Mosin M-38/M-44 accuracy

[goon]

I'll admit that I consider the Mosin design to be quite archaic and not the most user friendly. I had a three Mosins at one point in time and don't own any now.
And I probably would have been happy with that.

But lately I've been thinking...
Mosins are still available for $69-$100 and they are rock solid, simple guns that generally just plain work. That appeals to me. And although the price of ammo has gone up, it's still not that expensive for the Mosin. Reloadable brass is available here and there and a few hundred casings would probably last me a LONG time if I only use it for hunting loads.
My C&R expires in November and I may not renew it, so maybe I should get some use from it...

I owned an 91/30 and two Finn M-39's. The Finns were very accurate and finely made, but again, archaic. The 91/30 was functional but not as nice as the Finns.
But I've never shot any of the carbines.
What's a rough guestimate on about how accurate the "average" M-38 or M-44 (with bayonet removed) would be at 100 yards with the irons? What about with a half decent scope?
I'm not looking for a heavy barreled varmint rifle here, but I'd like something that would be acceptable for deer hunting and general plinking.

 

[cracked butt]

What's a rough guestimate on about how accurate the "average" M-38 or M-44 (with bayonet removed) would be at 100 yards with the irons? What about with a half decent scope?

I've personally seen them shooting anywhere from 2-20 moa. The M44s and M38 that I own are much closer to the 20MOA than 2 MOA FWIW.

 

[Deer Hunter]

My M44 would probably give fist-sized groups at 100 yards if I could do my part...which I usually can't.

 

[wizzegun]

It comes down to a crap shoot with any Mosin. I have beautiful Mosins with new looking bores that won't hit the broad side of a barn with any ammo while I have beat mismatched Chinese T53 (M44 copy) that will shoot the wings off a gnat (or consistently hit claybirds at 100 yds whichever you prefer) with whatever you feed it.

A shooting buddy spent 8 weeks (slugged the bore and everything) working a load for his Mosin repro sniper. Another guy also spent a few weeks working on his repro and their loads are completely different. Both rifles are now 1 moa.

Depends what you want and how much effort you are willing to spend.

 

[offshorebear]

Mosins are almost always good enough for minute of deer at 100 yards. I think their biggest drawn bag are the big clunky sightes.

 

[esmith]

My M44 would probably give fist-sized groups at 100 yards if I could do my part...which I usually can't.

Ha, me too.

I can't believe you sold your finnish mosins off! Those are amazing rifles.

 

[Deer Hunter]

?

I didn't sell off my finnish mosins... I'm looking at them right now.

 

[esmith]

I didn't sell off my finnish mosins... I'm looking at them right now.

I was talking to the OP.

 

[goon]

esmith - the one Finn I had was kind of rough with a dark bore. It was a great shooter but not at all pretty.
The other was a work of art. The only noticeable wear on it was some blood pitting on the buttplate. I wonder what that rifle would have told me if it could have spoken.
I can't disagree with you on the Finns. They are about the finest rifles I've ever shot.
But that didn't make them practical for me. The ugly one was nothing special and the nice one was too nice to use for anything. It just stayed cased up all the time and only saw about five range trips the whole time I had it. I figured it was better off going to someone who would use and appreciate it more than I did.
And the sale bought me ammo and accessories for other guns. That was good for me because at the time I really NEEDED to simplify.

Anyhow, I'm not looking at getting a couple Mosins now to keep around as decorations or just to try out the C&R thing.
I'm looking at them because they are cheap, durable, functional, and probably a great option for a rifle that will get put behind the seat or in the trunk and left there until I need it. Or for a rifle that will get banged around while I'm hunting. Or for one that I can afford to shoot every weekend. I figure for about $350 I could add a pair of good rifles and a lot of ammo to my collection without overly complicating my life. Nothing wrong with that.
Don't get me wrong - I still think Mosins are archaic.
But they're also a hell of a deal and might just serve my purpose as well as or better than options that cost several times as much.

 

[Bartkowski]

Goon, try century arms for low prices on 91/30's. $250 for 5 in what they say is very good condition.

If you don't want 5 you could sell a coulple and make a few bucks too.

 

[Tom609]

As has been said, they're only as good as the finger on the trigger. For me, I can keep my 91/30 in softball size groups at 100 yards. My M38 consistently on a paper plate at the same distance. Plenty accurate with iron sights from a sub $100 gun that's 70 years old. The only thing cheaper to shoot is a .22.

 

[cracked butt]

Goon, try century arms for low prices on 91/30's. $250 for 5 in what they say is very good condition.

My rule of thumb about century: their 'VG' condition means something is very worn or damaged on the rifle. If the stocks have obvious damage or are badly worn, there is a chance that the bores are good (K-31s and Turk mausers) other than those two examples, every gun I've seen sold by Century in 'VG' condition had badly worn or pitted bores (one exception was a M48 I bought that had a mirror bore but the barrel was bulged 3" from the muzzle).

Always go with 'excellent' or better condition with Century if you hope to get a decent rifle for your money.

 

[goon]

Thanks guys. I think when I get them I'll probably try to pick them up on this forum or another first.
It sounds like the Mosin carbines will probably do for what I need.
All I have to decide is what I want to buy and then figure out how to line up the money.