SVT-40 cycling issues? Or ammo issues?

adanacdjm

adanacdjm

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I took my newly acquired SVT-40 out to the range yesterday and again today but I'm having issues.
Yesterday I fired one round and it didn't eject the spent shell. Took out the magazine and firing pin and on advice from someone who has an SVT-40 using my foot I pushed down on the arm and ejected the spent shell casing. Came home and stripped it down, cleaned it and oiled it up and tried again today. Same issue, first round didn't eject so I stomped on the arm and out popped my spent cartridge. Then tried again with similar results - gun did not eject but I could now pull back on the arm to eject the spent round.

It could very well be the ammo as it was surplus stuff of dubious character. Will try one more time with better quality - top shelf rounds to see if that makes a difference.

Anyone else late run into this issue?
Thanks,
Dave
 
You must line up the gas system witness mark with the line scribed on the gas block for there to be proper function of the SVT40 rifle.

Ask me how I know. :)

gas-system-adjustment.jpg


gas-system-mark.jpg
 
I had the same problem with with one of my svt-40's. I had to use a rubber mallet to open the action. I was pissed. This would happen on a unfired round as well. Brass case or surplus. It turned out the chamber was coated in paint or bluing material from the rearsenaling process. I had to remove this coating and polished the chamber. It cycled with no problems after and runs with surplus with gas setting at 1.3 with no problem.
 
Desert_Fox said:
You must line up the gas system witness mark with the line scribed on the gas block for there to be proper function of the SVT40 rifle.

Ask me how I know. :)

gas-system-adjustment.jpg


gas-system-mark.jpg
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Its this more often than not. If it persists, move it up a notch and try again.
 
Check the chamber, some have very thick residue of hardened cosmo, even preventing feeding. Have snap caps to test cycling aftervthorough chamber cleaning. Don't start firing with gas setting 1.7 unless you want to damage your rifle. Properly maintained rifle should use 1.2 or 1.3. But agai, before firing start with cycling check.
 
The gas system was between 1.2 and 1.3 - I aligned it to the gas system witness mark which was at 1.3. Will try to get out this weekend to see if that solves my problem .
Thanks for the guidance.
Regards,
Dave
 
The SVT is proof that soldiering is for young guys. I damnd near need a magnifying glass to read the numbers on the gas valve. That little piece is the wortse part of the SVT system. It wouldn't be hard to lose that in the snow.
 
adanacdjm said:
The gas system was between 1.2 and 1.3 - I aligned it to the gas system witness mark which was at 1.3. Will try to get out this weekend to see if that solves my problem .
Thanks for the guidance.
Regards,
Dave
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Gas system in any "between smth" position means no gases were allowed to pass, that explains :)
 
points said:
The SVT is proof that soldiering is for young guys. I damnd near need a magnifying glass to read the numbers on the gas valve. That little piece is the wortse part of the SVT system. It wouldn't be hard to lose that in the snow.
Click to expand...

That part wouldn't pop out easily. If you're on a snowy frontline trench waiting for the enemy, you might run a few patches through your barrel but taking apart the gas system likely wouldn't have been done on the front lines. I've got Finnish captured SVT's that look like no one on either side ever took apart that part of the rifle ;)
 
I certainly hope that adjusting this setting to the correct one - 1.3 will address the issue of ejecting the spent shell. I was wondering if by firing the 10 rounds I might have damaged the gun? It does not appear so but others probably know better than I what damage might have occurred. Thanks, Dave
 
adanacdjm said:
I certainly hope that adjusting this setting to the correct one - 1.3 will address the issue of ejecting the spent shell. I was wondering if by firing the 10 rounds I might have damaged the gun? It does not appear so but others probably know better than I what damage might have occurred. Thanks, Dave
Click to expand...

I'm sure the rifle is fine.
 
adanacdjm said:
I certainly hope that adjusting this setting to the correct one - 1.3 will address the issue of ejecting the spent shell. I was wondering if by firing the 10 rounds I might have damaged the gun? It does not appear so but others probably know better than I what damage might have occurred. Thanks, Dave
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Don;t worry, it could stand a lot.
 
adanacdjm said:
I certainly hope that adjusting this setting to the correct one - 1.3 will address the issue of ejecting the spent shell. I was wondering if by firing the 10 rounds I might have damaged the gun? It does not appear so but others probably know better than I what damage might have occurred. Thanks, Dave
Click to expand...

It's almost impossible to break a Russian gun. Load her up and have fun!!

My brothers SVT was the same right from factory, had to hammer open the bolt with a soft mallet. Put the gas setting on 1.3 and it's been good ever since.
 
The cleaning rod from a shotgun kit in a cordless drill with a 20 gauge brass brush will fit through the back of the rifle and polish up the chamber real nice for you.
 
adanacdjm said:
I certainly hope that adjusting this setting to the correct one - 1.3 will address the issue of ejecting the spent shell. I was wondering if by firing the 10 rounds I might have damaged the gun? It does not appear so but others probably know better than I what damage might have occurred. Thanks, Dave
Click to expand...

Just a FYI the correct setting will depend on the ammo your shooting. And one gun may shoot at one setting and another gun shooting the same ammo may need to be at a different setting to shoot reliably. And shooting between settings (gas off) will not hurt the gun, it is just hard to extract the spent round like you experienced. Get her figured out and have fun.
 
Tinman204 said:
It's almost impossible to break a Russian gun. Load her up and have fun!!

My brothers SVT was the same right from factory, had to hammer open the bolt with a soft mallet. Put the gas setting on 1.3 and it's been good ever since.
Click to expand...

Exactly. These guns were specifically designed to survive the worst that World War 2 could throw at them. You'll have to try a LOT harder to hurt it.

Firing it with the gas closed off? You basically just made it into a Mosin for a few shots, that's all.
 
Still not cycling properly.

I had my tokarev SVT-40 back out to the range today and although I had the gas setting lined up at 1.3 with the witness line the gun did not eject the spent shells. Once I fired the receiver slid back with the spent shell but it would catch on the front of the chamber and I had to manually pull back on the bolt to clear the shell. I should have snapped a photo but didn't think of that until I got home. I did keep a couple of the spent shells and noticed that they had a lot if discolouration compared to the spent shells from my other Mosin Nagant 91/30. Here is a picture of the spent shells. Not sure what to do next - I 'll strip it down and clean the ejector. Someone mentioned making sure the gas port was cleaned out. Where should I be looking for that to ensure that it is not blocked ?
8E1A1753-01E9-47FE-90A4-96A0D5FE5928.jpg
 
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