M44 vs. M38

KentuckyBoy · 03-10-2008, 05:58 PM

For the next rifle in my arsenal, I'm going to invest either in an M44 or 38...my question is: does the attached bayonet on the M44 alter anything related to the rifle's ballistics, or are the two pretty much the same, other than the bayonet of course.

marion57 · 03-10-2008, 07:07 PM

You will get 5,000 different opinons on that one LOL...I have both and yes the bayo does change harmonics of the barrel >>It may be removed and re sited to shoot POA same as the m 38 I have both and can see no difference in the ability to hit the bullseye with either other than my ability to see the target

SwedeSteve · 03-10-2008, 08:41 PM

Marion is spot on as usual! There is no bayonet for a M38, so if you want one, go with the M44. Otherwise, they are pretty much the same rifle.

Choco · 03-10-2008, 08:45 PM

Get a M44.

texnmidwest · 03-10-2008, 09:01 PM

Marion is as right as rain. If you are investing then you might want to look at the M38s. Right now there are a lot of m44s out there but fewer m38s. You can't go wrong with either. I have three m44s and an m38. If you decide on an M38 then look for one with an original m38 stock. Some of them are M38s with M44 stocks. Only difference is that the stock is relieved on the right side for the bayonet. As Marion said, both will shoot very well and be a lot of fun.

squirrelbaster · 03-10-2008, 09:07 PM

here are a couple of things i think are diffrent between the two, first, i think the m38 is a little less common, second is price all the m38s ive seen including the one i own are a good $40-$50 more than all the m44 ive seen. third with a m38 you dont get wierd looks at the range becouse you have your bayo extended when shooting ( you can resight the m44 in without the bayo extended though) 4. your 91/30 wont think that his little brother is loved more becouse it gets to holds its toys all the time and the 91/30 doesnt. 5. m38s are just cooler! (becouse i said so!)

Geo M44 · 03-10-2008, 09:13 PM

M44's were as the name says made from late 1943 to 1948 and in other eastern block countries into the late 1950's. My first M44 was a Romanian 1953 which I sold for $70 (made $20 at the time).

M38's (~1938 to 44) were the first of the carbines and were mostly war issue. Don't quote me on the dates, but close enough.

I have found the post war M44 bores (1946-1948) to be generally excellent, as you might expect, and I have just ordered my first M38 (and a Finn M39), so no experience there. Most of the M38's that I have seen are counterbored but from what I've heard here on G&G they generally shoot well.

From a collectors point of view get the M38 first as they are starting to get hard to find. M44's are more readily available. For $170 or so you can get both.

03-10-2008, 05:58 PM	#1
KentuckyBoy Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 54	M44 vs. M38 For the next rifle in my arsenal, I'm going to invest either in an M44 or 38...my question is: does the attached bayonet on the M44 alter anything related to the rifle's ballistics, or are the two pretty much the same, other than the bayonet of course.

03-10-2008, 08:41 PM	#3
SwedeSteve Thor's Hammer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 10,372 Images: 1	Marion is spot on as usual! There is no bayonet for a M38, so if you want one, go with the M44. Otherwise, they are pretty much the same rifle. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

03-10-2008, 09:01 PM	#5
texnmidwest Listen to yur Inner Hippo Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 3,454	Marion is as right as rain. If you are investing then you might want to look at the M38s. Right now there are a lot of m44s out there but fewer m38s. You can't go wrong with either. I have three m44s and an m38. If you decide on an M38 then look for one with an original m38 stock. Some of them are M38s with M44 stocks. Only difference is that the stock is relieved on the right side for the bayonet. As Marion said, both will shoot very well and be a lot of fun. __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

03-10-2008, 07:07 PM	#2
marion57 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 2,883	You will get 5,000 different opinons on that one LOL...I have both and yes the bayo does change harmonics of the barrel >>It may be removed and re sited to shoot POA same as the m 38 I have both and can see no difference in the ability to hit the bullseye with either other than my ability to see the target

03-10-2008, 08:45 PM	#4
Choco Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 199	Get a M44.

03-10-2008, 09:07 PM	#6
squirrelbaster Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,269	here are a couple of things i think are diffrent between the two, first, i think the m38 is a little less common, second is price all the m38s ive seen including the one i own are a good $40-$50 more than all the m44 ive seen. third with a m38 you dont get wierd looks at the range becouse you have your bayo extended when shooting ( you can resight the m44 in without the bayo extended though) 4. your 91/30 wont think that his little brother is loved more becouse it gets to holds its toys all the time and the 91/30 doesnt. 5. m38s are just cooler! (becouse i said so!)

03-10-2008, 09:13 PM	#7
Geo M44 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Desert Posts: 2,210	M44's were as the name says made from late 1943 to 1948 and in other eastern block countries into the late 1950's. My first M44 was a Romanian 1953 which I sold for $70 (made $20 at the time). M38's (~1938 to 44) were the first of the carbines and were mostly war issue. Don't quote me on the dates, but close enough. I have found the post war M44 bores (1946-1948) to be generally excellent, as you might expect, and I have just ordered my first M38 (and a Finn M39), so no experience there. Most of the M38's that I have seen are counterbored but from what I've heard here on G&G they generally shoot well. From a collectors point of view get the M38 first as they are starting to get hard to find. M44's are more readily available. For $170 or so you can get both.