M-44 recoil question

[Freetime]

Okay, I ordered an M-44 yesterday. I have heard they kick like a mule. My shoulder.... er,I mean I...want to know what to expect.

Rate them on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being a 7.62x39, 10 being a 12 gauge shotgun.

Thanks.

[REDSTAR]

ok, if a 12ga is a 10 then the M44 is an 11.

[zouavexx]

make sure you have some Bengay handy!

[SeanTX]

346 no 347 on a 1-10 scale.

If you can run 3.5" Nitro Mag shells through a 12 gauge you won't have any problems with this. Typically I'm through shooting mine after a 20 round box but have done 40 before. Shoulder is bruised and sore but mysteriously is good as new the next weekend when it's time to shoot again.

Imagine a left from Mike Tyson to the jaw. Got it? Okay it's not as bad as that. :D

[8dDUCE]

DUDE, the recoil aint that bad. First how tall are you and your weight? If you ROLL with the recoil, using the "push back" to open and pull the bolt to the rear you can absorb some of the felt recoil. Dont get all tense, but dont hold this weapon loosly either. If you are not relaxed, or if you are not paying attention you can and will get popped!!!! YOU WILL LEARN TO RESPECT THIS WEAPON!!!!!!! I am 5' 11" 200lbs. I do not mind a SPIRITED RIFLE. Hell I love M-44's AND #5 Jungle carbines. I belive if you shoot off hand you will be fine. The only time the weapon might irritate your shoulder is in the prone or benched. Then you can FEEL it alittle more. I try to relax and set the weapon in the same spot for every shot. The most I have shot an M-44 was 75-80 rounds in the same day ALL RUSSIAN, and about 60-70 rounds of .303 AP through my #5 in that same day. I WAS ABLE TO TELL, that I had fired some rounds. The thing I worry about most is corrosive ammo. After you fire ANY 7.62x54R clean your weapon right away. If you have to wait, spray some WD-40 ALL ON THE BOLT AND CHAMBER DOWN through the barrel. This will help slow down the corrosive properties of this ammo. Some people use ammoia or windex, I have never used these products on my weapons, so I can not say yes or no. I will say one thing if you a 12 gauge as a 10 you might want to were a shooting jacket. This surely will NOT act like a 7.62x39 by any stretch. If you have not shot high powered rifles before, shoot it STANDING!!!!! DO NOT SHOOT IT FROM A BENCH!!!!! Good Luck, this is a wonderful weapon. 8dDUCE.

[8dDUCE]

Try shooting with the bayonet extended, and then with it retracted. See if there is any difference. I shoot with mine extended this seems TO WORK better for me. BE CAREFULL the barrel gets HOT!!!!!! I think that once you feel this weapon out and get used to it you will LOVE it. It will surely turn some heads between the muzzle flash and BOOM you will have people standing AWAY from you!!!! You can FEEL the concussion from the blast. I can see the gasses escaping the barrel through bino's when my brother fires it. This weapon HAS a VOICE of ATHOURITY!!! Enjoy your new weapon. 8dDUCE.

[Schuetzenman]

Recoil's pretty stout to be sure. I wear a shooting jacket or put on a PAST pad for these and other old steel buttplate thumpers. :eek: Ballistically the equivalent of .30-06 so if you ever shot one of those without a recoil pad, you'll know what it feels like already.:D

[AJ Dual]

On a 1-10 scale?

I give it a 5-6. On the upper end of "normal" calibers. .30-'06 out of lots of sporting rifles is worse. .300 win mag, 7mm Rem mag, 3" Brenneke Rottwiel 12ga slugs are all way more recoil.

I think what happens is that "Shooter" shooters who are into handguns and semi-autos, and maybe the obligatory .22 LR, buy thier first turnbolt, usually an inexpensive .30 cal battle rifle cartridge, in a C&R milsurp item, and are blown away by the recoil.

Someone who started out as "Hunter" shooters, and shot mainly turnbolt sporters, 12ga slugs, or magum goose or turkey loads, then gets into handguns and semi-auto rifles later, would not be surprised by the recoil of something like a M44.

That's my $.02, and born out by my first turnbolt, an Ishapore 2A .308 / 7.62 NATO SMLE. I thought it was painfull as hell, but felt chargrin as I knew that .308 is "middle of the road" as rifle cartriges go. I got used to it, and .308, even out of smaller carbines like my FR8 now feels like a pussycat.

Now on an M44, the 7.62x54R is nothing too special, (IIRC, between .308, and .30-'06 in ballistics?) but there are certainly ergonomic factors at work that make it less comfortable than it could be. The short barrel allows for lower mass to absorb recoil, and more gas recoil because of incomplete burning of the 7.62x54R's powder, and the small buttstock, all contribute.

But overall, in the recoil spectrum, it's still just upper middle of the road.

Andrew

[GCcowboy]

maybe this will make you feel better....

I am 5'11, 125 lbs...and I love shooting my m44. I was one of those shooters who used to shoot with out plugs and once I switched over, not only am I no longer half deaf most of the time but recoil dosen't bother me...I think recoil is 75% in your head

wouldn't hurt to wear a thick shirt however...

[Ezra Coli]

My opinion after firing my M44 and 12 guage pump at the same session is that the M-44 kick off the bench is about the same in energy, but is sharper and quicker. A 12 guage is more of a thump while the M-44 is a quick snapping recoil. I wear a towel over my shoulder (cheap guy's recoil pad) when bench shooting the M44 so I can send more rounds through it, and I'm a fat, heavy slob. Well, OK, I'm not a slob, but I carry 270 pounds of mass around each day and M44s are certainly more than just irritating on my shoulder. That said, I love 'em. If you wnat the same round, nearly the same gun, and an ounce or two lighter weapon, get a 91/30. The recoil isn't as sharp because more gas dissipates inside the longer barrel before the bullet leaves, thus less pressure to cause recoil. 91/30s are extreme fun too.

[Freetime]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have shot 30.06 once but only own 7.62x39, .223, 5.45x39 and 12 gauge so I just wanted to compare it to that. I am pretty skinny (6'1" 160lbs) and about 20 12 gauge rounds and I call it a day. Either way, it's no big deal as I am looking foward to playing with this new toy regardless. Thanks again for the tips, I will try to employ some of them.:)