1944 VKT Finnish M39

[Simo]

IT ARRIVED!!!!!!!

Once I opened the box the first thing I checked was the bore as the seller stated it was good but dark. It was dark and looked like there was sporadic frosting throughout but after a few passes with a brush and patches, it just so happens to be shiny and the rifling is sharp and strong.

here are some pictures of the quickie bore test:
(these were lightly tapped in with a rubber mallet)
7,62x54r D-mic'd @ .311dia.

303 British D-mic'd @ .310.7 dia.

30.06 D-mic'd @ .309 dia.


As you can see, the bore passed and there is a distinct possibility that I may be able to handload using .308 diameter projectiles which will most likely be the SMK 200 grainers for a D166 duplicate load for long range and PRVI 150 FMJ's for a battle load duplicate / match load. If .308 dia's don't work out then Lapua sells actual D166 projectiles. At this point its much to early to get into details about load producing so that will be another thread of its own.





The timber isn't as good as I was expecting but it wasn't a kick in the balls either. There are a few small cracks in the stock and on the left side at the splice there is a slight raise but nothing affecting the structural integrity. The hand guard however is trashed and certainly needs replaced as there is a crack that runs the entire length and once removed it fell into 2 pieces.

The bluing is heavily worn on 90% of the exposed metal and looks perfect underneath the furniture. I like the "been there, done that look" more than the unissued appearance anyways so that is a plus for me. There is no rust anywhere and only a minute pit spot on the cleaning rod where it sits inside the third stock drilling.

There are only two serials on the rifle, which are on the bolt and receiver and they match. There is also an 1846 on the bottom of the barrel and receiver on both sides of the timing alignment marks. There seems to be earlier Izhevsk stamps on much of the smaller parts.

overall I am very happy and with the gorgeous bore and very well defined front and rear sights, I am sure she will be a wonderful shooter. My goal for tonight is to completely strip it of removable parts and give it a good scrubbing and then use some electrolysis to further clean the barrel and chamber.

[Junk Yard Dog]

I stopped collecting M39's when the pile reached 17 and the prices reached $300, not one of them had a less than perfect bore, or a crown that showed wear. No matter what they looked like on the outside, on the inside they are perfect. For that matter every one of my Finn barreled Mosins has a bore like that, only the Soviet captures show erosion of any sort. I am sure there are Finn Mosins with crap bores, but none ended up with me . Nice M39

[husker51]

Thanks for the look at that M39! I like!

[Simo]

JYD, I am starting to ponder the idea that the Finns used a higher grade of steel and the Barrel is certainly thicker / heavier than the average Soviet Mosin. I believe the Finns focused on quality rather than quantity even in their dire need to supply the front lines.

[Simo]

Can anyone confirm that my sling is correct? The seller was unsure as am I.

[Junk Yard Dog]

Correct, but most important was that they were well trained in how to care for a rifle bore, and most of the M39's were used only for a few years during the war, or not used until after it as training rifles. Most went into storage in 1945 and were not used at all, or were post war built. All of this works to preserve a bore in nice shape. Soviet weapons saw much more use, and abuse.

Sling looks OK to me.

[Simo]

Correct, but most important was that they were well trained in how to care for a rifle bore, and most of the M39's were used only for a few years during the war, or not used until after it as training rifles. Most went into storage in 1945 and were not used at all, or were post war built. All of this works to preserve a bore in nice shape. Soviet weapons saw much more use, and abuse.

Sling looks OK to me.

Russian 91/30 = the last 6 owners died using it.

[desdem12]

What a nice treasure there. I am sure you can glue the 2 pieces together and set it somewhere if needed. The sling looks correct as a far as i can tell.

[Three_Dogs]

[Junk Yard Dog]

Correct, but most important was that they were well trained in how to care for a rifle bore, and most of the M39's were used only for a few years during the war, or not used until after it as training rifles. Most went into storage in 1945 and were not used at all, or were post war built. All of this works to preserve a bore in nice shape. Soviet weapons saw much more use, and abuse.

Sling looks OK to me.

Russian 91/30 = the last 6 owners died using it.

Just make sure you don't make it seven

[shoto2758]

Nice Rifle
You can Gander at slings here..
http://www.rifleslings.com/

[jonnyboy091373]

Very nice rifle let us know how it shoots. Nothing like the bullet bore test

[Junk Yard Dog]

I can guess how it's gonna shoot Do I have to warn you not to lose track of any shims in the action?

[Simo]

I can guess how it's gonna shoot Do I have to warn you not to lose track of any shims in the action?

No sir, was waiting to them and I marked them. Of course marking them may have been moot if they were ever rearranged after the original build there were only 2 both on the rear screw.

[zeebill]

Nice rifle! The sling looks right to me too. They are for the most part slung from the bottom swivel not the side ones which were used mostly for bike troops and ski troops. If you check the wear from slings on M39's most times they are worn heavier on the bottom sling loops indicating they were mostly mounted there. Minor point just for your interest. I do hope you enjoy good performance shooting it, be patient and learn what it likes. Thanks for sharing the pictures with us. Bill

[zeebill]

I can guess how it's gonna shoot Do I have to warn you not to lose track of any shims in the action?

No sir, was waiting to them and I marked them. Of course marking them may have been moot if they were ever rearranged after the original build there were only 2 both on the rear screw.

Question for you does the barrel on the muzzle end under the wood in the better blue area show signs of wear in the blue from movement of the action in the stock? I forget if you said is the tang area scrubbed of date and armory? Bill

[Simo]

I can guess how it's gonna shoot Do I have to warn you not to lose track of any shims in the action?

No sir, was waiting to them and I marked them. Of course marking them may have been moot if they were ever rearranged after the original build there were only 2 both on the rear screw.

Question for you does the barrel on the muzzle end under the wood in the better blue area show signs of wear in the blue from movement of the action in the stock? I forget if you said is the tang area scrubbed of date and armory? Bill

there is a little wear that could be from the flex. the tang has been scrubbed of any 4 digit date but there is a small "35" very clearly stamped in the center

[zeebill]

Should have said the underside of the tang! Presume you are refering to that right? If there are signs of movement and wear on the muzzle end of the rifle under the wood in the area of the front barrel clamp and the area on the underside of the tang is scrubbed. I am going to bet they might have shimmed just the rear to adjust for the slight amount of metal removed during the scrubbing. The wear on the muzzle end may be a result of this being maybe too much shimming in the rear. Don't change anything and shoot the rifle a couple of times to get used to it and the ammo you use. After a couple of tries with it and if you are not happy with the results try taking just one shim out and see what you get with that. Take your time doing this to grow accustomed to the rifle. I am talking a month or more of trips to the range say maybe 4 or 5 trips. Really be patient it takes awhile to get used to an M39 I have found. Most have a ton of creep in the trigger but a smooth and crisp break and that surprizes many people. The sight pictures give me a problem but most like them, my old eyes can't see the knotch in the rear sight unless I use bright water paint on the rear sight. Yeah I know most people paint the front one but I can see that fine. Be patient and you will get results and learn to really like the M39, it is a real sweet shooting battle rifle with great results in the unit. Bill

[bunkysdad]

Nice rifle eddystone. So you want to try the .308 bullets huh? If I take the time, I might be able to dig up some extensive loaf and shooting results from late forum member Kari Prager in which he raved at the excellent results he got from shooting .308 bullets (150 gr Sierra Pro Hunter if I remember right) and he shot them successfully in his .311 bore Mosins! All I am saying is definitely work those loads and you might be pleasantly surprised.

[Junk Yard Dog]

35? and Tula or Izhevsk marking with it? 1935 would make it a rifle built on a Winter War captured receiver or one captured early on in the continuation war.