[Clackinator]

I'm starting to slip into another area of interest and getting a much better appreciation for the Mosins. Recently I bought one at auction that just shoots and operates beautifully. I paid less than I've paid for some old beater .22's! Anyway, here is my question. If I wanted to add a scope to one of these, I keep seeing references to PU and PE and there's been a "reproduction" scope and mount on the classifieds for $395 for a few days that is tempting me. I'm having a hard time justifying that much for a scope to put on a rifle that I paid 80 bucks for.

I know the originals are very expensive, just wondering about the aftermarket or reproduction scopes and mounts. Seems like a good way to make a fun rifle much better. My eyesight in the last few years is making it tougher to see open sights.

 

[Ken in Iowa]

Turning a common 91/30 into a sniper is probably not the most popular subject here. Many people suggest buying a reproduction sniper that was already built before importation. I did not care for mine so I sold it long ago.

You may want to read the sniper forum or look here for more info on the Mosin snipers. http://www.mosinnagant.net/sniper section/default.asp

 

[Stalin's Ghost]

+1 on leaving your rifle alone and buying a repro sniper.
The repros are PU replica snipers built in Ukraine with a good steel mount and modern replica scope and turned down bolt. They are worth what we have taken to calling the "sum of the parts" including a rifle, a base, a mount, a replica scope and a bolt turndown, plus some woodwork to inlet the base. Most shoot very well.
These are correct only on 1942 or later rifles as PU scopes only appeared that late.
The repro PE is correct for much earlier rifles.
What rifle do you have? Year and maker?

Turning a common 91/30 into a sniper is probably not the most popular subject here. Many people suggest buying a reproduction sniper that was already built before importation. I did not care for mine so I sold it long ago.

You may want to read the sniper forum or look here for more info on the Mosin snipers. http://www.mosinnagant.net/sniper section/default.asp

 

[Clackinator]

Here are some photos of the Mosin I bought. Overall it is only 40 inches, so my guess is its a carbine model? The serial number matches everywhere. Its AX 7740. The bore looks like new and it really shoots amazingly well. Is this a Tula or Ishkevk? How do you tell the difference? 1944 is the date on the ring. Thanks, photos are in the link below.

http://s835.photobucket.com/albums/zz273/clackinator/Mosin/

 

[TulaPU]

Go to mosinnagant.net and get to reading. Just about every question you could ask is answered there. And I agree with those far more experienced than myself and suggest you leave it alone, especially if its a carbine. And lastly, if you do go through with it I would recomend posting it in the workbench forum to avoid being verbally torn to pieces.

 

[Clackinator]

I'm going to leave it alone as it is. I guess it would make much more sense to find a scoped one and just buy it that way. After buying a scope and mount and putting it on this one, it would make much more sense to just buy one that is already in that configuration.

 

[Stalin's Ghost]

You have a 1944 Izhevsk M44 carbine. This was the first year it was made.
It is worth up to about $ 250 or so out here. Glad you are not scoping it -M44s never had scopes and were never sniper rifles.
Tula rifles (after the earlier models like early M91s and dragoons) have a Tula star on the barrel while Izhevsk rifles have a small hammer and sickle with a laurel wreath around it. (Somebody at Big Five once tried to ell me it was a picture of Lenin - I had to get a magnifying glass to show it wasn't.)

 

[Clackinator]

Thanks for the info! These seem to be a real bargain around here still. Although not commonly seen, when they do come up for sale, I don't think many locals have any idea what there are. Much like myself!

 

[nwellons]

Glad you are going to keep it as it is, a great collectible with lots of history.

If you had drilled it for a scope, the value would have plunged down to what you paid for it. As is, your purchase appreciated immediately at least $100 to maybe $170 more than you paid for it.