Thinking of buying a svt40, What's your opinion?

[Squinty]

Umm ya! Its not a concept rifle, its a Military issued rifle futher updated and perfected from the SVT38. Thats your opinion of it and thats fine but if your having that much trouble field stripping it its just not the gun for you with your level of abilities.

I'm sure though if you watched some videos and read up on it a bit you would get much more comfortable field stripping it and adjusting the gas to shoot it reliably. I find it a very fascinating rifle and am glad I got one! Might even buy another.

First all, disparage my level of abilities if you will, but I own dozens of military rifles and this is the only one I've ever had trouble field stripping. I wanted to like this rifle, but I hate it. There are too many little flimsy--looking parts and I stand by what I said. It is a nightmare to field strip and even less fun than drinking sour milk.

This is a very important detail because with corrosive ammo, one has to take the entire rifle apart in order to keep it working.

I'm glad you like your SVT, but I am only trying to help the OP. He might not want the grief.

The OP should get an SKS instead. The SKS is a much better rifle in every respect and it is what the SVT could have been had Simonov been allowed to clean up the design

 

[PantherD1943]

First all, disparage my level of abilities if you will, but I own dozens of military rifles and this is the only one I've ever had trouble field stripping. I wanted to like this rifle, but I hate it. There are too many little flimsy--looking parts and I stand by what I said. It is a nightmare to field strip and even less fun than drinking sour milk.

This is a very important detail because with corrosive ammo, one has to take the entire rifle apart in order to keep it working.

I'm glad you like your SVT, but I am only trying to help the OP. He might not want the grief.

The OP should get an SKS instead. The SKS is a much better rifle in every respect and it is what the SVT could have been had Simonov been allowed to clean up the design

Its easier than most make it out to be OP. The only part that seems flimsy is the recoil spring but that is easy to be careful about.

 

[Scootb]

Its still an awesome rifle,I want more just been building my SKS collection up first as it costs less to buy more lol.

 

[DJdeadlyDALEK]

That rifle is not difficult to take apart and put back together. There are great videos on YouTube if you happen to be having problems. I even made one

 

[NintendoDuckHunt87]

SVT is somewhat more complicated than the SKS but, both were still designed with zero-education conscripts in-mind though, the SVT-40 less so.

As to whether or not it's a good rifle, the Nazis and Finns were really fond of taking them from the dead and using them themselves. That says something.

Mine with refinished stock:

German soldier using a procured one:

More German soldiers armed with Soviet SVT-40's:
http://2.bp.########.com/-s7m7RwQyMvo/Tl8vDFDJDII/AAAAAAAAHCk/6Ue49DFSKVg/s640/german-soldiers-receive-orders-for-an-attack-soviet-SVT-40-rifle.jpg

SS Member carrying an SVT-40:

Czech Sniper Valentina Benevska:

Riddle me this: Why would a military that's well-armed with home-produced weaponry grab the enemy's rifles from their fallen?
A: Because the SVT-40 is a rock-solid rifle and even the Soviet-hating Nazi's knew it.

 

[Assassin-Actual]

when I first got my svt I couldn't wait to shoot it. cleaned the 50lbs of cosmoline out of her and took her to the range. it's was -38 that day gas setting on 1.3 Bulgarian surplus and mfs 185 zero issues after 100 rounds. taken it would 4 times since and as long as you load the mag properly with the rims in front of each other no problem.

 

[lalunette]

Riddle me this:

Why would a military that's well-armed with home-produced weaponry grab the enemy's rifles from their fallen?

A: Because the SVT-40 is a rock-solid rifle and even the Soviet-hating Nazis knew it.

Darn tootin' !!

The Nazis went to the point of renaming the rifle and issuing an "owner's manual" in German for it !!

The SVT-40's gas system was then copied and used in the German replacement version of a semi-auto rifle 'cause their first go at it was not that successful.

So, I trust all this info has convinced the OP to:

1) drop whatever he's doing
2) haul his ass down to his LGS
3) buy himself an SVT-40 and some surplus ammo
4) clean it properly
5) go out and shoot it !!!

 

[lalunette]

OK, found it...

The Red Army's Self Loading Rifles
A Brief History Of The Tokarev Rifles
Models of 1938 and 1940
From Vic Thomas Of Michigan Historical Collectables


The Wermacht used captured SVTs extensively throughout the war. They were used in such great numbers that the German High Command issued German ID numbers for them. The SVT-38 was known as the SIG.258(r), the SVT-40 as the SIG.259(r), and the SVT-40 Sniper Rifle was designated the SIG.Zf260(r).

On April 17, 1942 the German high command issued order number 1384/42-AHA/In(VII) pertaining to the "Use and sighting of the Russian self loading rifles". The order was in two parts, the first being regulation pertaining to captured weapons and sighting in at 100 meters using the Soviet 7.62mm s.S.(r) ammunition with a yellow tip. The second part concerned with special instructions on firing three shots and measuring the grouping for acceptable tolerance. That tolerance was to be within 10cm. If after the first three shots further sighting was to be done, only single shots totaling four were to be done for a total of seven cartridges expended. If further adjustment was to be done, the rifle was to be sent to the regimental armourer. Rifles that required repair or further adjustment were stamped with a Waffenampt, or test eagle, on the receiver, bolt carrier, barrel, or the stock. The German troops were very fond of this rifle and used them until they ran out of ammunition.

So... convinced yet that the SVT-40 is an AWESOME rifle ??

 

[crashcollins]

First all, disparage my level of abilities if you will, but I own dozens of military rifles and this is the only one I've ever had trouble field stripping. I wanted to like this rifle, but I hate it. There are too many little flimsy--looking parts and I stand by what I said. It is a nightmare to field strip and even less fun than drinking sour milk.

This is a very important detail because with corrosive ammo, one has to take the entire rifle apart in order to keep it working.

I'm glad you like your SVT, but I am only trying to help the OP. He might not want the grief.

The OP should get an SKS instead. The SKS is a much better rifle in every respect and it is what the SVT could have been had Simonov been allowed to clean up the design

Sorry! Wasn't trying to disparage you, just pointing out that I can see how it may intimidate some People who are not comfortable field stripping any milsurp beyond a bolt action or a SKS. But when you delve into it with proper preparation it's not as bad as you make it out to be thats all. They are a good buy for the money as is the SKS as you point out.

 

[crashcollins]

Delete double tap

 

[grelmar]

I'm glad you like your SVT, but I am only trying to help the OP. He might not want the grief.

The OP should get an SKS instead. The SKS is a much better rifle in every respect and it is what the SVT could have been had Simonov been allowed to clean up the design

With a little time and patience, learning how to strip and clean an SVT = non hard. Yes, doing a "proper" strip and clean is important if you're using corrosive ammo, but I really don't find it all that complicated. More complicated than an SKS? Sure. More complicated than an AR? I dunno, I think AR's are a pain, but other guys seem to like them.

And saying an SKS is better in every respect is, well, completely wrongheaded. It is better in some respects. Lighter, shorter, easier for point shooting, easier to strip and clean, and honestly, more reliable even with basic maintenance.

But here's what the SVT has going for it: Better and more powerful cartridge, that's better suited for hunting. Double (easily) the effective range. With tweaking and tuning, can be made far more accurate (largely due to the better ballistics of 7.62x54R). Will it take some effort and time to get that extra accuracy? Yup, but the potential is definitely there. You'll see SVT's at service rifle competitions, and holding their own doing it. You'll never see an SKS do the same.

Comparing the SVT to the SKS is like comparing the M14 to the M1 Carbine. Both rifles have their strong points and weak points. Both have their intended use cases. If you use either one within its intended use case, it will outclass the other in that area.

 

[Squinty]

I really don't want to argue with anyone. I paid $300 and now I have an SVT-40 for my collection of military rifles. But sad to say, it was a cruel disappointment. It had the potential to be the best rifle of World War 2; however, it was not. Comparing the SVT-40 to the Garand M1 is like comparing a three legged lame donkey to a thoroughbred racehorse.

Here's my Garand:




Thank goodness, I can shoot this Garand rather than waste my time with the Tokarev.

If the OP wants to try out the SVT-40, I will send him mine and he can borrow it. That why he can decide for himself whether he should buy one.

 

[desporterizer]

What make the m-1 so superior to the svt?

 

[Squinty]

Better sights, better trigger, stainless steel gas cylinder, better balanced, easier to field strip, stronger receiver, stronger gutsy parts, rimless cartridge more suitable for a semi auto, faster to reload, has rotating bolt that offers positive primary extraction, made of better materials.

Anyway, I will send the OP my SVT so he can try it out risk free. If he likes it, he can go and buy one. But if he feels as I do, then at least he won't be stuck with one.

 

[desporterizer]

Better sights, better trigger, stainless steel gas cylinder, better balanced, easier to field strip, stronger receiver, stronger gutsy parts, rimless cartridge more suitable for a semi auto, faster to reload, has rotating bolt that offers positive primary extraction, made of better materials.

Anyway, I will send the OP my SVT so he can try it out risk free. If he likes it, he can go and buy one. But if he feels as I do, then at least he won't be stuck with one.

Better sights is subjective, trigger varies from rifle to rifle, gass cyl is stainless but the barrel is not, easier to field strip?, I have never had an svt receiver break or anything else for that matter, cartridge was determined by country or origin like the bren, m1 is faster to reload if you have a ready supply of enblocks but impossible to load at all if you don't.

Its easy to build a decent firearm in quantity if you are not relocating your factories, getting bombed & your workers are not living on 700 calories a day. I have had two garands & remain unconvinced of it superiority to any other semi of the era.

 

[EL34/6L6]

I really don't want to argue with anyone. I paid $300 and now I have an SVT-40 for my collection of military rifles. But sad to say, it was a cruel disappointment. It had the potential to be the best rifle of World War 2; however, it was not. Comparing the SVT-40 to the Garand M1 is like comparing a three legged lame donkey to a thoroughbred racehorse.

Here's my Garand:




Thank goodness, I can shoot this Garand rather than waste my time with the Tokarev.

If the OP wants to try out the SVT-40, I will send him mine and he can borrow it. That why he can decide for himself whether he should buy one.

Nice Garand. I take one of those over 100 SVT40s

 

[Grove]

Better sights, better trigger, stainless steel gas cylinder, better balanced, easier to field strip, stronger receiver, stronger gutsy parts, rimless cartridge more suitable for a semi auto, faster to reload, has rotating bolt that offers positive primary extraction, made of better materials.

Anyway, I will send the OP my SVT so he can try it out risk free. If he likes it, he can go and buy one. But if he feels as I do, then at least he won't be stuck with one.

Faster to reload perhaps, but how easy is it to top up a enbloc clip vs the SVT's magazine?

The SVT does not eject a clip that makes a notoriously recognizable PING when empty.

For combat purposes, I'd take the SVT-40 any day over the M1 Garand.

 

[desporterizer]

Faster to reload perhaps, but how easy is it to top up a enbloc clip vs the SVT's magazine?

Topping up is easy but no clip, no load.

 

[Squinty]

Garand ammo was issued in clips. So the only way to be out of clips would be to be out of ammo first. Anyway, I am done arguing about the patently obvious.

I will send the OP my SVT and he can decide for himself. And while he's deciding, I will be shooting other better rifles.

 

[desporterizer]

Garand ammo was issued in clips. So the only way to be out of clips would be to be out of ammo first. Anyway, I am done arguing about the patently obvious.

I will send the OP my SVT and he can decide for himself. And while he's deciding, I will be shooting other better rifles.

It WAS issued in clips but not anymore & its not an argument, its a discussion. I am so sick of people on the internet touting the virtues of the garand while ignoring all of its faults and planting the "BEST" flag atop mount milsurp. The garand is a fine rifle but its also heavy, expensive, has handguards just as fragile as an svt 40, shoots expensive ammo that is difficult to find in quantity, has an aperture rear sight just waiting to be snapped off or bent at higher elevation settings, no original adjustment for the gas system, has an annoying tendency to try to chamber fingers, etc, etc.