Got my replacement Laminate M44 from AIM today

[REDSTAR]

This one is much better. 98% blue, matching bolt, all matching numbers, nice, very nice, bore, NO CLEANING rod. Ah well, good thing I had a spare.

They wrote me a nasty note in reply to my letter to them:
'Dear Sir, we never guaranteed matching numbers or a cleaning rod with this rifle. We have substututed a rifle with no rust.'

Then they give me a rifle with matching numbers anyway. :confused:

That letter kind of torks me because when I first called them they said these were VG and could pull me one with a matching number. Otherwise I wouldn't have ordered it. Cleaning rod I took for granted.

Anyway, this rifle is superb and it happens to be a 1944 date, of which I didn't want to send my last one back; so I lucked out there. That rifle and this one is the only 1944 dated M44's I've ever seen.

BTW, I don't think this rifle was fired much if at all. The bolt head is immaculate and the barrel looks brand new.

Pays to return stuff I guess.

AIM is almost off my shit list. They should have kept their mouth shut in the return letter and I would have been much happier.

[JES AR15]

it looks like the office not working well with the warehouse :rolleyes: :mad:

i see a lot of times returning it gets you a much better one, i hope i don't have to through that. thats why i try to brown nose on the phone in hopes of a good first score. i have my method, but i can't tell ya what is is or i would have to kill ya :D

i'm thinking of getting one of those and the one you have sounds good to me. is that one of those in the wrap ones ? how much ?

[REDSTAR]

These are $59.99 Laminate stocks and are not the in wrap ones.

The in wrap ones are $69.99 and are a better choice IMO.

The only reason I got this one is because of the laminate stock which I like. The in wraps are far superior to the laminate. I have two of those. They will have a rod and will have matching numbers and nice blue and bores. I didn't mention the stock is scratched quite a bit on this one because it wasn't a concern to me because I plan on refinishing it.

The pros of the laminate ones are that they are WWII issue and the stocks finish really well with alot of work.

For an all around superb condition rifle as is get the in wrap.

[Gearhead222]

Dear Jes and Redstar-I received my exchange M-44 and it's a 1944 Izhevsk.Very nice bore ,although the numbers do not match and THERE'S NO CLEANING ROD!:)Also has a stick splice at the bottom of the butt.But she shoots 4-6" groups with the Russian Copper wash ammo.She does not chamber hardly any of the Albanian,loves the Czech Silvertip and feeds maybe 50% of the Russian Copper Wash.Had to do the "Mosin SLam" more than once!A nice shooter:)-Gearhead.

[JES AR15]

$69 from AIM you say ? ok, i'll order one in the morning.

is yours like russian sks laminate ?

[Gonzotwp]

Good job Redstar on the return! AIM has always been very helpfull to me if I had a problem. There are two other advantages to the laminate stock. The first is that they are not prone to cracking behind the tang from recoil like the hardwood stocks and the other is that they are much more collectable. The Russians built over 3 million M44's in 1944 and another 3 million in 45, but only about a third or less were with laminated stocks ( the exact number is not known but only that they are more uncommon ). Most of the "in wrapper" M44's that I have heard of coming out of this batch are post war, 46-48 which makes them also very collectable due to low production numbers. Granted the M44's will probably never command matching, unscrubbed K98K prices but it's nice to know that what you have is even a little uncommon. Post a pic when you get a chance, I always like seeing good 44's.

[zouavexx]

You would think a good customer like you would get premium service. I wonder if they knew that you were a moderator of the webs best new C&R board, they would have given you the damn cleaning rod and not written the nasty note?

[TheBigCA2x]

You would think a good customer like you would get premium service. I wonder if they knew that you were a moderator of the webs best new C&R board, they would have given you the damn cleaning rod and not written the nasty note?

No shit, especially if they know they're being RATED on the dealer list.

What a shitty thing for them to say. Did you a big favor by exchanging for a rifle without rust!!!! :(

[REDSTAR]

Well actions speak louder than words and they did send me a far superior rifle to the first one.

Gonzo- very good points!

None of these rifles came with rods but I think they should advice people of that. If they grade the rifle very good and it's missing a part, I don't think that is a valid grade.

[JES AR15]

REDSTAR
you say it has 98% blue. now, (lets see if i can ask this correctly)is it a deep blue, or just all black ?

i have a romanian sks. its completely covered in blueing, but the blueing is not thick. as in, i can see in some recesses where it has a thicker & shinier blueing.

the reason i ask is : i'm trying to learn the rating system better.

[REDSTAR]

It's an even dark black color, I gave it a 98% because the mag is a little faded and there's a little wear (lighter color) at the receiver.