M39 Scout Rifle

[Stiletto Null]

Configuration:

• 1942 VKT M39 Mosin-Nagant
• Darrell M39 scout mount
• NCStar 2.5x30 illuminated pistol scope (optics seem OK, but I will upgrade to a Leupold as soon as funds allow)

My only real gripe for now is that the rings that came with the scope are kind of cheesy, and too high (I have a set of rings coming in which are super-low, ought to drop the scope axis a good ¼"). Range report to come Saturday (I hope), when I'll be able to get to a range and get the thing sighted in.

w00t.

 

[Don't Tread On Me]

Great pictures, thanks.


I appreciate seeing scout mount options all the time.

 

[Cosmoline]

His M-39 mounts are excellent. I never had them so much as shift.

 

[ArmedBear]

Will those (or others that are as good) fit on an M38?

 

[Stiletto Null]

Yep. Darrell also makes an M38/M44 mount. They also look pretty trick.

 

[Cosmoline]

The only problem I ever had with one of his rigs was trying to adapt a 91/30 mount to a Finnish 91/30 with a Tikka bore. The mount was not the same dimensions as the base because the Finns had done odd things to the specs. A little silver sauder locked it down fine.

 

[.45Guy]

Psssssst..... your reticle is canted...

 

[Metapotent]

I've never seen front sights like that on a Mosin before. Strange.

Its nice though, but why configure a Mosin into a scout rifle? It just seems odd to me for some reason...

 

[_N4Z_]

It's a Finn M39 and that is what the front sight for such a rifle looks like.

I have one that looks just like his in that respect.

www.7.62x54r.com and see for yourself.

 

[jagdpanzer347]

Does the Darrell mount require any modifications to the rifle? Where is a good souce for these mounts? It might be fun to try out an M38 with one of those. Of course, I'd have to buy the M38 first.

-jagdpanzer

 

[Cosmoline]

Darrell sells them off his forum at the Parallax site:

http://www.milsurpshooter.net/

The mounts require no smithing and are very well made.

 

[jagdpanzer347]

Thanks for the link, Cosmo. Looks like I might have to buy that M38. I'm primarily an iron sight shooter. Any good experiences to pass along about any scout scopes you may have used? Relatively inexpensive and durable would be what I'm looking for. Thanks again.

-jagdpanzer

 

[Cosmoline]

I like them. I'd suggest a simple, rugged 2x handgun scope. They take a bit of getting used to but once you figure out how to operate with one you can have the speed of irons with the increased magnification of a regular scope. I did find they put the balance further forward but on a barrel-light M-38 that might not be such a bad thing.

 

[Stiletto Null]

Yeah, the scope I got is decent optically, but the turrets don't align right with the reticule. (***, over)

I got it from Cranky Farmer—super-fast delivery, I actually placed the order at 1:00 last Friday, and it went out at like 3:00 (or at least, they printed the label electronically). Actually arrived Monday.

 

[Langenator]

What kind of super-low mounts are you getting? I've got a Darrell's mount, and I'm hoping to scrape together enough scratch to mount a Leupold on it before deer season.

 

[Stiletto Null]

Tasco 791s. Darrell (and other folks on the forum) recommended them.

Procura has them for like $4 (plus shipping).

 

[Stiletto Null]

Range report...

It works.



Playtime.



Also, before anyone flames me for posting two-shot "groups", I did a bunch of 5-shots, with the obvious result of very porous paper. So I posted my very last pair of doubles.

Typical groups were in the 0.75"~0.5" range, so I'm just going to call my M39 a 1MOA rifle. I'll note that my trigger control's pretty awful, and I was fighting to not push the rifle with just about every shot. (I hate benchrests...)

Short video of a double.

 

[rhtwist]

Great looking firearm and mount. Excellent photography, can I ask what equipment you used? Spectacular. May have to scope my Mosin when it finally arrives and gets cleaned.
rhtwist

 

[Cosmoline]

If you haven't already, try out the rifle with an array of different loads. Also check to make sure the shims are still doing their job and there's no serious impingement. I've noticed a lot of M-39's where the stock is warped a little over the years and the barrel is no longer floating.

 

[ctdonath]

Length and weight?

 

[Stiletto Null]

The scope, or the rifle? The rifle is 46.75" long. The rifle + scope weighs in at "heavy". (I don't have a scale, actually.)



Close-up of the mount area with the Tasco 791DSC rings. Super-low. The bell of the eyepiece actually dips below the highest point of the rail; Darrell thoughtfully designed a groove into the top of the rail block.

Pictures were taken with a Canon A75, a window, and cloudy skies. (I need a real camera.)

 

[grimjaw]

Excellent photography, can I ask what equipment you used?

Canon A75 and edited with Photoshop 7.0, if I may be so bold. I was going to ask the same but got it from the image properties. Nice work, both rifle and pictures.

jm

 

[Jack19]

I picked up a Darrel's mount for my M39 a few weeks ago, but haven't installed it yet.

Stiletto, thanks for the pics, I have something to look forward to.

 

[Stiletto Null]

Canon A75 and edited with Photoshop 7.0, if I may be so bold. I was going to ask the same but got it from the image properties. Nice work, both rifle and pictures.

EXIF is awesome. I never strip it from my files, because sometimes I need it to figure out timestamps.

 

[Lee F]

Ok, now I'm curious. PM me sometime after Thanksgiving and you can shoot at the 100 & 200 yard lines at SSI in Louisburg.