Hello....I was wondering, what are your thoughts on the Mosin Nagant 91/30, or even the m1944 for that fact? (I hope that's the right model). I've looked at a local gun shop and they have both the longer model, and the carbine model, and wondered which one is better?

The guy at the store said that if I didn't like the shorter model, I could always go out and use it as a weed-burner....I presume because the gun throws massive flames from the end of the barrel, who knows. I've never shot the 7.62 x 54r, and was wondering if this shell kicks hard?? I, as many others, am a closet Enemy at the Gates fan, and love the idea of shooting sniper style from long distance, and I presume that the longer version offers better accuracy. I've heards nothing but good things about the 91/30, and wondered if they are all true?

And why don't they make any really COOL stocks for the 91/30....not just those cheesy sporter style stocks? I'd like to see something like the newer sniper style stocks, but I guess that's just me. Go figure!

I love my 91/30's, got one in like new condition that is a super shooter, another in not so new condition that still does quite well too. The 44's are great woods/cover guns, 91/30 is definitely better for long range work. I prefer the OEM stocks, some say they are ugly but that's just a matter of personal opinion.

I like em. I got my wife a 38, a 44 without the bayonet. Never owning anything in 7.62 x 54, I didn't know the recoil level but I soon discovered they kick a little bit more than she likes, probably close to a 30-06. She shoots it but not without using a recoil pad. I think these are bargain shooters, in my case at about a 100 bucks for a clean m38. I may have been skinned just a bit but I also picked up a 39 at about twice the price. The numbers don't match but it had a very good bore with the SA barrel and a B stamp dated 1942. 200 may or may not be a good price but it shoots good. I haven't researched much into what makes one a more desirable model. I wish I had started looking at these old rifles years ago and I would tell you to get one now, there a fewer to pick from every day and the prices keep going up.

I love all 7.62x54r rifles, but the 91/30 "Feels" better and has less felt recoil. Jim

The longer bbl and extra weight of the 91/30's help cut the felt recoil as compared to the 44's. The longer bbl also allows the use of a little slower powders like Allaint Reloader 22 that has now replaced my old favorite IMR-4350.

I'm not knocking the 44's either, they are a great choice for hunting in timber and heavy cover because they are a lot shorter. With a good bore they are plenty accurate for normal hunting ranges. I have one 91/30 that's forced matched, but in very good mechanical condition but the stock has been around the block a couple times. One of these years I may get around to putting on the repro P/U scope in the standard sniper set-up just to see what it'll do.

And why don't they make any really COOL stocks for the 91/30....not just those cheesy sporter style stocks?[QUOTE]

they do...as a matter of fact, the Soviet Union put them on the rifles during the 30s and 40s...

My M44 shoots bad. It has a dark bore that fouls bad. I have had a lot of fun with the rifle. If I wanted the accuracy and I was a handloader I would look for one of the Finnish Mosines. They have a .308 bore rather than a .310 or larger on the russian rifles.

The 38s and 44s will kick the crap out of you with full-power ammo. Think the russians avoided the issue by mostly using them as clubs instead of rifles.

Have fun!

The 38s and 44s will kick the crap out of you with full-power ammo. Think the russians avoided the issue by mostly using them as clubs instead of rifles.

Have fun!

I still say the M44 makes the best hotdogs on the range!

Have both the 91/30 and M38 - both just short of being good boat anchors. MikeG knows the handloads I feed through them! :p

Yes, the carbines kick like a Missouri mule. The 7.62x54R case is tapered which puts some back thrust to the bolt face. The standard Roooshian military load contains around 48.5 to 49 grains of some sort of short grained powder. That much powder is gonna develop some gas pressure.

They make reasonable shooters.

The carbine definitely has muzzle blast! :eek:

The rougher the bore, the better fireball you get. More powder gas escapes before the bullet gets out the muzzle.

Most of the 38s are counterbored and that doesn't seem to help matters, either.

If you get a close shot you can kill and cook the critter at the same time.

Im new to Moison nagants and have been playing with four, Yes Four, Finn M39 Unissued "Sneak Rifles", two 1968 and Two 1970.

I just purchased my first 91/30 1943 Ishvek with a pristene bore and added a PU base and my own Billet Aluminum Scope mount with modern scope Bushnell 10x 3200 Mil Dot.

With 1955 Bulgarian heavy ball it shoots 4.5" groups at 200 meters, Ill expect handloads to shoot better around 3-3.5"

I shoot Military Silouette in Sacramento Ca. every month 200-500 meters and shoot 33-37 X 40 average with my Finns.

M39 with PE mount and Bushnell 10x 3200 Mil Dot
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL149/8996569/16572797/260931191.jpg

M39 with my modern billet aluminum scope mount.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL149/8996569/16572797/257906927.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL149/8996569/16572797/257906910.jpg

Here is a good resource for those new to the wonderful world of Mosin Nagants http://www.7.62x54r.com/