Price check; M38 Mosin variant

[BluesDancer]

Hi THR,
I saw something interesting today at the LGS - an M38 rifle for $330. With a 7% tax we would be talking somewhere around $355 total. Price is firm - I asked. Is this a good deal?

Additional details: Stock is laminated (darker brown) and is in almost pristine condition. Bolt looks pretty clean with minimal imperfections. The Russian numbers at the 1-metal stock end, 2-magazine well bottom, and 3-receiver top are all matching in Cyrillic. I shined a light up the barrel - it looks used but the rifling is clearly there. No imperfections in the bore were evident. Not a perfect specimen but pretty darned good.

In your opinion should I go or pass on it? It seemed a bit high priced but I was not sure. Shooting is my primary aim; collecting is my secondary aim. I already have the full size MN and was looking for a M38/M44/T53 to complement it.

I saw M44's on www.classicarms.us and was wondering if I should go for those instead?

 

[Jackal]

Here's your answer: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/..../Russian+M38+Mosin+Nagant+Excellent+7.62x54R
The questions is: Is the $50 premium after transfer worth knowing what your getting vs buying sight unseen?

 

[ball3006]

Love the latest price on these........chris3

 

[Jackal]

Love the latest price on these.......

Well, considering its about the price of a 10/22, its still not bad. Any decent rifle around $300 is a great deal.

 

[chris in va]

I had one for a few years. I bought a couple 440rd tins at the time of purchase, and after about six years it only had about 1/3 of a tin through it.

Basically it has a lot of recoil, a crude and rough action and dismal accuracy. I think you can do better for your $350...which BTW sounds absurd for this glorified 2x4. Mine was $89.

 

[Shadow 7D]

And some don't really cherish a piece of history, I would rather think that Chris found out that Mosins run the gamut, they kick like a mule (more so for shorties) and that if you don't value their history, you can spend a bit more and buy a CNC Remchester...

BTW, remember x54 is corrosive (surplus) so you really need to check the bore

 

[Tempest 455]

M38's are getting scarce. $300 is about typical. They are fun to shoot. Way more fireball and kick than the longer 91/30's.