SVT-40 & Heavy Grain Ammo?

Mumbles Marble Mouth

Mumbles Marble Mouth

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
81   0   0
Location
Lower Mainland
Got a question regarding firing heavy grain ammo though an SVT-40. Found a lot of stuff on the net about people saying heavy grain ammo will damage the gas system. I couldn't find any cases of someone breaking their SVT-40 due to firing heavy grain ammo and and couldn't find warnings to not use the heavy grain ammo. I want a good answer as to how heavy grain ammo would damage the gas system.
 
I fired some Prvi 182 grain FMJ through my SVT, and she no likey. The bolt would freeze shut after every shot, even after I scrubbed the chamber. I'd have to tap the gun open with the cleaning rod... Not fun. Switching to 150 grain soft points cleared that right up :) YMMV, of course
 
I had some issues using 182gr fmj untill i adjusted the gas port to 1.7, and then it had no problems. My SVT likes the 147gr on gas setting 1.5 .
 
Because they were all I could find without buying a whole crate of surplus, I fired some 185gr FMJ and some 203gr soft points and I didn't notice anything abnormal. It ejected and loaded the next round properly on three quarters of the rounds and extracted but failed to eject the rest. Gas was set to 1.3. I'd like to set it higher but I don't have an SVT gas wrench.
 
^ You can pop out the gas adjustment with the gas system stripped and put it back in at the desired setting. I don't think there's as big an issue with heavy bullets in these guns as some would believe. The gas system just needs to be adjusted to the lowest setting that will operate the action. With the system wide open and clean even 147 gr ball would slam the action pretty hard.
 
I've been shooting 185gr MFS FMJ rounds out of my SVT-40 on gas setting 1.5 and it fired all 20 rounds with out issues. I just had someone at the range one day tell me how bad it is to run heavy bullets through an SVT-40. Then when I asked him why its bad, he just looked stupid and said, "Its all over the internet." So I just wanted to make good and sure I'm not doing something bad.My SVT-40 loves this ammo I got for it and groups very well with it averaging 3 - 4" at 100 meters. I don't mind dealing with corrosive ammo though my Mosin but god forbid I ever have to clean the SVT-40 after running corrosive though it.

Camaroguy said:
Because they were all I could find without buying a whole crate of surplus, I fired some 185gr FMJ and some 203gr soft points and I didn't notice anything abnormal. It ejected and loaded the next round properly on three quarters of the rounds and extracted but failed to eject the rest. Gas was set to 1.3. I'd like to set it higher but I don't have an SVT gas wrench.
Click to expand...



Go to your local tool store and look for a wrench like this. Fits the gas adjustment like its made for it. ;) A 5.5mm socket works to although its a bit loose.
 
kennymo said:
^ You can pop out the gas adjustment with the gas system stripped and put it back in at the desired setting. I don't think there's as big an issue with heavy bullets in these guns as some would believe. The gas system just needs to be adjusted to the lowest setting that will operate the action. With the system wide open and clean even 147 gr ball would slam the action pretty hard.
Click to expand...

Good to know, thanks kennymo.

Mark, I haven't made one because I can barely find the time to handload the 80 rounds of 30-06 I shoot every week. I suppose I could tinker about this Sunday.
 
I have fired Yugo m30 heavy FMJ 180 gr out of mine.
Fired well but gas setting has to be on 1.5 at least, I had to set mine at 1.7 after a couple rounds.
Other rifles will vary.
It shot well, very good results accuracy wise.
 
mrbeil said:
I hunt with 203 grain soft points all the time and I've never had an issue
Click to expand...


X2

Each different round might need a different gas setting but i just make a note of it and adjust as I go. The POI might change a bit but for open sight shooting in the bush where you don't shoot much more than 150 yards, you still bang/flop your deer. I havent had issues with heavy bullets.
 
I took a moose with 203 gr outta my SVT. Didn't seem excessive to me. Go to the range and figure out the gas setting for the particular round and you should be good to go. I doubt you'll hurt a SVT with heavy grain, the russkies didn't build pansyfied weapons prone to break, that's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. :cheers:
 
I've shot 180 grain out of mine. No problems. Shot very well. It didn't seem excessive for the action. Frankly the 1:10 twist 24" barrel is the right length/twist for either lighter palma 155 style bullets or heavier 175-200 grain ammo.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom