Went to a small local gun show this passed Sat. First gun show I've been to in years. Picked up a Mossberg Mod. 144LSB it's a 22 long rifle target rifle. I bought it on the spur of the moment not knowing anything about it until I got home and started researching it online. I feel sure that there people here that have experience with them. Anything you might want to share about it good or bad will be appreciated .

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Old Age Ain't For Sissies

Overall these are good little target rifles. They come from the factory with target sights. The LSB uses a Mossberg rear sight and the front is a Lyman 17A so inserts can still be had. The one I have is a 144LSA (uses a Lyman rear sight) its very accurate with a usable trigger. The stock is shaped well for prone shooting and they come with a plastic hand stop.

On the downside the plastic trigger guards deform over the years and can be broken. If yours has the Mossberg removable sling swivels hang on to them; they are often lost and usually expensive if you can find them. And the red and green safe/fire buttons pressed into the stock frequently fall out. I'm pretty sure spare magazines can still be had.

I believe Mossberg dropped these rifles and a lot of other .22s in 1985.

I had a 144LS that I purchased for around $65 new from Herter's back in '74. It was equipped with Lymans, which I removed, and slapped on a Weaver 4X for usage against nuisance birds and squirrels (food) at distance. I favored 50-100 yard shots with Winchester T22 target ammo. Very quiet out of that long, heavy, AccuGroove (8 lands and grooves) barrel, and as accurate and deadly as sin. In a fit of stupidity I sold it to an acquaintance because he was drooling all over it and practically got down on hands and knees begging me to sell it to him. (One of those "I regret I sold it" moments.) The Lymans went along with it.

I only see older 44s and the newer 144s pop up occasionally, going for $200-$400, depending on condition and completeness. I have been sorely tempted to pick up another one as they are more accurate than any of us will ever be. They are a great rifle.

I got one back in the eighties at the Ft Smith gun show. They shoot great and they have a real bull barrel, very heavy, they would be hard to shoot off hand. Jeff

I agree with the above posts. You would be hard pressed to find a more accurate or better built .22 rifle for the money. I originaly bought mine with the intent of cutting the barrel and trimming the stock, to make it into a "custom" squirrel rifle. I never did, as it was just to nice a rifle to mess with. If there is a flaw in the gun, it is the plastic trigger guard. I could see it breaking under impact, especially considering the age, though it has not happened with mine.

Larry

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Original magazines are a bit tough to find and not inexpensive when you do.

I believe Halvin Sales has reproductions.

I was rewiring a house for some heirs so they could put it on the
market. House had been emptied out of everything. I found a
old canvass gun case with a 144 inside, mint with all the bells and whistles. My contact person is a college professor. I showed
him the rifle and expressed my interest in buying it. He flatly
turned me down. He turned rifle in to police to have it destroyed.
I hope some cop hi graded it and took it home. I have found
several guns in attics of houses while rewiring. I usually end up
with them, unless there are sentimental attachments. This is the
first one sent to be destroyed. The professor was real proud of
himself for keeping another evil gun off the streets.

I have a few vintage Mossberg target rifles, they really under appreciated by most individuals.

Drm50
Thanks for your reply but I can't like a post that makes me sick to my stomach.

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Old Age Ain't For Sissies

I had a mossberg 144LS naturally came with lyman sights. Cleaned up some of the burrs on the receiver and while not a Winchester 52 it shot very well and with that heavy barrel it just "hung" right.I'd take it to one of the indoor ranges ear muffs, ammo and a brick of 22 ammo. Unfortunately some wanted it more than me and gave me a very good price for it. Never scoped it probably still have it now if I had found out just how accurate it was with a scope. Frank

Found a 144LSA at a gun show for around $250 some years back. Already liked old Mossberg .22 rifles (still have a 146B & a 152). This one shot well, if I struggled with the poor trigger. It was a herky-jerky pull that prevented me from keeping the front sight steady. Didn't want to pay for a trigger job, so sold it and upgraded to a Winchester 75, which has become the most accurate .22 rifle I own. With iron sights, I can keep most shots within a 12" circle at 300 yds.

Good Luck, Hank M.

I have one with a Unertl scope on it. One of my best shooters. Like previously mentioned, the Mossbergs are a bargain and under appreciated. Congratulations on the find.

Surprising they would put a plastic trigger guard on them. Sure look like a quality built gun and rugged. Imagine they would be costly to buy today if still made.

I never had a Moss, especially a BA that didn't shot well. I didn't
like them myself. Used they were dirt cheap until they quit making BA 22s. When I was a kid in 50s the local VFDs had rifle
teams that competed between towns. Moss was the most common rifle used because of price. My Dad used a Marlin 81
target and there were few that had anything better. When you
look at a Moss now compared to new stuff you begin to appreciate them. I still don't go out of my way to buy them but
won't hesitate to pick them up if price is right.