mossberg's old sales slogan is true!
i just picked up an unserialized (mossy did not serial number their guns untill forced to by the gun control act of 1968) mossberg model 44 u.s. (b).
this is a civilian, polished/blued version of the military m44 u.s. .22 rimfire training rifle. i'm told the (b) variant was produced from 1944 to 1949...so it's just a little older than i am.
thankfully, this one has aged much better than i!
as i pulled the action from the walnut, i became convinced this was the first time it had been out of the stock! a mirror bright bore passed back only clean patches. the trigger and receiver had dried oil and grease packed with tiny wood fibers and dirt. the rear site, the original mossberg designed s-100 required a complete disassembly and detail cleaning.
prior to today's plateshoot, i took the 8-1/2 lb. target rifle to the range and zero'd the sights. ah...what an accurate little plinker!
also, thanks to a nifty mag design, it will feed shorts, longs and long rifles. this rifle is equipped with several other unusuall features that show a lot of thought went into it. the front sight is ingenious, the sling swivels are ahead of their time, the extractors a model of simplicity. the bolt travel is among the slickest of any rifle i have worked, regardless of cost. the trigger is adjustable, but i haven't taken the time to tweak this one yet.
dressed out in walnut and factory correct, quick detatch sling swivels and a garand sling, she looked like 1945 all over again. all that fun and accuracy for only $150!
i think mossberg was right.
it really is "more gun for the money"!!!
if you get the urge, try one of these nifty trainers (used by the various u.s. armed forces and used by the u.s.n. up into the '60's)...better yet, add one to your rimfire collection. i don't think you'll be disappointed.