Mumbles Marble Mouth
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland
You remove the cleaning rod?
Ever since I've owned my SVT-40, I've always had inconsistent accuracy. 5 shot groups ranging from 6 - 8" at 100 meters with the groups being inconsistent forms such as a string groups, triangle groups, and box groups. The other day I was looking at WWII pictures of SVT-40s in action being used by German troops. The Germans did figure out how to make the SVT more accurate and taught troops in field accurizing which led to the SVT-40 being used to devastating effect against its own people. I noticed in almost every picture with a German troop, the cleaning rod was removed. I thought, could this be an ancient Chinese secret that only the Germans knew or is it that everyone lost their cleaning rod? I only noticed the cleaning rods were gone when a member here claimed his SVT-40 was more accurate with the cleaning rod removed. So I went shooting today with my SVT-40, cleaning rod removed, to put it to the test. I must admit, I've very surprised with the results.
5 shots on a paper plate. This is the first time ever that I was able to get all 5 shots on paper! Nothing else has been changed just the cleaning rod removed. I was using 147gr, non-corrosive, Berdan primed SCDS ammunition. These 5 shots are with in 4". All 5 shot groups made with this rifle before was always 6" or worse. I also did a 5 shot group at 50 meters. A shocking 1 3/8" group! Never done this before! I then tried a 10 shot group at 100 meters.
I was simply amazed! 10 shots with in the usual 5 shot group but the bulk of the group, 7 shots, is with in 4". Most of the group is consistent and with in 7". In the picture, the 10th shot is down in the right corner. The SVT is covering up a 3 shot group that was made with my .223 Vz 58. Before this, my SVT would not get all 10 shots on paper and what was on paper was scattered all over the place.
So is this an ancient chinese secret or am I on crack and all the suddenly became a better shooter with my SVT? Or perhaps my SVT just happened to be shooting better than it usually does. If this does change the accuracy of the SVT, what would removing the cleaning rod be doing to the rifle to make it more accurate? How about some other CGN'ers put it to the test and see if removing the cleaning rod changes the accuracy of your SVT-40. 4moa, to me, is good enough. Its as accurate as your typical SKS with a lot more punch. I would actually feel comfortable taking the SVT out deer hunting at short ranges if this kind of accuracy remains consistent. Before, I wouldn't even consider it.
How well does the SVT-40's groups stack up against two other rifles?
I wanted to know as well so I brought along 2 other rifles. My Norinco M305 and my .223 Vz 58. I don't have a lot of trigger time in with my M305 and it was a good, rediscover why you like the M305, shooting session. Although my M305 didn't get as good of a group at 50 meters as both the SVT and Vz 58, the M305 really began to shine with the 10 shot group at 100 meters.
I was using Norinco 7.62x51 ammunition. 8 of the 10 shots are with in 4 5/8". 1 shot didn't make it on paper but the entire group is 8 1/2 inches. Compare the M305 group to the SVT-40 and they're pretty close considering the SVT put 7 shots in 4". Definitely battle rifle worthy. I typically get 3" 5 shot groups with my M305. I've once had an amazing 1 7/8" 5 shot group that I have hanging on my wall but that is definitely a fluke.
The .223 Vz 58 takes the prize but not by a whole lot. Just a note, this is this .223 Vz 58's 800th round count. There have been some minor issues and they have been with the C-Product 10 round LAR-15 mags only feeding reliably 95% of the time. The C-Product mags also fail to function the last round bolt hold open turning it into like an AK having to hear the click and then change the mag. The USGI magazines work a lot better. Anyways, back to accuracy. The .223 Vz 58 can be hit or miss with accuracy. The worst groups I get with it are 3" 5 shots and best being damn near close to 2" with a consistent 5th round flyer for some reason. The 5th round flyer seems to go away when I'm using 62gr or heavier ammunition. I was using American Eagle 55gr. The 50 meter group was 1.5".
All 10 shots made it onto paper with the bulk of the group, 8 shots, being with in 3" well the rest of the group was with in 6". The 6 shots close to center is 2 inches!
People love to hate my .223 Vz 58 for some reason but its one of my favorite plinking rifles.
Bottom line, I grew a much better respect for my SVT-40. I always regarded it as a cool looking but inaccurate rifle. The rifle looked so cool that I didn't want to sell it even with its ####ty accuracy at the time. Maybe removing the cleaning rod didn't do ####, maybe it did. Won't know until others give it a try and see. I also rediscovered why I like my M305. I will admit, my first 2 groups at 100 meters with my M305 was complete #### since I haven't used it in awhile. If you fail to put in the trigger time, your proficiency with the rifle will diminish. Hope you enjoyed the range report. I wonder how many people actually read the whole thing.
Ever since I've owned my SVT-40, I've always had inconsistent accuracy. 5 shot groups ranging from 6 - 8" at 100 meters with the groups being inconsistent forms such as a string groups, triangle groups, and box groups. The other day I was looking at WWII pictures of SVT-40s in action being used by German troops. The Germans did figure out how to make the SVT more accurate and taught troops in field accurizing which led to the SVT-40 being used to devastating effect against its own people. I noticed in almost every picture with a German troop, the cleaning rod was removed. I thought, could this be an ancient Chinese secret that only the Germans knew or is it that everyone lost their cleaning rod? I only noticed the cleaning rods were gone when a member here claimed his SVT-40 was more accurate with the cleaning rod removed. So I went shooting today with my SVT-40, cleaning rod removed, to put it to the test. I must admit, I've very surprised with the results.
5 shots on a paper plate. This is the first time ever that I was able to get all 5 shots on paper! Nothing else has been changed just the cleaning rod removed. I was using 147gr, non-corrosive, Berdan primed SCDS ammunition. These 5 shots are with in 4". All 5 shot groups made with this rifle before was always 6" or worse. I also did a 5 shot group at 50 meters. A shocking 1 3/8" group! Never done this before! I then tried a 10 shot group at 100 meters.
I was simply amazed! 10 shots with in the usual 5 shot group but the bulk of the group, 7 shots, is with in 4". Most of the group is consistent and with in 7". In the picture, the 10th shot is down in the right corner. The SVT is covering up a 3 shot group that was made with my .223 Vz 58. Before this, my SVT would not get all 10 shots on paper and what was on paper was scattered all over the place.
So is this an ancient chinese secret or am I on crack and all the suddenly became a better shooter with my SVT? Or perhaps my SVT just happened to be shooting better than it usually does. If this does change the accuracy of the SVT, what would removing the cleaning rod be doing to the rifle to make it more accurate? How about some other CGN'ers put it to the test and see if removing the cleaning rod changes the accuracy of your SVT-40. 4moa, to me, is good enough. Its as accurate as your typical SKS with a lot more punch. I would actually feel comfortable taking the SVT out deer hunting at short ranges if this kind of accuracy remains consistent. Before, I wouldn't even consider it.
How well does the SVT-40's groups stack up against two other rifles?
I wanted to know as well so I brought along 2 other rifles. My Norinco M305 and my .223 Vz 58. I don't have a lot of trigger time in with my M305 and it was a good, rediscover why you like the M305, shooting session. Although my M305 didn't get as good of a group at 50 meters as both the SVT and Vz 58, the M305 really began to shine with the 10 shot group at 100 meters.
I was using Norinco 7.62x51 ammunition. 8 of the 10 shots are with in 4 5/8". 1 shot didn't make it on paper but the entire group is 8 1/2 inches. Compare the M305 group to the SVT-40 and they're pretty close considering the SVT put 7 shots in 4". Definitely battle rifle worthy. I typically get 3" 5 shot groups with my M305. I've once had an amazing 1 7/8" 5 shot group that I have hanging on my wall but that is definitely a fluke.
The .223 Vz 58 takes the prize but not by a whole lot. Just a note, this is this .223 Vz 58's 800th round count. There have been some minor issues and they have been with the C-Product 10 round LAR-15 mags only feeding reliably 95% of the time. The C-Product mags also fail to function the last round bolt hold open turning it into like an AK having to hear the click and then change the mag. The USGI magazines work a lot better. Anyways, back to accuracy. The .223 Vz 58 can be hit or miss with accuracy. The worst groups I get with it are 3" 5 shots and best being damn near close to 2" with a consistent 5th round flyer for some reason. The 5th round flyer seems to go away when I'm using 62gr or heavier ammunition. I was using American Eagle 55gr. The 50 meter group was 1.5".
All 10 shots made it onto paper with the bulk of the group, 8 shots, being with in 3" well the rest of the group was with in 6". The 6 shots close to center is 2 inches!
People love to hate my .223 Vz 58 for some reason but its one of my favorite plinking rifles.
Bottom line, I grew a much better respect for my SVT-40. I always regarded it as a cool looking but inaccurate rifle. The rifle looked so cool that I didn't want to sell it even with its ####ty accuracy at the time. Maybe removing the cleaning rod didn't do ####, maybe it did. Won't know until others give it a try and see. I also rediscovered why I like my M305. I will admit, my first 2 groups at 100 meters with my M305 was complete #### since I haven't used it in awhile. If you fail to put in the trigger time, your proficiency with the rifle will diminish. Hope you enjoyed the range report. I wonder how many people actually read the whole thing.
