M44 Scale

[McNally M.]

Hey gents, which M44 Mosin carbines are more desirable than others? There is of course the Russian standard and many variations within that group. And then there are the Chinese T53s which take up the lower end of the spectrum. But how do the Polish, Romanian and Hungarian rifles compare?

[81turbota]

1943 and Tula any year. The 1943 M44's were considered "trial" rifles, about 50,000 were produced. Tula only made them for a year or two in small numbers.

[mosinnagantm9130]

Any Finnish captured M44 is king. Any built on a hex receiver is also rare.

Followed by:
1943 Izhevsk (50,000)
1944 Tula (100,000)

Outside of the Soviet M44, mint/matching poles, hungarians, romanians, and yes, mint/matching T53s (they do exist) are all pretty collectable as well.

[Capybara]

A few years old but still relatively accurate.

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinRarity.htm

[McNally M.]

7.62x54r.net, always a great resource for anything Mosin related.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

There are mint unissued Polish M44's floating around. Typical high quality Radom built and can fetch $500 or more. I am fortunate to have found one recently.

[SVT-40]

There are mint unissued Polish M44's floating around. Typical high quality Radom built and can fetch $500 or more. I am fortunate to have found one recently.

What he said. The fit and finish of the Polish M-44's are far and above the best of any Mosin.

[Tonymin]

$200 1943 at recent Reno gun show. Just lucky had no idea it was rare until I came home.

[Capybara]

SVT, how come none of my Mosins look like that? ;-) I almost bought a Polish M44 recently, it wasn't pristine but it looked close to yours with just a few storage dings on the stock for $350.00. But I already have a lot of M44s so I couldn't justify it. If it looked like your sample, I wouldn't want to shoot it.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

Mine is in similar condition to SVT-40's, cosmetically just about perfect. But it has definitely been fired. I was shocked to receive it looking new but with a pretty dirty barrel. Luckily it was just fouling and there was no pitting or rust.
Supposedly all the "original" Polish imports that are matching and unrefurbished have the "Intrac" mark on the bayonet mount.

**Edit** the watermarks are there because I am reusing the previous owner's pictures!

[SVT-40]

I bought 4 or 5 back when Turners had their Wholesale distribution center down in Chino. I remember walking in there one day and seeing about 30 un-issued Polish 44's on the rack....They were $165.00 each...

I went through all of them and picked the best out...

[Capybara]

Those were the days. Good investment, I bet you could get $500.00 or $600.00 if you were to sell them (not that you ever sell guns as far as I know).

That's my problem Bobby, the few pristine guns I have, I shoot 'em occasionally but I am never as motivated to take them shooting as I am to take my well worn guns out. I even have 500 rounds of Hornady non-corrosive reloadable brass 7.62x54r that I paid about .65 per round for to use in my M39 Finn but I keep taking the beaters and the corrosive out instead.

[Bobby Ricigliano]

I even have 500 rounds of Hornady non-corrosive reloadable brass 7.62x54r that I paid about .65 per round for to use in my M39 Finn but I keep taking the beaters and the corrosive out instead.

Finns will eat up the crummy spam can ammo. I shot my M28 and M39 about two weeks ago in the desert and no issues with the spam can stuff.

[mosinnagantm9130]

Finns will eat up the crummy spam can ammo. I shot my M28 and M39 about two weeks ago in the desert and no issues with the spam can stuff.

Most will. My 28/30 doesn't appear too fond of most surplus ammo so I won't be firing that one again until I pick up some 7.62x54r brass.

[Enfield47]

The Prvi 7.62x54R is good stuff, I picked up some from SGAmmo for about $13/box. It does make it nice not to have to worry about cleaning my M39 right away (not that cleaning corrosive is difficult, I've just gotten lazier).