So I'm sold on getting a Mosin to add to the collection as a hog buster.

So what should I be looking for? I'm not trying to have a museum quality piece, but I also don't want to buy a piece of trash.

Also, what does arsenal refurbished mean?

Thanks for the input.

Before storage, the Russians gathered up the rifles, and their Armorers put them back into battle ready condition, covered em with cosmoline, and packed them in a crate for storage.

They are long and heavy, but cheap. I can think of better hog guns. Not saying they are bad firearms, but we have come a LONG way since the late 19th century.

Just about any one you find will be a refurb. If not and the seller knows it would not be cheap. Or maybe find a Finn that hasn't been redone.

I'd go with a M39 if you want a Mosin. Good shooters and the Finns know how to fix up a trigger.

Yup. I love mine.

Try this:
http://7.62x54r.net/
and
http://www.russian-mosin-nagant-forum.com/

My suggestion is to read up on them. Then go to a gun shop that has several to choose from and pick the one that fits you or "speaks" to you. Clean it up, check it over closely, and enjoy owning a piece of history. Beware, they can be habit forming. I've talked to several guys who own in excess of 10 of these beasts.

The MM 91/30s are the cheap rifles. A few years ago, they were less than 100$. Now they hang around 150$. The other variants and carbines are double and triple the price of the 91/30s. At that price, I would take a lever action 30/30 or modern bolt action all day long.

But, I also think most people just like owning a historic firearm, not just being able to buy a cheap firearm.

You can pick up an M44 carbine version pretty cheap. Got mine with a good barrel for $130. They are a lot shorter and handier but they come with an extendable bayonett. I took the bayonett off of mine and it shoots pretty good without it.
The sights are regulated to shoot longer distances so you might have to buy a taller front sight or have a scope mounted. I bought a scout scope mount for mine but I haven't installed it yet. It mounts in the place of the rear sight. If you do that, you will have to use a long eye relief scope or a red dot.

The barrel is a lot shorter than the other versions so there is a lot more muzzle blast. If you shoot it at dusk, it makes an awesome fireball out the barrel. The stock is a little short too so you might want a slip on recoil pad to lengthen it about an inch.

Palehorse,

Is your M44 Russian or Chinese? I have never handled a Chinese Mosin before.

Here is a chart with the weights/lengths of different Mosins.
http://62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSpec.htm

big 5 has a sale on them every once in a while. The 91/30 is long, there are a couple different carbine versions which I prefer. They are handier and don't weigh so damn much. The M38 doesnt' have a bayonet and is my favorite, they go on sale at big 5 for about 150. The M44 has a bayonet and is also short, but heavier, obviously, due to the bayo.

The 91/30 can still be had for about $100 on sale. The chinese ones typically have dark bores, not as good as the russian ones and more rare. if you want more of a truck gun I'd get the m44 and take off the bayonet or the m38. The 91/30 is kind of long for that purpose.

I have to start checking Big 5, I haven't seen a carbine version for that cheap since the big gun scare.

If you want a good shooter, go with an M39. It's not the only good shooter but its usually the best.

Ditto on M39 but they are more expensive that the 91/30. They are getting hard to find as well.

It has the Hammer and Sickle and 1945 on it so I'm assuming its Russian. I was told it was probably issued to East German troops after WW2

They are probably a little more now at big 5, but not on sale they were $220 or something before the scare.

If it was issued to East Germany it will have a 1 inside a triangle on the barrel shank.

Just took a pic. Yep, it's there. I bought it about 13 years ago, so judging from the other posts the prices have gone up a bit.

Yep that's it, and if you bought it that long ago it isn't a Molot. These were pretty rare finds back then.

Avg prices for 91/30s $180 now
M44 $200-250
M38 $250 up
M39s 300-400 and up.

I bought my little blonde Polish M44 from a member here 2 or 3 years ago. I have more that look like the lower one too.

The Poles are some of the nicest ones especially when you can find the unissued matching ones. I was lucky enough to find one too. And it's little brother .22 below it.

Sweeeeeeet!

Yep, I concur with these prices. I just started collecting Mosys again and this is what Im seeing. M39s are out for a hog buster. I am having fun Finning some of my 91 30s and M44s. Using Finn 2 stage triggers and the same kind of shimming the Finns used to improve accuracy. Also, dont sell the Chinese T53 short. Ther are still some good ones with shiny bores out there for $175 ish. They typically have phenomenal triggers for a Mosy crisp with a 4 pound break. I have 2 that will shoot under 2 inches at 100 with open sights and young eyes.

Just know that with most Mosys, or any milsurp, you are going to have to tinker with it a lot to get it to shoot well. Thats most of the fun.

I have a 91/30 I got for $95 a year ago. I put an ATI stock on her and put a long eye relief scope on . It has shot very well for me. I got it for hogs as well and it does great with the whitebox soft points. Plus I am like $190 into this thing so I can just throw it in the truck or whatever.

For the price you can't go wrong with a Russian (M91/30, M44, M38, M91/59). If you want the best (as a rule of thumb). go with a Finn M39.

As everyone said if you want a shooter you want a Finn
I still haven't added a fin to the collection they run too high, but if you really want a good cheap mosin I think the Chinese t53 fits the bill
They were heavily used so the action is good and worn in and smooth, unlike some of the mosins that have been packed inncosmoline

I've had/have three Russians that were a;; great shooters. They either need a little work on the triggers or a new one or a Finn trigger to reach their full potential.