Russian, Romanian, Polish or Hunagarian is one better than the other?

sgt_shoe · 03-16-2007, 05:06 PM

I'm about to buy my fist Mosin Nagant and was wondering if there is any big difference between the Russian, Romanian, Polish or Hungarian rifles? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

troy2000 · 03-17-2007, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt_shoe

I'm about to buy my fist Mosin Nagant and was wondering if there is any big difference between the Russian, Romanian, Polish or Hungarian rifles? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

They also weren't used much, so were imported here mostly in excellent condition.

The Hungarians also made mostly M44's. I've never seen one, but supposedly they're also well-made. I know nothing about the Romanians, except that their production was also mostly M44's.

M44's are the carbine-length Mosins with the folding bayonets, by the way. The Russian ones are solidly made, although some of the war production had a very rough finish; they were in a hurry to get them out the door.

The standard Mosin to buy if you're going to start (or stop) with just one would be the longer 91/30; they're readily available and still cheap. If you start thinking more like a collector, you can pick one of the older, even longer M91's.

The cream of the crop would be the Finnish Mosins. As a group, they're the most accurate. Those are getting to be more expensive, but they're still cheap compared to most good sporting rifles.

Geo M44 · 03-19-2007, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt_shoe

I'm about to buy my fist Mosin Nagant and was wondering if there is any big difference between the Russian, Romanian, Polish or Hungarian rifles? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I think that Romania was the last country to manufacture M44's in the 1950's. My first M44 was a 1953 Romanian and a nice rifle. The two I have now are both Russian Izhevsk post-war models (1947 and 1948) and also very nice (once they were cleaned up).

The MN 91/30's are pretty much all Russian/Soviet with some captured rearsinalled versions out there (mainly Finnish) as well.

From what I gather, many of the M44's built in other countries used parts from the Soviet Union. Keep in mind that by 1945 the SKS started becoming standard issue in Russia, followed in 1947 by the AK-47, so the Russian arsenals were probably shipping/selling their surplus M44 parts to the other Soviet-Block countries.

The bottom line is that, from a quality standpoint, in post-war production (i.e. Russia, Hungary, Romania, or Poland) it probably doesn't matter. Just buy one and have fun.

sgt_shoe · 03-20-2007, 10:37 PM

Thanks for the advice troy and Geo. I'm going to start out with an M44 but, I'm sure it won't be my last mosin nagant.

johnc · 03-20-2007, 10:48 PM

Just keep in mind that most ammo you find will be corrosive and clean accordingly.

toolman · 03-20-2007, 11:51 PM

SS, keep in mind that some of the models are drying up really quick. The 91\59 is near impossible to find, the M-38's are getting scarcer by the day, and the 91\30's are getting picked over pretty well. I bought my Sako M-39 from Inter-Ordnance about 5 yrs ago for $90 and now you can't find one at all for under $250 or so. If you aren't concerned about rarity or collectability and just want a fun gun to shoot, you can't go wrong with any of them. I don't shoot my M-44 that much because the bayo is just flat awkward-it changes the point of impact, affects the balance, and makes the gun hard to get in the case. It's also a real hoot to shoot and I took two nice deer with it last year. I personally prefer the M-38 for a carbine.

sgt_shoe · 03-21-2007, 11:57 PM

toolman,
I can't find any mosin nagants here locally. I've found several on different websites. If I don't buy one over the net, I'm going to go to the gun show in Dallas in April. Hopefully, they'll have some good specimens there.

troy2000 · 03-22-2007, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt_shoe

toolman,
I can't find any mosin nagants here locally. I've found several on different websites. If I don't buy one over the net, I'm going to go to the gun show in Dallas in April. Hopefully, they'll have some good specimens there.

They usually stock M44's and 91/30's, at least. The regular prices are ridiculous, but no one buys them for that. Big 5 rotates their milsurps into their weekly sales, and every few weeks an M44 or 91/30 is about eighty bucks.

They have Big 5's in Texas, but I'm not sure where the closest one to you would be.

just_a_car · 03-22-2007, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troy2000

They have Big 5's in Texas, but I'm not sure where the closest one to you would be.

Unfortunately, it's about 160 miles away in Abilene, but at least it's there:

Big 5 Sporting Goods #226 2365 South Danville Abilene, TX 79605 (915) 698-4526

troy2000 · 03-22-2007, 06:46 PM

Ouch. It's easy to forget just how far Texas spreads out.

sgt_shoe · 03-23-2007, 06:13 PM

Yes, I think Abilene and San Angelo are the closest places with Big 5 stores. I wish there was one in Austin, Ft. Worth, Waco or Houston, but, wishing won't get it done. I keep trying to get a response from a dealer off the gunsamercia website who has M44's for $80. If that doesn't happen I'll try to find another dealer before the gun show in April.

toolman · 03-23-2007, 08:22 PM

FWIW, Cabelas down in Buda usually has one or two but they are Waayyy overpriced and most look like they'd been drug behind a truck. If you ever get up this way, give me a call and we can take a few of mine out and you can see which one you like the best. BTW, there is also another store in town that usually stocks quite a few old mil-surps at decent prices but the name has slipped my mind.

Geo M44 · 03-24-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt_shoe

Yes, I think Abilene and San Angelo are the closest places with Big 5 stores. I wish there was one in Austin, Ft. Worth, Waco or Houston, but, wishing won't get it done. I keep trying to get a response from a dealer off the gunsamercia website who has M44's for $80. If that doesn't happen I'll try to find another dealer before the gun show in April.

If you are planning to own several milsurps in the future then you might want to get an 03 FFL (also called a C&R). This will allow you to order qualifying rifles and pistols via mail order from sources like AIM, Ohio Guns, J&G, Classic Arms, and etc.

sgt_shoe · 04-11-2007, 11:54 AM

Well, I finally got an m44. I must say it shoots great and the ammo is cheap. Now I'm looking for a 91/30....I wonder if this the kind of addiction that crackheads have LOL.

maarten221 · 04-11-2007, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt_shoe

Well, I finally got an m44. I must say it shoots great and the ammo is cheap. Now I'm looking for a 91/30....I wonder if this the kind of addiction that crackheads have LOL.

It is far worse and becomes more expensive by the day! I cut down and all I have now is an M44 - and more ammo than I'll be able to shoot up in a life time

Had to make space for other toys and break the addiction!

M38Fan · 04-15-2007, 03:53 AM

Hey guys I am new to the forum and just thought I would practice cutting in. I have an M38 from Big 5 and find myself wanting to pick up a chromed M44 from Classic Arms as my first purchase with my Type 03. Do any of you have any experience with Classic or a chromed M44? Toolman you are correct in that the M38's are drying up. After I bought mine I started to look for another and have not seen any for sale since. The local Big 5 has 91/30's, m44's but a little to rough for me. And sgt shoe this is my addiction, I have been hooked on these rifles since the first shot when the fireball obscured my sight and the only clue my shot was a hit was the ring of the steal plate at 100yrds. What a show these rifles are at dusk.
P.S. Sorry for babbleing and I hope I did not interrupt.

just_a_car · 04-15-2007, 05:53 AM

Classic Arms is an extremely reputable company. I have heard very little bad about them. I would highly suggest paying the extra $10 for the hand select, since they actually do do a 'hand-select'.

You're lucky you got your M38... I have yet to find a good one from Big5. They have one at the local Big5, but the bolt is all rusty; same with parts of the back of the receiver.

sgt_shoe · 04-29-2007, 01:26 AM

Well, I made it back from the gun show in Dallas with a nice 91/30.....can't wait to go shoot it tomorrow. While I was there, I looked at some m38's too....looks like I know what my next conquest will be.

MosinDave · 04-30-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgt_shoe

Well, I finally got an m44. I must say it shoots great and the ammo is cheap. Now I'm looking for a 91/30....I wonder if this the kind of addiction that crackheads have LOL.

You have no idea.... search the forums for "mosinitis" and see what threads come up. I started with a Russian 91/30 and I haven't been able to quit buying them since. ( I now own 6 more of them, with 3 from Finland )
You have been warned

toolman · 05-01-2007, 07:58 PM

Sgt. Shoe, the next time you head up that way, head out I-30 to exit 85 and ck out Ammo Depot. Mickey has a really nice selection of mil-surps with the majority being M\N's, Mausers, SKS's, and AK's. The last time I was in there, he had a pretty cherry P-17 Enfield with all parts intact and original for $500.

03-16-2007, 05:06 PM	#1
sgt_shoe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: near waco, tx Posts: 9	Russian, Romanian, Polish or Hunagarian is one better than the other? I'm about to buy my fist Mosin Nagant and was wondering if there is any big difference between the Russian, Romanian, Polish or Hungarian rifles? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

03-20-2007, 11:51 PM	#6
toolman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 7,135 Blog Entries: 25	SS, keep in mind that some of the models are drying up really quick. The 91\59 is near impossible to find, the M-38's are getting scarcer by the day, and the 91\30's are getting picked over pretty well. I bought my Sako M-39 from Inter-Ordnance about 5 yrs ago for $90 and now you can't find one at all for under $250 or so. If you aren't concerned about rarity or collectability and just want a fun gun to shoot, you can't go wrong with any of them. I don't shoot my M-44 that much because the bayo is just flat awkward-it changes the point of impact, affects the balance, and makes the gun hard to get in the case. It's also a real hoot to shoot and I took two nice deer with it last year. I personally prefer the M-38 for a carbine. __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac!

03-23-2007, 08:22 PM	#12
toolman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 7,135 Blog Entries: 25	FWIW, Cabelas down in Buda usually has one or two but they are Waayyy overpriced and most look like they'd been drug behind a truck. If you ever get up this way, give me a call and we can take a few of mine out and you can see which one you like the best. BTW, there is also another store in town that usually stocks quite a few old mil-surps at decent prices but the name has slipped my mind. __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac! Last edited by toolman; 03-23-2007 at 08:25 PM.

04-15-2007, 05:53 AM	#17
just_a_car Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonds, WA Posts: 4,091	Classic Arms is an extremely reputable company. I have heard very little bad about them. I would highly suggest paying the extra $10 for the hand select, since they actually do do a 'hand-select'. You're lucky you got your M38... I have yet to find a good one from Big5. They have one at the local Big5, but the bolt is all rusty; same with parts of the back of the receiver. __________________ B.S. Chemistry UofWA '09 CETME Owners - Founder AK-47 owners - Member The Mosin Men - Member

05-01-2007, 07:58 PM	#20
toolman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: abilene,tx Posts: 7,135 Blog Entries: 25	Sgt. Shoe, the next time you head up that way, head out I-30 to exit 85 and ck out Ammo Depot. Mickey has a really nice selection of mil-surps with the majority being M\N's, Mausers, SKS's, and AK's. The last time I was in there, he had a pretty cherry P-17 Enfield with all parts intact and original for $500. __________________ cosmoline is an aphrodisiac!

03-20-2007, 10:37 PM	#4
sgt_shoe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: near waco, tx Posts: 9	Thanks for the advice troy and Geo. I'm going to start out with an M44 but, I'm sure it won't be my last mosin nagant.

03-20-2007, 10:48 PM	#5
johnc Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 50	Just keep in mind that most ammo you find will be corrosive and clean accordingly.

03-21-2007, 11:57 PM	#7
sgt_shoe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: near waco, tx Posts: 9	toolman, I can't find any mosin nagants here locally. I've found several on different websites. If I don't buy one over the net, I'm going to go to the gun show in Dallas in April. Hopefully, they'll have some good specimens there.

03-22-2007, 06:46 PM	#10
troy2000 Banned Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 14,554 Images: 9	Ouch. It's easy to forget just how far Texas spreads out.

03-23-2007, 06:13 PM	#11
sgt_shoe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: near waco, tx Posts: 9	Yes, I think Abilene and San Angelo are the closest places with Big 5 stores. I wish there was one in Austin, Ft. Worth, Waco or Houston, but, wishing won't get it done. I keep trying to get a response from a dealer off the gunsamercia website who has M44's for $80. If that doesn't happen I'll try to find another dealer before the gun show in April.

04-11-2007, 11:54 AM	#14
sgt_shoe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: near waco, tx Posts: 9	Well, I finally got an m44. I must say it shoots great and the ammo is cheap. Now I'm looking for a 91/30....I wonder if this the kind of addiction that crackheads have LOL.

04-15-2007, 03:53 AM	#16
M38Fan Registered User Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3	Hey guys I am new to the forum and just thought I would practice cutting in. I have an M38 from Big 5 and find myself wanting to pick up a chromed M44 from Classic Arms as my first purchase with my Type 03. Do any of you have any experience with Classic or a chromed M44? Toolman you are correct in that the M38's are drying up. After I bought mine I started to look for another and have not seen any for sale since. The local Big 5 has 91/30's, m44's but a little to rough for me. And sgt shoe this is my addiction, I have been hooked on these rifles since the first shot when the fireball obscured my sight and the only clue my shot was a hit was the ring of the steal plate at 100yrds. What a show these rifles are at dusk. P.S. Sorry for babbleing and I hope I did not interrupt.

04-29-2007, 01:26 AM	#18
sgt_shoe Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: near waco, tx Posts: 9	Well, I made it back from the gun show in Dallas with a nice 91/30.....can't wait to go shoot it tomorrow. While I was there, I looked at some m38's too....looks like I know what my next conquest will be.