Finnish M39 vs Swedish M38

Old Ranger said:
I've owned 2 M38's and a M39 for more than 20yrs. One of the 38's was my go to rifle for "turkey shoots" for years. For all round shooting enjoyment I would choose a Swede every time. Having said that I never had much success with cast bullets in my 6.6x55's. Most of my Moisant Nagants are good cast bullet shooters if the bores are in decent condition.
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Swedish M38 in 6.5x55mm for me. I tried 6-7 different powders with a Lyman 150 grain cast gas checked RN bullet. The best accuracy I got was with IMR 4227. Accuracy was good enough to win me 2 belt buckles for 3rd place at the US SASS National Championships in 2015 & 2016, the long range side matches using pre 1912 bolt action military rifles. Both years the Swedes just smoked the Mosins.
 
Tough call... Both are very nice rifles, well built and very accurate.

I would choose the Husqvarna M38 but by a slight margin.
IMO 6.5X55 is a better caliber.
 
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M38 would be my choice because IMO it is a more refined system. I've never handled a Mosin style rifle that had comparable smoothness when working the action.
 
The Swede for me all the way. I have never shot a Mosin, but ever one I have handled has seemed rather rough compared to the Swedes.

Regarding the comment someone made about rather having a battle tried rifle for the history, The Finns did use some of the Swedish 96 rifles against the Russians back in 1939. It's possible some of the shorter 38 versions were used also.

Off that subject, one of my favorite rifles is a Swedish Husqvarna M46 sporter in 9.3x57, a pure M96 action, some of the parts even have the imperial Swedish crown marks. It's fairly light, handy, and the way it fits me seems to point like a fine double barrel shotgun.
 
I've owned both, I still own a model 38.

The model 38 has a turned down bolt handle and a #### on push action, it's almost as fast as a Lee Enfield. Combine that with plentiful and good quality stripper clips and you have a rate of fire that's about as good as it gets with a bolt action rifle.

The model 39, while as smooth as a mosin gets, is nearly impossible to shoot without dropping it off your shoulder to cycle the action. Mix that in with the terrible Mosin stripper clip and you get a far inferior rate of fire.
 
saskbooknut said:
There is no Mosin Nagant that could be referred to as refined. While the Finnish version can be an accurate rifle, I find the handling characteristics downright crude. Just my opinion.

The Swedish M38 is a sophisticated and refined rifle, which is accurate, and of course zero can be adjusted if not as desired. Paul Mauser was a brilliant firearms designer, inventor.

And yes, I have a M38 Swedish rifle, a nice 1941 Husqvarna without the muzzle thread.
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I concur. I've had M39's and I thought they handled like a 3" fencepost. Such thick ( to my hand ) forearm wood does nothing for the balance with me. Impressive rifles, but ergonomics wise...not for me thank you.
 
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