Any advantage either way for the Mosin M44 or 91/30?

[metaldonnieg]

There's a chance my girlfriend might get with my parents and together get one or the other for my birthday. I think that because both sides sure seem inquisitive about them lately and the birthday is Wednesday. Anyway, I've handled and seen an M44 shot though I didn't get to shoot one myself and kneeling at 100 yards the guy was shooting well enough to satisfy me with a 100 dollar rifle. The concussion andmuzzle flash were just plain cool as well. I haven't seen a 91/30 in person but since that's the weapon of choice of the hero of my favorite movie it'd befun to have.

I do realize that it's luck of the draw for the most part on surplus guns but is there any betterchance of getting a shooter depending on which one I hint back at them I want? I plan to eventually have at least one of both but it's going to be a few years before I can personally buy another gun I'm afraid so which would be a better first choice?

[younggun308]

For some reason,I keep hearing people say to get a 91/30 as a first Mosin, maybe because the M44 is supposed to recoil harder or something, not sure, but one thing that disappoints me about the 91/30 when I went to a gun showis that the stock is thinner at the forearm, whereas the M44 was thicker, providing a firmer grip, I saw a M44 at Gander Mtn, a gun store in Knoxville, but the M44 had a very weird action, that jams sometimes, and would take alot of practise to get the hang of.
You sorta' have to put pressure and palm the bolt-handle to smoothly operate it.

The cool thing about the M44 is the way the bayonet folds side-ways, which I'm sure you noticed.

[metaldonnieg]

Yeah, I noticed that. I like the look of that, too. I did notice the owner of the M44 I've had experience with pretty much hitting the bolt to load a cartridge whereas my Savage slides up there oh so smoothly with very little force. Is that the kind of thing you were talking about?

[younggun308]

Yes, that is what I was talking about.

Although that's an inconveniance, it's nothing someone can't get used to, IMO, it just takes practice, that's what I could tell about handling the rifle, there was a way to smoothly and efficiently use the gun, it just takes some getting used to.

[ajg6989]

I had a 91/30 and my friends all had 44. My 91 was more enjoyable to shot over long strings as its heavier and more accurate. The 44s all had bad bores one even keyholded the target. They also seem to be a little bit louder. The ammo is easy to get and cheap.

[younggun308]

The M44 wasn't built for accuracy, it was just a cheap, reliable, simple war machine.

I don't think there ever was a M44 sniper model, it was always a 91/30.

Just get what you like best, it doesn't have to be practical, if you just want a cool yet working rifle, and like the M44 in looks better than the 91/30, get the M44, whatever you decide, it's going to be your gun.

[Briman]

I wouldn't buy a M44 unless it was an unissued one. Most of them don't shoot worht a crap.

If you want a carbine, look for 91/59 carbine. Its a m91/30 cut down to carbine length. Advantages are
-it has a heavier barrel than the m38 orm44 carbine
-no silly folding bayonet
-Not likely to have ever been used after its conversion meaning that there's a decent chance that it will shoot ok.

[younggun308]

ORIGINAL: Briman


-no silly folding bayonet

I think the folding bayonet is cool.

[Briman]

I think the folding bayonet is cool.

Its cool but it add extra weight to the little carbine and screws up the harmonics of the barrel.

[HighDesertWolf]

My 1944 is pretty accurate I'm not gonna say its a tack driver but for what it is the accuracy is rather great. At a hundred yards it will keep brown bear 185 grain fmj's inside the number 2 ring on a visishot target. accuracy is plenty good for most hunting. However this rifle is used mostly for punching paper and ferrel pigs. also the pig sticker comes in handy to finish off a spined pig.