soft primers?
All the most probable causes were advised (gas system, trigger unit, firing pin) so I'll add least probable one - try to change ammo. Any combloc surplus should be fine, not all SVT-40 digest Chinese and avoid commercial unless you are really know what you're doing.
Maybe it’s trying to gender identity as an AVT!
There is solid discussion on GB about how commercial ammo can kill your SVT-40. I won't go into details on what's possible and what's not. However from basic troubleshooting point of view, use what rifle was designed for at this stage.
Hammer and sear look fine.
Maybe let someone else shoot it and see if the problem is still there,could be trigger control?
OP. You probably have weak Firing Pin spring in the bolt. Its critical that the FP stays below face of the bolt when rifle cycles. If spring of FP is weak, inertia of the bolt closing on second round allows FP to protrude past resistance of the spring and reach the primer, thus firing second round without pulling the trigger. You have to go to the source of the problem, remove FP from the bolt, clean and inspect FP channel in the bolt, inspect for abnormal wear and sand areas of FP that can cause it to bind and stay protruded past bolt face.
I had similar issue with one of my SVT when using reloads with soft primers, bursts of 3-4 rds were common. After swapping FP and spring in the bolt problem went away.
I know they are sensitive to heavy ball or light ball and that heavy ball can damage the rifle. I have no idea why commercial ammo would be bad if its light ball.
I took it appart. Firing pin move freely and spring look strong enough to prevent inertia to set off a round. Sear and hammer look fine to but im no expert so i took these two pic. The finish is still all there they dont look worn out or anything.
I had the same problem in mine,taking a close look at the trigger group it became obvious that someone in the past had done
a "trigger job" on the hammer,only small groove left for the sear to engage.
Solution was to replace the hammer,problem solved,cycles perfectly on 1.2 gas setting,brass comes out with just a minute dent
on the side.
Take it to a gunsmith for repair or replace the trigger group components on spec.
The 1st components I would try in an old milsurp are the springs in the fire control group. Likely weak after 70 + years.
they do look un-messed with. though a visual examination of the pin and spring can't tell you much - the spring may look fine but it may not even be the correct spring! - hopefully you have access to another/someone SVT who can loan you the bolt & trigger group.
but it is odd that you get 2 round bursts and not 2/3/4/5 .... even poor trigger control isn't as consistent as that.
Did you try any other brand of ammo? Any surplus?
Haven’t and its a bit tricky to do. 7.62x54r can’t be bought local here and having a 20rnd box of different ammo shipped here is not the cheapest thing. We usually buy once and shoot what we ordered over summer. Ill see if i run out of pistol ammo i might have to order a big batch thAt way i could maybe get a few box of different 7.62x54r if tenda has some in stock
Well that's the thing 20 rds is nothing for SVT you won't even notice it. You just dirty up the rifle. Probably get a crate of particular surplus brand at least and shoot it. Surplus has harder primers and they seated deeper in the case, this may remedy the problem.
Well 20 should be enough just to see if they just simply work like they should. I get about 5 burst over 20 round with the ammo i have atm. And this is if the firing pin actually make it fire with its momentum. If i check the next round in the chamber without firing and it doesnt have any lightstrike mark harder primer wont change a thing it mean its either user induced failure or trigger assembly



























