Friday Gun Pr0n #317

Today's gun pic comes to us courtesy of friend, blogmeet attendee, and all-around mensch Brad_in_MA:

Brad got ahold of a Mosin-Nagant model 44! I'll let him tell you all about her:

I just looked at the pics on my laptop . . . . they don't do justice to the rifle.  Not. One. Bit.  The wood is deep red & richly colored.  Finish is excellent -- I suspect this rifle barely saw any service. And the bore.  The BORE.  The Bore & Crown* are bright & shiny, and the rifling looks great.  There's a little bit of flop-n-slop in the trigger so I might get myself a trigger slack spring from c&r surplus springs.  When I get a chance to dance with my new little friend, I'll send a range report.  I doubt I'll be shooting at anything beyond 50 yards as that's about all my crappy eyes can muster, but if I'm feeling adventurous, I *might* try the steel gong on the 200 yard line. 

 

The rifle came with an interesting little oddity -- the instruction booklet.  I need to find someone who can read Russian and translate it for me.  From what I can figure, the gun is spec'd at a weight of 3.9kg and is set to a 300 meter zero. 

 

Details to follow . . . . I'm sure the gun will be a big hit at Bloggershoot this coming summer.  In fact, I've already decided to set aside my 91/30 for a while and get acquainted with the M44.  I figure to need two or three range trips and about 200 rounds to start settling in.  

Anyone out there read Russian? Yes, Oleg, I'm looking at yooouuu... :)

 

Ah, the model 44. Famous for two things: shooting better with the bayonet extended, and a 4' long fireball out the end of the barrel. Two things that just make life worth living... A gun that can not only hold your marshmallows for s'mores, but also melts them onto the graham cracker at the same time... 

Great pick-up, Brad, and thanks for sharing!

That is all.