Mossberg Mod 144. Seeking info

Dodosmike

Dodosmike

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In the sticks near North Bay ON!
I have acquired an old Mossberg 144 (.22).

Bolt action with a hooded front circular sight, as opposed to a "pin" style. Peep rear sight with what appears to be a high degree of adjustability in it.
Its in what id call used condition. minor pitting, surface rust. Appears to be shootable, but I need to clean it up some before I try it. No major issues, just neglect, its been in the back of a closet for 20 years.

Its got a square looking plastic (bakelite?) "knob" on the bottom of the forestock, it appears that it slides front to rear in a little groove. WTH is that? A broken bipod? It appears to be quite an original gun. The P.O. wasn't a bipod kinda guy. This was his "tractor" gun, for dispatching critters on the farm while working the field.

Ill try to gather up some photos and add them.
 
It is an adjustable hand stop .
Does yours just say 144 or is it a 144 LS or LSA or LSB?
Could you post pics. Sounds like you have the Lyman 17A globe front sight and Lyman 57M rear peep site.
You got yourself a nice target rifle. These vintage Mossbergs are underrated. On the other hand they can be had for far less than a Winchester or Remington.
 
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It will be marked as an LS, LSA or LSB right after the 144 on the barrel.
The LSB is the most desirable [heaviest barrel] but they are all great shooters.
I have an LSB, and it will make the ½" at 50 yards challenge with ease.
OP, let us know what you have. D.
 
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Yes, it is the earlier 144 with the Mossberg sights. I would take some 0000 steel wool with oil and lightly clean some of the rust spots. You can heat up the trigger guard with a hair drier and apply pressure and you can get it back to shape where it fits into the channel like it used to.
If you remove the front sight hood, you push down on that spring tab and you can select a different sight post that are sticking out on the right side.
 
T bolts were the early version. Watch the steel wool. The Chines stuff breaks up too easy. I use Big 45 pads and have had better luck with them. also you have a good idea with just a wipe down first. Often the hand stops were lost so if you take it off hang on to it. Looks like it is well used but will clean up. Nice find.
 
I've had good luck with G96 and dollar store stainless pot scrub pads for removing rust. They don't fall apart and don't seem to hurt the bluing.
 
Was thinking of a used green kitchen scrubby with some oil on it.

Screw is missing out of the hand stop mount, small chip out of the plastic knob and some surface rust here and there. Hopefully this weekend I'll get some time to spend on it........

I don't even know how to get the bolt out of it......lol.
 
Pull the bolt back until it stops, make sure safety is off, pull trigger and bolt should slide out. The hand stop bolt should be 1/4-28 thread.
oh I see now it is the mount screw. I haven't looked that up yet but expect it to be #4 or #6 oval head philips in black. If you have an American hardware store in your area (we have Lowe's) they may have them in black.
 
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Nice rifle! Especially that it appears complete including the aperture disc for the receiver sight. As mentioned, enough are missing parts that previous owners take off then end up losing.
 
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