Well, what can I say? LOL
Thinking of buying a svt40, What's your opinion?
- Thread starter macpowa
- Start date
Well, what can I say? LOL
I bought an SVT-40. It is an interesting collector's piece; however, it is an absolute nightmare to fieldstrip. And that is why the rifle sits in my safe unfired.
I you collect World War 2 militaria, you need an SVT. But if you are looking for a rifle, get something else.
I you collect World War 2 militaria, you need an SVT. But if you are looking for a rifle, get something else.
Once you do it a few times, it's not so bad. Find a good YouTube video for your first attempt. I still find the SKS a heckuva lot easier to deal with, but others claim the SVT is more 'intuitive' to break down. YMMV.
if you ask somebody local to strip and clean their svt it will help your decision,it is not difficult ,I consider it fun and relaxing. Nothing wrong being familiar with a firearms functions, it only makes you more expeirenced . If stripping an svt is overly difficult for you it will sit unused, it will be a waste of your money and the firearm. If you can change an alternator on your car you are most likely qualified to clean your svt. When i got my first 40 i watched youtube and had no probs. Hope you join the club
- Location
- Georgetown Ontario
Jeez man! Get it out and shoot it! Before cleaning it watch some videos and when ready go slow. It looks worse than it actually is. Once you clean it a couple times it gets very easy, especially when you use the right techniques. You will find it a fascinatingly built firearm and appreciate it's construction much more after field stripping it.
Seriously, it took over two hours to get it apart and there were so many tiny parts that I quickly lost interest. It's too bad that Simonov was not allowed to perfect the SVT.
The SVT was a great concept. It was just poorly executed.
Here's my rifle. It's a 1941 SVT made at the Kovrov Arsenal
The SVT was a great concept. It was just poorly executed.
Here's my rifle. It's a 1941 SVT made at the Kovrov Arsenal
Really ?? Is that why the Germans, who captured thousands of these during Operation Barbarossa, re-issued it to their troops and copied the gas system for their own semi-auto rifle ??
The Germans were in a losing war desperate for small arms. The SVT gas system is a good concept and when properly designed--as in an FN-49, K-43 or FAL--it works nicely.
But the SVT is a disappointment. There is a reason why the Finns kept the Moisin Nagant until the late 60s but got rid of the SVT in the 1950s.
But the SVT is a disappointment. There is a reason why the Finns kept the Moisin Nagant until the late 60s but got rid of the SVT in the 1950s.
To each his own I guess. I have owned my '43 Tula since December 2013 and immediately "fell in love" with it.
It looks badass. I love shooting it. I love cleaning it. It is accurate as all heck. It has replaced my '34 Tula 91/30 Mosin Nagant as my "full power round" plincking rifle.
I've only taken my SVT 40 shooting once so far, but my experience is that it's a relatively unreliable rifle when I compare it to my mosin and sks. I had several jams, 3 FTF, and other issues, the FTFs might be more attributable to the surp ammo, but I used ammo from the same lot with my mosin without issue whatsoever.
I had my gas setting at 1.3 for shooting that day, it was cold outside (-10 or -15) and being its first run through from what I heard that was an appropriate setting. I also had stripped it down and cleaned it before taking it out.
I did find it tedious to strip and clean after shooting, but as others have said, the more familiar you become with the rifle the faster it goes.
I've reduced the setting to 1.1 now, and hope to take it out again next weekend to see if she'll perform differently in fairer weather.
Ultimately though, this is a 300 dollar or less rifle, is it worth the price? Definitely, you won't get anything that shoots a round that large that well for that price with anything else.
I also think that anyone who's a fan of red rifles must have one of these in their collection, they're gorgeous rifles.
And hey, if we're going to compare Garands and SVTs, here's a good video to take a look at.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jW0q794-cI
I had my gas setting at 1.3 for shooting that day, it was cold outside (-10 or -15) and being its first run through from what I heard that was an appropriate setting. I also had stripped it down and cleaned it before taking it out.
I did find it tedious to strip and clean after shooting, but as others have said, the more familiar you become with the rifle the faster it goes.
I've reduced the setting to 1.1 now, and hope to take it out again next weekend to see if she'll perform differently in fairer weather.
Ultimately though, this is a 300 dollar or less rifle, is it worth the price? Definitely, you won't get anything that shoots a round that large that well for that price with anything else.
I also think that anyone who's a fan of red rifles must have one of these in their collection, they're gorgeous rifles.
And hey, if we're going to compare Garands and SVTs, here's a good video to take a look at.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jW0q794-cI
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if my svt consistantly jammed like that , i would give it to somebody that knows how to clean it, or adjust the gas setting, do you really think a military rifle would be that prone to being unreliable. I never owned a garand but believe with poor maitenance and training it too will prove unreliable. I had a couple of fte but nothing adjusting the gas setting didn't fix
One tricky part of reassembly that I've yet to perfect is the reinstallation of the trigger group. I've got a piece of 2x4 with a groove the width of the trigger guard carved into it that I use to give it a good pounding. If anyone has any tips on an easier method they'd be appreciated.
to says that the svt is unreliable , no ways if you put te proper gaz setting it will run well , for any ftf stay far away of the Chinese junk ammo , mine run perfectly at 1.1 with Russian or Bulgarian ammo , I've shot it a -25 and no prob , i still one time shoot a couple of mag and put it in the snow and it was running perfectly , cleaning dont take me more than 30-45min , i have probably over 500 round in
- Location
- Georgetown Ontario
Seriously, it took over two hours to get it apart and there were so many tiny parts that I quickly lost interest. It's too bad that Simonov was not allowed to perfect the SVT.
The SVT was a great concept. It was just poorly executed.
Here's my rifle. It's a 1941 SVT made at the Kovrov Arsenal
Umm ya! Its not a concept rifle, its a Military issued rifle futher updated and perfected from the SVT38. Thats your opinion of it and thats fine but if your having that much trouble field stripping it its just not the gun for you with your level of abilities.
I'm sure though if you watched some videos and read up on it a bit you would get much more comfortable field stripping it and adjusting the gas to shoot it reliably. I find it a very fascinating rifle and am glad I got one! Might even buy another.
I was having the same problem with the trigger group and someone suggested I used something like this...
http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/irwin-quick-grip-spreader-clamp-0572578p.html#.U0wHNVqEizc
Works like a charm !!!
I use Chinese milsurp ammo exclusively and my SVT-40 is set at 1.3. I have had no problems with FTFs or cycling. The first time I shot mine it was in around -35C... and maybe colder with the wind chill !!!
- Location
- Georgetown Ontario
Yup quick clamp! Works great on finicky SKS's too. And they wont marr the finish. One SKS i have will only go together when I put pressure on it with a quick clamp then give it a little tap on the trigger guard with a block of wood and a small hammer.
you got a good batch of ammo , because here a couple of people have reported some trouble with the Chinese ammo
I'm on my second batch. First one was bought from SFRC in December 2013 and second one was again bought from SFRC in March 2014.
No problems so far.
It seems the SVT falls into the same category as pretty much every other gun, ever.
Some people love them.
Some people hate them.
I really don't like the AR platform (and gas impingement in general) - I find them to be far more of a maintenance pain than a good old piston pushing rifle like an SVT, SKS, M14 etc.
Does that mean no one should ever buy an AR? Nope. For some people, it's a great platform that they know, understand, and love.
One of the great things about the SVT's right now is their low cost of ownership. Cheap to buy. Cheap to feed. So why not take a chance? You might find you love it, and if you don't, heck with it. Throw it on the EE and recoup 90% of your investment.
Some people love them.
Some people hate them.
I really don't like the AR platform (and gas impingement in general) - I find them to be far more of a maintenance pain than a good old piston pushing rifle like an SVT, SKS, M14 etc.
Does that mean no one should ever buy an AR? Nope. For some people, it's a great platform that they know, understand, and love.
One of the great things about the SVT's right now is their low cost of ownership. Cheap to buy. Cheap to feed. So why not take a chance? You might find you love it, and if you don't, heck with it. Throw it on the EE and recoup 90% of your investment.
