M44 range report

[HomerTHX1138]

Cleaned bore and bolt assembly of my M44 and took my Czech silvertip ammo to range. Gun was really clean all things considering. Range was packed today as it was a sunny beautiful day about 65 degrees.

The M44 hates that ammo. I have to slam the bolt upward with my palm 3 times to get old shell out. Ouch! THanks to whoever told me about that or I would have panicked thinking gun was fucked up etc... Anyway, shot about 80 rounds through it so palm will be bruised :). It is very accurate.

From a standing position, I shot at a skeet lying against the berm, approx 105 yards away. I killed it on 2nd shot. I guess the rifle, ammo, and design of the gun are all accurate. I guess I'm a decent shot too :) I've decided that plinking against the berm is funner than paper targets but I'll do the sandbag and bench operation with a target at 100 yards to really see what kind of group this thing can hold. Don't know if I will use much more of this ammo because hitting the bolt thing sucked. Hopefully my 91/30 will like it, otherwise, I will sell it if anyone is interested.

I could post the pic of the gun, but it's what all of you have seen about these wrapped M44s. Shiny silver bolt, light colored wood and absoutely gorgeous.

:) :) :)

PS , A kid next to me was really enjoying watching me shoot it and the AK so I extended the bayonet for effect
:p

[REDSTAR]

Great report1 you'll probably wind up with more than one of each Mosin so i'd hold onto the ammo if I were you!

They say it's more accurate to shoot with the bayo extented becuase the rifles were sighted in that way. I bet the kid got a kick out of the muzzle blast! Those things always turn heads at the range, I love 'em dearly!

[whos2kno]

how did you like the recoil. like a mule? first time I shot mine I was sore for a month but after shooting it time after time it got to be fun and I even liked to take her out and show her off.nothing like bringing out the Russian arsenal.
whos2kno

[HomerTHX1138]

Hey Red,
I think it was you that told me about hitting the bolt upward so the thanks goes to you. I'll have to shoot bayo closed and open to see if I can tell a difference - if true it makes sense because the balance of the gun changes slightly I noticed.

Whos,
Yes, the recoil is defintely there :p . I'll probably be bruised, but then, I've got a bad habit of bruising my forearm after hip shooting my AK. I'm sure it is bad technique but what the hell. In my opinion, it wasn't a punishing recoil, just enough to keep you alert. Would modern rounds be a little hotter? After shooting the M44 the AK felt like nothing - that is certain.

The short barrel and design of the rifle really makes the M44 feel easy to aim and manueverable in my opinion.

Mosin Nagant 91/30: Just finished cleaning up the 91/30. The wood is totally intact, dark and dirty but in good shape. I just cleaned everything to make it fire ready. I'll have to decide whether I am going to actually strip and refinish it. The bore was another story. It is lightly pitted up and down its length. <B>Is this the condition of the AIM 91/30s you guys typically get? </b>

Any other bore condition comments? I'm a little dissapointed. as I paid more for hand pick but probably that was the reason I got an uncracked stock... so overall, I cannot complain.

[REDSTAR]

I got one 91/30 with a dark bore that still shoots really nice groups. You really just need to see how she shoots. You may be pleasantly surprised.

[HomerTHX1138]

That's what I wanted to hear heh heh! Perhaps I was spoiled as my first C&R was the wrapped M44. I wasn't sure what you guys typically find in the bore so to speak.

[whos2kno]

ive got a 91/30 from century on there special and the bore was dark but it shoots like a sniper rifle. no kidding it works like a charm except for this Hungarian rounds ive got.she just does not like then for some reason.oh well my M-44 like's anything so ill keep them.
whos2kno

[shwebo]

whats the deal with that Czech SilverTip ammo? I saw a deal on it 440rnds for $50... I was considering getting some for mine (which I get tomorrow) Will it do that in all Nagants or what?

I pick up the M44 on Thursday and then I go out on Friday, so I am going to test fire with new ammo... But what is the best surplus ammo for these? and where can I get it @ what $???


Thanks!

~Brian

[Schuetzenman]

I find the Czech Silver tipped ammo to be quite good on accuracy and not as potent as some brands. It cycles like warm butter through my M39, no sticky bolt handles for me. I am perplexed by why Homer's M44 is like this. Makes me wonder if he doesn't have a rough chamber.

I like the ammo but I'm sold out and I don't know where to go get more of it.

[HomerTHX1138]

My second M44 doesn't like Czech silvertip either! Same hitting of bolt (a virgin bolt) to remove shell.

When this site was down a few weeks ago, I found another C&R forum and one individual apparently had the original documents on how the arsenal wrap (which my both M44s are) guns were refurbished before storage. He said that the chamber had a substance best translated as 'shellac' put in it. His theory was that this shellac made the chamber slightly smaller thus causing laquered shells to hang.

Then we have the 3 marked brass cased ammo (EDIT: Albanian. One of my M44s won't close on this ammo every time. This, the board member said, was because of the raised lettering that some of the late 80s manufacture ammo had. He said that Bosnian soldiers were even issued a tool to shave the excess lettering off to that they could be used without problems. He claimed to own one of these tools that he got from a friend in the area.

Both reasons make sense, but I am merely repeating what I read and have not confirmed this information in any way.