GSF:
For over a month I have read, and watched wvery video on the Mosin Nagant, the M44 as well. I will be buying a 91/30 because of the history - the M44 Chinese mod is cool as well, love the bayonet fix, but I know the M44 has a bit more kick and I want the real deal.
I've been looking at gun broker, following cosmoline packed (like Crackerjack - you don't know what prize is in the box) or the really detailed, refinished (kept to look period, but more attractive) versions for about double the cost and up.
The truth, I want this to be an adventure, and I want to open that sealed box, unwrap that bubble wrapped filled cosmoline and see if I have some matching serial numbers, a one-piece stock near the butt - seems making 17 million guns caused a growth shortage in the trees used for the stocks and the shoulder rest SOMETIMES had to be pieced together from two different trees, leaving a visible line that isn't attractive, but spoke volumes of what FURY they were producing them.
I think I would LOVE to get some FINNISH markings, what a story that tells - often you'll also see German markings as well, as captured guns by Germans, got stamped and sold to Finland, giving markings from all three countries.
Yes, I think I'll do the crackerjack version and see what surprise is in the box. Shame is, I watch all these Youtube videos from 2011 and the prices from the crated guns ran from $80 - $99 and now the surprised version goes for about $150-$170. We have no Cabela's in NJ, on their website they were listing them at $159, which was $99 2 years ago.
So, you can see, I'm doing my home work. I want one bad! But unless I run into a deal I think is a fair price for matching numbers and good wood and metal, I'll be shooting yours first. I'm gonna mail a bunch of paper targets down to Bud's, I think I have a few people her who want to get this rookie pumping some lead, brass and steal. I mentioned 50 guns in 50 minutes, something a YANKEE likely has never done before - I don't see that, but shooting an AR and anything that I can't rent up here to shoot will be a dream week.
So many people in our fine Southern States RIGHTFULLY see the North as a handcuffed 2nd Amendment part of the country and surely it is. I have one thing going for me as far as the Mosin goes here - I work for the Military and have full gun-range usage at (everyone has heard of) Fort Dix, NJ which is part of my mega base of McGuire AFB (who I work for) Lakehurst Navy Base (where I work) and the likely first stop for most of infantry of our Army, including my Dad.
Fort Dix has $4 range fees for me, outdoor Pistol and 200 yard rifle range and it's about 14 miles from me. I understand the only time it is busy is near hunting season in the Fall. I can't wait to get a Mosin Nagant out there, it literally is the only place I can shoot in this state without laying out $2000 membership to a shooting club which still has $60 range fees for members. For Dix, $4 :)
Thank you for talking guns with me - I included everyone here with my voyage from day one getting licensed ( a 5 month and 22 day wait) and if I think about it today, I'll be stopping off at my local police dept., for the packet to get 3 more handgun permits, which takes every bit as long as the initial application - which is incomprehensible to me, but true. Foolishly, I should have applied the day I got my FID card, I'd still have 3 months before I would get my permits, but I'd be that much closer to building up a handgun collection. For now (and even for ever) I am happy with my Glock 19 Gen4 and my wife loves her Ruger sp101 22lr - if we never had other home defense and range guns, we'd be fine, but I see the Sig Sauer P226 has a .22 version and it is 85% scaled to the original and the P226 under the M11A1 is the gun I would really like to have because I launch jets for the Navy, and Naval Aviators carry the M11A1. The .22 version is about $450 and it gives me a semi auto 22 I can have a lot of fun Plinking!!!
Peace GSF - I had fun writing this one :)
John