Moisin-Nagants have pretty stiff barrels, especially the shorter ones like your M44. I'd free-float the barrel, and remove enough wood from the interior of the handguard so that there is nothing toughiong the barrel at all forward of the receiver. If it doesn't shoot as well as you'd like bedded this way, you can always add some glass bedding under the rear of the barrel, and add some upward pressure in the forend later, if it seems necessary. These can be very accurate rifles, despite their rough appearance!!

Keep yore powder dry!!