The Mossberg 44US trainer

[sakorick]

Background and discussion. The 44US target trainer was designed exclusively for the War Department and intended solely for the use of US Armed Forces. Initially, the No. 4 receiver peep sight was rejected by the Ordnance Corps and the first contract of 14,500 rifles were made in early 1943 with the Lyman 57MS(Mossberg/Stevens) receiver sight and the plain S-122 front sight with globe. Unit cost on these rifles was $16.65 each. Harold Mossberg designed the new S-100 receiver sight which replaced the Lyman for the remainder of production (57,128 rifles) at a cost of $14.65 each. Total production of the 44US was 71,628 rifles through March, 1945. Mossberg was assigned a block of serial numbers from 100,001 to 180,000. You rarely see an example today with the front sight cover as the little locking tabs were prone to fail after repeated removal/installation. The stocks were nearly all Beech stained with walnut stain and finished with raw linseed oil. My SN 100,035 is the lowest SN on record and was manufactured during the first day of production. It was an incomplete CMP rifle and came with no sights. For $65 dollars, one of my better buys for sure! There is also a dark spot on the right side of the stock where the Ordnance crossed cannons cartouche was stamped. The S-122 front sight is very hard to find especially with the little brass insert intact. I installed a Lyman 17A until I can find an original sight. Oh, I almost forgot, this rifle shoots dime groups at 50 yards with Golden Eagle Target ammo. Regards, Rick.

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[gunsaholic]

Hey Rick, I could have one just like yours if you gave it to me!
It is a nice gun and interesting history. I have a 44 but it is a civilian model.

[A square 10]

very nice , thats a beauty , ive yet to come accross one of those , that one inspires me to look

[motocyclista]

I bought two of them in the last week they were available. I put the peep sight Havelin's sells on one. It shoots about six inches high at 50 yards with the stock front post. I would like to put a taller front sight on it to bring the point of impact down. It also shoots very tight groups at 50 yards, even with cheap Thunderbolt ammo.

[gunsaholic]

Had one of my 44's out on the weekend. I was shooting about 1" groups at 50 yards with the bulk Winchester ammo. They are nice, fun shooters.

[Jinx]

I've got number 113737. Mfg date 1/21/1943 from 1st awarded contract #W-478-ORD-3125. Approx 14,500 mfg under that contract. I think. It's green park with no scope screw holes. It loves the Winchester Wildcat 40gr stuff. Wouldn't group with anything else. I win $$ all the time shooting 5 empty shotgun shells in a race at 50 yrds.Love those suckers with big a** over priced AR15s. I steal their lunch money every time with my "little old .22".