"Sneak" Finnish M39--range report

[Mustang51]

Last year I won a 1970 Finnish M39.






I've been busy and hadn't fired it until last week. The first rounds were a bit disappointing...

(Prvi 182 gr FMJBT @ 100 yards)


About 3 MOA, which is not particularly noteworthy for a Finn. However, I've noted in the past that my other M39's like the barrel bands snug, so I checked all the screws...the front action screw took about 1/2 turn and the lower band screw took about a turn and 1/2. Fired three more of the Prvi's and got this


Anyone else noted that M39's like the barrel bands tight?

 

[jpwilly]

No I havent shot mine yet but will be sure to try out tightening up the barrel bands. I've heard you can play with the action screw tension to tune them as well.

Glad it helped sure beats walking away disappointed.

 

[Bentley4700]

I don't know either. I have one that I haven't shot yet! This is very good to know. Man, they are beautiful rifles. I just pulled mine out of the safe today to fondle it. I had kind of forgot about it......

 

[wildchild2010]

Some of them barrels need a REAL good cleaning the get the years of hard gunk out of them.

 

[hang fire]

Very nice looking Finn, accurate too, likely one they had built for competition.

Mine is a 1942 CW Sako barreled M-39. more accurate than I the shooter is.

Those made during the 1941-44 CW, the stocks all look very rough and unfinished, but the bore and sights are superb.

 

[Mustang51]

That is a fine looking M39, hang fire. Guess we are all lucky that the Finns spent the time turning these Mosins into fine shooting implements.

 

[nathan]

All my rifles now i cleaned it with Barnes Copper Solvent ($10) from Midwayusa and they have a significant improvement in accuracy. The M 48A which i shot manytimes with corrosive ammo had a tighter grp after being cleaned.

 

[Mustang51]

Thanks, Nathan...I'll give that a try.

 

[Mustang51]

I got to the range last week with some of the Prvi 54R "match" ammo and some of the "regular" 54R ammo. I have to admit the M39 liked the "match" ammo better than the regular...was a bit of surprise how bad the group for the regular ammo was after the results above. Both groups shot at 100 yards

.........The "match" ammo............................................... The "regular" ammo

 

[italy4nra]

Whatever about the rifle, I am a pretty impressed with your shooting skill on the irons at 100 yards.

 

[italy4nra]

With Prvi, really?

 

[Mustang51]

Thanks, devalier. I try to find the right size target and concentrate. Those groups were fired off a sand bag front rest.


I've had decent luck with Prvi and it is really good brass for reloading.

They recently started marketing "Match" versions of their 7.62 x 54R, 8 x 57, and 6.5 x 55 ammunition. I don't know how much better it really is than their "regular version, but it costs less than a dollar per box more, so I decided to give it a try.