SVT-40 for hunting?

sierra6point5

sierra6point5

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Since I haven't read much around on these, I'm going to ask a direct question that's been bugging me. How well would an SVT-40 work as a hunting rifle? I know you can get soft point in 7.62x54 and it's comparable in price to other common calibres. So how does the rifle itself stack up against hunting rifles in its price range?

Also, how difficult are these to scope? Are mounts readily available?
 
I don't see why it wouldn't work well as a hunting rifle (I'm outfitting mt Norc M14s to do the same thing). May be a little heavy though. The quality of construction will, IMO, be well above a new $400 hunting rifle.
 
If you have one that shoots well enough it'd do nicely. Doesn't have to drive tacks. You'd have to pin the mag to 5 rounds.
"...how difficult are these to scope? Are mounts readily available?..." PSmilitaria is selling a mount for pre-1942 SVT's at $149.95 Can + shipping. Takes Weaver rings.
 
my cousin brings an SVT-40 as a back up rifle, odd thing is he lugs it around more then he does his ruger M77. She's accurate too. A bit on the heavy side, so he said. Im used to carrying around my 12 lb M14
 
sunray said:
If you have one that shoots well enough it'd do nicely. Doesn't have to drive tacks. You'd have to pin the mag to 5 rounds.
"...how difficult are these to scope? Are mounts readily available?..." PSmilitaria is selling a mount for pre-1942 SVT's at $149.95 Can + shipping. Takes Weaver rings.
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the mag would already be pinned:confused:
the 762x54 is plently powerful to hunt almost anything in north america, it is up to your skills as a shooter/hunter that will make the difference:sniper:
 
I guess I was mostly curious about accuracy, every 2nd thread is about an SKS but the SVT-40 seems to be a rare topic. I noticed there's a new site sponsor selling them for under $300, add the cost of mounting a scope to it and it would be around the same price as your average bolt action hunting rifle. I know virtually nothing about these though
 
sierra6point5 said:
I guess I was mostly curious about accuracy, every 2nd thread is about an SKS but the SVT-40 seems to be a rare topic. I noticed there's a new site sponsor selling them for under $300, add the cost of mounting a scope to it and it would be around the same price as your average bolt action hunting rifle. I know virtually nothing about these though
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Who is the sponser that is selling these? I want!
 
It works great, but very loud. Actually too loud without hearing protection. They shoot great and have plenty of power, as mentioned above. The shortened magazine is a benefit for hunting, smaller and less stuff to catch on. I got mine from Westrifle, but other vendors have them as well. Some places have a package deal with MFS soft point ammo. Most SVT-40 have the slots in the receiver for scope mounts, but it still requires another top/rear hole for the Russian type scopes.


175 yards. heart shot. Open sights.



IMG00021-20100917-1252.jpg
 
Might as well use it for hunting - of all the rifles I've seen,only the Johnson comes close to the SVT for "I'm going to kill you" looks.

I have one on the way from Badger, can't wait to start playing.
 
sierra6point5 said:
What do you mean by slots in the reciever?
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The Russian scopes were held on the rifle by two slots low on the receiver sides and another top/rear hole at the back. Most SVTs built before 1942 have the slots, but only the "sniper" version has a receiver with the high rear hole. One can be machined to fit the original type Russian scope, assuming that is the type of scope you want. The SVT does not have the typical Weaver style mount. There may be other options, but I don't know what they are, nor really need scopes on my milsurps. I like iron sights.
 
We've used one for hunting. We just used the iron sights and found them accurate enough. Nice and loud - I wore ear plugs but the other person didn't and complained that his ears were ringing!
 
This is giving me the itch to take my SVT or maybe one of my M/N hunting. Now I just need to get my "marksmanship" down because I'm shooting minute of man at 50 meters, open sight with czech surplus. Terrible. I hope its just me and not the rifle.

sierra6point5 said:
Why did this get moved? An SVT-40 is as red as it gets, it was in the correct forum to begin with.
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The SVT-40 is a milsurp, it was used in WW2.
 
I reload 150 grain soft points and did end up taking out my SVT-40 hunting this year. Only once though and it was a day with great weather. Just casual hunting with the girlfriend. For more serious hunting in adverse weather there are better tools.
 
alexD92 said:
This is giving me the itch to take my SVT or maybe one of my M/N hunting. Now I just need to get my "marksmanship" down because I'm shooting minute of man at 50 meters, open sight with czech surplus. Terrible. I hope its just me and not the rifle.
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Get a bolt .22LR with similar styled open sights. Such as a CZ, a Norinco clone cz or a Winchester Wildcat. Shoot a couple thousand rounds and then try the SVT and your Mosins again.

Dot the I. Keep your eyes open.
 
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