M39 Mosin.... anyone else?

[fernleaf]

This is an interesting thread. I bought an M39 a few months ago from a private seller, $250. It came with an extra M91/30 bolt, a rear sight base tube, and upgraded trigger plus original trigger, and tool kit. The bore is bright, and the metal is surfaces are very good to excellent.

The stock appears to have been refinished, and has a rather unusual, light colored finish, almost blond, with some darker areas, a couple of inches in size, here and there where maybe stain was concentrated during refinish? Also, who ever did refinish, applied a medium gloss surface. So, the stock isn't original, but it doesn't look bad, just unusual.

I am not sure whether or not to use .308 or .312 diameter bullets, have tried both at about 2500 fps velocities, both group 2" at 50 yards...I'm going to slug the barrel this weekend to determine bore diameter for sure. I believe it is capable of better accuracy if my eyes were up to it!

Because of my old eyes, I've installed a Mojo aperture rear sight, which helps me a lot.

I'll post a photo or two, and serial number & markings info soon.

Use .310 bullets.

Hornady sells a 174 grain .3105 FMJBT that works well in Finn Mosins. Or the bullet the m39s were designed to shoot - the Lapua .310 200grain D-166 FMJBT over an appropriate charge of N140 to give a velocity of 2350 fps.

Look forward to seeing some photos of your rifle.

[vintage hunter]

I've read the military D-166 bullets were indeed .310 dia but the component catalogs list the current production ones as being .308 dia. Does anybody have a sample to verify the actual measurement?

[JDavid]

I've been shooting .308 dia 168gr Sierra's and Hornady's from my M39's and have had great results. My '41 VKT has a liking for the Sierra 168gr Match with VV N140 and will shoot 1.25" groups at 100yds if I do my part.

[MJ1]

2" @ 50 yards? Hmmmmmmmmmm,,somthing must be out of place.



I have a nice stock with deep blue metal and the wood is marked with a n S in a circle with two crossed hammers I think.

[fishn861]

I had a 41 VKT that I bought out of a barrel in a Tulsa Gun shop for $69.00 It to would shoot 1.25" @ 100 yds. When I did everything right. Most of these rifles saw battle action during the Winter War with Russia. Mine had the front sight filed down to cut glare as did many of these fine rifles. Some had the wood pieced together with a dovetail joint in the forearm , due to a shortage of full lentgth stock wood. Russia tried to invade Finland twice, but were repelled by Finnish troops and Swedish volunteers. A testament to the skill of these marksmen, Because they were facing a numerically superior soviet force. The ground spot on the front of the Finnish recievers is where they ground off the Tsars crown before rebuilding the rifles to suit their needs. I foolishly traded mine for a M44 Soviet carbine which I also nolonger have, do still have a 91/30 Izzy, but it is no M39. Try to google "Rifles of the White Death for more on these fine weapons.

[MJ1]

"Everything was cheaper yesterday." John Sukey

I think I had six at one time for Holiday gifts.

[fernleaf]

I had a 41 VKT that I bought out of a barrel in a Tulsa Gun shop for $69.00 It to would shoot 1.25" @ 100 yds. When I did everything right. Most of these rifles saw battle action during the Winter War with Russia. Mine had the front sight filed down to cut glare as did many of these fine rifles. Some had the wood pieced together with a dovetail joint in the forearm , due to a shortage of full lentgth stock wood. Russia tried to invade Finland twice, but were repelled by Finnish troops and Swedish volunteers. A testament to the skill of these marksmen, Because they were facing a numerically superior soviet force. The ground spot on the front of the Finnish recievers is where they ground off the Tsars crown before rebuilding the rifles to suit their needs. I foolishly traded mine for a M44 Soviet carbine which I also nolonger have, do still have a 91/30 Izzy, but it is no M39. Try to google "Rifles of the White Death for more on these fine weapons.

M39s only saw service in the Continuation War, none were made for the Winter War. Some prototypes MAY have been issued prior to March 1940.

Front sights get filed down generally after they left service by someone who was trying to raise the rifles MPI. During service different height front sights would be used to achieve this.

The two piece stock construction was designed to stop major stock warping from use in cold or wet climates.

[fernleaf]

Three weeks after it left the US (incidentally the shortest time I've had to wait for a rifle I've imported from the US - must have been the USD$175 shipping I paid...), this rifle was on my doorstep when I got home from work on Thursday.

1942 Civil Guard issue M39 built on an 1895 Tula receiver. most original blue remaining - apart from one notable splotch on the barrel shank -, all matching numbers, BRILLIANT bore, and lovely wood. I bought the Sk.Y Depot replacement sling from Finland a couple of years ago, and have been waiting for a rifle for it...









I shot this today with Barnaul 174grn FMJBT and it did not disappoint. Next task is to try some D166 bullets through it...

[docbob]

Nice M39, Fernleaf!

[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