I own an 1891/30, Tula Arsenal, 1943. Paid about $90 for it at Big 5, and from a historical perspective it's cool. I'm debating getting it reblued/refinished, or keeping it as is for historical reasons.
Accuracy is a resounding "meh." What can I say? Barrel crown is decent, but it has significant throat erosion, and given that it was made in 1943, I imagine it probably saw combat at some point. You're lucky to get 3-4 inch groups at 100yds from a benchrest. I mention all this because I would imagine it's par for the course for a Mosin of that era. I'd like a better-shooting one, maybe a sniper, but I'd like a lot of other things too (Walther PPK comes to mind). I read somewhere that if you pull the trigger on a Mosin and it goes "bang," it's done what it was designed for.
If you get one, CLEAN OUT THE COSMOLINE FROM THE CHAMBER. Then take it to the range and fire a few rounds. Then take a Q-tip and swab out the chamber and the area behind it where the locking lugs of the bolt go when the bolt is closed. Repeat a few times. Then take it home and clean the crap out of the rifle. This will prevent "Mosin Sticking Bolt syndrome" caused by idiots who don't clean the weapon properly.
Assume all Eastern Bloc surplus ammo is corrosive. If you shoot it, swab the barrel with a solution of 50/50 water/ammonia, then a dry patch, then clean normally. This will neutralize the salts which would otherwise corrode things.
Oh, and GET A GOOD SHOULDER PAD. This thing was designed for big stocky Russians in all their layers of winter gear. If you're a normal size guy wearing a t-shirt, it will pound hell out of your shoulder, shouldered correctly or not.
The 1891/30 isn't bad once you shoulder it correctly, but that M44 definitely barks.