They're selling at my local dealer for like $80, and from browsing online the 54r ammo is readily available. I don't see what the downside is... so whats the deal? I wanted to get a Mauser, but this seems like a pretty good deal too.
I own both. It's WORSE than the M1 or SMLE by an order of magnitude. Buy a recoil pad. Thoroughly de-Cosmoline it before shooting and the bolt should behave.Bolt is rough, and has a big kick, its up there with the M1
Mosins are really cool, but there's one problem we had with the M44 and that's the sticky bolt. We tried cleaning the chamber, but it still stuck even after using brass rounds.
I had the same problem with the painted shells (the green shells). I buy only brass rounds and it doesn't stick. I wonder what it is that's making yours do that?