Questions about getting an SVT 40 or Mosin-Nagant

I almost have the full Soviet collection (only missing two firearms until I consider it complete).

I personally don't really like the SVT-40, it is neat and from a historical perspective very cool but overall it is a pain to get working properly. They are picky with ammo (i.e. only works with certain surplus), and they are a pain to clean. They also aren't the most accurate semi auto, but if your comparing them to a SKS they are light years ahead. Mine if it does get shot is only shot with non-corrosive modern ammo (I think I buy MFS steel case most of the time), but honestly I have only shot the thing 5 times in 4 years. Nothing is more frustrating then trying to get a gun to work that doesn't want to (if it doesn't go bang every time I am not really interested).

The Mosin Nagant is a fantastic design though, reliable, easy to use, very accurate, and at the moment pretty cheap. Tons of variations if your interested in collecting but not so many that it is impossible to do (I try to collect one of each main model, for example, M91/30, M38, M44 etc.). And the best part is for cleaning corrosive ammo all you have to do is take the bolt out, put a funnel in the chamber, pour hot water down the funnel, and do a pull through to clean it afterwards.

Overall they are both good rifles for the price, but the Mosin Nagant gets my vote over the SVT-40 every time.
 
Eaglelord17 said:
I personally don't really like the SVT-40, it is neat and from a historical perspective very cool but overall it is a pain to get working properly. They are picky with ammo (i.e. only works with certain surplus), and they are a pain to clean. They also aren't the most accurate semi auto, but if your comparing them to a SKS they are light years ahead. Mine if it does get shot is only shot with non-corrosive modern ammo (I think I buy MFS steel case most of the time), but honestly I have only shot the thing 5 times in 4 years. Nothing is more frustrating then trying to get a gun to work that doesn't want to (if it doesn't go bang every time...
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It sound like you should spend a bit of time to dial it in, once the gas system is adjusted properly or other issues are tweaked they run like champs. At least that's my experience with the two I own, both had a small hicup initially. Once sorted out they've been solid running semi's, they are Red's after all. I love my mosin too though, as a lefty it's one of the easier bolts to cycle, not having a turned down bolt is a plus as a southpaw.
 
When I was less experienced with the SVT-40 I also was in the camp that "It's hard to clean" and "It's finicky" and "It's ammo sensitive".

That's all hogwash. It just needs a proper gas setting, it seems we're all trying to under gas them. Also, the front barrel band needs to be shimmed under both metal heat shields to tighten up the front band and the fit in the stock. They were originally tight but after refurbishment it's all mixed and matched. It's just as easy to clean as an SKS and with some practice you'll be done in no time. If you get light strikes you just need a new hammer spring or to shim the old one. It's just worn out. The flutes will wreck your brass though. Don't use new brass for the SVT-40.

I will say though that a Mosin-Nagant honestly takes 10 minutes to clean even after firing surplus.
 
Butcherbill said:
It sound like you should spend a bit of time to dial it in, once the gas system is adjusted properly or other issues are tweaked they run like champs. At least that's my experience with the two I own, both had a small hicup initially. Once sorted out they've been solid running semi's, they are Red's after all. I love my mosin too though, as a lefty it's one of the easier bolts to cycle, not having a turned down bolt is a plus as a southpaw.
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Gas was sorted out. First two times shooting the thing, it wouldn't work with the surplus I tried (light primer strikes, I was shooting Czech and Chinese ammo though which both are known for there hard primers). Last three times I had it up and running fine (other than the odd time it wouldn't pick up a round). Semis don't really do it for me in the first place, and I hate having to play around with them. I also don't like having to pay for the more expensive ammo to get it to work, and since reloading isn't really a option the SVT-40 will likely sit in my safe for a while before being shot again.

I will say the lefty point is also a very good one about the Mosin Nagant, it seems I get more leverage as a lefty then most right-handed people.
 
I collect the SVT-40 (currently have 16) so that's my top recommendation but I love all Soviet arms from that era. My M44 comes with me whenever I hit the range but the recoil on that is deadly compared to an SKS but you get fireballs that stretch a good ten, fifteen feet out from the muzzle after each shot and you'll have tons of people at your range wanting to try it. In regards to Soviet hand guns if that age, I prefer my TT33's compared to my Nagant revolver but you still need one of those rare pistols to complete a Soviet collection :)
 
I'm with JJDD on this- love the SVT. Just have to remember that guns came out of these Soviet refurb schemes in different states of readiness. I've had both SVT's and 91/30's that were hitting 2 or 3 feet off the point of aim as received (in grease). I've noticed that the SVT refurbs are also hit and miss as far as how well they fit in their replacement stocks- some are so loose there's no point shooting without putting some shims in. On the other hand, I have a few that are very well fit into nice fat AVT stocks. On the positive side, all of the SVT's I've shot (7 or 8) have cycled well with just about any commercial or surplus ammo and I've seen not even a hint of headspace issues which was a problem, apparently, when the first of these were being issued. Find yourself a good one and you won't regret it!

milsurpo
 
I really like shooting both, but only for a bit, they have a wicked kick to them, the Mosin more so than the SVT. The old shoulder gets pretty sore. I always wondered how the Russians fired those things all day, they must have had some pretty good bruises. Tough guys for sure.
 
bp2626 said:
It's just as easy to clean as an SKS
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Just as easy to clean as an SKS-45 does not mean that an SVT-40 is easier to clean than a Mosin-Nagant, particularly when it comes to something like the firing pin mechanism. I will grant you, however, that people oversell the difficulty of maintenance of the SVT (and to a lesser extent the SKS). At the end of the day most of the popular military surplus rifles that we all know and love are fairly easy to clean and maintain once you get comfortable disassembling and assembling them.

I think people need to practice that more often just for the hell of it, not just load up a Youtube video to figure it out when they get back from the range after firing corrosive ammunition. Sit at your desk and take the damned things apart, put them back together, then repeat. Over and over.

Hell, I can probably still take an FNC1A1 apart and put it back together in the dark :)
 
Eaglelord17 said:
Gas was sorted out. First two times shooting the thing, it wouldn't work with the surplus I tried (light primer strikes, I was shooting Czech and Chinese ammo though which both are known for there hard primers). Last three times I had it up and running fine (other than the odd time it wouldn't pick up a round). Semis don't really do it for me in the first place, and I hate having to play around with them. I also don't like having to pay for the more expensive ammo to get it to work, and since reloading isn't really a option the SVT-40 will likely sit in my safe for a while before being shot again.

I will say the lefty point is also a very good one about the Mosin Nagant, it seems I get more leverage as a lefty then most right-handed people.
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That's too bad, I've always found the svt40 to be pretty bomb proof, once you get things tuned out. Mine run well on new production Norinco, silver tip Bulgarian as well as mfs soft point. Have never had any soft strikes but as mentioned a new spring should solve that problem.
 
Gillen1 said:
Just use a pair of needlenose pliers to get that screw out.
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I have tried but that crossbolt is really on there. I also currently don't have anything small enough withough scraping some wood around the bolt hole. I don't want to scar my nice no repairs Svt-40 stock....I will keep trying though, next time i need to dissassemble to clean
 
Spotagwan said:
I have tried but that crossbolt is really on there. I also currently don't have anything small enough withough scraping some wood around the bolt hole. I don't want to scar my nice no repairs Svt-40 stock....I will keep trying though, next time i need to dissassemble to clean
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Before I bought the arsenal tool I took a 5mm socket and dremeled a notch in it, it fits in the hole in the stock perfect. I have it on the screwdriver handle from my socket set. The cheapo sks sight adjustment tool works great as well. Here's pics of all three, factory, sight tool and my diy tool. All work great.
 
I even take off the muzzle brake assembly every time as well. They are pretty easy to take appart. But putting the bolt cover back on with the scope in place is a PITA. And I have forgotten to put the cleaning rod retainer back in twice now... And only noticed once it was back together.. LOL
 
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