Finnish m39 accuracy?

[Pony Express]

Hey y'all,
For my next rifle I'm strongly considering a finnish m39. However I'm concerned about the accuracy...I have no interest in a rifle that isn't minute-of-deer at 300 yards. For those of you who have them what have you experienced in terms of accuracy?

Thanks

 

[wrench]

Finn m39s have a reputation for accuracy. That said, like any other milsurp rifle, some will be accurate, and some not.
These rifles were used for many years, and some of them are just plain worn out.
I have had a few that were only OK accuracy, and I have a few that just shoot the lights out.
Keep your eye on the bore if you're looking for one.

 

[nathan]

My Sako with excellent bore grouped 2 inch at 100 yrds using Seller Belliot 180 gr SP. That be 4 inch at 200 yds and 8 inch at 300 yds. But since it s open sight id limit my shots at 100 to 200 yds at the farthest or else i dont shoot at all.

 

[Cosmoline]

With the right ammo most M39's will give you at least 2MOA groupings. Some will do much better. If you handload you can fine-tune things, and utilize a variety of bullets including .308" ones. I've had good results with the Woodleigh 215 grains, believe it or not, because they're actually tapered and only the very back end is engaging the rifling. It's similar to the "belted" D-166 bullets that were often used with the M39's. I've also had good results with TSX bullets.

The standard sights are some of the best tangents sights ever made, and can make 300 meter shots *IF* you can see sharp enough. For older eyes the Mojos are easier to cope with though probably limited to about 200 yards effective range. After that the whole deer would fit inside the apertures, making a heart/lung shot very tricky.

 

[finnfan]

I've got a '42 VKT with some wear on it but a good bore that will put 3 shots into 1 1/2"- 2" at 100 yards with suplus ammo.

 

[offthepaper]

I have 5 Finn M39's. All are at least good shooters. I have one, a 44 Sako that is EVERY bit as accurate as my K31. As stated, some will shoot better than others, but I have personally never seen a Finn MN that was a poor shooter. The Finns had to put a great deal of faith in their weapons. They were facing down militarys that were many times their own. Their very future depended on these captured/reworked rifles and they made quite the showing for themselves.
The M39 may be one of the most underrated rifles around.
I love every one of mine.

 

[Roadkill]

I have a 1941 VKT - its accurate as any bolt action gun I have.

 

[dougw47]

Guy at the local range gets sub-4" groups at 200, that is the longest range there, shoots sub 2" groups at a 100...he really likes his, I am not that good a shot with mine. It's the shooter here not the rifle. I like mine, and I bet you will also.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Guy at the local range gets sub-4" groups at 200, that is the longest range there, shoots sub 2" groups at a 100

That is about what I get with some kind of combloc, steel cased, steel jacketed, hammer and chisel formed bullet, corrosive loads from both a VKT and "B" model.

 

[caribou]

Czeck light ball through my '41 SAKO M-39 keep the kids fed and the lights on.
I depend on that Sako, a Romy 69 training.22 and a Mossberg500 12 Gauge to make ends meet, (bullet/Target) all year round ~~LOL!!~~

The only thing an M-39 doesnt have that it should is a buttrap cleaning kit.

 

[stubbicatt]

Wow. I've shot 2" 100 yard groups with Czech ammo and a 91-30. The bore on this specimen is pretty rough.

I had hoped to hear better from the M39.

 

[offthepaper]

I had hoped to hear better from the M39.

Not sure what you're reading, but everything I've read on this post has been positive on the M39's.

 

[kaferhaus]

"spec" for these rifles was 3" at 100 meters.... same as it was for most other battle rifles of the time including the M1 garand. Obviously a few shot better when new but most of the well worn mil-surps do well to shoot under 3". I've seen many that were 4" guns on a good day.

I've had a few Swede's that would consistently shoot under 2" with Lapua or handloads but were 3" guns with surplus ammo.

We have old school matches here where you can use anything from WW1 or WW2. These are well attended matches with many of the shooters being across the course competitors or high power competitors as well.

Springfield 03s or M1 Garands win most of the matches with the occaisional Enfield or Swede or K98 (very rare) taking home the bacon. Many have tried the Mosin based rifles and I honestly don't recall anyone even breaking the top 5 with one.

 

[CnRnut]

I own many MN rifles,the Finns being the best shooter of them all.

Go pick one out:

http://www.gunsnammo.com/

Pick out an antique and have it shipped to your door!!!

 

[Cosmoline]

Wow. I've shot 2" 100 yard groups with Czech ammo and a 91-30. The bore on this specimen is pretty rough.

That doesn't mean the 91-30 in question was actually a 2" rifle. If it was, it's a real keeper. We're talking accurately measured, consistent and repeatable groups.

 

[Navy_Guns]

I shot a 1" 5-shot group with S&B soft points in my scoped VKT off a rest at 100 yards - once. I've never shot it off the bench again because I'm afraid I might have just been lucky!

 

[mokin]

Here is what mine can do at 300 yards with iron sights and a really solid bench rest.

Ammunition seems to make a big difference. The shots in the 10, 9, and 8 rings are 180 Winchester rounds. The others are Wolf 150 grain rounds. I love my M39.