Finn M39 Problem

[Gun Surfer]

Strange incident at the range yesterday. Shooting the M39 with Russian light ball and Bulgarian brass cased heavy ball. Started out normal, but when chambering one of the brass heavy ball, the neck split and I pulled back and ejected it into my hand, and the bullet fell off in my hand. The next two rounds had severe case splits after firing, one down the neck into the case body. About the same time, I noticed a distinct change in point of impact from center of target where this rifle always shoots, over to the left. The rest of the ammo fired fine with no case splits, just a change in point of imact for both light and heavy ball ammo.

I also noted that the barrel seemed to rattle a little in the forend more than normal. I got the rifle home and checked it out. The sights were fine, and the action screws were not loose. Removed the stock and noted several thin shims under the action at the stock contact points. All seemed fine and I put it back together. I note that the barrel contact point at the forend is the top of barrel on the top of the forend, not bottom tension like in my Springfield 1903s. Could something have shifted? What is the correct forend contact point for the M39 barrel?

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[blackcat_attilio]

Hi Gun Surfer! Generally I shoot Russian Barnaul ammo or reloaded ammo (I use Lapua cases). Never I had troubles shooting my M39 (captured and reworked by the Finns), but shooting my K98. Yes, some cases were... "not right" after shooting; look what happened to 5 cases (Remington production). I talked about it on the Forum(s) and by PMs, didn't find "a cause". Probably defected cases, it happens....

[Gun Surfer]

Yeah, its the change in point of impact that is more concerning as this rifle has always been dead center at all ranges. That plus the case cracks is probably coincidental, maybe. I am curious on an M39 as where the front of barrel is supposed to contact fore end of the stock, top or bottom? On M 1903s you want barrel near muzzle with a bit of downward pressure from bottom of stock at the forend. Both of mine are that way and shoot fine. Not sure about the M39.

[Gun Surfer]

With all the original shims in place, bottom of barrel contacts stock at forend, floated in between, which is similar to how my 1903s are. I will take to range again, maybe a screw was loose last time and I did not notice.

[millman]

Was the ammo 50 Bulgarian? I have had some of the same split neck/loose bullet issues with 50s Bulgarian. It is more likely an ammo issue, than a rifle issue. Despite the odd split neck, I have found the 50s Bulgarian to be pretty decent stuff.

[kar98k]

Was the ammo 50 Bulgarian? I have had some of the same split neck/loose bullet issues with 50s Bulgarian. It is more likely an ammo issue, than a rifle issue. Despite the odd split neck, I have found the 50s Bulgarian to be pretty decent stuff.

^^^this. Bulgarian stuff seems to have a bad reputation for splits and damaged rounds

[Gun Surfer]

"Was the ammo 50 Bulgarian? I have had some of the same split neck/loose bullet issues with 50s Bulgarian. It is more likely an ammo issue, than a rifle issue. Despite the odd split neck, I have found the 50s Bulgarian to be pretty decent stuff."

Yes 1955 yellow tip. It was a combination of events. Some of the brass yellow tip case necks split, prob brittle from age, at the same time point of aim shifted a bunch. I think I found that the shims may have been out of place, perhaps the screws loosened. Anyway I have had very few splits with that ammo, and it generally shoots real good. I took off the stock and ensured the shims were all put back as orginally placed, tightened the screws. The rifle shoots fine again, at least for now.

[millman]

Glad you got it worked out.

[Teleoceras]

^^^this. Bulgarian stuff seems to have a bad reputation for splits and damaged rounds

I had a chance to fire off some 1954 Bulgarian 182gr rounds yesterday with my M91/30. While all of the rounds fired normally, I did notice some leakage around the primers for most of the rounds.

Also I had sticky bolt issues with each round. When I went back to my 1978 Romanian 148gr rounds, the sticky bolt disappeared.