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Polish Nagant M44

just-shootjust-shoot Member Posts: 233 ✭
edited March 2002 in Ask the Experts
Took my Nagant M44 shooting for the first time last weekend, and was impressed with this old rifle. Question: After firing each round, the bolt handle seemed difficult to push upward when ejecting the shell. I had to kinda of hit it upward with the palm of my hand. I have other bolt actions and it shouldn't be this hard. When the chamber is empty the bolt slide back & forth easly with a little slop but not much. The ammo I used is this generic looking green & white box made in russia (Novosibirsk LVE-Plant Plc) at $6.00 a box of 20. Not sure if the casings are real brass, kinda looks like brown steel. Is it the cheap ammo? I'm going to try different ammo this weekend. Any insight on this minor problem is greatly appreciated.
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Comments

  • just-shootjust-shoot Member Posts: 233 ✭
    edited November -1
    Just purchased this 1952 Polish Nagant M44 762x54. Appears to be unissued, good shape, all #'s match. Paid $89, I know their advertise at lower prices, but was able to hold and look closely at this one. Three questions: Can't figure out how to remove the bolt, so I can run some bore cleaner and oiler her up. I know it a pull & twist but can't do it, Help please. Is there something I should check or have a smith check before I fire a round, Gun shop owner said it was a shooter, not sure if he's a gun smith ? The stock has a slight stickiness to it. Is this what folks use oven cleaner and dishsoap and various products to remove? I can live with it if its normal. I believe this is the begining of my Old Military Gun Collection. Any advise is greatly appreciated.[This message has been edited by just-shoot (edited 01-12-2002).]
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  • oneshyoneshy Member Posts: 417 ✭
    edited November -1
    These were all stored in cosmoline and you probably have some excess either in the chamber or bolt. Even after you think you have it clean, you can find more. In order to get it all,you'll have to strip and soak and clean repeatedly. Try www.milsurpshooter.net for some ideas on how to go about it.
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  • DarkStar11DarkStar11 Member Posts: 1,557 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I had the same problem with a Russian M-44 that I bought "in the wrap", soaked in cosmoline. Oneshy is correct. It looked clean, but it really wasn't.
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  • just-shootjust-shoot Member Posts: 233 ✭
    edited November -1
    oneshy, I check out that sight but didn't fine what I was looking for. I'll clean her some more. You mentioned soak. Soak in what and how? Are you talking, dip in a solution or just use plenty of bore cleaner.
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  • DarkStar11DarkStar11 Member Posts: 1,557 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Try spraying down with carb cleaner, and scrubbing well. That's what fixed mine.
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  • oneshyoneshy Member Posts: 417 ✭
    edited November -1
    When you have the Parallax home page scroll to the Moisin chat forum and look through the entries on M44's and cleaning. They describe soaking the bolt in brake cleaner, plugging the chamber and filling with Hoppe,s no.9 overnite using bore brushes with portable drills in the chamber and even using non-metal picks to scrape around the breech rim. I used mineral spirits in a container that the bolt would fit in to to soak the bolt on my Yugo 48A then cocked and uncocked it in the rifle to loosen it up. Didn't really want to take it apart. Then used gun scrubber aerosol to blow into all the cracks. I would imagine a cheaper aerosol brake cleaner would work. Go easy if you are using a drill. I don't think you'll have to get serious. Try soaking the bolt overnite first before you start in on the chamber. Then spray into the cracks with WD-40.[This message has been edited by oneshy (edited 03-16-2002).][This message has been edited by oneshy (edited 03-16-2002).][This message has been edited by oneshy (edited 03-16-2002).]
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  • jonkjonk Member Posts: 10,121
    edited November -1
    While a good cleaning is a good idea, I suspect that it is, in fact, the ammo. I have to Mosin-Nagants which are quite stiff in operation using cheap surplus ammo. The problem is that this stuff is actually a steel case, some of it washed in a copper solution (the brown stuff), some lacquered (dark green cases). The coats are supposed to make extraction easier but steel cases in general are hard on chambers. I dunno if it is that they expand more, or fuse with the chamber slightly, or what, but I almost guarantee, get some brass jacketed quality ammo and watch your troubles go away.
    "...hit your enemy in the belly, and kick him when he is down, and boil his prisoners in oil- if you take any- and torture his women and children. Then people will keep clear of you..." -Admiral of the Fleet Lord Fisher, speaking at the Hague Peace Conference in 1899.
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  • poshposh Member Posts: 360 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    If there were abrasions on the fired cases, that would indicate a rough spot in the chamber. I've got a 91/59 that has the same symptoms as you describe, and leaves a scratched up spot near the base of the case because of a rough spot in the chamber. Let us know how it works out.
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