Finnish M91/30

lejarretnoir

lejarretnoir

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162km from Connaught
Picked up a Finn M91/30 that must have been done late in the war and never saw combat. Has a like new 1944 Tikka barrel with a slugged .3095" bore.

What are you guys handloading for accuracy in these barrels?

[Pics borrowed from seller]

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Thats really tight, most of my mosins are between .313-.315. I wouldn't load any wider than the .310 factory loads without measuring it again.
 
The very best bullet choice would be what they were designed to be fed - Lapua 200grn D-166 projectiles. Lapua catalogue number is 4PL7005,and they mike out at .3095. These were introduced to military use in 1936, with an mv of 2350fps.

Second choice (and also what I use cos I can't get D166 bullets) would be Hornady 174grn .3105 bullets which shoot beautifully behind 42grn Varget (AR2208).
 
fernleaf said:
The very best bullet choice would be what they were designed to be fed - Lapua 200grn D-166 projectiles. Lapua catalogue number is 4PL7005,and they mike out at .3095. These were introduced to military use in 1936, with an mv of 2350fps.

Second choice (and also what I use cos I can't get D166 bullets) would be Hornady 174grn .3105 bullets which shoot beautifully behind 42grn Varget (AR2208).
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You mean the FMJ/BT bullet. I'll check them out.
I have some Hornady 174gr match bullets, but they mike out .311 or so.
 
Lyman .314299 @ .313" over 17gr 2400.

The Finns shot Russian ball through these so I don't fret over my cast bullets being a thou or so over ideal. My 91 is a 1941 tikka. Lovely rifle. I will need to strip it to see if the receiver is dated, as it has an imperial eagle on it. I've got a 91/24 with the stepped barrel on the way too.
 
A friend and myself spent several years testing several MN rifles. We found that we always got the best accuracy with a .303 bullet.

Try my 'accuracy load' for a .303: 180 Sierra Pro-Hunter flatbase ahead of 38 grains of 4895. Seat to the OAL of a Ball round.

A bit on the mild side for an MN, but it sure shoots nice.

Good luck.

NICE rifle!
 
Thanks Mark-II, smellie.

Speaking of the Finns, I watched last night on youtube about the Finn/Russian War in 1939/40.
Called the coldest war in history with temps dropping to -40, -50 Celsius. The Russians outnumbered them 10 to 1 and the Finns had no tanks.
They held them off almost running out of ammo until Stalin withdrew. That is amazing resolve and defense tactics.
 
I have the exact same rifle. I love the Finnish captured russian rifles. But my barrel slugged at .307 so I just use .308 projectiles, Loads of choices.
My Plinking load is a Hornady 150 grn FMJ/BT (bullet #3037) and I load with 46.5 grains of IMR 4895.
Really accurate as well. 3" groups out to 100 meters. My range only goes to 100m :)



The center rifle...

 
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My most accurate Moisant Nagant is a 1943 M39 Finn SKY marked with Sako barrel. Best load is 311299 sized 311 over 21.0 grs H4198. Shoot the same load only sized 314 out of my other Russian 91/30's and Polish 44's. Don't bother with jacketed bullets in these rifles as cast shoots as well as I can "point" them.
 
Have several Russian Hex and wartime Ishy round receiver guns that will cut 1.25" groups with PRC ball.
 
The model 27 and 28's had .308 bores the rest should all be standard.310-.312 7.62x54r.net has a chart.
 
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