Mossberg 44US memories

[old tanker]

It was mentioned on another thread that maybe the Mossberg 44US deserved its own thread. OK then, here goes.

The Mossberg 44US-D was not the first gun I shot, but it was the first gun I was allowed to own. Bought from a pawn shop, at age 12, with paper route money. In 1959 the background check consisted of having earned my parents' permission.

Many high schools built in the Twenties, with the encouragement of the NBPRP, had indoor ranges in the basement. The DCM actively supported school rifle teams by loaning .22 cal. rifles and annual allocations of rimfire ammunition.

Traveling with a rifle on a city bus to shoot a match at another school did not result in a panic. It did not happen often, but memories of that Mossberg occasionally outshooting some rich kid's Remington 513T still make me smile.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Almost every suburban High School around the Burgh had a Rifle Team in the 60/70s ...... w/ a range in the basement!

Figured I fired over 15,000 rounds from "my" Winchester 52 in my 4 years

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I had a Kimber Clackamas "Government Model" 22 target rifle that came from a High School in Pa. There were 5 of these guns traded in on Anschutz 54's. Mine had a number "4" stenciled on the butt. It was used but in great shape and shot very well with Eley Team (blue box) ammo. We all shied away from rifle #2, It was in almost perfect condition! (Which means it didn't shoot well). One of my buddies bought it and it shot 3" groups at 50 yards. My friend had been a small weapons specialist/armorer in the Green Berets and went to work on it. He ended up bedding the action a 6" of barrel channel. When finished it outshot the other 4 rifles in the group! I had a Leopold M8 30 power scope on mine. But the Kimbers never could keep up with my 1966 Anschutz 54.

When I was a kid, dad had a Mossberg 22. I was always amazed at the shooting he did with it!

Ivan

 

[Faulkner]

I've introduced dozens of youngsters to shooting with a Mossberg 44US. I bought six of them through the CMP back in the late 1990's when they had them for $89.00 + shipping. I gave three to my nephews, two for my own sons and I've kept one. They were all in excellent condition.

We host various youth groups to the department shooting range from time to time. We teach them about gun safety and on those days I often bring a 44US for them to shoot as well.

 

[petepeterson]

I picked one up for a song a few years ago, mostly for the grandkids.
Sighted it in with standard velocity CCI.
Even with these old eyes and that aperture, I can cover 5 rounds with a quarter at 25 yds. It would probably be pretty good farther than that, but I can't see!

 

[AJ]

Great little rifles. The one that I had got me started in shooting heavy barrelled .22's.

 

[jmiles1960]

I am a long time Mossberg collector. The 44US ranks right up there in the pages of firearms history with the best of our US rifles. The variations of the 44US are enjoyable to collect and learn about. From military to civilian use, this rifle has played a positive role and continues to live on.

 

[Baxter6551]

I sure wish I had picked one up when the CMP had them. My gun club had a couple I used in the kids shooting program (discontinued a few years ago over concerns with liability…. no further comment). One was missing the magazine. I had a heck of a time finding a replacement. That’s the thing that scared me away from getting one for myself. Have to be content with Winchester 75 and Stevens 416.

 

[ko41]

My dad taught me to shoot using a Mossberg 44US-a that he bought new at the local hardware store. I used that rifle for target shooting and hunting small game as a teenager. Sadly, the Mossberg was one of several rifles that were stolen when my parents Texas house was burglarized while they were back in MN for Dad's mom's funeral.

Mossbergs from the late 1940s to early 1960s are my favorite .22 rifles.

My Mossberg 44US-D

KO

 

[Puller]

I sure wish I had picked one up when the CMP had them. My gun club had a couple I used in the kids shooting program (discontinued a few years ago over concerns with liability…. no further comment). One was missing the magazine. I had a heck of a time finding a replacement. That’s the thing that scared me away from getting one for myself. Have to be content with Winchester 75 and Stevens 416.

Magazines are not difficult to find. Brownell's may still carry them and I know Havlin Sales still does.

 

[AJ]

I have had the 44US(a) that I got from the LGS and a 44US that I bought at CMP North Store and also a couple of 144US's from CMP. All were great 25 yard rifles. Probably should have kept at least on of them.

 

[stu1ritter]

Mention of a 513T and city travel bring back fond memories. My high school in Manhattan did not have a range so our home range was the NYPD detective range that was in the basement of the Park Ave. Armory (torn down) that was on 33rd and Park Ave. We travelled all over the city by subway as a team and individually carrying our 513T's in a case along with an ammo can full of .22's. When I would go to practice on Saturdays at the Manhattan School of Firearms at 24 Murray St. I would have the 513T between my knees as I read the NY Times on the subway. Nobody ever even batted an eyelash at this young kid with a rifle. 1955-1959. It was really different back then.

Stu

 

[AJ]

Mention of a 513T and city travel bring back fond memories. My high school in Manhattan did not have a range so our home range was the NYPD detective range that was in the basement of the Park Ave. Armory (torn down) that was on 33rd and Park Ave. We travelled all over the city by subway as a team and individually carrying our 513T's in a case along with an ammo can full of .22's. When I would go to practice on Saturdays at the Manhattan School of Firearms at 24 Murray St. I would have the 513T between my knees as I read the NY Times on the subway. Nobody ever even batted an eyelash at this young kid with a rifle. 1955-1959. It was really different back then.

Stu

Still have a 513T (US marked). On the RFC Rimfire 50 Yard Ironsight Match, I shot a 200-19X with it. Have not shot it in years, ought to drag it out to the range one of these days.

 

[Golddollar]

Still have a 513T (US marked). On the RFC Rimfire 50 Yard Ironsight Match, I shot a 200-19X with it. Have not shot it in years, ought to drag it out to the range one of these days.

That is fantastic. I acquired a 513T because that is what our rifle club when I was in high school had. I need to take it out and play with it.

 

[AJ]

That is fantastic. I acquired a 513T because that is what our rifle club when I was in high school had. I need to take it out and play with it.

I think someone (an armorer) did a trigger job on it. the trigger pull is 1 lb, 4 oz. Other than that it is just as it came from the issue point. Thanks for the kind words.

 

[Empe]

I've never owned a Mossberg but a friend used to have the model 144 LSB I believe it was . It was Mossberg's version of a target rifle . He had it bedded and some trigger work done on it and it shot pretty well ...like in the 1/2 " at 50 yard range with some decent ammo.

 

[ko41]

I've never owned a Mossberg but a friend used to have the model 144 LSB I believe it was . It was Mossberg's version of a target rifle . He had it bedded and some trigger work done on it and it shot pretty well ...like in the 1/2 " at 50 yard range with some decent ammo.

The Mossberg 44US was replaced by the Model 144 in 1950, Model 144LS in 1954, Model 144LSA in 1960, 144LSB in 1976. All .22 rifles were discontinued by Mossberg in 1985.

44US, 144, 144LS, 144LSA all had a 26" long 13/16" diameter barrel and the 144LSB barrel was 27" long and 15/16" in diameter.

The 144LS featured a Lyman 57MS rear peep sight and Lyman 17A front sight.

50 yard target with the 144LSB. The 144LSB featured a Mossberg S331 rear peep sight and Lyman 17A front sight.

KO

 

[Empe]

KO ....yep that looks like it . That was back in the day when even relatively inexpensive rifles came with a decent grade walnut stock .