mosin m44 moral dilema :/

[Jaiofspam]

hello all...

i have a m44 setup as a scout rifle...
numbers didnt match and had a chicken scratch forced etch. i dont feel bad about messing around with this one . thinking about replacing my banged up original stock.

im having a hard time deciding between an excellent condition original stock or a ati monte carlo... they cost about the same

im having a hard time whether to fully bastardize my mosin or not.
i really like oar like qualities of the original stock... but i also enjoy the advantages of the synthetic being lighter.

what do you all think?

edit: included a pic, you cant see the damage in this pic but on the left side of the stock are huge dings (my guess is from storage) and a few spots of shellac chipping... one ding is about a size 40 font J if you can imagine that.

[Rob P.]

Dings can be removed easily and simply. I do woodworking as a sideline/hobby and have to deal with this all the time.

Place a drop of water into the ding. Try not to get it outside the dent area. Let it soak in. Take a WET towel and place over the damaged area. Use a household iron set on "cotton" and place directly onto the towel directly over the dent. The steam will raise the wood fibers. IF the dent doesn't fully lift out, let the stock fully dry for a day or so and repeat.

If the wood fibers are cut then the dent may not disappear or fully lift. However, that's a character mark.

This method MAY cause some discoloration of the wood finish called "blushing" which is water trapped underneath the finish. Sometimes you can get it out with mineral spirits wiped onto the wood. If not, then you'll have to strip and refinish the stock in that area. I usually don't have problems with linseed finishes doing this but it has happened to me a couple of times and I don't know why it does on some and not others.

[CCRBUM]

go for the ati monte carlo stock on this one.. much better feel and great for hunting.. then spend the money on getting a really nice condition M44 and keep all natural :-) best of both worlds!

[metalhead357]

Ehhhhh,

Refinish the orgiginal stock to YOUR liking in terms of color and wrist size; these things <mostly> aint collectors; If you DO have a true collector...DONT touch the stock, but short of that these rifles are tools......customize to YOUR preference.

[Jaiofspam]

Ehhhhh,

Refinish the orgiginal stock to YOUR liking in terms of color and wrist size; these things <mostly> aint collectors; If you DO have a true collector...DONT touch the stock, but short of that these rifles are tools......customize to YOUR preference.

yeah this is the only mosin of mines im playing around with...
imo its just not worth refinishing the stock... i would just rather buy a new one.
whats making it hard for me is buying an original stock for $60 vs. buying the ati for $55 for a gun thats not a collector... argggggggggg

i think im going to go for the ati

[pklin1297]

Have read reviews on the ATI stock requiring quite a bit of "modifications" to fit Mosin actions, of course there are three times as many good reviews on them being true "drop-in" quality...

I just refinished my new M91/30 stock that had cosmoline, shellac, dings, dents, etc. You can view my thread and results here: http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...t=80011&page=3

[Jaiofspam]

anybody want to help me refinish my stock then
if you do just drop me a pm...

[metalhead357]

anybody want to help me refinish my stock then
if you do just drop me a pm...

Oh, it really not that hard...just time intensive & patience-involved.

• Remove all hardware
• Strip old finish-- Sanding or by chemical
• Sand (220 is a good place to start if you have dings) 320, then 400 or so
• Stain if you choose....and WAIT the full time
• Oil finish or shellac; follow instructions
• Buff out
• Re-assemble

[pklin1297]

Check here for better prices (somewhat) on the ATI stock should you want to go that route... This is probably where I will pick up the mount and scope combo for my Mosin as well...

http://stores.ebay.com/ULTIMATEARMS-SPORTING-SUPERSTORE_MOSIN-NAGANT_W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ2379534QQftidZ2QQtZkm

[Jaiofspam]

Oh, it really not that hard...just time intensive & patience-involved.

• Remove all hardware
• Strip old finish-- Sanding or by chemical
• Sand (220 is a good place to start if you have dings) 320, then 400 or so
• Stain if you choose....and WAIT the full time
• Oil finish or shellac; follow instructions
• Buff out
• Re-assemble

2 things that i dont really have... and as an added bonus my fiance would kill me if i attempted any of this in our apt. . i live in a san francisco pigeon hole apt.

[Jaiofspam]

Check here for better prices (somewhat) on the ATI stock should you want to go that route... This is probably where I will pick up the mount and scope combo for my Mosin as well...

http://stores.ebay.com/ULTIMATEARMS-...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

yup thats where im getting it

[mike100]

get a beat up hardwood m44 stock and cut it down-refinish it. I had aquirred an extra and set aside my super cherry blond hardwood stock for a reversible sporter I made.

[Jaiofspam]

hehe, my friend has a 91/30 he bubba'd so i *cough* borrowed *cough* his stock and put it on my m44... guess this is mine now and his ati stock is on the way

i like it... will post pics up tonight after i work on the trigger well for the huber i have installed

THANKS ALL!!!

[internet_user]

I think the original wood stock looks nice. I wouldn't do anything to it. If you do, just get a synthetic stock and put the wood one away for later use.

[rjf]

Looks like you already have a new stock, but spend an hour to steam the dents and use denatured alcohol to renew and blend the chipped shellac. Use the $60 for ammo or another M44.