Mosin Nagant: Which one?

[Ivantherussian03]

I am about ready to order a couple rifles.

I wanted hear the pros and cons of the different models from people on the board that own them; I am interested in the M38, M39, M44, and 91/30.

Does anyone have opinion on these?:roll:

[Ricochet]

I'm partial to the old long infantry rifles, the longer the better. Since M91s are now scarce and pricey, that means the M91/30. Just got another of these (shot it the first time yesterday), and I'm awaiting the arrival of an M38 carbine. I'll pick up an M44 before long, too. Got to have one of each, at least!
:mrgreen:

[mooman76]

I am in favor of the shorter carbines. I have several reeeeal long guns and they are just a pain being long. I even have a hard time fitting them in my safe & my car with all my other gear plus my aging eyes are having a hard time seeing the front site blade on some of these rifles the front site is tiny! Just my preferance.

[Ricochet]

Since I keep bayonets fixed on my M91/30s as they're supposed to be, it does take a bit of finagling to get them in the car. :mrgreen:

[beemer]

I have had both long and short. What are you going to do with it ? The long ones have a longer sight radius, that makes you more accurate, not the gun. They are also heavier, that makes the recoil a little less. The short ones are louder and make a nice fireball with surplus ammo but are much handier in the brush. The 44 is heavy because of the pig sticker. I sold my 44 and kept the 91/30 and a M39 Finn( my favorite).If I were to get another one it would be a 38 because there is no bayonet. I prefer the long barrels because I can shoot them better and I like the way they look. Oh, what the heck just get one of each!

beemer

[Charley]

M39s, on average, are better shooters than the other models.

[jack19512]

Of my M38, my 91/30 and my M44 my M38 is the most accurate and easiest to use.

[trickyasafox]

I have an M44 and an M38. . .if i could only have one it'd be the m38 hands down. i don't like fixing the bayonets :/

[Razor]

M39--Best looking, most accurate, most expensive..(got one)
M91/30 -- least ugly of the remaining 3.. can be as accurate as a Finn 39 (got 3)
M44 -- Average ugly.. moderate accuracy.. spits a 2 ft flame on a sunny day (Had 3, sold'em)
M38 -- UGLY... couldn't quite force myself to buy one...
In that order...

Razor[smilie=s:

[Ricochet]

None of 'em are ugly. But they do have lots of character.

Ugly in rifles involves black plastic.

[dbldblu]

They are so cheap get one of each! M39 is probably the best bet for a shooter. The 91/30 has the best looks.

[Ivantherussian03]

The only thing with the buy one of each theory--is dealing with wife later. [smilie=1:

[mooman76]

The only thing with the buy one of each theory--is dealing with wife later. [smilie=1:

They are so cheap get them anyway. All guns look alike to wives!:mrgreen: Just don't show them to her except one at a time, she won't know!

[Razor]

All guns look alike to wives! Just don't show them to her except one at a time, she won't know!
This works !
For a few years, I would drag my latest gun show treasure out of the back room, proudly show it to the Mrs. and expound at length on its virtues...She would sit there with what I thought was rapt interest until one day she said " Nice, its greasy, brown and got a barrel, You probably only have 3 of them and just take turns showing me the same ones."
(shortly thereafter my count had got up to 100+:twisted:)

Razor

[Ivantherussian03]

Very Nice:-D

[Rick N Bama]

My most accurate is a 1936 Finn Capture 91/30. Next is a M39, then a 91/59. Pick yourself out a nice 91/30 & you probably won't reget it.

Rick

[Shepherd2]

The 91/30 is my favorite. I have a couple along with a M39, M38, M44 and a 91/59. I like the long milsurps too. I like the looks of the 91/30 and to me they seem very light and balanced. When I take a MN to the range 9 times out of 10 it will be a 91/30.

The M44 is what you buy when you want an ugly gun.

[RJS3799]

hands down. The only original part of the Finn 39 that is "Mosin Nagant" is the receiver. The Finns added a new stock, barrel and sights to create the Finn 39. The workmanship can’t be compared to the 91/30, M38 or the M44. Not that they are bad rifles (No such thing) From my experience the Finn 39 (I have 4) can be compared to the K31 and the M96 Swedish Mauser in accuracy. It just feels right when you pull it into your shoulder. But like other have said here, getting one of each is fun, there is always something to like about every rifle.

Rick

[jack19512]

The only thing with the buy one of each theory--is dealing with wife later. [smilie=1:







You actually tell your wife every time you buy a gun? :mrgreen: Last time my wife looked in my gun safe there was probably 6 or 7 guns in there, now there are around at least (I've lost count now)40 rifles and handguns total. Don't know what I will tell her when she looks again but I will cross that bridge when I come to it. :-D

[JBMauser]

My first was a 91/59 It is just as purty as a new puppy. I have a New England M91 Finned... shoots like a bandit. I am a Finn Fan and look for them constantly. I will add a m44 and m38 at some time because I just like short rifles. I found a Finn M39 that I am very pleased with. Haunt the shows and pawn shops. Gems turn up! Best of luck. JB

[Clark]

I like the 91/30s with long barrels and inner stop rings ~1942 and earlier.

The Polish M44 have the best stocks, and are made of high grade birch.

It is much easier to find an M44 with a good bore than an 91/30.

I have only two 91/30s that came with virgin bores, and they were hard to find.

The corrosive ammo in WWII made most 91/30s have non shinny grooves at the muzzle.

All the old hex receivers will have an inner stop ring.

Re barreling a 91/30 action has the extra pain of cutting the extractor relief.

When you weld the bolt handle, take the bolt appart, so you don't wreck the firing pin spring.

I can get more accuracy from an M39, but they weigh more, and the 91/30 is accurate enough.

[Three44s]

91/30 for it's inherent accuracy ......

M38 for it's abject handyness!!!!!!

Three 44s

[Dark Helmet]

Here ya go- http://www.gunsnammo.com/3842X.htm !

[txpete]

MY finns
M39 on the top and a M28 sig on the bottom
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/txpete/2008_0119finn20002.jpg

russians
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/txpete/2008_0119russians0003.jpg

mosin nagants are a curse:-D:-D
pete

[RSOJim]

I will state my opinion as I have long and short mosin nagants. I am 62 years old. I can't see the front sight on the short ones, but I still can with the long ones. I have one old 91/30 that was made in 1942. It looks like it was dragged behind some kind of military equipment all across Russia and back again. I call it grandpa. Now grandpa is really fugly. Two weeks ago at our range here in central florida some of the fellows had a 16 inch gong set up at the 300 meter range. I only shoot cast boolits in grandpa over 30 grains of 3031. Of course I have beagled the mold and size to .315. The fellows at the 300 meter range were using scoped rifles on sand bags. I walked up the the guys and ask if I could try grandpa on the gong. Of course no benches were available. So I raised the rear sight to 600 meters and standing on my hind legs without any support let go and hit the gong first try. I quit right then and there.

[mooman76]

For the price you can't go wrong with any of them. If you like long guns get a long one. If you like short get that one and if you like both get both!

[junkbug]

Were I live, M-39 Finnish rifles are going for $300-400 dollars, even on the net. The real bargins are M91/30 Soviet refurbished rifles. They can be had on the net for less than $100. I would only buy one I could see, and choose the best bore I can find. Late war 1943 made rifles seem to be in the best shape, as the probably saw the least use. The receivers on these are very crudely finished, but I don't believe that affects funtioning.

M-38 carbines are OK, but all the recent ones I have seen are counter-bored. They have been used hard, but most now are refurbished also. I believe the muzzles were worn on these more than the M91/30s becaust the muzzle protector that was part of the standard Soviet cleaning kits would not fit on a M-38.

I have a Finnish captured 1934 M91/30 on the way now.

Take care.

Sean

[Ricochet]

I just got an M38. Very nice Izhevsk 1943, with the rough wartime finish not polished off. Bore is perfect, but it was counterbored anyway in refurbing. The carbines look really funny to me with the forends and barrels shortened so, but it's a handy, light, sweet handling little thing. I've gotten wimpy and haven't been out in the cold to try it out yet.

As for the counterboring, it doesn't hurt a thing. Just another way of crowning a muzzle.

[Three44s]

My 91/30's shoot like sin ......... that said ........ My M38 is my goto beater gun!

Counterbored and all ...... it puts J-word Winy Power point .308" slugs into golf balls at 50 yards real regular (midpoint Varget pushing it).

They are lighter, shorter and kick more ......... just like me when I was a KID! LOL!

VIVA MOSINS!!!

Three 44s

[matm0702]

I like all Mosins but have a fondness for M39's. Heavy barrels, nice wood &
easily adjusted sights. Both M39s I own shoot 1 1/2 inch groups at 50 yds with
Iron sights if my eyes cooperate. Have scout scoped one of them for hunting and
usually cut the groups in half with reloads. Have had several Russian Mosins but
have not been as lucky getting them to do as well except for one M44 and a M91/59 (wished I kept them). The key reason behind my M39 preference are nice
.311 bores that allow the use of .308 J-bullets but they love Lee .312-185 cast.
The cast loads are still work in progress as I just got the mold and had used up a supply that I had. My biggest issue is coming up with a good alloy that I could hunt deer with at 50 yards or less.

Mike

[DaveInFloweryBranchGA]

I am about ready to order a couple rifles.

I wanted hear the pros and cons of the different models from people on the board that own them; I am interested in the M38, M39, M44, and 91/30.

Does anyone have opinion on these?:roll:

M38 - Short, handy, recoil is substantial with surplus ammo. Reasonably accurate when shot with handloads. Mine is a like new one with primo barrel. Makes a decent hunting gun, but wear a heavy coat with a shoulder pad if you have shoulder issues. It will bruise you with milsurp ammo if you have fair skin.

M39 - Not a Russian gun, but a Finn using Russian receivers. Very accurate, heavier than the Russian 91/30, but a much better barrel and generally better trigger. Barrel on mine is free floated from the factory. I have a like new one I bought.

M44 - Short, but not so handy because of the bayonette. Recoil substantial with surplus ammo. I had a like new one, but the accuracy was mediocre, possibly due to Russian QC, who knows. I didn't like mine and sold it.

M91/30 - Long, not so handy, but shoots pretty decent. I really like the long stock, since I have long arms. Balances well for me and I get pretty good groups with it, considering everything.

If I had to buy only one, I would buy the M38 and handload for it. But then, they're mostly inexpensive, except for the Finn, so just buy all of them, try them out and sell what you don't like.

Regards,

Dave

[Ivantherussian03]

I order 4 M38's over week ago-still waiting. I am going to look them over and keep the best two. I can tell already it will be hard not to buy the others. They are inexpensive. :-D:-D

[Ivantherussian03]

Wow!! These are nice M38's. a 42, a 43, and 2 44's. The 42 is a little ragged cosmetically, and 43 a close 2nd, the 44's are very nice.

[joejr]

i've got a m38 and m44,shot so much milsurp have boiled the varnish in places,i just got a new can of silvertips ,great for breaking rocks.i also shoot cast in both ,just set the rear sight on 4.i got them both for nothing,good deal

[hogman]

my 91/30 is as accurate as my 30-06 and is accurate out to 500 yrds easy.if i gotta shoot ferther than that i dont n eed to shoot it

[Dutchman]

I wanted hear the pros and cons of the different models from people on the board that own them; I am interested in the M38, M39, M44, and 91/30. Does anyone have opinion on these?:roll:

A. m/38
B. m/39
C. m/44
D. m/91-30
E. none of the above.

The inherent slim beauty of the pre-1905 Russian Mosin n/1891 sans handguard as rebuilt by the Finns using a Belgian barrel.... a new shiny unfired Belgian barrel. Russian one-piece stock and while the barrel bands are cut for handguard tabs it appears this rifle never had a handguard on this barrel. With Lyman 311299 .312" and 12 grains Unique this rifle will put 4 of 5 shots into ONE hole @ 50 yards.

http://images106.fotki.com/v494/photos/2/28344/157842/yr31-vi.jpg

http://images41.fotki.com/v1246/photos/2/28344/157842/yr32-vi.jpg

http://images38.fotki.com/v1214/photos/2/28344/157842/yr33-vi.jpg

http://images45.fotki.com/v1426/photos/2/28344/157842/yr30-vi.jpg

[Trapshooter]

I like my VTK Finn the best, 91/30s next, but for a carbine, look for a good 91/59. During the cold war, a number of 91/30s were cut down to carbine length, and installed in a carbine stock to be used to fend off the pending American invasion. It's the "original HBAR". Handy as a carbine, a little heavier, so not so rough on the shoulder, and all the damage at the muzzle was hacked off at the arsenal.

The Polish 44's are pretty nice too. Not at all like a military rifle except maybe some of the nicer pre-war Mausers. The machining is precise, all metal parts are nicely polished and blued, and wood fit an finish is better than many of the commercial rifles I've seen. They're ok, but I don't shoot the 44's much, because I don't care for the bayonet at the range.

I've also got a 38 which doesn't shoot anymore, but from the looks of it, it did an awful lot of it, in its time, and now deserves a nice quiet retirement.

I usually use 31141, but have fooled around with 311466, and Lee 312 180's sized down a little with around 30 of surplus 4895.


Trapshooter

[higgins]

I don't own any of the other MNs so can't offer personal preferences on them, but I like the sights on the M39. Big notch in the rear sight, and a nice thick blade on the front that's easier to see with 50-something eyes. The front sight blade is also eaily adjusted for windage using only a screwdriver - no need to take a hammer and drift to the range for sighting in. It will likely shoot very high with the issue front sight, but Tennessee Gun Parts sells a very good quality replacement tall sight that fit right in on mine with no fitting required. Good trigger too. Also reasonably accurate with every nationality of milsurp 54R I've tried in it, and very accurate with a couple. Mine, with a VKT barrel, slugs .310, which seems in line with most other M39 bore diameters I've seen posted here.

[Beekeeper]

I have the 91/30 and M44.
The 2 91.30's are as came and shoot less than 1 inch at 100 yards.
The 44's ,I left one original and sporterized one.
They both are great shooters if you remember that there is a flash and flame ball out of the muzzle every time you shoot it.
Bad enough to singe the hair on your arm.
This is with surplus ammo so it came that way.

I used the sporterized on for deer last year.
Can't figure if the deer died of fright from the fireball or the bullet(J word) that hit it. The shot was shortly before sunrise and you would have thought the sun had fallen out of the sky!

I would hate to be the Russian soldier who had to shoot the sucker at night.
All that said the 91/30 and the M44 are both good weapons and are starting to get a little scarce around here. I think I will wait until everyone gets tired of them and they will get cheap again. About the time the cheap surplus ammo runs out or is no longer imported.


beekeeper

[RugerFan]

I have a 91/30 and M39. Here are my quick hit thoughts on these two that I own.

91/30
Short buttstock
.313” bore
Horrendous trigger
$79.99 Purchased from J&G (nice bore)

M39
The buttstock is longer and has a more “normal” feel to it when shouldering.
.309” bore
Better trigger
All around better quality feel to the rifle.
$349.00 Purchased from Guns n Ammo (nice bore)

Both have good accuracy.

[NuJudge]

The Finnish M39 is the best chance to get a rifle that shoots well, sight unseen.

There is a load which shoots well in every 7.62x54R I've shot, that will shoot well with anything: a 180gr Sierra SP with a little under maximum charge of H- or IMR 4350. With the lighter rifles, it will beat you black and blue, but it will shoot geat.

A better condition Polish M44 looks better than all the others.

[Doug Bowser]

I have a Finn M39 SAKO. It is a pleasure to shoot. I shoot handloads in most of my Milsrup rifles. The exception to that in 7,62x54r is Bulgarian light ball marked 10-53. It is superb ammo, shooting 10 shots into 1.5" at 100 yards.

I also have a Russian Izhevsk 1944 M91/30. It has a new bore and was drilled and tapped for the PU sniper telescope. It will shoot 5 shots at 100 yards into 1.4".

I don't personally like the carbines with full loads. They kick too much and are too noisy for me.

Doug Bowser