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Lane’s Tips on The M44 US
M44US Repair Question (answer!)
From: Joe "Hagar" Ruzich
EMAIL: fraudguy@msn.com
Date: 31 May 1999
Time: 15:24:23
Comments
I had no idea that plastic could shrink this badly! In frustration I took the trigger guard off and examined the pistol grip and magazine well. I noticed that the trigger guard assy had shrunk about 1/2" in length. I further noted that the screw hole in the forward portion of the trigger guard is about 1/2 inch back from the forward lip of the guard AND there's a round "notch" on the forward end (a dim bulb begins to glow above my head). I put the forward screw into the magazine plate, placed the trigger guard into its inletted stock position, slid it forward until the "notch" was against the forward screw and then clamped the assy in position and put in the rear trigger guard screw (which was in perfect alignment with the rear screw hole). I then tightened down the front screw and the magazine well floor plate clamped the trigger guard perfectly. VOILA, the trigger guard is in perfect position, fully in its inletted channel and this looks like a factory installation. One very happy anal retentive M44US owner! The prior condition was like having a 1/4" gap between the butt stock and buttplate, totally unacceptable. In the event you need to move the trigger guard assy forward a bit in order to align the rear screw hole, just "deepen" the "notch" in the forward part of the trigger guard with the appropriate diameter drill bit until you have perfect rear hole/screw alignment. Do NOT drill a new hole in the stock. With this method (hereafter known as "Hagar's Hack", there's no need to do so. Amazingly, the tip of the trigger still clears the guard after this procedure. Dang, I like it when a plan actually comes together properly!
History of Mossberg 44US
From: Steve S.
EMAIL: sss@excel.net
Date: 30 Apr 1999
Time: 09:08:13
Comments
Group:
Here is some history on the Mossberg 44US. This comes from the book "Mossberg: More Gun For The Money", and is posted with permission from Vic Havlin, author and National Mossberg Collectors Association president. You can contact the Vic/NMCA at PO Box 487, Festus, MO 63028. Or call him at 314-937-6401. Vic has a good selection of 44US and 144US parts, and copies of his book.
Steve
----------------------------------------------------
Model 44US
The 44US target trainer was designed exclusively for the war department, and intended solely for use by U.S. troops. OFM had filled orders for almost 58,000 units from 1943-1945, with another 19,000-plus rifles scheduled but not shipped due to contract cut-backs and cancellations near the end of the war.
The 44US was adapted from the pre-war 44B model, and, like the 42MB, the adaptations were mostly made to keep costs down. Ordnance wanted an accurate, dependable, heavy-barreled trainer, and sacrificed some cosmetic detail to make it affordable. While the 44B featured a deluxe, genuine walnut stock with long beavertail and cheek piece, the 44US stock was plain, usually birch with walnut finish. Gone also was the four-position front swivel plate, and both front and rear swivels were fixed, rather than detachable, on the 44US. The plain S-122 front sight was requested, and the government wanted a new receiver peep sight - rejecting the No. 4. While Harold Mossberg was busy designing this new sight for the United States, the first batch of 14,500 went out with Lyman 57MS receiver peeps.
The United States Armed Forces continued to train with the Mossberg 44US target .22 after the war, using supplies in Ordnance from these contracts, and some rifles may be found with branch markings, such as U.S. Navy and some Coast Guard trainers stamped U.S.C.G. The Navy continued its training with Mossberg target .22s for over four decades, commissioning a Model 144US in later contracts (1949-1960) and used both in active service training and at Naval Junior ROTC academies. The United States Air Force and U.S. Army also acquired the later 144US, and as late as 1989, Rock Island Arsenal reported a total of 3,552 of these models in current stock. Approximately 2,500 of these were still in active use, primarily as trainers. Government nomenclature designates these rifles as either "M13" grade (training rifle) or "M12" grade (match use).
Specifications for Model 44US (Military)
Barrel: 13/16" heavy-type, 26" long with crowned muzzle, chambered for .22 cal. long rifle.
Stock: Walnut-finish, oiled stock 31" long, corrugated steel butt plate and front and rear swivels.
Sights: S- 122 hooded front blade sight; either Lyman 57MS (SN 100,001-114,500) or Mossberg S-100 receiver peep (SN 114,501-165,648)
Length: 43" Overall
Weight: 81/2 lbs.
Military markings as follows:
- US PROPERTY marked on barrel, receiver
- Serial Number on barrel, receiver
- Ordnance ball cartouche stamped in stock
- U.S. stamped in stock (in some instances)
M44US Repair Question (answer!)
From: Joe "Hagar" Ruzich
EMAIL: fraudguy@msn.com
Date: 31 May 1999
Time: 15:24:23
Comments
I had no idea that plastic could shrink this badly! In frustration I took the trigger guard off and examined the pistol grip and magazine well. I noticed that the trigger guard assy had shrunk about 1/2" in length. I further noted that the screw hole in the forward portion of the trigger guard is about 1/2 inch back from the forward lip of the guard AND there's a round "notch" on the forward end (a dim bulb begins to glow above my head). I put the forward screw into the magazine plate, placed the trigger guard into its inletted stock position, slid it forward until the "notch" was against the forward screw and then clamped the assy in position and put in the rear trigger guard screw (which was in perfect alignment with the rear screw hole). I then tightened down the front screw and the magazine well floor plate clamped the trigger guard perfectly. VOILA, the trigger guard is in perfect position, fully in its inletted channel and this looks like a factory installation. One very happy anal retentive M44US owner! The prior condition was like having a 1/4" gap between the butt stock and buttplate, totally unacceptable. In the event you need to move the trigger guard assy forward a bit in order to align the rear screw hole, just "deepen" the "notch" in the forward part of the trigger guard with the appropriate diameter drill bit until you have perfect rear hole/screw alignment. Do NOT drill a new hole in the stock. With this method (hereafter known as "Hagar's Hack", there's no need to do so. Amazingly, the tip of the trigger still clears the guard after this procedure. Dang, I like it when a plan actually comes together properly!
History of Mossberg 44US
From: Steve S.
EMAIL: sss@excel.net
Date: 30 Apr 1999
Time: 09:08:13
Comments
Group:
Here is some history on the Mossberg 44US. This comes from the book "Mossberg: More Gun For The Money", and is posted with permission from Vic Havlin, author and National Mossberg Collectors Association president. You can contact the Vic/NMCA at PO Box 487, Festus, MO 63028. Or call him at 314-937-6401. Vic has a good selection of 44US and 144US parts, and copies of his book.
Steve
----------------------------------------------------
Model 44US
The 44US target trainer was designed exclusively for the war department, and intended solely for use by U.S. troops. OFM had filled orders for almost 58,000 units from 1943-1945, with another 19,000-plus rifles scheduled but not shipped due to contract cut-backs and cancellations near the end of the war.
The 44US was adapted from the pre-war 44B model, and, like the 42MB, the adaptations were mostly made to keep costs down. Ordnance wanted an accurate, dependable, heavy-barreled trainer, and sacrificed some cosmetic detail to make it affordable. While the 44B featured a deluxe, genuine walnut stock with long beavertail and cheek piece, the 44US stock was plain, usually birch with walnut finish. Gone also was the four-position front swivel plate, and both front and rear swivels were fixed, rather than detachable, on the 44US. The plain S-122 front sight was requested, and the government wanted a new receiver peep sight - rejecting the No. 4. While Harold Mossberg was busy designing this new sight for the United States, the first batch of 14,500 went out with Lyman 57MS receiver peeps.
The United States Armed Forces continued to train with the Mossberg 44US target .22 after the war, using supplies in Ordnance from these contracts, and some rifles may be found with branch markings, such as U.S. Navy and some Coast Guard trainers stamped U.S.C.G. The Navy continued its training with Mossberg target .22s for over four decades, commissioning a Model 144US in later contracts (1949-1960) and used both in active service training and at Naval Junior ROTC academies. The United States Air Force and U.S. Army also acquired the later 144US, and as late as 1989, Rock Island Arsenal reported a total of 3,552 of these models in current stock. Approximately 2,500 of these were still in active use, primarily as trainers. Government nomenclature designates these rifles as either "M13" grade (training rifle) or "M12" grade (match use).
Specifications for Model 44US (Military)
Barrel: 13/16" heavy-type, 26" long with crowned muzzle, chambered for .22 cal. long rifle.
Stock: Walnut-finish, oiled stock 31" long, corrugated steel butt plate and front and rear swivels.
Sights: S- 122 hooded front blade sight; either Lyman 57MS (SN 100,001-114,500) or Mossberg S-100 receiver peep (SN 114,501-165,648)
Length: 43" Overall
Weight: 81/2 lbs.
Military markings as follows:
- US PROPERTY marked on barrel, receiver
- Serial Number on barrel, receiver
- Ordnance ball cartouche stamped in stock
- U.S. stamped in stock (in some instances)