Mosin Nagant M44 "Truck Rifle"

[Loosenock]

I passed this Mosin Nagant M44 up quite a few times when I first saw it. Animal and bird heads had been carved into the stock and then mosaic filed with colored aquarium sands. The bayonet and lug had been removed plus the lug was ground down leaving just the sight base and front sight. The original sights had been replace along with the original bolt body. I watched it sit on a pawn shop rack for a couple of months before finally agreeing on a price that both the pawn shop owner and me could live with.

I had to do something about the carvings so I filed the stock down where I could graft in new wood segments. With that done it was ready for some ranch work. It has been very accurate and served me well keeping the coyotes away from the livestock. But shooting it off of a fence post or the bed rail of my truck with open sights left a lot to be desired.

I had traded for reproduction PE scope a year or so ago a decided to mount it on the M44. Not having much invested in the carbine I could afford to spend a little on the not so cheap PEM side rail mount.

This last week end using a drill press and carefully measuring and double checking my work as I went along I got it all put together.



In this picture you can see one of my repairs to stock just behind the bolt handle.


Not only did the stock have to have a section of it removed for the mount a thin relief had to be filed in to allow the scope to slide onto the base without removing the action from the stock.




It is very heavy indeed but I'll never have to carry it more than a few yards. The additional weight of this massive scope mount and the all steel scope should help me shooting with these old eyes.

I know there are some who will flame me for mounting the scope on it but any collectors interest in this carbine was long removed before I got it. Its worth a lot more to me as a working carbine than just setting in a gun safe.

A fun weekend project and still a fine useful everyday working carbine.

'loose

 

[hartcreek]

A M44 with That bolt handle?

 

[AethelstanAegen]

Looks good. You did a great job in turning what sounds like a pretty messed up rifle into a very handy rifle that looks great. Well done.

 

[back40]

Looks like you came out of it with a fine truck gun. Nice work!

 

[Loosenock]

hartcreek: The previous owner swapped out the bolt and the serial numbers don't match up. I had the head space checked and it is fine. The carbine has always shot great using cheap surplus ammo.

'loose

 

[RCArms.com]

Nicely done work on this carbine. It has the worn metal look that I really find appealing and the large scope set up is probably as close to bulletproof as you can get.

The 7.62x 54R is a formidable cartridge and is perfectly suited to the truck gun purposes.

 

[carbine85]

So how well does it shoot?
I don't worry about the Mosin Purist. Do what you want with it. There are 10's of millions of them and they are cheap. It's not a limited edition rifle.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I always like to see one of Bubba's unloved children get picked up by someone that can appreciate them. Nice!

 

[Sock Puppet]

One of my favorite rifles is a sporterized M44. I think you'll really like it!

 

[Ash]

It's a shame Bubba took it out - un-refurbed M44's are worth more than $300 these days. But, it's good it still has use.

 

[Voodoochile]

If I ever got around to buying a PU mount & Sniper bolt body I too would do just what you did to the M44 in my house although it would still sport the bayonet.

That is a sweet looking set up you have there sir.

 

[fmj50]

Iron Sights & Optics....bubba ??
I dare to speak for the majority here when I say that deep down we all know that if the shtf we want both.
Most of us grew up on Daisy red riders and moved up from there.
I'm a firm believer in Never being proficient at optics only and as we all know the majority of American rifles made these days are without iron sights, sad.

I would have no problem taking a brand new Savage, Remington, or any other top selling US made rifle and putting decent iron sights on it.

To me it's like a 4x4 truck with no front drive shaft.

But that's me, maybe I am a "bubba"

Nice work on that M44 !

 

[justice06rr]

M44's make good all around rifles. I think you still got a good one, as long as you didn't overpay.

I love my M44 more than the 91/30 I owned and sold. Happy shooting!

 

[Palehorseman]

I have a prebubbaed (barrel and forestock chopped) picked up for $25.00. This is final on the cheap result, I really like it and with cast bullets it is ACCURATE.

 

[Loosenock]

Finding pre-existing modified/chopped/bubba'd mil-surp firearms is the way to go if you have a project in mind. I've probably have more into this than I'd ever get out it but it has been proven and is what is needed for a rugged truck gun.

By far the biggest investment I made was the PEM mount. My truck gun was going to see tougher use than the average sporting rifle while not being abused and neglected. I wanted to be able to use either the scope or the open sights without having to remove the scope. I needed good clearance to be able to load the magazine with cold, old, stiff hands suffering with arthritis and the PEM mount seemed the best choice especially since I had a used PE scope. If anything, I think the mods that I did brought it more back in line to the image of the Mosin Nagant than distracting from it.

When ever you get into customizing you can fall into a money pit pretty quickly. That is why is better to find one where someone else has already took the plunge and you can take advantage of the investments they've already made.

Since were on the subject...I'd like to see other "truck guns" or working guns. Post pictures of them.

Palehorseman thanks for posting the pictures of yours. I'm glad you have had good results with cast bullets. I'm set up for reloading the 7.62 Russian cartridge and will try some cast bullets.

Thanks for all the comments.

'loose