3 types of Mosin Nagant M44 carbines, which one should I buy?

--Terry--

--Terry--

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Hi,

Another question from a Mil Surp newbie. Hoping to have some advice.

At this moment Trade Ex is selling 3 types of Mosin Nagant carbines:

1. M44 w/ solid wood stock, at $139.
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2. M44 w/ laminated stock, at $159.
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3. M38 (without the bayonet), at $169.
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I handled an M44 yesterday, and now want to buy one. However I don't think the bayonet on the M44s will be of any use to me, and I heard the rumor that it would affect the accuracy of the rifles.

1. Could anybody tell me whether it is a good idea to buy the M38 (without the bayonet)?

2. Are there any reasons why people usually buy the M44s with the bayonet? Any special value for the bayonet?

3. Which one is more rare?

4. And if I buy the M44, is laminated stock better than solid wood stock?

Sorry for so many questions. Thanks in advance for any answers. It will be very helpful because I don't know anything about Russian Mil Surps (my current guns are all black).

Thanks again.

Terry
 
Russian rifles were sighted in with the bayonet mounted, meaning you should actually swing the bayo out and attach it while shooting.

While the M44 was designed as a main infantry rifle taking into account the lessons learned in the Urban battlefield, the M38 was a second-line weapon, like the M1 Carbine.

The laminated stocks are pretty... Prettier.

All those guns are refurbs. I imagine the M38 is rarest of them all. I like the fact that it doesn't have the bayonet, and if I were to buy one now, my choice would be the m38.
 
Your going to get mosinitus anyhow, so buy all three!

I've yet to get a M44 myself, (I have several 1891/30 and 1891!).

I'm more partial to the M38 as a shooter but I prefer the looks of the laminated M44.
 
I much prefer the M38 to handle and shoot, so I'd buy it first, then the laminated M44, then the non-laminated M44.
 
i just bought a hardwood m44 from tadex.i bought it because the m38 are counterbored i dont like that.its a ishy 1944 with a forced match bolt. wood is vg+ bore is mint and it shoots like a hot dam. its the cheapest most common one there is. i want it for a deer rifle it will be used and abused i highly recomend tradex to deal with
 
Counterbored is when the muzzle is back bored to a larger diameter for a short distance. It's done to repair a damaged crown or just as part of the refurb process.

It's only a bad thing if you insist on 100% originality. But if that's the case you're buying the wrong rifle anyways.
 
I picked up an M38 from Tradeex recently and am very happy with it. She has a nice bore, and while the reciever looks rough (1943 production) its in great shape and looks like a nice deer woods rifle.

The M-44s are also nice, and I think that a laminate stocked rifle would be cool, followed next by a regular one. The fellows at Tradeex are great to deal with.

Frank
 
You'll probably wind up with all 3 at one point, but I'd get the M38 first. It is sighted in without a bayonet, so you don't have to alter the front sight or attach the bayonet for proper shooting like you do with the M44 or the M91/30's.

As for counterboring, I wouldn't worry about it at all. It just re-freshes the crown and makes for a better shooter. The collector purists might frown on it, but it's the equivalent of not wanting to buy a 57 Chevy because the paint was touched up or someone did a brake-job. As long as it was done by an arsenal, it's good to go.
 
Get the M38. I have one like claven with a laminated stock. Not just the 44's had the lamin stock. But which ever one you purchase my biggest opinion on what to get would be to ensure you get one that is stamped with a war year. I.E. 41,42,43,44,45. I would not get a post war for WWII collection purposes, unless I just wanted a straight shooter
 
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