SVT 40 accurizing?

cantom

cantom

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I've read that these rifles had accuracy issues. The early ones that were used as snipers were not up to accuracy standards. One thing I've seen is that the stock bedding isn't the most secure imaginable...apparently the action can move in the wood.

Has anyone ever worked their way through bedding the action on an SVT 40?
 
I haven't heard these rifles had accuracy issues. In fact I hear they were extremely good for the time, and still competent today, similar in accuracy to the 91/30. Do you have one that's having accuracy issues?
 
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They're only held in the stock by the crossbolt. That doesn't seem the most secure way to mount the rifle to the stock. It's great for field stripping though!

A semi-auto will never be as accurate as a bolt action. The tolerances simply can't be as tight.. of course we are talking Russian guns here...
 
I think that bedding an SVT would be a problem from the get go. First, there simply isn't enough wood on it to permit the modern mill out a trough, and bed with steel epoxy method. Likely it would be about as loose as the wood in the end anyway. Second, once this is done, cleaning is not going to be easier. You'd have to bed it such that there is enough epoxy around the cross bolt so that the rifle is sitting in the epoxy, but yet the cross pin is free to move for disassembly.

Seams like an awful lot of work to do, especially when there is no guarantee that it will make it shoot better could make it worse.

About the only guarantee that I can see in bedding an SVT(or any milsurp) is that it is going to remove any collector value there is in the SVT.
 
carbonrod said:
I think that bedding an SVT would be a problem from the get go. First, there simply isn't enough wood on it to permit the modern mill out a trough, and bed with steel epoxy method. Likely it would be about as loose as the wood in the end anyway. Second, once this is done, cleaning is not going to be easier. You'd have to bed it such that there is enough epoxy around the cross bolt so that the rifle is sitting in the epoxy, but yet the cross pin is free to move for disassembly.

Seams like an awful lot of work to do, especially when there is no guarantee that it will make it shoot better could make it worse.

About the only guarantee that I can see in bedding an SVT(or any milsurp) is that it is going to remove any collector value there is in the SVT.
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That is a very good point Carbonrod...consider the case for bedding mine closed...;)

I've read on American sites where the impact point of the first shot was always off the following shots, annoyed the Russians so much that they dropped the rifle as a sniper. Apparently the action moves...the rifle probably wasn't properly designed in the first place. Makes me think of the M14, I like the way they have vertical grooves in the fibreglass stock that hold the action in place(as I recall).

6-8" groups at 100 yards? Wow...not really that tight...
 
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carbonrod said:
I think that bedding an SVT would be a problem from the get go. First, there simply isn't enough wood on it to permit the modern mill out a trough, and bed with steel epoxy method. Likely it would be about as loose as the wood in the end anyway. Second, once this is done, cleaning is not going to be easier. You'd have to bed it such that there is enough epoxy around the cross bolt so that the rifle is sitting in the epoxy, but yet the cross pin is free to move for disassembly.

Seams like an awful lot of work to do, especially when there is no guarantee that it will make it shoot better could make it worse.

About the only guarantee that I can see in bedding an SVT(or any milsurp) is that it is going to remove any collector value there is in the SVT.
Click to expand...

These guns were built with weight saving in mind and it shows with the barrel profile and slim stocks. The action set itself at the back of the stock when fired, the crossbolt is present only to keep the action out of it, coupled with the quite soft wood you got yourself a not really accurate rifle.

Solution: Use another stock ! Be it custom wood or perhaps Robertson composite can help with a synthetic one. Another option is to make a chassis that uses the crossbolt recess and tighten to the rear of the receiver, then bolt whatever stock and handguard you like, pretty much like this one http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277596

BTW, you don't need to remove the crossbolt to clean the SVT.
 
toya said:
These guns were built with weight saving in mind and it shows with the barrel profile and slim stocks. The action set itself at the back of the stock when fired, the crossbolt is present only to keep the action out of it, coupled with the quite soft wood you got yourself a not really accurate rifle.

...

BTW, you don't need to remove the crossbolt to clean the SVT.
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yeah, I know, but I wouldn't want to bed it in place permanently either.

Truthfully, I can't think of a way to bed a factory SVT stock that would have any benefit. Like you say, a replacement stock would be the way to go if you really wanted to, but $$$ will be mucho.
 
skirsons said:
You weren't actually considering bubba-ing a milsurp were you? :eek:
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I'm not considering it bubba-ing. My SVT-40 has import marks and there is no big value in a rifle which stock is shrieked because of time
and action is too loose. Anyway, at least now i can do 2'' on 100 yrd no problem.

bedding.jpg
 
stue said:
I'm not considering it bubba-ing. My SVT-40 has import marks and there is no big value in a rifle which stock is shrieked because of time
and action is too loose. Anyway, at least now i can do 2'' on 100 yrd no problem.

bedding.jpg
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Wow- you've actually done it and it did improve the accuracy?
 
Of all the guns I have ever sold, I miss my SVT 40 the most.

It was so accurate. With iron sights, I could hit the 600m 12" gong every time.

I am sure it would have done just as good at the farther targets, but I just cant see that far.

I never did a damn thing to it either.

Now, if a smart cat were to get ahold of a little bedding material, and a good repro or, dare I dream, an original scope and mount and sparingly bond the mount into its receiver rails....

Well, then that should take care of the movement issue. And that should help me see a bit past 600. Even if its just 3x magnification.

When people talk about their SVT 40s not shooting straight, I always imagine them using cheap bulk surplus ammo.

I was lucky enough to have gotten some very nice red tipped Polish sniper ammo.

The ammo makes all the difference in the world.
 
stue said:
I'm not considering it bubba-ing. My SVT-40 has import marks and there is no big value in a rifle which stock is shrieked because of time
and action is too loose.
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That's because you are still in the first stage of milsurp loss greiving: Denial.
 
CANTOM:

Nice to see you are branching out into other rimmed cartridge rifles!

I get indifferent accuracy from my Ukranian and Finnish capture rifles. The first thing I noticed is amount of loose and rattling parts on the front end. The only thing I've found to do is tighten up the contact surfaces so the bands don't slide or turn.
 
OK this thread has got me wondering, what is everyone getting out of their rifles, accuracy-wise?

SVT 40: "They can group in a 6-8 inch circle regularly at 100 yrds with hand loads. "

BabySeal: "It was so accurate. With iron sights, I could hit the 600m 12" gong every time."

Bobby Ironsights: "I haven't heard these rifles had accuracy issues. In fact I hear they were extremely good for the time, and still competent today, similar in accuracy to the 91/30. Do you have one that's having accuracy issues?"

I have to say hitting a 12" gong at 600m with iron sights consitently, is great. However 6-8 inch groups at 100 yards is well, kind of crappy. If that's all I can get out of my rifle, it won't hold my interest, no matter how cool it is.

My rifle is the sniper version. I only put 40 rds through it and most of that was to adjust the scope. It was shooting into about 5 inch groupings at 100 yards using S&B. Conditions were poor (freezing) and to be honest, I could have been trying a little harder.

I would like to see some more input on this, what is everyone getting for groupings and with what kind of ammo? I doubt that there are a lot of people reloading for this but I will be putting together some reduced velocity handloads with cast bullets in the near future.
 
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