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?

[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.

[Lichtfuss]

Is the crown damaged on the rifle? Or is the sight slightly off? I want to make sure of what im looking at, hah.

[fernleaf]

Is the crown damaged on the rifle? Or is the sight slightly off? I want to make sure of what im looking at, hah.

Sights and muzzle are fine.

Note how the sides of the nosecap aren't straight up and down. The fore end of the stock is twisted thereby putting inconsistent pressure on the barrel, upsetting the harmonics and barrel whip so the barrel will not return to the same place in the stock after each shot, therefore causing inaccuracy.

[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

[Claven2]

There are some very nice examples in the Finland section of our Knowledge Library. Click the link at the top of the page right below the milsurps.com banner.

[mack]

Fernleaf, I wouldn't criticize a rifle that can place shots in an area the size of a man's torso at 100 yards. That was the intended purpose of these and most other battle rifles, despite the claims that accuracy in much smaller groups is achievable. It only needs to hit that torso-sized target area to be worthy of use. It would require the user to know where his or her rifle will hit.

Nice looking rifle and certainly a keeper, IMHO.

[fernleaf]

The rifle is certainly a keeper - it won't be going anywhere for a while. I doubt there are many more in New Zealand.

[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.