Romanian Mosin Nagant or MkIII Enfield?

[DC]

There is a chain sporting goods store here with a sale on the Romanian M44 Mosin Nagant in 7.62 x 54R and MkIII Enfield bolt action in .303(?? typo?).....either one for $80.00

Which one?

[Rob Pincus]

You can get Moison Nagant M91/59 in 7.62x54 for $49.00 from SOG Intl.

The Romanian M44 is available from them for $69.95.

They are Selling the Enfield Mark III in .308 for $69.95
The British .303 chambered MKIIIs are going for $59.95.

Sarco is selling the M44 for $69.95 and the Brit .303 for $58.95

I'm all for the local guy making a little money if he orders and processes the rifles, but you can save yourself some money buy buying any of those rifles out of the SGN, if you know someone with an FFL. Otherwise, go bargain with the guy, since you now have a pretty good idea what he has into the guns. Can't argue with a guy making $10-15 on the M44, but $20 on the .303 seems like a lot (33% markup is a lot on guns..).

I would find yourself a .308 conversion or go with the 7.62x54. here's an idea of the bulk ammo prices:
7.62x54 880 rounds for $94
.308 1000 rounds for $129
.303 300 rounds for $59
(above from Burns Bros.)

Paragon has .303 for 640rnds/ $83
SOG has 7.62x54 for 800 rnds/ $89
" " .303 for 50 rnds/ $10

Good Luck.

[Gino]

If you are looking for a shooter, get the enfield. The m44 shoots a fire ball that you wouldn't believe (and quite a bit of kick). The enfield is more fun as a shooter, the m44 is an "okay i want another gun to sit in the safe" kind of gun, you probably won't want to shoot it often.
If you are really into these kinds of guns, consider getting a curio and relics FFL.

gino

[Daryl Waldron]

I too think the Enfield is a better shooter, but more fun???,,, hmmmm dont know about that. As far a kick and "fire ball",, I dont find it so bad. I like shooting my 91-59 (sort of like a 44) and shoot it more than my Enfield (Ammo cheaper too). But like I said for a first shooter I would go Enfield.
I did like Rob's post on cost breakdown.

PS I do have a USSR M-44, but almost to nice to shoot.

[.]

DC,

Before buying either, use a borelite to check for erosion of the bore and the lead just in front of the chamber. Some of the Old Salts that grew up with these guns take a .30 cal bullet and set the base in the muzzle as a go/nogo erosion test. If it drops down past the beveled base, then the bore is worn out. This same group of Crusties have told me the .303 Enfield is generally the best of all the old bolt action war relics, and they regularly hold 100-yard matches with these pieces.

Most favor the original ammo, which uses several extruded, cord-like strands of propellant (cordite?)that seems to give them a very uniform shot-to-shot accuracy.

[UsedUp]

One piece of advice: If you're going to get this disease, get your C&R License. That is an FFL that allows you to buy old military and collectors rifles, and even some pistols, direct from the distributor. It is a limited FFL, in other words. If you're eligible to legally buy a rifle or pistol, then you're qualified to get the C&R from ATF. I believe it cost me $30 (might be wrong but real close anyway) and is good for 3 years before renewal. Took 1 month to get it. You can a download form from ATF site. Go for it.

[Tom2]

YOu cannot do the bullet check at the muzzle on some MN guns, cause they rebated the bore during the life of the gun. Sort of an extreme crown job, correctly called a counterbore, I think. To eliminate cleaning rod or crown wear. If it was the full length MN rifle, I would maybe say get the MN if it is in better condx. Or the Enfield if it is in better condx. You would get more satisfaction from a clean MN than a rusty Enfield I would think, regardless of the British design's better points. Ammo can be had cheap for both, lots of it corrosive, but more of the Eastern block MN ammo is around for sale. You will have a recoil issue with the shorter M44 but either you will get used to it, or you are Paul Bunyan and don't mind, or you could get a slip on recoil pad to ease the pain, but not alter the gun.

[dfaugh]

Does that answer you're question? And the Mosin was unfired, since a re-arsenaled, while the Enfield had the stock altered by Bubba. I haven't seen any Enfields, in decent condition for anywhere near that. If its a matching number gun the Enfield is definitely the better deal, if in decent condition.

[jefnvk]

Ummm.......

Anyone but me notice that this thread is 6 years old????? Gotta be by FAR the oldest thread dig up I've seen :p

[Tom2]

By now he should have posted some results on here if he is even still a member of this forum. Guess we missed the small print. Probably should go to the store and look into bifocals again.........

[dfaugh]

Glad I didn't give the LONG answer

[jefnvk]

Hmmm....

Some quick searching turns up no answer to what he ever bought. Maybe DC would be so kind as to tell us (I am kind of wondering now)?

[Cowled_Wolfe]

I'm also looking for a cheap full-caliber rifle. This would be my first hunting rifle, so I want a knock-down round. My budget's at a firm $100. Think a MN would work for me? If possible, I'd like to mount up a $40 Wal-Mart scope, too.

Btw, is the safety on a MN really that bad? I've heard that it's almost better just to leave it off and keep the bolt open.

Also: A local store had a .303 Enfield at $124... Ripoff, or not?

If anyone can recommend a sub-$100 gun which would be an ok hunter, please let me know.

[Dave R]

The only caution in using a milsurp rifle for hunting is--don't use military (FMJ) ammunition! Use hunting ammo with soft points.

With that said, you can find hunting ammo for a M/N (at AIM, I believe). But there is more hunting ammo available for .303 British, and the Enfield.

$124 is still a good price for an Enfield, if it has a decent bore.

[Cowled_Wolfe]

Thanks for the input... I can see how an FMJ might not be a good hunting round -- seing as how they're inhumane 'wounding' rounds (opinion).

Now about that Enfield... I'm confused. Rob said $60 was the price in his area, DC said $80... Are those just bad rifles, or what? I can't see any other reason for a $40-60 difference.

[Dave R]

Could either be bad rifles--some are older/newer/stored better/maintained better--than others. Or could just be "sales price" for a particular dealer.