Why are Mosin Nagant m38/m44s so expensive?

JasonGTA

JasonGTA

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I am just wondering why M38s and M44s are so expensive? The 91/30 is only around $160 but the m38s and m44s are going for $350+?
 
Supply and demand. There aren't as many M38's or M44's therefore they're more money. Polish M44's usually command a premium as they are known to be superior in quality. A 91/30 is so plentiful, they're dirt cheap.

I've seen M44's on the EE for around $300 or less, depending on condition.
 
Literally? Its bang for the buck! The full sized 91/30 = average rifle firing.
But the M44 or 38 carbine? Huge muzzle blast and fireball! Makes it a more fun rifle to fire :) And unless youre standing behind the shooter..ie if off to the side..you will feel the blast hit you and the ground youre standing on like when I took this vid...kinda cool. This old sled dog really steals the show and everyone is lining up wanting to try her out over and over. You dont get this with a 91/30. We had prob 12 different rifles and a shotgun between friends at the camp to share and try out last month.....all I can say is I didnt bring enough 7.62x54r to meet the demand. Everything else was ignored after I introduced my Polish gal. :)

Heres a grainy pic I extracted from cell ph vid of a friend firing my Polish gal with surplus Chinese ammo.
 
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I paid the 230 or whatever Tradeex was asking for those M38's they had around last Christmas time, and I'm quite happy with that. 1943 production, Not counter-bored, good rifling all the way to the crown, M44 stock and not really beat up at all for a Mosin. Haven't fired it yet, but a crate of 880 rounds of Chinese ball is on the way from Tradeex today, hopefully, and I plan on making some fireballs next weekend. I don't have much interest in Mosins but short of it blowing up when I shoot it, this thing will be a keeper. Considering I own a K31 and a Lee Enfield, both of which I consider to be much more pleasant than 91/30's, the only reason I own the M38 is because I love Carbine variants of longer rifles, and because the fireballs are supposedly legendary. Also, the Russians didn't finish wartime rifles very well and they love to rust, so be sure to give it an oily wipedown before putting it back in the safe if you're touching it or else you'll probably have to hit it with the steel wool and oil to remove the surface rust the next time you bring her out.

Still, I wouldn't pay 500 for one. Especially considering that approaching the cost territory of the Ithaca 37 I'd like to get next. Yeesh.
 
I was out making noise yesterday and my M38 was my favorite gun of the day...again. Lol. Accurate as hell at the 80 yrd mark shooting offhand, comfortable in the shoulder and I love the recoil!
I shot it so much that the barrel was heated up to the point that cosmo was bubbling and spurting out from under the forend.

Expensive is a relative term and rooted in perception/opinion. I paid $300 for each of mine, and would do it again with no issues.
 
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Guess I got lucky with my Polish M44. Paid $180 OTD at Gunco on a consignment sale.
Had to buy a bayo off of ebay to balance the harmonics. But yes supply and demand a lot fewer M38/44's.
The fun factor is high for sure.
 
The cheaper ones on EE are either from sfrc when they were first priced low or from collectors source which are beat up, or have rough sticky bolts. Good to try before you buy.
 
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I bought my M38 from Tradeex last Christmas, I think I paid 350 for my M44. I mainly got them to help complete my Soviet Firearm Collection (only missing a Nagant Revolver, SVT-38, original Soviet produced M91 Dragoon and Infantry Rifle (not converted to 91/30 specs) and oddly enough a TT-33 as none of the gun stores have them in my area). Still haven't shot the damn things yet as other rifles tend to take the priority.
 
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