M38's muzzle was re-bored. About 1 inch from the crown, I could see the groove. It looks like this one passed a lathe machine or something. I do remember that the other M38 that I checked have the same thickness with my M38. Does all M38 have this kind of barrel? Will it affect the accuracy of the rifle? I'm in Ventura county, Cali, where can I get cheap ammo. I called Sportsman Guide and they don't want to ship here.

TIA,
vega
 
It sounds like that M38 has been counterbored, which seems to be common w/ that model. Basically, the crown was damaged somehow, so they bored it out on the muzzle end till they got to fresh rifling. Not all M38's have it, but it's common... and as to whether it will affect accuracy, who knows. I've heard people say it will, and others have said that their counterbored whatevers are their best shooters. None of my Mosins are counterbored, so I can't really speak from experience...
 
Basically, the crown was damaged somehow, so they bored it out on the muzzle end till they got to fresh rifling.
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There's a theory that these weren't counterbored to repair a bad crown. They were counterbored right out of the factory to protect the crown.

I don't know if that's true or not, but a LOT of M38s are counterbored. That would be a very high ratio of carbines with muzzle damage. And if they were damaged from misuse or bad cleaning technique, why don't we see as many M44s counterbored?
 
That may well be--but then the question could be reversed: If M38s were counterbored to prevent crown damage, why weren't 91/30s and 44s?
 
Regarding the ammo, I got 400 rounds of the Czech Silvertip (147 gr.) ammo from www.jgsales.com

It's corrosive and has a steel core, but it is pretty accurate and clean.

Also, there's the Costa Mesa gunshow next weekend. HTH.
 
M38 counterbore

The M38 carbines saw a lot more action in WW2 than the M44. My understanding is that the M44 came in at the tail end of the USSR's march into Europe while the M38 was a standard special duty rifle issued to engineers, mobile infantry, and such. Also, there were a lot more M44's made in the post war period for Soviet military assistance programs. I've seen pictures of them still in service in Africa and the Balkans.
 
When they are cleaned improperly the cleaning rods wear the muzzle and riffling at the muzzle really badly. There are two ways to fix this 1. cut an inch off the muzzle and recrown, 2) counterbore to get to good rifling.

1. is not an option on military rifles because the barrel has to bekept intact for the sights and for fixing bayonets.

M38's have seen alot more use than M44's
 
Thanks for the replies. I cleaned the barrel and I can't make it mirror shined like the M44. Guess it has seen a a lot of action and the owner never bothered cleaning it. Will try to shoot it this weekend after I get some ammo from the gun show.
 
Counterboring is not a big deal. It was done to improve accuracy. I have several counterbored rifles and all are accurate. I have a counterbored Finnish M28 that shoots 1" groups and is one of my favorites.
 
Also, there's the Costa Mesa gunshow next weekend. HTH.
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I believe the gun show is in Seaside Ventura County this weekend. The Costa Mesa is on Mon and Tue. I talked with Miwall Corp over the phone and they said they will go to Seaside.

vega

edited to add - My bad, there are two skeds this weekend.
 
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