Mossberg 144's

[Calfed]

I have a Mossberg US 44 that I got from CMP. I was sufficiently impressed with it that I wanted a 144.

Recently nabbed a pair of 144 LSB's at an on-line auction. Of course, you never know until the BBT arrives, but these look almost new in the pics.

#1 looks great, but appears to be missing part of the sight.




#2 also looks great and the description advises "Has Extra Sights", so I'm hoping that the "extra sights" are for a 144 and include the pieces missing from #1. There is a plastic bag tied to the gun in the pictures that presumably contain the sights.





Neither came with a magazine, so I will need two. I'm wondering about the red caution sticky on the side of the rifles. Is that something that Mossberg put on there? Could that indicate that these are new or at least haven't been fired?

I've got two sons who are shooters..thinking these would make nice Christmas gifts.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[gunner]

Steve, let me say Dad to you......

Nice one that you have there.

[sakorick]

The 144LSB was the finest 22 Mossberg ever made. Yours look new and the sticker is a safety sticker used on transition rifles before the warning labels were stamped on the barrel.....or both. In that case they are new. Most have high grade wood and super sights. The early one had both the green and red pegs and were not serial numbered. After 1966 they dropped the green peg and only use the red safety peg and are serial numbered. When you get them, please post your SN's on the Mossberg thread at RimfireCentral. Here are my two one Walnut and one Birch....Both are <1/2 inch MOA at 50 yards.Regards, Rick.

[Calfed]

Ulrich!..My son!

Lol...

---------- Post added at 03:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:24 PM ----------

Thanks, Rick

Both of your 144's are beautiful. I'm hoping that mine are as nice looking and good shooting as yours.

[sakorick]

Ulrich!..My son!

Lol...

---------- Post added at 03:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:24 PM ----------



Thanks, Rick

What is your thought on the red label on the side of these? Is that something that Mossberg likely put on?

I won't know for sure until you get the rifles and post the SN's. My thought is that this label was used as either a substitute for rifles that weren't marked so on the barrel or an additional warning tag used later in production. I believe that both with the red tag are new and if it is, do not remove it or shoot it as these rifles are bringing North of $400 now. That tag could make it a extremely rare Mossberg! Shoot one......save the other for history. Regards, Rick.

[Elliott]

I have a 144lsb as well and do shoot it on occasion. If you do decide to shoot one of them you will find them to be tack drivers with the right ammo. Accurate with others... Enjoy your find!!
I don't believe the sights on mine are original as the do not look like the ones that I have seen in pictures from others, but they are very good.

[Calfed]

I won't know for sure until you get the rifles and post the SN's. My thought is that this label was used as either a substitute for rifles that weren't marked so on the barrel or an additional warning tag used later in production. I believe that both with the red tag are new and if it is, do not remove it or shoot it as these rifles are bringing North of $400 now. That tag could make it a extremely rare Mossberg! Shoot one......save the other for history. Regards, Rick.

I ordered a couple of magazine's from Havlin Sales and got started talking to Vic Havlin. That man knows Mossbergs. I sent him a link to the pics above and he advised as follows:

"Those are indeed factory stickers. Back in 1992 I bought 70 surplus rifles from Mossberg and they all came with those puppies, Vic"


Of course, the presence of the stickers doesn't mean that the rifles weren't fired...but I would think that if they were fired much the stickers would be gone.

I guess we'll see.

[Calfed]

I have a 144lsb as well and do shoot it on occasion. If you do decide to shoot one of them you will find them to be tack drivers with the right ammo. Accurate with others... Enjoy your find!!
I don't believe the sights on mine are original as the do not look like the ones that I have seen in pictures from others, but they are very good.

Do you have any close ups of the sights? It is still not certain whether I will need sights for at least one of the rifles and your sights look pretty good.

What kind of groups do you get?

Steve

[gunner]

Thank you Steve, you´re soooooo good to me!

[Calfed]

The rifles came on Tuesday and with a bit of disappointment.

The FFL who shipped the rifles merely wrapped one of the rifles in a few sheets of newspaper, then put the other rifle in the same box, completely unwrapped. Bottm line, the unwrapped rifle picked up some gouges and scratches

They do appear to be in excellent shape (not counting the new scratches) and the bluing is perfect.

Serial numbers were wrong on the listing...they are actually 1398638 and 1398253. Here are a few pics of the scratches..I sent them to the auction house along with my opinion of the guy who packed these beauties.