SVT40 debate

[Jack Package]

Okay so I was at a gun show looking for a SVT40 and I got to talking to some old fart about them and he said they where junk. He said he was never able to shoot an entire clip out of one without it fouling up. He also said he could get me one for $600. Well I kept looking around and found a great condition [except for stock but its matching] SVT40 for 1100. I have shot in numerous times and only get problems with repo mags and lacquer cased ammo. So what I am guessing is you get what you pay for if you are buying crappy SVTs for 600 bucks that's probably your problem. Am i right, anyone else out there familiar or own SVTs?

 

[Sam1911]

Sometimes the information you get from the old fart at the gun counter is worth more than you paid for it*, but usually it isn't.

I'd say if you got an SVT40 for $1,100 and you're ok with that price and it runs well for you, you can safely disregard the old guy's opinions.





* -- I heard from a friend's roommate's brother that he knew a guy who once got good info from the old fart at the gun counter.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

Me? I'd have taken that fellow up on his offer immediately. And I'm not into Russian.

The same has been said (those things are junk!) about just about every foreign Military import that has ever come in.

Simple to maintain and if kept clean, they function as intended.
As you might know, Russian surplus ammo has quite a bit of muzzle flash and is rather loud. Reloading helps to eliminate this if your chamber is decent.

First one I ever shot had been brought Stateside in the early 70's by a guy in Government service.
Bore was toast and the chamber was pretty badly pitted (what it did to the reloadable cases was a crime! - picture what Rosie O'Donnell's thighs look like -), but it functioned fine.
Accuracy was minute of hillside.

Last one I saw was two years ago with an acquaintance helping a widow price her late husband's guns. Her gun knowledge consisted of she knew pistol from rifle.
This was one of the 90s imports and it was a nice one with the cleanest bore and gas system I'd ever looked at.

Could have got it (and quite a few others) for 100 each, as neither of them knew anything about Militaries, but I'm not built that way.
Helped her sell the SVT quick for 700 to a friend of mine as my reward for helping and steered her to an honest broker to move the rest after giving her realistic pricing info.

The rifle my friend got is a really accurate shooter and more comfortable to shoot than a G43.

Can't help but think a few 38s came in with all those SVT 40s. Finding one of those might make me re-think collecting Russian.

JT

 

[GBExpat]

...So what I am guessing is you get what you pay for if you are buying crappy SVTs for 600 bucks that's probably your problem. Am i right, anyone else out there familiar or own SVTs?

I currently own a half dozen SVT-40s ... bought my first over a decade ago ... built my last, from parts, about 6-7 years ago.

As with any milsurp purchase, knowledge is your best determiner, not price.

If you are unfamiliar with the firearm type, the price being asked will often not help you to determine which ones are better.

BTW, you might want to wear plugs under your "ears" when firing your SVT-40 since the brake makes the experience so LOUD.

EDIT: That "old fart" wouldn't need to protect his hearing when firing an SVT-40, because of the location of his head.

 

[MachIVshooter]

So what I am guessing is you get what you pay for if you are buying crappy SVTs for 600 bucks that's probably your problem.

Depends on if the seller knows what they're getting rid of. I bought mine on the consignment rack, the owner having been too lazy to do his due diligence. I don't think you wanna hear what I paid for it..........

That "old fart" wouldn't need to protect his hearing when firing an SVT-40, because of the location of his head.

Hahaha

 

[amx4080]

For $600, just take it off his hands! The SVT-40 has been selling well North of $600 for a while (GunStockMarket SVT-40 sales).

I've bought some rifles that people felt were junk. Found one put back together wrong for a song, correctly assembled it and funcions 100%.

 

[wojownik]

Find the "old fart" and let him know you've got a group of buyers at $600 Haven't seen SVT prices that low in a number of years, except for one with a badly abused stock and little/no blueing left.

 

[Jack Package]

Saxet gun show in San Antonio lol the guy with the sten and all the butcher blades. After hearing all you guys post i feel like i made the wrong choice

 

[Sarge]

Around here, when you find an SVT it will be around $900/1000.
I've also got about a half dozen SVT 40s. Only have 2 shooters the rest are wall queens.
I have not had any problems with either of my shooters that were not caused by ammo or magazines. I quickly weeded out the bad mags and no longer buy what ever the ammo was.
One of my shooters is one of the imports from 15/20 yrs ago and the other in a Fin capture.
Don't have a photo of all togather, but here are a couple of them.
Sarge

 

[stubbicatt]

I own one of them. Wish I had purchased a bunch in the early 90s when they first came in to the US. Once you figure out the gas system, mine is quite reliable. Not an especially accurate rifle, but accurate enough I suppose. Subjectively, it is lighter than my SKS, and shoots about the same, only it is so much more enjoyable to shoot.

 

[tuj]

deleted

 

[Sunray]

You tell him they don't use 'clips'? Like any other battle rifle, you need to know how they work to make 'em work. The infamous Garand Thumb, for example, is caused by improper loading not the rifle.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

$600? I'd take it and damn well make it work, were there a problem.

 

[stubbicatt]

Sunray, mine uses clips. Two clips of 5 rounds each. There is a slot on the rear receiver cover cut to accept clips, and they work really well. Not as fast as a magazine change perhaps but definitely better than single loading.

 

[GBExpat]

Ayup, that is how I usually reload my SVT-40 magazine in the field; 5rd clips (a.k.a., chargers).

 

[Jack Package]

Is there a secret for loading them fast with the clips? Cause I usually have to really jimmy in the second one and usually mess up and have to load the last bullet by hand