Well, I finally quit worrying about the dark & pitted bore, and took the M19/30 out to shoot. I had cleaned and recleaned the barrel numerous times, still pretty dark, but the best I could do. I wasn't expecting much from the 150 gr reloads I had put together for it and my M39.

I loaded both .308" and .312" Hornady bullets, with H4895 powder, to predicted velocity of 2500 fps for first outing.

I shot both bullet sizes, through both the M91/30 and the much better condition barreled M39, and chronographed both.

Results, shot from sand-bags & bench, were very comparable, and pleasantly surprising. Recorded velocities averaged 2575 fps in both rifles, with both bullet diameters; and the standard deviation of all shots from both rifles was only 36 fps. Accuracy for all was 2-3" groups at 50 yards.

The shiny bored M39 shot 2" groups, the dark pitted M91/30 shot 2.5 to 3" groups. I think both could do better if my old eyes weren't so blurry when trying to line up the sights! I did swap a Mojo aperture rear sight on to the M39, and think that is the biggest reason it grouped a bit better than the M91/30 with original post & notch sights.

This weekend I'm going to slug the bores of both rifles, so as to have a better idea which bullet diameter is best, and also measure chamber free-bore so as to be able to adjust cartridge overall length to suit.

I am also going to search out some spherical (ball) type powder loads, as the H4895 and other rod type powders DO NOT drop consistant charge weights from my progressive reloader. I think that also may have contributed to the size of 50 yard groupings.

All in all, I am enjoying my first, and now, second Russianicon/Finnishicon rifles!

I'll post some further details and photos soon.