Curious as to why is everyone is getting all excited about the new M38 arrivals? I had three of them in the past, and couldn't get rid of them fast enough. I'd have to say they were the most disapointing milsurps I had ever owned. Two were M38 stocks and one was an M44 stock. Terrible triggers. Recoil was absolutely brutal (all three kicked like bloody mules), to the point that you couldn't enjoy plinking with the cheap ammo. The flame muzzle blast was pretty cool, but we were talking serious hearing damage if you didn't wear foam inserts inside your muffs. Accuracy was absolutely lousy, even though they all had good bores. Multiple shooters tried these three guns, and you'd be lucky if you could shoot a 5"group at 80-90yds. Maybe worth having so you can complete the Russian line in a collection, but not worth having if you're looking for shooting enjoyment. The $300 could easily buy a K31 instead. Now that I've cursed them, has anyone have positive experiences with the 38s?
Why all the M38 hype?
- Thread starter fenelon
- Start date
Ive had some rockin m44s.felt like a dork with the bayo at the range.i could do 3 inches at 100 no prob thats good enough for me.im hoping tradex gets another batch.im waiting to hear condition reports from this one.i like the balance and handiness of the carbines and no bayo is a plus for me.
It because if your a collector of Soviet milsurps and you don't have one, their reappearance at an affordable price is welcome.
Personally I thought about it as I have a couple of Soviet milsurps but the M38 isn't really on my radar. My Soviet milsurps would be the first to go if I decide to divest.
Personally I thought about it as I have a couple of Soviet milsurps but the M38 isn't really on my radar. My Soviet milsurps would be the first to go if I decide to divest.
Because TradeEx sold them for 239$ ... And if I didn't get one at that price, my d!ck would of fallen off. Nobody has time for that....
I must give 2 thumbs up to TradeEx for the price. They could of easily sold them for 350 - 400 ...
I would have paid $239 for one just because I don't own one, but I was too late. With Mosin 91/30s available for $168 and SVT40s available for $200, I can't justify buying an M38 for $299 . Others will go for it though, without blinking.
lejarretnoir
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- 162km from Connaught
I think guys are getting them to round out their collections. Those are hard to beat prices for limited supplies.
Personally, I'd go for a nice Finn M39. Those are on my radar to go along with my Finn 91/30, but not at the prices they are going for today on the EE.
Personally, I'd go for a nice Finn M39. Those are on my radar to go along with my Finn 91/30, but not at the prices they are going for today on the EE.
Well, up until now it has been the less commonly seen type in the recent past, and what there was has been priced past the stratosphere.
Now all of a sudden there's this flash flood of cheap guns, and ...... is further explanation really necessary?
They do benefit from handloading. I won't shoot surplus in my Mosins. I don't like jacketed bullets in general**, and I like military grade jackets even less. Someone after me can shoot the bores out of them if they like.
** hate removing copper fouling. plus the expense.
Now all of a sudden there's this flash flood of cheap guns, and ...... is further explanation really necessary?
They do benefit from handloading. I won't shoot surplus in my Mosins. I don't like jacketed bullets in general**, and I like military grade jackets even less. Someone after me can shoot the bores out of them if they like.
** hate removing copper fouling. plus the expense.
- Location
- West Quebec
Some guys like to collect and some guys just shoot..
- Location
- Ottawa origanally Muskoka
I have to agree on the price discrepancy.
A M38 is a arsenal sporterized 91/30....if I really wanted one I'd do the bubba work myself to a 91/30 and save $50.
Funny how the rifles were more expensive to produce but the carbines are now more expensive to buy.
A M38 is a arsenal sporterized 91/30....if I really wanted one I'd do the bubba work myself to a 91/30 and save $50.
Funny how the rifles were more expensive to produce but the carbines are now more expensive to buy.
The 38 is not a recycled infantry rifle.
New barrel, different sights. It was built from the start that way at arsenal. Uncle Joe didn't have time to #### around cutting down rifles. The best that a Bubba can do is to make a copy of the 91/59, and even then the front sight would be wrong.
And price is always a reflection of supply vs demand. Milsurp guys ought to know that.
I saw a Garand priced at $1600 sell yesterday. And that dealer isn't in the habit of giving smokin discounts to hagglers.
New barrel, different sights. It was built from the start that way at arsenal. Uncle Joe didn't have time to #### around cutting down rifles. The best that a Bubba can do is to make a copy of the 91/59, and even then the front sight would be wrong.
And price is always a reflection of supply vs demand. Milsurp guys ought to know that.
I saw a Garand priced at $1600 sell yesterday. And that dealer isn't in the habit of giving smokin discounts to hagglers.
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The 'hype' is due to the fact that M38s went extinct on retail a couple of years ago. At that time they went for ~$200-$250. Last year Westrifle brought in a small batch, which was priced in the $600 range. The result is that the price of Mosin carbines on the EE (M44, M38) skyrocketed as retail scarcity combined with the high retail prices encouraged the market (EE sellers) to charge a premium.
Fast forward to this week, and suddenly we have a shipment of M38s priced at $250 - the cheapest we've seen in years. There are two purchasers here - people who love the Mosin and figure this is the chapest way to build out their collection, and people who figure that the former market scarcity will return - ie. the prices will go up - once this batch is gone and expect to put their M38 on the EE in a month or two at $500.
Fast forward to this week, and suddenly we have a shipment of M38s priced at $250 - the cheapest we've seen in years. There are two purchasers here - people who love the Mosin and figure this is the chapest way to build out their collection, and people who figure that the former market scarcity will return - ie. the prices will go up - once this batch is gone and expect to put their M38 on the EE in a month or two at $500.
