I want to bubba my M38, am I a horrible person?

marmot

marmot

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I just picked up a very clean m38 that's mostly numbers-matching except for a force-matched floorplate. As much as I respect the idea of keeping it as a collectible, I really bought this gun to have fun with and eventually take hunting. I want to turn it into an express carbine, along the lines of this project, but in shorter carbine form for easy handling in dense bush. I really want the Timney trigger for the addition of a manual safety and the improved trigger pull and I love the clean looks of the Boyd's stock.

What she looks like now:

IMG_20150330_181248.jpg


What I'm aiming for:

mosin-nagant-express-rifle-boyds-gun-stocks-mounted-400x147.jpg
 
You're probably going to hear both side of this one, so here's my 2 cents lol. I'd much rather know this was modified, taken into the bush, and used rather than sit in a safe because its 'collectible'. I think it looks good and will be a unique talking piece around the camp! Give'r!
 
Sir, I'm no purist here, but if what you're looking for is a modern, thick bush, hunting carbine with modern features like manual safeties, modern stock, adjustable trigger etc Why not just buy a Savage hunting rifle or similar with iron sights in exactly that formation for around the exact same price after you factor in the upgrades and time spent?
Maybe a modern utility lever action?

Then you can also get it in a cartridge that is A) Way more common B) Available in a wide array of projectile types and weight.
Plus the accuracy comparison is not even in the same ball park.

Like I said, I'm no purist, I cut a 91/30 down to essentially an M38. Kept it looking exactly like a Mosin though, used all the same parts etc.
But I did that because I wanted an M38 without paying the ridiculous prices people were selling them for back then. I wanted a cheap crude russian war rifle and I ended up with a cheap crude Russian war rifle.

It sounds like you bought a cheap, crude Russian war rifle but wanted a modern (in every aspect) carbine commercial hunting rifle.
Just my 2 cents Sir.
 
short answer - yes you are horrible IF you bubba a clean milsurp.

However, since your posting, it's obvious you are having second thoughts so no you are not horrible. You want to preserve a milsurp.

I went through the same dilemma with a M44. I couldn't bring myself to cut it up and traded it. A year later I have to say I'm pretty happy with that decision.

Put it in the EE and add it to the money you'd drop on a stock and trigger. I'm sure you can get a something more suited to your uses, which off the top of my head is probably a 91/30 and a lever 94 or 336.
 
I dont want to point out the obvious here. But your photo is a m91. And your m38 only has about 3-4 inches more of wood then the monti carlo. Seems it would be better to use as is then to shell out money and time when the rifle is prettymuch fine as is
 
marmot said:
Technically I'm not chopping anything. I'll keep all the original parts which can easily be put back together in a few minutes.
Click to expand...

As long as nothing is being cut/drilled/destroyed and can be put back to original condition why not give it a try? Worst case scenario you don't like it and sell all the pieces and still have your non bubba'd M38 to enjoy.
 
You'll lose interest in the project or the firearm and have something that has almost no value to anyone.

Just buy a Savage Hog Hunter, you won't regret it. 20" barrel with iron sights.
 
Hey the mosin he bubba'd in the article wasn't a run of the mill mosin nagant. You can tell by the different rear sight.
I always wanted to put a pu scope on a m38 , it would be sweet! A mini sniper lol
 
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