Just bought some prvi ammo for my svt40. Doesn't seem to load it every time and it dents the case just below the neck a little. Not too worried about the dent. Anyway I bought this stuff mostly for the brass. What bullet do people use with success in the svt40? I am thinking anything fairly long with a sharp point. 312 diameter is what I'd like to use.
Svt40 bullets
- Thread starter Collint2005
- Start date
If you find any 0.312 bullets post where you got them. Tradex is sold out of Hornady and PRVI FMJ ~150. Everywhere I look they are on back order. Light ball is 147 gn - this is what the SVT was designed for. Somebody will know whether heavy ball is OK but personally I wouldn't use it. The SVT is fairly lightly constructed and had a history or breakages. Finding spare parts for the rifle is not easy but finding spare parts for yourself is probably more difficult.
I wouldnt load for the SVT. It is notoriously harsh on brass (as it seems you have experienced), and the fluted chamber doesnt help. It feeds best with steel cased FMJ. If you feel the need to reload try finding some FMJ bullets.
I would suggest getting some LVE from Westrifle or MFS ammo. At just over 60 cents per round I found its not worth reloading. Especially with todays insane powder prices.
I would suggest getting some LVE from Westrifle or MFS ammo. At just over 60 cents per round I found its not worth reloading. Especially with todays insane powder prices.
Hornady has suspended production of the .312. I have not been able to get any further info on production startup date. Last know whereabouts was in Calgary at the Shooting Centre. Sorry I could not take any salt off the wound.
I've got some 308 bullets in I think 165gr but I think they'll be pretty short and are sp so still a little blunt. I tried out ten prvi shells and they all seemed to load except one needed to be pushed the last bit into the chamber. Don't do a lot of shooting with it. Just hunting and a little bit of target. I've tried mfs fmj and that seems to load perfectly. I just need something reliable and not fmj. Bison might be on the menu now and again too. I hear fmj is good for head shots on bison though. This is not a hunt but for slaughtering bison. Ranges will be very short.
Have any of you guys tried adjusting the gas systems on your rifles?
The SVT can be a very reliable rifle but it requires the right amount of gas to operate its mechanism.
Gas should be adjusted so the rifle throws the brass out, just dumps it on the bench close to you. It it is not stroking properly it needs more gas; if it is winging the brass halfway to Nunavut, it is getting far too much gas and BATTERING will result.
There should be a gas adjustment tool in the tool roll which came with the rifle.
Instructions will be found in the Stickie on SVT-40 at the start of this forum.
Fired in a PROPERLY-ADJUSTED rifle, your brass should last well. the flutes iron out in the sizing die and are overlaid with the next set, which are ironed out by the sizing die and are overlaid..... you get the idea. The flute marks are cosmetic , have almost nothing to do with strength. The flutes also help float the fired casing out, easing wear and tear on the mechanism.
The SVT can be a very reliable rifle but it requires the right amount of gas to operate its mechanism.
Gas should be adjusted so the rifle throws the brass out, just dumps it on the bench close to you. It it is not stroking properly it needs more gas; if it is winging the brass halfway to Nunavut, it is getting far too much gas and BATTERING will result.
There should be a gas adjustment tool in the tool roll which came with the rifle.
Instructions will be found in the Stickie on SVT-40 at the start of this forum.
Fired in a PROPERLY-ADJUSTED rifle, your brass should last well. the flutes iron out in the sizing die and are overlaid with the next set, which are ironed out by the sizing die and are overlaid..... you get the idea. The flute marks are cosmetic , have almost nothing to do with strength. The flutes also help float the fired casing out, easing wear and tear on the mechanism.
Well I have some 174 SMK bullets in 303 (.312) and 7.62x53r Lapua brass (same as Russian 7.62x54R). I loaded some up with 43 of varget. Fed and extracted properly. However I had issues with my scope setup. I need to also double check my OAL along with a more trustworthy scope base. I may just load and shoot irons.
I can't give an accuracy comparison but it functioned reliable. Also previously shooting factory ammo iron sight I had no issues and accuracy was decent enough. I do have a gas adjustment tool. They do vary rifle to rifle plus the you're changing things up from what they were set to shoot.
These rifles are fun to shoot. Loud but fun.
I can't give an accuracy comparison but it functioned reliable. Also previously shooting factory ammo iron sight I had no issues and accuracy was decent enough. I do have a gas adjustment tool. They do vary rifle to rifle plus the you're changing things up from what they were set to shoot.
These rifles are fun to shoot. Loud but fun.
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- Location
- Beaverlodge, Alberta
I took mine out for the first time Sunday. I used the 147gr MFS FMJ ammo. Gas was set at 1.3. Every other round would fail to eject and 2/20 were not even pulled out of the chamber and were stuck pretty damn tight. Is this because the cases aren't coated or lubed on the MFS ammo? I don't think I will use it again. I think I'm going to buy a case of surplus 147gr and try again. Love how the rifle shoots and how light it is for a full powered semi auto military rifle though.
- Location
- Ottawa origanally Muskoka
Actually you have a conundrum. The barrel has a 1:9.4 twist rate that is for a 225gr bullet but the 147gr bullet the russians used most often had the external dimensions of a 220gr bullet. They utilized a hollow steel jacket and partial core to achieve this. This allowed them to be able to use any bullet up to 220gr with out any internal dimensional or stabilization issues.
147gr light ball is what the sights will be calibrated to but you are unlikely to find 150gr bullets with the same external dimensions as a light ball. You are also unlikely to duplicate military trajectory with a 180gr. So weight becomes a choice.
Slugging the bore for your gun is the best way of determining what will work for that gun. An exceptional gun may work with .311" bullets well, a poor example may not even perform with .312" bullets
I for instance have an unissued polish made M44 which historically is of the best fit and finish that can be found on a Mosin Nagant......but my bore is .3155" which makes even .312" bullets group like a shotgun. The only thing that works for me is cast bullets. Typically cast bullets in an auto loader do not fair well. Neither do rough expediently made bores.
Your best bet will likely be to use mil- surp ammo but if you insist on reloading a .312" Hornady bullets and failing that .311" in the 174gr range. Its not as short as the flat base 150's but nor is it as heavy as a 200gr.
Stay clear of max loads if you are worried about needing spare parts but don't be shy, the SVT38 was more frail than the SVT40 which corredted the earlier issues
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- Location
- Ottawa origanally Muskoka
I do belive that the fluted chamber and violent action are to blame for brass chewing. Too bad there isn't a practical way to reload mil-surp steel cases......Hornady makes 7.62x54R steel cased ammo, should be boxer primed but I think the case anealing and die wear are a factor
- Location
- Ottawa origanally Muskoka
Can't say how the coating effects MFS ammo but I will atest to Hot and cold powder charges. Ran a box through my M-N and it went: bang, bang, pop, bang, BOOM. The "BOOM" case had a cracked case mouth and was covered in black soot back to the middle of the body. Never will I buy MFS again. It costs more than mil-surp ammo, is less accurate and potentially dangerous in my mind.....and all for what? So its easier to clean afterwards? I liken it to cheap bulk 22LR ammo.
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- Location
- Beaverlodge, Alberta
It has a red band around the primer too and I was told to treat it as if it was corrosive regardless. If I don't pick up anything at the Dawson gunshow I'm going to blow a wad on surplus ammo since pretty much my entire collection is stationary due to no .3105-.312 bullets this year.
I hate that guy!
