SVT 40 or Mosin ?

Indeed, please do a range report if you can. Also, what are your thoughts about comparing the SVT with the M14/M305? I asked this question in the M14 group and got a unanimous vote for the M14 on accuracy, reliability and ease of maintenance. I would be curious what the Red Rifle crew has to say about this.

I'm contemplating getting SVT sniper and fitting it the new Russian-style scope using the available sliding scope mounts from Marstar -- does that work?

Thx, Neil

In regards to the range report - I will be glad to do one this Sunday or at the latest next Wednesday. In regards to the vs M305 issue I cant really say, Ive never fired a norc M14 before, only the Springfield.
 
I have a 91/30 (Tula ex-sniper), a laminated M44, and a SVT40, of these my SVT is my favorite by far. (in fact, I think it is my favorite out of all the rifles I own). Sure, it takes more time and effort to clean it after firing corrosive ammo, but she just looks so pretty and is a relatively scarce weapon compared to the Mosins. Plus, mine is very accurate-I have no problem hitting the 200 meter gong, and get excellent groups on paper at 100 meters as well.
I would pick the SVT 40 hands down-no question!
 
I don't think the SVT40 is that hard to clean , now that I've done it a few times. I don't think I want to strip it in the field, but it only takes a few minutes ( duration of a cold beer).

I'm still experimenting with ammo, but it seems to shoot well no matter what ammo I feed it. There was a few pieces of brass sacrificed when adjusting the gas settings. All in all, after the learning curve the SVT is AWESOME.

Need more ammo...Need more ammo...Need more ammo ...
 
I was out at the range again yesterday. I tried a few boxes of 150gr soft points in the SVT with good grouping success. At 100 yards using only a front rest I was popping 4 liter milk jugs filled with water with 3 out of 4 shots. I still don't have the gas adjustment operating perfectly, but it was cycling much better with only a few jam ups. The modification to the magazine needed some alterations as it the bottom cover was sliding off from the force of the recoil. I used a punch when I got home and pinched the corners a bit tighter. Hopefully it will stop it from coming apart next time out at the range.

For the other SVT shooters out there, What ammo do you find works best? and what gas setting seems to cycle best?
 
I have the gas setting at 1.5 with the PRVI 150 gr soft points. These are the only available rounds without sourcing out of town. It shoots them well, but still had the odd jam/cycle problem. There is a learning curve to this beast, but its getting better thanks to some decent comments from this site.
 
Often I see people complain about how difficult they are to dissasemble and maintain, this confuses me. These rifles are not difficult in any way to dissasemble and clean in a home setting. I wouldnt want to do it in the field, but after a range day a normal clean should be no problem. These rifles are much easier to clean in my opinion then an AR system or similar gas operated autoloader. The key to cleaning these rifles is to use a decent solvent, let it sit for around 20 mins, then pull clean. Yesturday I fired my SVT and cleaning time in total took me about 25 mins, and thats while watching TV and enjoying a beer.

X2. I don't get it either. I find the SVT40 extremely easy to take apart and put back together. I wouldn't want to do it in the field simply due to the amount of small pieces that could be lost. However at home, it's very quick and cleans up fast.

If you use G96 you simply have to wipe the carbon off. No scrubbing on anything except the head of the piston and the barrel.

These rifles are so much nicer than a SKS. Fit/finish is nicer including the take down pins. The trigger is smooth and decent. I prefer the safety on the SVT40 and they even balance better when shooting off hand compared to the SKS.

I personally consider this rifle the Grandfather to the black rifle. The SVT40 uses the same tilting block, short piston idea as that of the FN FAL. Only they had them in combat 10 years earlier. The Russians were fielding the predecessor in 1938 and then this one in 1940. That's impressive. The Russians were about 10 years ahead of their time. Probably more considering the system they used was copied by other firearms designers. Truly an innovative firearm for the time, and one of the missing links in the history of firearms designs.

Features. Short stroke piston, tilting block. Adjustable gas system, 10 round detachable magazine and a built in compensator.

I'm really not a milsurp guy yet I had to get a few of these rifles. They are a real joy to shoot. When you find ammo of course. :p
 
Who says you cannot reload for the SVT? Maybe the fluting is more pronounced on other rifles but my brass is reloadable after being fired. 48 grains of IMR 4064 under a 150 SP works great. I FL resize for this rifle so I don't expect brass to last all that many firings.
 
Some of the brass gets beat up a bit but if you get the gas working right , its not so bad. Still good for one or two more loads. The worse brass i've had was trying to figure out the gas settings. Once done, its not so bad on brass.
 
I don;t get all these ppl who think they can't reload brass out of an SVT. I do it regularly - no issues. The necks end up looking stripped and there's a ding in the side of the case, but none of that affects reloadability. I get as many reloads on privi brass in an SVT as I do with the same brass in a Mosin...???
 
I have an SVT, go figure by my sign in name eh, I've reloaded it for a while now. I have a full length press for the brass. Those dents in the side of the brass after firing don't look so bad after going throught the press. The fluting at the neck works its way out as well. The only draw back is that because of the full length sizing of the brass, you can only use them about five times.
 
Back
Top Bottom