Joshua M. Smith
Member
Ballad of My M69 Romanian Training Rifle
Hello,
I’ve had a couple requests to do a review of my Romanian training rifle, which is most definitely no longer stock.
The story begins with the purchase of a $60 .22 rifle at a local gunshop for squirrel season. I didn’t have a lot of money, so I was looking to go cheap. The thought of a bolt action appealed to me as I had done the other popular actions, and hadn’t had a bolt gun since my first .22.
The Romanian looked rough, used, and something that would take some abuse. The lack of readily available magazines was somewhat of a turnoff, but I figured I could ignore it for the time being.
This is the M69 as I purchased it.
It did well that first season. I used whatever cheap hollowpoint ammo I had on hand, and I managed to take my limit with it.
However, I didn’t find it overly accurate. The trigger was a long two stage, and the second stage had a lot of creep before the sear broke. The sights, while acceptable for a military rifle, did not lend themselves to long range shooting – and during part of squirrel season in Northern Indiana, 100 yard shots are sometimes taken. This is done with a ‘scope and from a “sniper nest.” Most of us are not irresponsible.
After that first season I cleaned the bore. Though I had knocked the cosmoline out when I first purchased the rifle, I never really did a proper cleaning. I stripped the bolt down, took a bore brush and passed it through once before cleaning well with Hoppes #9.
Looking down the bore, I saw no pitting or corrosion. In fact, it looked pretty good. Better than I imagined it would.
I decided to shoot some groups to see how it shot once cleaned.
This is representative of my efforts.
I do not have the best eyesight in the world. Combine that with course military sights (good though they may be) and the rifle will shoot inaccurately for me, and be pretty useless past 25 yards. The above group, if I remember correctly, was shot at 50 yards.
Well, darn.
I got to reading about the M69 on the internet. I found some match scores for these rifles – some were beating CZ target rifles in rimfire matches using the M69! It seems the M69 has a near target grade bore which will shoot once cleaned up.
So of course I put a ‘scope on it. This entailed digging around at the gunshop for spare parts and using a pair of rings I’d had forever. Only the ‘scope was new, something called FM (Famous Maker) with a 5yd to infinity adjustable parallax and lighted reticle. I believe the cost was 50 bucks. I figured I’d throw it on there and I’d replace it after the new season was over.
The M69 wearing its new ‘scope and a authentic strap sent to me by a friend.
It should be noted that my drill press bit the dust. I therefore installed the ‘scope mount using hand tools and a hand held electric drill. As well, that metal is HARD. I dulled two carbide drill bits and broke a third before all the holes were drilled.
A closer view…
While the ‘scope looks like it sits high, it’s actually the perfect height for me. I don’t have to tip my head and see the world sitting on its side. The cheek weld is perfect.
This is a typical group from that point in time.
What goes best with a ‘scope, in my mind at least, is a floated barrel. I therefore removed the barreled action, floated the barrel just enough that a dollar bill will pass between the barrel and the wood, took care of any pressure points I found interfering with the action, and sealed the wood.
Better, but I was still getting fliers. I cannot explain that one to the right.
Around this time I experienced a small crisis: The extractor was never very good on this rifle, and it was about this time that it broke. I couldn’t find a new one – parts for these had dried up – and I finally decided I had to make one. I keep a small supply of old, broken tools on hand, and I spent about eight hours crafting a new extractor, patterning it off the old one but using 1911 extractor ideas.
Side view of the new fitted extractor…
… the front…
… and the extractor hook.
These are the actual pictures I took while doing the work; in addition to using magnifying glasses, I take macro pictures and study them on my computer during breaks in my work.
I still had way too much trigger slop, so I installed a trigger stop to limit over travel.
A small screw in the trigger guard helped a lot.
While this helped with over travel, pre-travel and the long, gritty pull were still present.
I had to work very hard to get this three shot group.
Typical groups for this rifle would run three shots touching and two fliers from a five shot magazine.
So, I went into the trigger group.
I don’t have pictures of this and I’m not going into detail. Suffice to say that I eliminated the two stage trigger and shortened and smoothed the rough, gritty sear. The trigger must have a little pre-travel though; while it won’t damage parts like the 1911, eliminating all pre-travel will also render the safety inoperable.
These are proof groups I shot after the trigger job.
Much improved, I felt I was shooting to the rifle’s potential.
Now it was time to increase that potential. ☺
I bought some Remington 40-X because I had begun casting .45 bullets and had a bit of buildup in my 1911. After I cleaned the 1911, I cleaned out the M69. I figured while the bore was clean and dry, I might as well coat a bullet with some rubbing compound and see what happened after firing it.
I fired the abrasive bullet, cleaned the barrel well again, put 20 shots downrange to season the bore, and fired for groups.
This is my first group.
Folks, there are 20 shots in that group. I stopped because I was getting bored.
While I’m being told that I didn’t exactly lap the bore, I personally don’t know. The 40-X is a bit abrasive, the rubbing compound certainly was, and I ran 20 passes of 40-X and one abrasive coated bullet through the bore. After cleaning the final time, it shone with a mirror finish.
I did not put any more abrasive bullets down the bore because I feel that over-polishing is as bad as not polishing enough.
This is my M69 as it sits now.
I am very satisfied with the rifle as it is now. I may eventually refinish the stock, steaming out the dents, and I’d like to get a BSA “Sweet .22” ‘scope for it. This compact FM I have now is good for hunting, but since this M69 has become a dual purpose rifle, I need something with finer crosshairs and potentially more magnification – which means an adjustable ‘scope instead of the fixed four power I have now. I would also like the parallax adjustment to be on the side as the Sweet .22 has, instead of the old focus type on the objective. I have been distracted more than once when I had to dial in 50 yards to take a squirrel, when I had the objective set on 20 yards. It would also be interesting to see what this thing can really do at 100 yards. I know I can keep it in a squirrel’s vitals at that range, but any more precise than that and I’m in over my head due to reticle thickness and lack of magnification.
Those of you who have asked about this rifle via PM or straight up on the forums I frequent, I hope this answers your questions as to how I’ve done things, and why.
Regards,
Josh <><
Hello,
I’ve had a couple requests to do a review of my Romanian training rifle, which is most definitely no longer stock.
The story begins with the purchase of a $60 .22 rifle at a local gunshop for squirrel season. I didn’t have a lot of money, so I was looking to go cheap. The thought of a bolt action appealed to me as I had done the other popular actions, and hadn’t had a bolt gun since my first .22.
The Romanian looked rough, used, and something that would take some abuse. The lack of readily available magazines was somewhat of a turnoff, but I figured I could ignore it for the time being.
This is the M69 as I purchased it.
It did well that first season. I used whatever cheap hollowpoint ammo I had on hand, and I managed to take my limit with it.
However, I didn’t find it overly accurate. The trigger was a long two stage, and the second stage had a lot of creep before the sear broke. The sights, while acceptable for a military rifle, did not lend themselves to long range shooting – and during part of squirrel season in Northern Indiana, 100 yard shots are sometimes taken. This is done with a ‘scope and from a “sniper nest.” Most of us are not irresponsible.
After that first season I cleaned the bore. Though I had knocked the cosmoline out when I first purchased the rifle, I never really did a proper cleaning. I stripped the bolt down, took a bore brush and passed it through once before cleaning well with Hoppes #9.
Looking down the bore, I saw no pitting or corrosion. In fact, it looked pretty good. Better than I imagined it would.
I decided to shoot some groups to see how it shot once cleaned.
This is representative of my efforts.
I do not have the best eyesight in the world. Combine that with course military sights (good though they may be) and the rifle will shoot inaccurately for me, and be pretty useless past 25 yards. The above group, if I remember correctly, was shot at 50 yards.
Well, darn.
I got to reading about the M69 on the internet. I found some match scores for these rifles – some were beating CZ target rifles in rimfire matches using the M69! It seems the M69 has a near target grade bore which will shoot once cleaned up.
So of course I put a ‘scope on it. This entailed digging around at the gunshop for spare parts and using a pair of rings I’d had forever. Only the ‘scope was new, something called FM (Famous Maker) with a 5yd to infinity adjustable parallax and lighted reticle. I believe the cost was 50 bucks. I figured I’d throw it on there and I’d replace it after the new season was over.
The M69 wearing its new ‘scope and a authentic strap sent to me by a friend.
It should be noted that my drill press bit the dust. I therefore installed the ‘scope mount using hand tools and a hand held electric drill. As well, that metal is HARD. I dulled two carbide drill bits and broke a third before all the holes were drilled.
A closer view…
While the ‘scope looks like it sits high, it’s actually the perfect height for me. I don’t have to tip my head and see the world sitting on its side. The cheek weld is perfect.
This is a typical group from that point in time.
What goes best with a ‘scope, in my mind at least, is a floated barrel. I therefore removed the barreled action, floated the barrel just enough that a dollar bill will pass between the barrel and the wood, took care of any pressure points I found interfering with the action, and sealed the wood.
Better, but I was still getting fliers. I cannot explain that one to the right.
Around this time I experienced a small crisis: The extractor was never very good on this rifle, and it was about this time that it broke. I couldn’t find a new one – parts for these had dried up – and I finally decided I had to make one. I keep a small supply of old, broken tools on hand, and I spent about eight hours crafting a new extractor, patterning it off the old one but using 1911 extractor ideas.
Side view of the new fitted extractor…
… the front…
… and the extractor hook.
These are the actual pictures I took while doing the work; in addition to using magnifying glasses, I take macro pictures and study them on my computer during breaks in my work.
I still had way too much trigger slop, so I installed a trigger stop to limit over travel.
A small screw in the trigger guard helped a lot.
While this helped with over travel, pre-travel and the long, gritty pull were still present.
I had to work very hard to get this three shot group.
Typical groups for this rifle would run three shots touching and two fliers from a five shot magazine.
So, I went into the trigger group.
I don’t have pictures of this and I’m not going into detail. Suffice to say that I eliminated the two stage trigger and shortened and smoothed the rough, gritty sear. The trigger must have a little pre-travel though; while it won’t damage parts like the 1911, eliminating all pre-travel will also render the safety inoperable.
These are proof groups I shot after the trigger job.
Much improved, I felt I was shooting to the rifle’s potential.
Now it was time to increase that potential. ☺
I bought some Remington 40-X because I had begun casting .45 bullets and had a bit of buildup in my 1911. After I cleaned the 1911, I cleaned out the M69. I figured while the bore was clean and dry, I might as well coat a bullet with some rubbing compound and see what happened after firing it.
I fired the abrasive bullet, cleaned the barrel well again, put 20 shots downrange to season the bore, and fired for groups.
This is my first group.
Folks, there are 20 shots in that group. I stopped because I was getting bored.
While I’m being told that I didn’t exactly lap the bore, I personally don’t know. The 40-X is a bit abrasive, the rubbing compound certainly was, and I ran 20 passes of 40-X and one abrasive coated bullet through the bore. After cleaning the final time, it shone with a mirror finish.
I did not put any more abrasive bullets down the bore because I feel that over-polishing is as bad as not polishing enough.
This is my M69 as it sits now.
I am very satisfied with the rifle as it is now. I may eventually refinish the stock, steaming out the dents, and I’d like to get a BSA “Sweet .22” ‘scope for it. This compact FM I have now is good for hunting, but since this M69 has become a dual purpose rifle, I need something with finer crosshairs and potentially more magnification – which means an adjustable ‘scope instead of the fixed four power I have now. I would also like the parallax adjustment to be on the side as the Sweet .22 has, instead of the old focus type on the objective. I have been distracted more than once when I had to dial in 50 yards to take a squirrel, when I had the objective set on 20 yards. It would also be interesting to see what this thing can really do at 100 yards. I know I can keep it in a squirrel’s vitals at that range, but any more precise than that and I’m in over my head due to reticle thickness and lack of magnification.
Those of you who have asked about this rifle via PM or straight up on the forums I frequent, I hope this answers your questions as to how I’ve done things, and why.
Regards,
Josh <><
