Gun ?

[RBBailey]

So, I've come across a Mosin M38 that seems to be in good kit with smooth action on the bolt, nice click to the trigger, and the safety seems to be halfway effective.

However, the front end of the stock has been chopped off!

Now, I may be able to get this gun for free to $50.00, so the stock being cut doesn't bother me too much. But I'm wondering if it is possible to get replaced without spending more than the gun is worth.

Also, where can I get the ammo in Portland?

Along with that came a Mauser Oviedo 1893, from 1928, seems complete, and also seems to be in firing condition, but I'm not as confident.

This gun seems to need a tune-up. But I'm worried about finding ammo for this. I'm betting I can find ammo for the Mosin without spending too much cash, but this Oviedo....???

I'll get pics in not too long.

 

[az_max]

Sportsman's guide has ammo for the Mauser (7x57, if google is right.)
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/browse/rifle-ammo-7x57.aspx?c=96&s=950
and ammo for the m38 (7.62x54r)
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/winchester-usa-762x54r-180-gr-fmj-20-rds.aspx?a=55724

 

[sean]

The small ring mauser needs to have the rifle checked over by a gunsmith. The spanish receivers are on the soft side and can have excessive headspace. Unlike the m98 Mauser it does not have gas escape in the bolt and modern factory ammo is pushing the limits of the receiver.
The M38 is a good find, they make nice truck guns. finding a cheap m38 stock in near impossible. Most were restocked with the M44 stock when they were refurbished (the only difference is the bayonet groove). Look around you can get M44 stocks for around $20-$35.

 

[Mike26]

you can get 7.62x54R for $80 for 440 rounds of surplus military ammo from aim surplus. you can also get a new Mosin for the same price.

 

[RBBailey]

Thanks for the info.

The price on ammo (surplus) seems good to me, I'm used to buying 308, 380 and 9mm in boxes of 50, so if I can find a place to put in an order, 400+ rounds would be a good deal.

I'm thinking of keeping the M38, selling the Mauser thing to a gunsmith and using the cash towards ammo.

How can I tell if this M38 is one of the M44 stocks when it is missing the front end?

 

[robertf]

there is a date on the receiver that can be seen once the stock is removed.

Yours might be the one that uses reverse threaded screws to keep the stock on and someone cracked it.

 

[sean]

You probadly can't the only difference in the stocks was the m44 had a little groove on the front for the bayonet, there may be a date on the stock but I doubt it.

 

[RBBailey]

The metal plate on the stock butt does have a matching serial number to the lower breach/clip door and the barrel, the bolt has a different serial.

How do you release the bolt?

EDIT: never mind, figured the bolt out.

 

[sean]

http://7.62x54r.net/ is a great place for information.

and this will give you a good reason to keep it

 

[RBBailey]

This is a very cool gun, but I can't figure out why the prices seem to go from $75 to $500 on the examples I find online.

I actually want this to be the cheap version so I can buy it from the guy! (It's an old guy from my dad's church who just gave them to my dad. We think he wants to give them away, but we aren't 100% sure.)

 

[sean]

M38's have been running $150-300 where have you found one for under a hundred?

 

[RBBailey]

I think that's the problem I'm seeing -- I think I'm actually seeing the 91/30's, which are much more common. Either way, I'm not seeing this gun being worth much with the stock as it is.

Unless I'm mistaken, I could get a replacement front end of the stock and just put it on.

I would be interested in doing this because I think the stock is otherwise an original war time stock. And the gun has no import marks (that I can see, or even guess at).

I'm going to get some pics of it in the next few minutes here.

 

[RBBailey]

Here is a pretty excellent example of what I've got, but the one I have has the modified stock and it isn't as clean as this one is. But it shows me a going price, with bids:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=224042276

 

[robertf]

last time I was at the gun store there were a couple of either m44s or m38s for $125. I thought they were smoking crack.

I'd like to get one of those shorter barreled mosins and tacticool it with the ati stock and cranky farmer rail.

I'd do it to the 91/30, but with the bayonett its too handy as a screwdriver for removing hvac registers without a ladder.

 

[sean]

No, that is a 91/59 which is a m91 cut down to M38 length. Go to 7.62x54.net and start researching all the markings it could be something rare.

 

[RBBailey]

Yeah, I focused on the title saying "M38" on that advert.

Here is the one I've got:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bhcmbailey/sets/72157626348281453/

 

[sean]

shoot it as is the barrel band won't matter, chances are it will improve accuracy without it. It's not the rarest model, but not the most common either a 5 on a 1-10 scale. If you really want the correct stock search ebay and gunbroker they turn up every now and then.

 

[RBBailey]

Oh, yeah, I plan to shoot as is. I just like the idea of it being as close to original as possible. I'll keep my eyes open for a stock, and I may post on some Mosin web sights.

And that is the conclusion I came to as well -- not a sought after, rare model, but not the common Mosin you can buy anywhere either. A nice in-between that I won't feel bad shooting.

Did you notice any import marks? Am I missing them? What could this mean for resale, etc?

Ammo? Aim Surplus looks OK.

 

[sean]

It was a old import before they had to mark them. Aim is good, the rifle is set for heavy ball 182gr., your shoulder will prefer light ball 147gr but it will shoot high.

 

[Some Dude]

Actually your shoulder will be great. Everytime I shoot my Mosin it's like a free trip to the chiropractor. Not quite adjusted right? Just fire again!

Wear a thick shirt or it will feel like Mike Tyson used your shoulder as a speed bag. Happy shooting.