M44 for $74

spuddog · 02-21-2005, 05:37 PM

Local sporting goods store in Denver has listed "M44 Russian Bolt-Action Collectible Rifle". It has 5 rnd capacity and is chambered for 7.62X54R. It's on sale for $74. I figure that if it's hunting accurate (paper plate at 100 yds) and won't blow up in my face, it's probably a good deal. I searched the archives for any posts on the M44 and didn't find any.

Can anyone offer comments on this gun?

I know that 7.62X54R is similar to .308 but not identical.

Can anyone tell me if this gun will shoot .308?

jcb9901 · 02-21-2005, 06:00 PM

There is alot of ammo avaliable for them,and you can reload using .308
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/rifle/7.62x54r.php

they are supposed to be accurate,you can even get a sporter stock for it.

rost495 · 02-21-2005, 06:07 PM

No it will not shoot 308.

My cousin bought one a while back. They were about 30-40 bucks and he shot many deer with it.

Jeff

jcb9901 · 02-21-2005, 06:22 PM

Quote:

No it will not shoot 308.

YES it will shoot a .308 bullet (see reloading data in link above)but not a .308 round. 7.62x54r is a rimmed case

Slamfire · 02-21-2005, 07:31 PM

It is actually a bit closer to the .30-06 than the .308 in performance. In military use, it lasted longer than any other round for continuous service.

Briman · 02-21-2005, 08:45 PM

You can load them with a .308 bullet, but the barrel groove diameters typically run .312-.314. You might be better off using a bullet for the .303 brit which is .311" in diameter, so long as you slug the barrel and make sure the barrel is at least .311 in the grooves.

Quote:

I figure that if it's hunting accurate (paper plate at 100 yds) and won't blow up in my face, it's probably a good deal.

Given that the bore isn't rotted out it will probably shoot paper plate accuray at 100 yards, but not much more. It won't blow up- the mosin action is a very strong action. A lot of the mosins up for sale right now are in better shape than the ones available 2 or 3 years ago. Most on the market have been rearsenalled or even 'new in arsenal wrap' condition.

Surplus ammo is dirt cheap. Good Czech surplus ammo costs about $35 for 440 rounds, I shoot mainly albanian surplus because I can buy it locally for $50 per 340 rds. All of the surplus ammo is corrosive.

spuddog · 02-21-2005, 09:52 PM

Briman is the surplus ammo FMJ? Does anyone have hunting ammo available in this caliber? I don't reload, so that isn't an option, I'd have to rely on off the shelf.

I'm thinking of using this for deer and elk until I can save up for by Browning BLR in .308 and then possibly as a gun for my son (not sure how heavy the M44 is or LOP) or as a loaner/back up.

Spud

Briman · 02-21-2005, 10:01 PM

Surplus is all FMJ, but good cheap practice ammo.

S&B makes softpoint ammo for the 7.62 russian. Wolf and Remington probably do also.

longrifle1000 · 02-21-2005, 10:23 PM

The Mosin Nagant is a fine rifle. You can pick up a synthetic stock pretty cheap. I used to have one, and shot it a lot. With the stock sights, I could hit a 10" steel plate at 200 yards with boring regularity. S&B does make a soft nose bullet, and their are lots of different surplus ammo out their. It is inexpensive to buy the gun, and cheap to shoot it. Good luck.

ICE-MAN · 02-21-2005, 11:20 PM

my dad and i have got 3 of these guns ,wolf makes this ammo you can get it at ( cheeper than dirt . com ) they have fmj and soft point .