After 55 yrs on the planet Noah discovers Mossberg 22s

Noah Zark

Noah Zark

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Lost my Mossberg .22 rifle cherry this past weekend, and I'm wondering why it took this long. Got this MINT late-40s-vintage Mossberg Model 42M(c) at a gun club swap meet for $120:

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It's wearing a Marlin front sight that I installed to replace the multi-post sheet metal front sight that came with the rifle; some of the four front posts are a little wobbly in the sight base, and I didn't want to fire the rifle with sights a little wobbly. I also removed the rear sight from the barrel for test firing purposes because it partially obstructed the view of the front sight from the peep.

After a good cleaning and lubing the 42M(c) went to the range and got warmed up with a box of Wolf match 22s and plain jane Minimags. The action is VERY smooth to manipulate. Using the receiver peep and the Marlin front sight, I had no problems busting claybirds on the 50 yd berm. The mag holds 7 rds, so I placed 14 orange discs on the berm. The first string I missed one, the second string I hit 7/7. I shot up the rest of the box of Wolf ammo by making the broken claybird bits smaller and smaller . . .

These things could become addictive . . .

Noah
 
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Lost my Mossberg .22 rifle cherry this past weekend, and I'm wondering why it took this long. Got this MINT late-40s-vintage Mossberg Model 42M(c) at a gun club swap meet for $120:

DSC08723.jpg


It's wearing a Marlin front sight that I installed to replace the multi-post sheet metal front sight that came with the rifle; some of the four front posts are a little wobbly in the sight base, and I didn't want to fire the rifle with sights a little wobbly. I also removed the rear sight from the barrel for test firing purposes because it partially obstructed the view of the front sight from the peep.

After a good cleaning and lubing the 42M(c) went to the range and got warmed up with a box of Wolf match 22s and plain jane Minimags. The action is VERY smooth to manipulate. Using the receiver peep and the Marlin front sight, I had no problems busting claybirds on the 50 yd berm. The mag holds 7 rds, so I placed 14 orange discs on the berm. The first string I missed one, the second string I hit 7/7. I shot up the rest of the box of Wolf ammo by making the broken claybird bits smaller and smaller . . .

These things could become addictive . . .

Noah
 
My awakening came with the release of the CMP Mossberg US 44's. Very accurate rifles with peep sights, just a win-win.
 
Noah, I had a Mossey 146B which is a tubular mag rifle of that era and have a U.S. 44 I got from the CMP. I wish I had the first one back. I was too dumb to realize what a good rifle it was.

As a result, I don't sell or trade anything now! The old, WWII era Mossy .22s were excellent rifles and I think as a kid I just didn't think too much of them because they were so common. Now I wish they would bring them back...just like they were.
 
I've been collecting US Property marked .22s for a long time now, but avoided the Mossbergs because of their cheap gun image (plastic triggerguard, sheet metal bolt handle). Just recently bought a 44US at a price I couldn't say no to. It has changed my opinion of them! It shoots as well or better than anything. Now I'm looking for a US marked 42.
 
I had a whole collection of them years ago. Back then they were $25 guns. I had every one of the models with the fold down forearm, and all of the 44 models.

One piece of advice...dont lose the clip!!! If you can find one they are $60!!!!
 
They're great rifles. As Mossberg says, "more gun for the money".

My first in my collection was a 42B Here's another M stock. A 151C:
picture.JPG


When CMP was selling the M44US military trainers, they were a killer deal at $75:
picture.JPG


There's a collector's club, the Nationalo Mossberg Collector's Association. Think about joining.
http://www.mossbergcollectors.org/
 
Originally posted by Noah Zark:
Lost my Mossberg .22 rifle cherry this past weekend, and I'm wondering why it took this long. Got this MINT late-40s-vintage Mossberg Model 42M(c) at a gun club swap meet for $120:

DSC08723.jpg


It's wearing a Marlin front sight that I installed to replace the multi-post sheet metal front sight that came with the rifle; some of the four front posts are a little wobbly in the sight base, and I didn't want to fire the rifle with sights a little wobbly. I also removed the rear sight from the barrel for test firing purposes because it partially obstructed the view of the front sight from the peep.

After a good cleaning and lubing the 42M(c) went to the range and got warmed up with a box of Wolf match 22s and plain jane Minimags. The action is VERY smooth to manipulate. Using the receiver peep and the Marlin front sight, I had no problems busting claybirds on the 50 yd berm. The mag holds 7 rds, so I placed 14 orange discs on the berm. The first string I missed one, the second string I hit 7/7. I shot up the rest of the box of Wolf ammo by making the broken claybird bits smaller and smaller . . .

These things could become addictive . . .

Noah
Click to expand...

I have a model 152 that I bought in 1980. The seller said it was approx 1950 vintage. It looks exactly like yours, even including the strap, but the clip only holds 5 shells. I don't believe I've ever fired it, but now you've got me ready!
 
I have a 46M that was my dad's. It looks like the 42ms shown but the Mannlicher style fore end is nearly flush with the end of the barrel. It has a Monte Carlo style butt stock. I've kept the multi post front sight on mine.

A word of caution. The magazine tube on the 46M is capable of coming loose enough to separate from the receiver far enough to cause a cartridge to hang up out of sight and not feed. Check your chamber every time you close the bolt when you think the gun is empty and avoid a surprise.

I eventually had a set screw put in to lock the magazine tube tight against the receiver.

It is marked for .22 short, long, and long rifle. With the aperture sight and the narrow post I have gotten 50 yard groups about the size of a quarter. Open sights over the 40 myears I've had the rifle have accounted for many tin cans, rats, and woodchucks. It's a great little rifle.
 
The first rifle I ever fired was a Model 152. I've been hooked on then since. Here are a few of mine.
Model 35. Single shot target, made in the mid to late 1930's
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Model 152. My first rifle.
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Wards Western Field Model 47 made by Mossberg.
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I recall the public rifle range north west of Chicago (Fox Valley Rifle Range, Carpentersville. Now long closed) having a "rental rack" of .22's for use in their plinkin' pond. 8 or 9 out of ten rifles in that rack were Mossberg's in semi-auto and bolt. A conversation at the counter one Sunday involved a "why so many Mossberg's?" question. One of the family of owners was saying he could get them 3 for a hundred at surplus, they never missed and needed to be cleaned once each winter, stuck with me ever since!
 
Trooperdan -

The model 152 shown by Muddyboot must be the one you refer to. Seems to me that they also made a bolt action with that same stock and short barrel, but I don't remember for sure.

Muddyboot -

I wish mine looked as good as yours. Too many years of neglect and rust, but it is still the most accurate .22 I own!
The later model 152B (?) had a black plastic (Tenite) fold-down forearm.
Dad bought mine second-hand in the 1950's for about $35.00.
Only problem I had was shooting it when there was crud in the action, and it doubled - sounded like one extra-loud shot.

Myron
 
I bought three of the $75.00 CMP M44US rifles, one for me and one each for my sons. Heck of a deal, these were all like new and are super shooting little rifles.

47647877.jpg
 
Back in the mid-50's I'm pretty sure it was a Mossberg I lusted for; it had a forearm that pivoted down to form a front pistol-type grip. Anyone remember that model number?
Click to expand...
TrooperDan......That was a model 152. I have one. Mr Mossburg gave the gun to my boss in the 30's. My boss gave it to me in the 70's. I'll be giving it to one of my sons soon.
 
The first rifle I ever shot was a single shot Mossberg .22 at Peaceful Valley Boy Scout Ranch in Colorado. I wish I had some idea of what it might have been, because I'd probably go on a quest for one.

It was the Lad and Dad weekend. All of paper targets were held in place with clothespins. The range master had a rule that if you shot one of HIS clothespins, you had to pay him a dime.

I shot a 5 shot group that was less than 1" at the very top of the target and the last round hit the clothespin. My dad brought back the target and proudly announced that if his son could shoot a group like that, he would pay the dime for me.

Of course I was all upset, I didn't understand the importance of grouping over placement yet. I couldn't understand why dad was so proud when none of my rounds were in the bullseye. It wasn't until later when I inherited my grandfather's Winchester 69A and dad took me out to the range and was able to teach me about sight adjustment that I understood.

I've still got the Winchester and I'm planning on it being the first rifle that my daughter shoots.
 
Still have my 1950's model. Notice how guns all had aperture sights before scopes became so popular. To me, apertures are like red dots without the batteries.
 
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