Just bored in the shop, and toying with some rounds and some actions, and got to thinking (here comes trouble).

Put a 7.62x54R and a 270 WSM butt-to-butt, and it would seem that the WSM case fits the 7.62x54R bolt face "sans modification". Loaded length is also acceptable. So, aside from opening up the magazine, and of course a rechamber, what else would keep me from taking a M-44/M-39/M-91 and making a WSM bolt gun from a $40 to $150 parent rifle?

The 7.62x54R shows as 2630 fps with a 180 gr and the 300 WSM shows as 2970 fps with a 180 gr .... And the WSM is loaded to 2.81 with room left in the Mosin mag....

Good thought Marty! I would be concerned about pressure, though. From what I have been able to dig up, the 7.62x54R runs at a lot lower standard pressure than any newer mag cartridge. The Mosin action is pretty strong, though. You might be able to get away with it...

I've toyed with the idea of opening up the bolt face just a bit and doing one up in 45-70. It ought to make a nice carbine length, big bore repeater (and pressure here would be a non-issue). The only thing I don't like is the safety on these. I might have to spend some more time and create an easy to use safety for the action before any other work. I often carry an M38 for hunting here, and the safety just is not convenient. Other then that, it is a beautifully balanced little rifle! maxman

A Finnish Moisin might handle it. However, I really doubt if it is at all practical to alter the Moisin magazine (or if it is even POSSIBLE) so it will feed the other round! The M/N magazine is a very complicated affair, with NO spare space in it for any other cartridge shape.

the'smith who built my mauser built a 300 win mag out of a russian m44.The customer has put hundreds of rounds down range with no problems.

i think it would be a great candidate for a bolt 45/70 or so...

but that 2 part bolt bugs me... i've replaced my on my 39 fin wiht a finn barrel

39? 38? dang it, i don't recall...

one day, it'll have a 45/70 barrel on it... and I think the 44 and the chicom shortbarrel would be perfect for that

jeffe

I converted one to 45/70.
I had to grind a tiny lathe bit to get inside the bolt head and open it up for the larger rim.

I would like to know the cost of the machine and handwork one of these conversions requires. The guns look nice (the .45/70), but what is one of these worth afterward on the used gun market?

Of course I realize that these practical considerations don't really enter into the equation!

The only thing harder to sell than a Turkish Mauser is a 91/30 or M44.
The BIG5 sporting goods chain has sold them for $50 for years, and too many people have them.

A modified M44 would be even harder to sell.

--
A society that teaches evolution as fact will breed a generation of atheists that will destroy the society. It is Darwinian.

Thanks for all the replies! The .45-70 we pretty well have covered, between a No4 MkI SMLE with a Douglas #5 bbl in that caliber, as well as a semi-auto SVT-40 too. That, and our .458 SOCOM duplicates .45-70 performance with the 300 gr JHP from the AR-15, so we were looking for some other things to do ... ;o) May have to look at it anyway, A $40 test rifle is not too much to play with if it doesn't work.

I've been away for the holiday, and thought I would check this thread again.

Clark - nice work on the M44! What bbl did you go with on that one? Length? How did the accuracy turn out? Are you happy with the way it handles, etc?

How were the magazine and feed modifications? I'm staring at one right now, with a 45-70 round in my other hand visualizing what has to be changed. I see you kept the original stock. Was it just a matter of reinletting for the larger bbl and magazine, or did you do any reinforcements internally on it?

I've got a really sweet little M38 that I won't touch, but this beat up M44 is just begging to be worked on. thanks, maxman