Valmet Hunter M76 VS M78

rkungl said:
Hi I have recently become interested in the above mentioned rifles. Can someone give me some information on them (save for the fact that they are the only legal AK action rifles in Canada)

Price? (I know they are expensive)
Which one is better? M76 or M78? What are the differences?
Anyone have one? fire one?
Where can I get one? What is the best place to get one?
Is it possible to import? (does it make sense economically?)

I am interested in the 7.62x39mm round for these rifles because of standard AK

~Any and all information appreciated
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May I ask which rifles you have right now?
 
rkungl: The rifles are NOT available new (or even close). They were discontinued a looooong time ago; in fact VALMET no longer exists. The only ones you will find are on the EE (if any). In fact, it's probably best to forget about it. Buy something that is being made now. I understand where you are coming from though, when I first discovered the Valmet Hunter I also had a monstrous hard-on for it, I thought it'd be a matter of running down to the store to order one. Not the case.

What you are asking is like asking "Where can I buy a Brand New 1964 American Motors Rambler Classic 660? Should I buy one here or save a bit by buying from the US?" You cannot do either easily, if at all.

The Valmet Hunters are interesting pieces in Canadian Gun Law; AK actions but not prohibited. Very rare and not worth the money they command when they do appear.

I recommend you look at:
XCR in 7.62x39 if you want "new" style and wish to mount optics and have some money to burn *way cooler than Valmet...
or
CZ/VZ'58 for wicked rifle for the dollar, but no "real" optics upgrade capabilities.

Sorry to burst the dream :)

~Cheers
 
G37 I am aware that Valmets are all used. Do you have any experience with the XCR?because I'd like something very reliable.

I'm also looking at RFB and ACR. Any data on reliability?

scianna54 I have 5 years experience on C7 in military. I also recently purchased the following guns but yet to recieve other than the glock.

M14 Variant: M25 Tanker 18.5 inch barrel standard weight, mccann stock, nightforce 1x4 optic

I also purchased 870 police model with knoxx stock

Colt 1911a1 stainless goldcup, glock 22, beretta 92fs Inox
 
I'd like something very reliable (IE not an AR15)
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I was in military for 5 years I want something much more reliable than M16.
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(FBI and USA police)...(US military sidearm)
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If a bear is coming at you
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I have 5 years experience on C7 in military
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:rolleyes:

Just get the XCR in 7.62x39. You know you want to ninja it up. Just do it.

If not, then heed this. Every gun has their own unique problems and maintenance procedures. Even the AK and those you listed. If you want super reliable, get a bolt action or break action. Period. No argument. Since money is of no concern to you, you are in the unique position of being able to try out all the black rifles. Don't like the XCR, trade or sell. Done. Explore. Be a gun nut.
 
rkungl said:
G37 I am aware that Valmets are all used. Do you have any experience with the XCR?because I'd like something very reliable.

I'm also looking at RFB and ACR. Any data on reliability?

scianna54 I have 5 years experience on C7 in military. I also recently purchased the following guns but yet to recieve other than the glock.

M14 Variant: M25 Tanker 18.5 inch barrel standard weight, mccann stock, nightforce 1x4 optic

I also purchased 870 police model with knoxx stock

Colt 1911a1 stainless goldcup, glock 22, beretta 92fs Inox
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So you haven't really tried many guns out yet?

Why would you blow all your money on something like that, this rifle is for collectors not for shooters?
 
rkungl said:
I just want something that's legal in Canada, reliable, in 7.62x39 or x51, preferably non-restricted, preferably light weight, pistol grip. I was in military for 5 years I want something much more reliable than M16.

Is the only choice M14 (in custom stock)? or lower cost M78 (4-5k)?
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CZ 858, they shoot good in all factory configurations, and there is endless modifications you can do to it, light weight, all sorts of optic mount options, all types of muzzle devices, cheap and plentiful mags, 4 or 5 cheap bulk ammo options, good selection of soft point ammo, kinda looks like an AK but better....
 
I've had an XCR in 7.62 (I converted to 223 a year ago) and I found that the military surplus ammo had a tendency to stick in the chamber. Other gunnutterz said their XCR's worked fine with czech surplus ammo. With 223, my XCR runs like butter - very reliable.

I also owned a cz58. Great rifle very reliable. However, I did have one horrible jam where I had to pry off the top cover. Still overall, great gun.

You could get a cz58, then one of these

http://www.csa.co.cz/en/16-aktuality/2-sa-vz-58-adapter.html

Then an XCR 7.62 10 round pistol magazine, for probably around a grand.
 
For now I'll just stick with my M14. I'll just have to shoot all the others to figure it out for myself. It doesn't seem like there are any HARD facts about reliability of each one.

Someone should take 5 of each rifle and fire 5000 rounds through them and record the results. That would be useful information.
 
Seriously if money was of no concern to me ..

I would call up wolverine , get them to order me Springfield Armory M1A super match , i believe these come with a douglas NM medium contour barrel or heavy contour barrel option . Then order a McMillan Vltor stock system or get the SAGE stock , sent both the rifle the stock to Smith enterprises and let them work their magic . Might take 6-10 months to get the rifle back , but hey if money is of no issue . I wouldnt need another rifle ever again.

Or you can check out the new XCR-M in .308 that should be arriving soon , if not already here. also courtesy of wolverine (site sponsor)
 
Kc.338Lp said:
Seriously if money was of no concern to me ..

I would call up wolverine , get them to order me Springfield Armory M1A super match , i believe these come with a douglas NM medium contour barrel or heavy contour barrel option . Then order a McMillan Vltor stock system or get the SAGE stock , sent both the rifle the stock to Smith enterprises and let them work their magic . Might take 6-10 months to get the rifle back , but hey if money is of no issue . I wouldnt need another rifle ever again.

Or you can check out the new XCR-M in .308 that should be arriving soon , if not already here. also courtesy of wolverine (site sponsor)
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And you'd have to use those 6-10 months bulking up to haul that thing around :p
 
I am a kind of guy who likes to try different type of guns. Any gun can jam, can be the ammo, human failure or whatever, doesn't really matter that much for civilian applications as long as it's not a jamomatic (had that once with a semi automatic handgun, lol).

Putting $5,000 into a used 15 year old rifle with unknown mechanical performance just doesn't make any sense if not for collector value. Those guns take a long time to sell and the value is only theoretical in my opinion (RARITY).

There are enough (NEW) performance rifles on the market thanks to our several sponsors. Also much easier to find similar minded people where you can exchange ideas which is half the fun anyway.
 
I've got a M-78 but I am a collector, they are fairly rare in the world let alone in Canada so even without our laws they are still not easy to come by. They are very nicely made for an AK but if you want a rifle for practical use there are much more feasable off the shelf options. As I stated I am a collector so it caught my eye as something unique.
 
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