Anyone want to share their experiences with SVT-40?

[Beetle Bailey]

I just received this SVT-40 from fellow forum member Wildalaska and it looks like a very interesting rifle. It's a Russian rifle circa WWII and since I've already got M1 Garand, MN 91/30, Finnish M39, and No. 4 MK I, why not add another WWII rifle to the stable?

Haven't shot it yet, but first impressions are that it sure feels lightweight compared to the M1 Garand. Easy to hold and comfortable to shoulder and point. Disassembly reminds me and my buddy of the SKS. I read that the Germans liked capturing them and using them against the Russians and that reliability wasn't great in the cold Russian weather (not gonna be a problem for me in California ). However, I think this is gonna be a really fun rifle, although it's not gonna subplant the M1's place in my heart. Anyone care to share their experiences, good/bad/indifferent?

 

[SDC]

I've got one, and I enjoy shooting it; the Russians also made a FULL-AUTO version of the rifle known as the "AVT" (though I can't imagine they'd be all that useful with such a limited mag capacity) which have the later 4-slot muzzle brakes and are usually marked with an "A" on the stock. I'm planning on shooting mine in a WW2 milshoot next weekend, just for giggles.

 

[armoredman]

I'd like one....looks like fun!

 

[wasrjoe]

A buddy has one which I enjoy shooting. The recoil is worse than my M38 IMO - not because of the force of the recoil, but because it is snappier. I like the rifle, though. Even with the snappier recoil controlling it isn't that big of an issue. I found it to be reasonably accurate, though the barrel is not pristine on the one I have shot. It is an incredibly fun rifle. Muzzle blast, as with many things Russian, is a hoot.

 

[lwaldron]

SVT-40

I recently acquired one, myself. It's a Tula 1943 with an AVT stock.
I'm having trouble getting it to cycle correctly. On its most "open" gas valve setting, it only occaissionally ejects and reloads, and when it does cycle, half the time it stove-pipes.
It's frustrating owning a very expensive straight-pull bolt rifle.
I'd like to purchase the translated Soviet SVT-40 manual offered on the mosinnagant.net site, but it's some kind of PayPal thing, and I can't figure out how to get it to take my credit card.
Anyway, it's a cool-looking rifle, but I'm not happy with it so far.

 

[wasrjoe]

My friend did an itsy-bitsy (take how big you think it is and then cut it in half) dremel job to the feed ramp of his SVT. It used to jam, it now functions fine. Have a gunsmith look at the feed ramp for you.

 

[telewinz]

I've had a minty one for 3 years now. Set the gas valve to 1.7 and it should work fine. The Germans and Finns loved it but the Soviet troops had problems with it due to their poor training. Mine works great with surplus ammo and I even mounted a B-Square mount. I recently traded away my Garand...I feel the SVT40 is the better design.