SVT-40 how accurate ?

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I want a semi auto . need help deciding if I should get an svt-40 . there $299 at a local gun shop . Or buy a Ruger mini 14 ranch rifle from a co-worker for $600 . How accurate is an SVT ?
 
I want a semi auto . need help deciding if I should get an svt-40 . there $299 at a local gun shop . Or buy a Ruger mini 14 ranch rifle from a co-worker for $600 . How accurate is an SVT ?
Usually,the SVT is very accurate, probably more accurate than a mini 14. SVT do 3 inch group or less at 100yds. Try to pick one with the best bore possible.
Joce
 
Oh, if it was anything other than than Mini-14, lol!
It depends on what you actually want to do. If you want to scope it, bling it out with accessories to use for the range and plinking, then the Mini-14.
The SVT can be accurate, relatively speaking, but they are an old rifle. It might be hit and miss with the one you get. However they are a cool part of history and are only going to get rarer as time goes on.
 
They can be really accurate, but as was said, they are a 70 year old combat veteran rifle. The one I shoot the most is the poster child for "vertical shot dispersion". I can put 10 shots in a 1" square at 100 yards with it. 1" wide by 7" tall, that is.
 
Depending on the bore, ammo, and your expectations, accuracy will be anywhere from "surprisingly pleasing" to "why didn't I get an SKS instead?"

Most of them will lean toward the former, actually. The ones being sold from suppliers are generally in pretty good shape and even with crappy machine gun heavy ball surplus ammo, they shoot okay. With handloads tailored to both your rifle and a comfortable gas setting, or just some new manufacture stuff, you can shrink your groups by quite a bit.

Remember your hearing protection, those bad boys are pretty loud.
 
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I want a semi auto . need help deciding if I should get an svt-40 . there $299 at a local gun shop . Or buy a Ruger mini 14 ranch rifle from a co-worker for $600 . How accurate is an SVT ?

I have to say, you're comparing apples to watermelons here. One caliber can bang-flop a moose, and the other is capable of dropping coyotes. What do you want to use the rifle for? There is a huge difference in the weight and size of the rifle, cost of ammunition, energy, velocity, and trajectory. One you can hunt with, the other you cannot.


To the original question, an SVT-40 is very accurate compared to other rifles of similar calibers with similar open sights.
 
You can shoot the Mini-14 next to people at an enclosed range and they will still be your friend too :) (Lots of fun muzzle blast)

Get the SVT now, as with a lot of Milsurps they could get more valuable with time. There will always be Mini-14s.
 
I have to say, you're comparing apples to watermelons here. One caliber can bang-flop a moose, and the other is capable of dropping coyotes. What do you want to use the rifle for? There is a huge difference in the weight and size of the rifle, cost of ammunition, energy, velocity, and trajectory. One you can hunt with, the other you cannot.


To the original question, an SVT-40 is very accurate compared to other rifles of similar calibers with similar open sights.

No major reason other than wanting another semi auto . using for target and plinking on the prairie . just have a $600 spending cap. already have a savage axis in .223 for taking coyotes .
 
While I like the SVT-40 and I really enjoy poking fun by comparing it with the almight ( choir singing in the background ) M1 Garand, it's not that accurate.
Sure the USSR used it as a sniper weapon in WW2, but it was reputed to be a 300 yard weapon. Women sniper's preferred it for it's softer recoil. A M/N 30/91 would eat it's lunch at distance. This is what the Soviets found.
Had one but it wasn't my thing. Cool gun though.
I don't shoot paper so I've no pic's of groups(which I find slightly silly).
 
While I like the SVT-40 and I really enjoy poking fun by comparing it with the almight ( choir singing in the background ) M1 Garand, it's not that accurate.
Sure the USSR used it as a sniper weapon in WW2, but it was reputed to be a 300 yard weapon. Women sniper's preferred it for it's softer recoil. A M/N 30/91 would eat it's lunch at distance. This is what the Soviets found.
Had one but it wasn't my thing. Cool gun though.
I don't shoot paper so I've no pic's of groups(which I find slightly silly).
To be noted that the SVT sniper mount system wasn't the best to start with.....
Joce
 
I have to say that my SVT is very accurate and only hampered by my old eyes. I was never good with open sights at 200 yards as the front sight covers the target at 200. But my SVT pounds them in there very decently with old surplus ammo. I really like both guns you are concidering, both do their job very well, although I would say their jobs are different. I would own both, and when the funds somehow add up a mini will be mine. You need to decide what job you want the rifle to do and go that route.
 
Get the svt-40 I was shooting mine at work(logging) on friday. It's loud breaths fire and when you shoot it it's like a small explosion. Leaning over the hood of the truck you could feel the air coming out the sides of the big muzzle break and bouncing off the windshield. My favorite rifle to shoot. Coolest looking rifle that has a wood stock. Seriously collectible, you have to get one. I saw one on sale on one of the venders on here for $275. I prefer the look of the one with the 6 port muzzle break. $600 budget this is what I bought:
Svt-40 v. $299
SKS. $180 Russian
Mosin nagant $140

The Russian rifle are cheap, fun, and at the moment available. Get the svt-40 now. Just my
 
I have 2 svt-40's that I shoot frequently at 200 to 300 yards with surplus ammo, one with a repop scope and mount. They both group fairly well but the first round fired from a fresh mag until the rifle warms up is almost always a ways of from the grouping. I love to shot these rifles. Great bang for the buck.
 
I've brought down 2 moose with my SVT. One at around 125 yards and the other at about 300. Both were one shot kills (300 yarder I put another round into, but upon gutting I found it wasn't necessary, and in fact spoiled some prime cuts of meat). It's accurate enough for me.

now, if you want to be putting 1/2" groups into paper at 300m, you might want to look elsewhere.
 
I think the ruger mini 14 are too much money for what they are but thats just me, I love my svt40 if u are into surplus I recomend to get one. Thats the same price I paid for mine too 299
 
I was able to find one off a member here with crate off ammo and save myself quite a bit of money . Thanks MrShultz! I got a 1941 6 port muzzle breat and nice quality wood stock (one or 2 nicks) can"t wait to try it out on saturday.
 
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Well I went to the gravel pits today . I was having extraction/feeding issues . rifle was barely ejecting the shell , put next round in but gun would not be cocked , ready to fire . I adjusted gas nut from 1.5 to 1.7 but seems to make it worse . I don't have an SVT adjustment tool and did't want to try turning to hard with my leatherman . On a good note we were able to nail folgers coffee cans at 100 yards with it !!
 
Don't own one yet but interested in getting it soon.

This is no sniper rifle by today's standard I think minute of dinner plate is acceptable for this rifle:

[youtube]ZBQ5WK9sop8[/youtube]
 
My SVT40 is very accurate at 200 yards, thats the longest I have been able to test it. It's an extreme pleasure to shoot !!! The mini, while also being a nice rifle is more ment to be a shorter distance rifle whose accuracy is questioned over the years. I hear the new ones are far better than the older ones that apparently had wippy barrels. Go with the SVT !
 
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