M39 Mosin.... anyone else?

[Lichtfuss]

I probably should have said that id be using the rifle for target shooting and possibly hunting. Would it be in my best interest overall for my needs to go for the Finnish M39? Or would the M39 be a better choice for collection value?

edit: Btw fernleaf, what kind of grouping is your M39 shooting? and at what distances?

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[Aragorn243]

For target shooting, you wouldn't have a problem with either. Some say the M39's shoot better than the 91/30's but many M39's are made from 91/30's so I wouldn't know how accurate a statement that is. The M39 is definitely going to hold it's value more because there aren't nearly as many of them.

If it's hunting you want to do, get another type. The safeties on these are terrible for hunting. Stand hunting you could probably manage but still hunting which may require a "snap" shot, forget it unless you are walking around with the safety off which I wouldn't recommend.

[fernleaf]

I probably should have said that id be using the rifle for target shooting and possibly hunting. Would it be in my best interest overall for my needs to go for the Finnish M39? Or would the M39 be a better choice for collection value?

edit: Btw fernleaf, what kind of grouping is your M39 shooting? and at what distances?

This straight stock of mine is not a good shooter at all. At 100m the best group I've been able to coax out of it - even with handloads - is shown on one of the attached photos. I suspect the reason for the rifles lack of accuracy is shown in the other photo.

The stock appears to be twisted or warped, as the cleaning rod doesn't sit directly under the barrel, and its very difficult to get the cleaning rod in and out.

This doesn't bother me a bit, as I didn't buy the rifle to shoot it.

To my mind, if you want to go hunting - buy a modern, scoped hunting rifle, and keep the M39 for the range and for looking at.

However - my other M39 shoots about a two inch group at 100m...with Hungarian Surplus Steel Core Heavy Ball... I've never bothered to do any handload development as I was happy with its performance.

[CrossedCannons]

was a carbine junkie, still am i guess, but always seeking bigger kicks, just got this



still "waxing" the wood, don't know how it shoots yet

[1911crazy]

My second surplus military rifle was a Finnish Mosin M39 VKT ($79). I haven't shot it in 20 years now but i did shoot it once. Back then were was no ammo to be found. I had one box of norma soft point's for it at the time. Later on i grabbed two more m39's a B barrel and a sako.($89 each) I also got my hands on 6 of the samco finnish 91/30's($79 each). These were in excellent to very good++ condition for most of them. I guess someday i'll shoot them.

[SGTHurley]

I don't recall ever seeing a M39 with a laminate stock. Lots of 1891/30s but no M39s. I would be interested in pictures if someone has one.

[ruffinails]

fernleaf...you could try and steam that warp out. it takes a while and some hot steam.

or if that dont work, also put in boiling water(not the whole stock) up to where its good,then twist slowly until it is good. go a little at a time

[fernleaf]

I don't recall ever seeing a M39 with a laminate stock. Lots of 1891/30s but no M39s. I would be interested in pictures if someone has one.

I doubt they exist.

fernleaf...you could try and steam that warp out. it takes a while and some hot steam.

or if that dont work, also put in boiling water(not the whole stock) up to where its good,then twist slowly until it is good. go a little at a time

I had thought about doing something like that, but I don't want to hurt the finish or have to refinish, that would destroy a good collectable rifle to me. The rifle shall stay as it is - pride of place in my Finnish collection.

[vintage hunter]

I read an article 6 or so years ago about the Finnish m39's. The article stated the Finnish Army specified that the m39 was to shoot a group no larger than 1.3 inch @ 100 meters, those that would not or could'nt be made to were scrapped. Later, most if not all, were modified to use the D166 ammunition designed for long range work in heavy machine guns. This ammo fired a 200gr. FMJ-BT bullet and about doubled the rifle's effective range. Rifles so converted will have a ''D'' stamped on top of the chamber just ahead of the s/n. The article also stated that converted rifles usually don't shoot very well with lighter bullets as the conversion changed the throat dimensions. Lapua still makes the D166 bullet for reloaders. They kinda proud of them though.

[coppertales]

I have a 1942 B barrel. The rifle is like new. It never shot better than 3-4 inches at 100 yards until I picked up a box of Privi 150 gr sp to have some reloadable brass. I have a Darrell mounted scout scope on it. Well, with the stock out of the box Privi it show 1/2 inch groups. No need to reload.....chris3