Finn M28 bore Diameter

[Captk]

I am looking at an Finn M28 and talking to the seller. He said he hand loads and the bore is .308, not .310/311 like the Russians. Can anyone set me straight on the bore diameter?
Thanks, KEn

[desdem12]

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinM28.htm Here ya go.

[Captk]

Thanks, seller claims it's .308 bore, not looking to reload so that would be a deal killer to me.

Ken

[Josh Smith]

Hello,

The bore really isn't the biggest deal. Lead and jacketed bullets will swage down.

What you need to be concerned about is the throat. If that's at 0.308, yes, it could damage the rifle, or you.

For example, and to draw a parallel, the Gewehr 88 with the "S" mark retains its old bore size, 0.318, 0.321, or later, a full 0.323. However, any of these bores can handle the spitzer adopted in 1905, though it's a full 0.323. The reason is that the "S" conversion, among other things, relieved the throat so that initial pressure spike would not ruin the rifle.

Still, a few escaped conversion but were still "S" stamped. When Germany armed Turkey in WWI, the Turks suffered some casualties due to rifles coming apart with the new ammo.

Back to the Russians and Finns, the Finns went back to using the larger bore diameter so Russian ammo could be used.

If you do not pick up that rifle, please direct me to it. Not saying I'll be able to afford it as I'm saving for my wedding in January, but it would be nice to look over.

As far as I'm concerned, the Finns got these things perfect and they need no modifications.

Regards,

Josh

[racerguy00]

Is it a face to face purchase? If you are lucky enough to find a nice one that way for a good price id grab it in a heartbeat. They aren't common at all and it could be used for trade later if you didn't want it. But I'd research online and see what the diameter of the various commercial loads are. Some may be .310 or less.

[desdem12]

I would be happy for a M28 deal. Send it over. I will trade a M44 for it,

[Greasemonkey]

If by chance, it has the "D" stamp wouldn't the throat have been opened up to better enable the use of the D166 heavy ball and or regular Russian surplus ammo? Wouldn't that help reduce pressures enough to be within safe limits using surplus ammo

[desdem12]

This would be a question for the finn guys but i will speculate a little here. These are M28s and as such would have started out as a civilguard rifle owned by the guardsman himself. So being as they had to pay for all updates i am betting these got less throating then any of the others. The D166 was the armys thing i think. Not sure but it sounds good. The m28s and the m28/30s anyway.

[Greasemonkey]

This would be a question for the finn guys but i will speculate a little here. These are M28s and as such would have started out as a civilguard rifle owned by the guardsman himself. So being as they had to pay for all updates i am betting these got less throating then any of the others. The D166 was the armys thing i think. Not sure but it sounds good. The m28s and the m28/30s anyway.

If buy chance, the Finnish army accepted the rifle after the dissolving of the Civil Guard in '42, the update would have been done at that time. The M28/30 is another rifle that fell under the Armys update of the chamber, to enable the use of the D166 round.

[desdem12]

I thought the civil guard was dissolved in 44 as concessions for ending the war?

[Greasemonkey]

Yea, your right it was '44, cut me some slack, it's late and no caffeine today

[desdem12]

You got it. I only had half a cup today myself.