Mosin M44 modification

[lencac]

It is almost impossible to find a Mosin M38 in any kind of decent condition. Virtually without exception they have all been serverely used, abused and shot-out. That and the use of corrosive ammo usually renders them junk. Many have had the barrel counter bored at the muzzle a couple of inches also. M38's are cool because they are very weildy and powerful. I see many that outwardly look good beacuse they have been arsenal refinished but the bores are gone. So I came up with a solution. There is still a good supply of
M44's but they have that stupid bayonet attachment on them which make them aukward and unbalanced not to mention affecting the accuracy. The fix, remove the bayonet attachment.
There is just 2 pins that hold the bayonet sheath/front sight assembly on the barrel. One pin is through the Bayonet sheath and the other through the front sight band. You drive out the 2 pins, and the whole thing will come off with tapping on the assembly using a wood dowel. Then you cut the sheath off just behind the front sight portion of the sheath. Then reattach the front sight band and repin it. The barrel under the sheath is even still blued and the use of a little Birchwood Perma Blue will finish the modification. Take to range, resight in and presto, you now have a very nice M38 Oh, and don't forget to mark the front sight band to the barrel before it is removed.

 

[esmith]

That is not a m38, thats an m44 with the sight moved and the bayonet sheared off. I personally don't like m38s because most are redone and the handgrip is very wierd. I personally think thats an abomination but if it helps you sleep at night good for you.

 

[JonB]

That works. I haven't found the bayo on mine to be in the way at all so I just leave it folded in. Some say that having it in can affect 'barrel harmonics' and such which leads to less accuracy. I tried it in an out and neither was better / worse using Czech silvertip surplus ammo.

 

[Cosmoline]

Don't do that to a Pole or you'll got to the Special Hell.

 

[DMK]

It is almost impossible to find a Mosin M38 in any kind of decent condition. Virtually without exception they have all been serverely used, abused and shot-out. That and the use of corrosive ammo usually renders them junk. Many have had the barrel counter bored at the muzzle a couple of inches also. ... There is still a good supply of
M44's but they have that stupid bayonet attachment on them which make them aukward and unbalanced not to mention affecting the accuracy.

One reason why i really like 91/59s.

http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Russian_Mosin_Nagant_Model_91_59_7.62x54R_Rifle.html


I wouldn't say the bayo makes M44s inaccurate either. Mine outshoots my M38 and 91/30, although that's probably due to barrel condition.

 

[BillinNH]

How does removing the bayonet lug from a 44 improve the bore?
Or are you saying 44s in general have bores that aren't shot out as much as 38s.

I have a 38. Handy, good looking, lousy groups. Was thinking about a replacement barrel.

Bill

 

[esmith]

Was thinking about a replacement barrel.

Get another of a different model. For that price its going to be the same or close to what you would pay for a new one.

 

[Bartkowski]

It is almost impossible to find a Mosin M38 in any kind of decent condition. Virtually without exception they have all been serverely used, abused and shot-out.

 

[jpwilly]

My M38 is counter bored and has a pitted barrel...it shoots okay though. But not worth worrying about my M44 was built in 1946 after the war - like new!

 

[Harry Paget Flashman]

lencac. It's about as easy to use a 4" angle grinder to shear off the bayo lugs and round them over. Some detail work with a palm sander and fine grit paper and a little Birchwood-Casey Permablue and you're done. I have about 6 extra modified stocks (link) I like to change around for my MN's so I did this to 2 of my M44's. It's the only way to get the barrel bands off intact.

 

[lencac]

WOW

Never knew such a cheesy, cheap commie firearm would get this much attention. Sounds like esmith needs to get laid This M44 is mechanically new with aperfect bore. As I am not expecting to be attacked by a rabid P-dog I can't see the sense of having that extra 2.5 lb dead weight hanging off the end. Considering it's a $79 firearm it is inconsequential what I do or don't do to this thing. Hell I already feel guilty loading quality ammo for it. Kinda like putting a Top Fuel engine into a 72 Gremlin. But in my defense I do have a original 91/30 sniper in excellent condition.

 

[dstorm1911]

Cosmoline, A "special h#ll"? ohhh man I bought a dozen of the Centerfire systems mint unissued Polish M44 barreled actions......... they came totally stripped as in nekid, 11 of em are sittin in the shop one has been turned into a 16" barreled Manlicher stocked ... well sporter isn't the right word so how bout "Flame thrower"? Do I still get a special h#ll ticket or does it go to the Pol who totally stripped the rifle before I got it? BTW all of these were Unissued condition....


As to the M38s the Bulgarians counter bored all of em regardless of bore condition as a make work program in the 1970s........ We have several at the shop (not for sale they are personal collection guns) that escaped counterboring and have pristine bores..... and even original non bayo cut stocks....... so not all got abused and trashed these came from a collectors estate when he passed away his kids just wanted one price for the entire collection........

Lencac, if ya slide that front sight back to the barrel shoulder, cut the forward excess leaving a half inch (original muzzle profile) then recrown and repin It would look ALOT better and really won't make any difference at all in accuracy I cut that Pol down right to the barrel shoulder (which gives a 16" barrel) and it made no difference at all from when it was original length just looks much claner and less Bubba gone wildish, just my .02

 

[lencac]

Dstorm1911 thanks for the idea. The catch to that is that would entail spending money on it. The beautiful thing about these is they are cheap as hell. I only got it for when I'm tromping around with friends. Don't have to worry about getting it dinged up (came predinged) being as most of my others stuff are trailer queens (with a deadly bite).

 

[KI.W.]

Mosin Nagant

Something http://mosinnagant.net/

 

[P5 Guy]

Hijack: What's so special about the Polish M44?

 

[lencac]

nothing

 

[grimjaw]

It is almost impossible to find a Mosin M38 in any kind of decent condition. Virtually without exception they have all been serverely used, abused and shot-out.

The key words in that being "almost" and "virtually."

I present for your inspection the best, and probably only, gun store deal I ever found. A Mosin Nagant M38 from 1945, imported by Aztec, NOT counterbored. Bluing is great (for a Mosin Nagant), and it's wearing a M38-type stock.

I also thought about hacking up a M44 at one time, but figured I'd try to find a M91/59 instead. I found this M38 out of sheer luck. After asking around about it I found out they aren't that rare, but the combination I have probably rates up there. At the rate I'm selling my collection, either this one or the 7.62x39 chambered guns have to go. Decisions, decisions.

I also had a Polish M44, and it was very nice (and very heavy), but too nice to shoot, and I hated bayonets anyway. Give me a M91/30 over a M44 any day of the week.

jm

 

[Dr. Peter Venkman]

Russian guns were supposedly sighted in with bayonets fixed.

By grinding off the bayonet on an M44, you are moving the point of impact from where it was originally sighted in. Doing this does not make it any more accurate.

Besides, being counterbored does not mean it cannot shoot accurately. My M39 was either counterbored or the erosion is extensive, and it's putting 2-2.5 inch groups all day long at 100 yards.

 

[lencac]

Grimjaw, now that's what I'm talkin about. Very nice M38. Oh, by the way my birthday comes in December