Big 5 find

lowercase · 03-27-2008, 10:31 PM

Was looking for an M44 at the local Big 5 today and ran across a decent, 1943 Izzy 91/30 on sale for 79 bucks. It didn't look to be counterbored, and the stock looked okay. A nice thing about the gun was that it had the rough wartime production look (machining marks where the date is located) that some people are after.

It wasn't an ex-sniper or anything like that, but it was the first time that I had seen one of the more crudely-finished ones made during the height of the war and thought it was interesting.

I'm on the fence about it because I'm after an excellent condition, post war M44 with a light colored stock. I don't know when I got the bug for one of those specific M44s, but i'm sure you folks know how it is.

ArkansasHunter · 03-27-2008, 10:35 PM

lowercase have you looked at Classic Arms M44's ?

Geo M44 · 03-27-2008, 10:46 PM

The light colored stock comes from lots of scrubbing, a little sanding, and a little light stain to bring out the grain.

Standard arsenal finish is typically redish-brown varnish, so don't expect anything else from stores or dealers. Except maybe laminated...

Incidentally both of my post war M44's are from Big 5. Looked like hell when I bought them but cleaned up really well.

Full MeTal Jack · 03-27-2008, 11:05 PM

;The FMJ's #.02. I think the 91-30 are more accurate. The one I have shoots a 5/8" group at 100. That's personal experience. Came accros a guy at range that had a tack-driving Polish 44 MN.

SwedeSteve · 03-28-2008, 08:49 PM

You just never know what you got until you shoot it! Then do what you can to tighten up the groups...

texnmidwest · 03-28-2008, 08:55 PM

I have an Izzy 91/30 that shoots pretty well. Then I have a 37 tula that is a dog. I want to try corking the barrel to see if that makes a difference. lots of stuff to play with. I think a lot of the problem is my eyes. LOL!

SwedeSteve · 03-28-2008, 08:58 PM

Have you ever shot peep sights Tex? Do you do better with them if you have?

texnmidwest · 03-28-2008, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwedeSteve

Have you ever shot peep sights Tex? Do you do better with them if you have?

I do MUCH better with peep sights Swede! Have you used or installed the Mojo sights on a mosin or do they make those Tech sight things for them?

SwedeSteve · 03-28-2008, 09:02 PM

I have Mojo's on a Swede M38, and a Mosin M44, and I LOVE them! I grew up in the military, so I prefer them. Tightened my groups by almost 50%!!

texnmidwest · 03-28-2008, 09:08 PM

Did you find the MOJO sights hard to install and sight in? I guess that is what gives me pause.

SwedeSteve · 03-28-2008, 09:19 PM

The hardest part is getting the new mojo to line up with the hole so the pin can go in. Zeroing is a breeze!

texnmidwest · 03-28-2008, 09:23 PM

OK, now you have just cost me 60 bucks. I am ordering them this weekend. Plus I think I will order one of those Tech sights to go on my sks. When they arrive I will let you know how the install goes.

SwedeSteve · 03-28-2008, 09:27 PM

The trick to the Tech Sight is to not overtighten the 4 brass set screws. You'll see! This baby DOUBLES your sight radius! And adds a peep adjustable for wind&elev!
On the mojo, I found a good trick to compress the rear sight spring. Let me know when you get it.

texnmidwest · 03-28-2008, 09:30 PM

Will the tech sight damage the receiver cover on the SKS? Not hard to get a replacement to save my originals.

I will let you know when they come!

SwedeSteve · 03-28-2008, 09:34 PM

Doesn't even scratch it! My cover release pin had to be dremeled off. But not everyones. I just ordered a new one and threw it in my SKS parts box!

texnmidwest · 03-28-2008, 09:41 PM

Sounds good. I am getting excited about it now!

SwedeSteve · 03-30-2008, 12:31 AM

Tex- Heres one on a carbine sight. Make sure you get the right one for your rifle model! And no, you don't remove the base...

texnmidwest · 03-30-2008, 06:24 AM

Looks solid, Swede! It actually looks like it is only knock out one pin remove the rear leaf sight, install mojo sight, and replace pin, easy to install!

Tech sights should be here by thrusday. I'll get them installed then the MOJOs.

Have to replace a stupid toilet today.

SwedeSteve · 03-30-2008, 07:51 AM

Tex- Actually, you just remove the sight leaf. The spring stays.

lowercase · 04-01-2008, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

lowercase have you looked at Classic Arms M44's ?

I have a near-perfect 1944 laminated stock M44 from them. The stock is a very nice dark brown.

I'll probably just have to go ahead and get my C & R so I can quit prowling the local Big 5.

03-27-2008, 10:31 PM	#1
lowercase Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 57	Big 5 find Was looking for an M44 at the local Big 5 today and ran across a decent, 1943 Izzy 91/30 on sale for 79 bucks. It didn't look to be counterbored, and the stock looked okay. A nice thing about the gun was that it had the rough wartime production look (machining marks where the date is located) that some people are after. It wasn't an ex-sniper or anything like that, but it was the first time that I had seen one of the more crudely-finished ones made during the height of the war and thought it was interesting. I'm on the fence about it because I'm after an excellent condition, post war M44 with a light colored stock. I don't know when I got the bug for one of those specific M44s, but i'm sure you folks know how it is.

03-27-2008, 10:46 PM	#3
Geo M44 Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: The Desert Posts: 1,083	The light colored stock comes from lots of scrubbing, a little sanding, and a little light stain to bring out the grain. Standard arsenal finish is typically redish-brown varnish, so don't expect anything else from stores or dealers. Except maybe laminated... Incidentally both of my post war M44's are from Big 5. Looked like hell when I bought them but cleaned up really well. Last edited by Geo M44; 03-27-2008 at 11:30 PM.

03-27-2008, 11:05 PM	#4
Full MeTal Jack Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 1,275 Images: 1	;The FMJ's #.02. I think the 91-30 are more accurate. The one I have shoots a 5/8" group at 100. That's personal experience. Came accros a guy at range that had a tack-driving Polish 44 MN. __________________ [IMG]

03-28-2008, 08:49 PM	#5
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 4,349	You just never know what you got until you shoot it! Then do what you can to tighten up the groups... __________________ You can tune a piano, but you can't Tuna Fish!

03-28-2008, 08:55 PM	#6
texnmidwest Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 1,938	I have an Izzy 91/30 that shoots pretty well. Then I have a 37 tula that is a dog. I want to try corking the barrel to see if that makes a difference. lots of stuff to play with. I think a lot of the problem is my eyes. LOL! __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

03-27-2008, 10:35 PM	#2
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,691	lowercase have you looked at Classic Arms M44's ?

03-28-2008, 08:58 PM	#7
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 4,349	Have you ever shot peep sights Tex? Do you do better with them if you have? __________________ You can tune a piano, but you can't Tuna Fish!

03-28-2008, 09:02 PM	#9
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 4,349	I have Mojo's on a Swede M38, and a Mosin M44, and I LOVE them! I grew up in the military, so I prefer them. Tightened my groups by almost 50%!!

03-28-2008, 09:08 PM	#10
texnmidwest Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 1,938	Did you find the MOJO sights hard to install and sight in? I guess that is what gives me pause. __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

03-28-2008, 09:19 PM	#11
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 4,349	The hardest part is getting the new mojo to line up with the hole so the pin can go in. Zeroing is a breeze! __________________ You can tune a piano, but you can't Tuna Fish!

03-28-2008, 09:23 PM	#12
texnmidwest Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 1,938	OK, now you have just cost me 60 bucks. I am ordering them this weekend. Plus I think I will order one of those Tech sights to go on my sks. When they arrive I will let you know how the install goes. __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

03-28-2008, 09:27 PM	#13
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 4,349	The trick to the Tech Sight is to not overtighten the 4 brass set screws. You'll see! This baby DOUBLES your sight radius! And adds a peep adjustable for wind&elev! On the mojo, I found a good trick to compress the rear sight spring. Let me know when you get it. __________________ You can tune a piano, but you can't Tuna Fish!

03-28-2008, 09:30 PM	#14
texnmidwest Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 1,938	Will the tech sight damage the receiver cover on the SKS? Not hard to get a replacement to save my originals. I will let you know when they come! __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

03-28-2008, 09:34 PM	#15
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 4,349	Doesn't even scratch it! My cover release pin had to be dremeled off. But not everyones. I just ordered a new one and threw it in my SKS parts box! __________________ You can tune a piano, but you can't Tuna Fish!

03-28-2008, 09:41 PM	#16
texnmidwest Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 1,938	Sounds good. I am getting excited about it now! __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

03-30-2008, 12:31 AM	#17
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 4,349	Tex- Heres one on a carbine sight. Make sure you get the right one for your rifle model! And no, you don't remove the base... Attached Thumbnails __________________ You can tune a piano, but you can't Tuna Fish!

03-30-2008, 06:24 AM	#18
texnmidwest Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: South east Wisconsin Posts: 1,938	Looks solid, Swede! It actually looks like it is only knock out one pin remove the rear leaf sight, install mojo sight, and replace pin, easy to install! Tech sights should be here by thrusday. I'll get them installed then the MOJOs. Have to replace a stupid toilet today. __________________ "Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati" (If all else fails play dead)

03-30-2008, 07:51 AM	#19
SwedeSteve Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: AnchorTown, Alaska Posts: 4,349	Tex- Actually, you just remove the sight leaf. The spring stays. __________________ You can tune a piano, but you can't Tuna Fish!

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