I probably shouldn't shoot this should I?

[mc762x54R]

I picked up a non refurb M44 from AIM surplus (169 shipped)
The metal is in better shape than I expected, bore is decent, and the thing was completely covered cosmoline.
The stock is in rough shape, there are several impressions in it from the rear sights of other Mosins, it must have been on the bottom of a pile at one point.
Then I noticed what looks like a serious crack near the tang, that can be dangerous to shoot, can't it?

[Packrat]

Could you drill a couple of small holes from the the inside and inject epoxy into the crack ? That cartrige has alot of woo-pow, i don't know if i would want to test it out.
I have a extra 91/30 stock you could have, you could cut it down enough to shoot and keep the origional stock as is.

[Vashjir]

Are you sure its a crack and not a repair? My 91/30 has a repair that looks just like that in the same place. Shoots without issue.

[Grayskies]

I would take it to a gun smith.

[farmerj]

common on the Mosin's really.

The fix was to actually drill it and put in a brass screw and then take the head off the screw leaving it flush.

I've had two rifles with that repair in them.

No, I don't have them anymore as I sold them all in 2008.

[JJ]

Brass screw or pin as famerj mentioned above. The addition of a quality wood glue or epoxy will also help a lot,

The big thing with old military stocks is to try and get as much cosmoline as possible out of the affected area before pinning. "Whiting" is the most effective way, but it is labor intensive. Some people will choose to just soak the whole thing in lacquer thinner/mineral spirits ans chancge the thinner when it get really nasty brown. More than one way to skin a cat.

[mc762x54R]

Are you sure its a crack and not a repair? My 91/30 has a repair that looks just like that in the same place. Shoots without issue.

No, I'm not sure. I think one of my other Mosins has a repair in that spot, but I can see the top of the brass screw or rod that's glued in there. I can't see any evidence of that repair on this one.....

[Erik_Pakieser]

I would think you could find an M44 stock for a reasonable price.

If you want something to use in the meantime, I have an Advanced Technology synthetic stock you can have for free...message me for details.

[minnesotatv]

if you're that worried about it, connect about 25' of cord to the trigger.
Chamber a round and strap it to a tire pointed down range.
Step well back and pull the cord. You'll find out in a hurry what's what.

[cobb]

The fix was to actually drill it and put in a brass screw and then take the head off the screw leaving it flush.

Have done the same a couple times, one to a single shot 12 ga shotgun and also to a .22 rimfire. I also added glue to any crack and to brass screw, let all set up, cut head off brass screw and filed/sanded flush.

[20mm]

you could shoot it without the stock.