Opinions on SVT-40 despite increased prices?

The SVT is an accurate rifle out of the factory, its only problem is all the people online who say their rifle is inaccurate because they shoot 50 year old surplus ammo through their rifle that has a worn bore and stock fit problems.
Just like the SKS.
There is no reason for an SVT or SKS to shoot worse than 3 MOA if the rifling is perfect, the stock properly shimmed and it is fed quality ammunition.
 
I had one and sold it. Regretted it and got another. They are awesome. Good looking and nice to shoot. All I have ever seen had frosty bores...still worth it.
 
Sir Plus said:
The SVT is an accurate rifle out of the factory, its only problem is all the people online who say their rifle is inaccurate because they shoot 50 year old surplus ammo through their rifle that has a worn bore and stock fit problems.
Just like the SKS.
There is no reason for an SVT or SKS to shoot worse than 3 MOA if the rifling is perfect, the stock properly shimmed and it is fed quality ammunition.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the input! Do you think trying to get a sniper version is worth going after (seeing as I'd able to mount a scope) compared to the standard infantry variants?
 
Bought one at a local store a few years back for $375 or thereabouts. Must have gotten a bad example. Modern soft point S&B and handloads of a 150 grain Hornady SST over Varget or H4895 never did reliably better than 5 MOA.

Guessing it was a stock issue, and I could have just as easily bought one with a much better fitting stock that shot a lot tighter.
 
Depends what you like. I have one. If you like firearms for the history then the SVT is great to have. It is very well designed and was put into production before WW2 and while not issued to everyone was in widespread use when the Germans invaded. It is the first semi-auto battle rifle issued in large numbers. It is ahead of the Garand in that it uses magazines and an adjustable gas block. It is decently accurate when you shim the barrel. Relatively light and includes a muzzle brake. Fundamentally it was ahead of its time. The Russian infantry man didn't like it that much as it was more complicated than traditional Russian weapons but the relatively better trained Germans and Finns loved the SVT and used captured ones extensively. It does have a few issues in that the long operating rod is somewhat prone to bending if you use heavier bullets or more powerful cartridges than the standard military round. Mine has been flawlessly reliable once I got the gas block dialed in. A very cool rifle.
 
I bought mine recently. Came out of surplus in cosmoline for 800. I have only shot MFS 203gr steel case which is heavy for the gun but it's the best cheap feed for the rifle. It shoots well enough I was plinking clays at 100m no problem, it's a big bonus you can adjust the elevation, as well as drift the front sight.
 
Mine shoot 2-3 MOA/100 m with scope it has a side rails but not a real sniper(has no a notch)
open sight 200m- 5/5 on 12'' plate
all with chinees corrosive ammo
 
Buy it already
Got my first 2 back in 2011 hand picked from a crate
One was mint and one looked like it had been sanded a bit and must have been put in without
Refinishing
Then a podolsk that’s mint from a supplier
 
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Sir Plus said:
The SVT is an accurate rifle out of the factory, its only problem is all the people online who say their rifle is inaccurate because they shoot 50 year old surplus ammo through their rifle that has a worn bore and stock fit problems.
Just like the SKS.
There is no reason for an SVT or SKS to shoot worse than 3 MOA if the rifling is perfect, the stock properly shimmed and it is fed quality ammunition.
Click to expand...

+1!

I have a standard version with a shiny bore that I cleaned up the barrel channel of the stock and put cork in to make a single contact point where the front retaining clip goes. In three separate range trips I've hit 1" groups at 100M with it. Typically getting around 2" most of the time with Bulgarian Silver Tip milsurp ammo.

What a fun gun to shoot at steels too!

I recommend you get one asap. If it's been on your radar, don't hesitate. I did and still managed to get a nice one at $375 from Lever Arms right before they ran out of them. I'm pretty sure they were the last dealer to have stock. Right from the second I finally gave up and just paid for it, I never regretted it.

Anyone who imports them will have the price cranked up to todays demand price anyways. Look at the recent imports from TradeEx as an example, $900 Finish Mosins. Any new SVT40's being dug up (very limited supply world wide) and brought in will not be available to us for $200, $300, or even $500 ever again.

Now that I've had the chance to shoot mine and really get a feel for how much fun it is to shoot, I'd gladly pay $700 for another. Still good value in my mind.
 
I'd recommend one in the heavier AVT-40 stock... they feel more solid and are less prone to breakage which was a problem with the earlier rifles.

I had two a 1942 and 1944. Sold the 42
 
Thanks for the input guys, I did end up getting an SVT 40!

A bit pricey at 780$, but it had a notch which might come in handy if I want to put in repro scope.
The rifle outside furniture is really quite beautiful, almost like as if it stepped straight out of the 1940s!
 
I think they will be allot more then $500 in the future. They are pretty neat rifles with lots of parts floating around.

They were never really 300, more like 350 - 400. So, $550 - $600 is not to bad.
 
Seen quite a few go lately in tje $550 range, prices have been down latley.
If you were thinking of picking one up now seems like a good time.
 
rockport guy said:
I want to get another... have to see... but the price has gone up... and your lookibg at 100 for a extra mag... and about 200 for a bayonet!
Click to expand...

price has gone up ?
are we looking at the same EE?
lots in the $550 range latley this is way down from the $650- 750 range they were at for a while
 
I almost bought one for $250 a couple years ago but the deal fell through. I'm a little disappointed I missed out on the $300 level ones but not that much. At current prices I'm out, I have no interest, too many other things I want that I'd rather put the money towards.
 
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