M44 Mosin Nagant Review (yes, another one!)

[plouffedaddy]

First off, I'm not a Mosin Nagant aficionado but I'll do my best here...

Both of my rifles are Izhevsk laminated rifles and came loaded with cosmoline; once removed the bore and finish on the metal looked excellent.

Pros:

-Price. These rifles can still be found for around $200.
-Build quality. These rifles are overbuilt--in a good way. The actions are very smooth for a surplus guns and when you fire the rifle it just feels like a quality gun.
-Ammo. The 7.62x54r round has great ballistcs performance and is relatively inexpensive. I just ordered a crate 2 weeks ago for $0.18/round in fact.
-The shorter 20'' barrel and 7.62x54 round produce a large fireball with just about every shot; who doesn't love a good fireball??
-Good accuracy for a surplus gun. With 147gr Bulgy surplus I was getting around 4'' with irons at 100m. With "AK style" irons, that's not bad for me.

Cons:

-The safety is poorly designed. I can only imagine what it must have been like for a Russian soldier to come around a corner, see a German soldier, then realize his rifle was on safe... My guess is they probably left the safety off for that very reason.
-If you want to use optics, the bolt needs to be modified/replaced.
-Weight. While they cut 8'' off the old 91/30 to create the M44 the rifle still weighs 8.7lbs.

Chrono Data:

147gr Bulgarian Surplus: 2649fps, 2291 ft/lbs energy

All in all, the M44 is a great rifle considering the cost. Well built, accurate enough for a variety of uses, and fires a cartridge that can take down most about anything you'd find in North America.

Here's my video review of the M44 with some shooting, I go over the basic features/operation of the rifle, discuss the history and development of the rifle, and go over the pros & cons:

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Great review, thanks for posting. I love my M44 although it is quite a beast to shoot. 2 more on the way from Wideners.

[BrokerB]

Sweet shirt

[CDFingers]

Sweet shirt, yeah, but you can't wear a Tula shirt while shooting Ishevesk rifles...

Nah, sure you can. ;-)

I love the fireballs. It's true that cutting down the 91/30 and hooking on a bayo made the same weight rifle, but the shorter length proved handy in tight spaces.

My safe was getting too packed, so I offed all but one of my m44's, keeping a Hungarian 1953 as it was made the year I was born. Sold a cool East German one that was new. I have a carbine w/o the bayo as well. I think I'm weeding things down to two examples of each length. I still have a ways to pare down things. Danged Finns...

m44's rock to the max. If the SHTF, there's little that is quieter and more persuasive than a bayonet at the end of a loaded rifle.

CDFingers

[Ford8N]

If you thread the barrel for an AMD65 muzzle brake, it really cuts down the recoil. But totally pisses off anyone standing next to you..

[PsychGuy274]

HOLY BALLS BATMAN! You pronounced "Moyseen" properly!

I ordered an M44 from AIM over a week ago and it still hasn't shipped. I can't wait for it to come in!

[Vlad 11]

Welcome

Nice review

A couple of counter tidbits:

-The safety is poorly designed.

As Boris would say "Is gun, gun not safe"

While the safety is quite unorthodox, it performs its function well. The sear is taken out of play and the bolt is locked. The chance of discharge is virtually nonexistent.

The problem people may have is the engagement/disengagement. Many will grab the safety freehand and fight the heavy spring with no leverage.

If you place the buttplate into the crook of your elbow your hand will fall right onto the safety, now when you pull on the safety knob you have leverage as the stock is propped against your bicep.

-If you want to use optics, the bolt needs to be modified/replaced.

Not necessarily, there are long eye relief scout scope options that require no bolt modifications. These install on the rear sight mount

-Weight. While they cut 8'' off the old 91/30 to create the M44 the rifle still weighs 8.7lbs.

The M44 is in fact heavier than the 91/30. You did mention the M38 in the video. The M38 weighs over 1 lb less than a 91/30

[Sonic_mike]

Great video, thanks for posting it.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I ordered 3 M44's from Wideners in mid December. Unknown ETA........

[plouffedaddy]

I ordered 3 M44's from Wideners in mid December. Unknown ETA........

Wideners is showing out of stock now---hopefully you actually have 3 in your name already......

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Wideners is showing out of stock now---hopefully you actually have 3 in your name already......

Gee I hope so. I ordered them more than 2 weeks ago and have been charged, yet received no notice of shipping yet.

[randver]

great review and heres a little pic of M44 fireball magic

[pingpong]

OP, has anyone ever mentioned you kinda look like FPS Doug?

[DennisCA]

That's why I love (my) M44 - THE FIREBALLS!

plouffedaddy - I agree with with the safety, as with most mosins they are a real pain to use (unless you have really-really strong hands)

[Rekrab]

That's not a fireball...

This is a fireball!