Remove Mosin Nagant 44 Bayonet?

[HoosierQ]

I see a lot of M44 and of course they all have the bayonet. I had a kind of a bad one that I got rid of (bad headspace) but I do like them and would like to have another.

When I had mine, I found it easy enough to take off the bayonet without any damage to the rifle. It was sure less front heavy.

Aside from changing the original config of the rifle, why would one who wanted a shooter not take off the bayonet and have a more balanced, lighter, rifle? Obviously the thing was designed with the bayonet...does removing it somehow affect the accuracy?

Thanks.

 

[Claude Clay]

they are zeroed with the letter opener extended. the military has reasons for everything it does. FWIW

 

[cluttonfred]

Removing the bayonet doesn't harm accuracy. I read somewhere where someone did a good before and after test. It does, however, change point of aim because of the bayonet pressing on the barrel, so you'll need to rezero the sights. Since they had to choose one or the other, the Soviets chose bayonet extended for obvious reasons in combat.

 

[armoredman]

Or just go get an M38, same rifle without bayonet. They're still cheap enough...

 

[AZAndy]

I'm with Armoredman. I loves my M38; never had a bayonet on it in the first place.

 

[HoosierQ]

You know, I don't think I have ever seen a 38 for sale around here...I actually thought they were rare. On the other hand, I see 44's lined up from one side of a store to another.

Good information.

 

[Cosmoline]

Frankly out of the dozen or two non-Polish M44's I've owned I'd have a hard time believing any were zeroed. They didn't spend much time with them. I'd suggest getting the rifle in the condition you like it, then zeroing it yourself with a new front post if needed.

 

[taprackbang]

M44 Bayonet removal

Hey I am trying to remove the bayonet off of my M44, but I have had trouble in removing the bayonet bolt. It is muscled on pretty good. Any suggestions for musculing the letter opener off?

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

Well, they stake the letter-opener screw, which is why you're having trouble. The screw is telling you that it wants you to buy an M38, since it (the screw) doesn't want to be unemployed.

 

[shuvelrider]

Something I read says if you bought the rifle as a C&R that it must stay in that configuration or else you will be subject to some other " big brother is watching "gun laws. So according to that statute on C&R I can take my SKS or M44 MN and use it for hunting this year because its a historic relic kept in origanal configuration based on C&R laws. I,m sure someone has the exact regulation on it and will post it.FWIW.

 

[cluttonfred]

Classic Arms has nice Finnish M39s, but they are more expensive than any M44.

 

[SimpleIsGood229]

I believe the C&R laws only concern acquisition of the firearm in question. As I understand it, you can do (almost) whatever to it, once it's in your hands.

 

[Cosmoline]

AFAIK there is no law prohibiting you from modifying a C&R rifle as long as what you're changing it to is still a legal firearm. What your alteration can do is remove C&R status so a subsequent transfer would need to proceed as any other firearm. As far as how much you would need to do to it I know of no regs or letters. If someone finds one please post. You might also need to make a notation in yr. bound book. Check with the feds.

In this case we're not talking about grinding off the lug but simply popping the bayonet out of its socket. It can be put back on.

Also some M44's have peened screws so it's tough to remove the bayonet. Some also have screws frozen into place after half a century. Kroil will deal with it. Most of mine have come right out.

 

[rust collector]

I assumed they peened the bolt a bit so it wouldn't shoot loose. I got a $5 impact driver from Harbor Freight and the bolt came right out.

Now I use it for all my gunsmithing on soviet bloc weapons. If you want a real challenge, try punching the pin out of the upper guard/gas tube on a chinese SKS

 

[Franco2shoot]

I prefer shooting my M44 with the pig sticker extended.. helps with the balance. This may be due to the fact that I shoot the 91/30 more often while at the range, and when I drop back to the M44 the extra weight helps.
KKKKFL

 

[Mike 56]

Some M44 bayonets are staked and some are not. You having a hard time loosing the screw tells me yours is probably staked. If you have a Harbor fright by were you live go there and buy a impact driver they cost about 5.00. They can also be found at hardware stores. A impact driver well break the bayonet screw lose no problem.

Mike

 

[stolivar]

I removed mine

It shoots fine. Never had to re-zero it.



steve