Valmet M76 The Ultimate AKM Refinement

Bartok5

Bartok5

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Howdy All,

I've just received this new (to me) Valmet M76 from a fine fellow CGNer. It is unfortunately a 12(5) Prohibited firearm dating back to the early 1990s. This example has seen very few, if any rounds since the proof-rounds were fired at the factory! It is in absolutely mint condition, inside and out. The biggest distinguishing feature of the M76 is its Stamped and Riveted Receiver, akin to the modernized AK-47. Unlike most stamped receiver AKs however, this Valmet has the one of the smoothest cycling actions I have ever felt. It is much more akin to a B+T APC than any AK or AK variant, including either of my milled-receiver Galils. Other distinguishing features include the Left-folding Tubular Buttstock (with rubber Cover and Storage Compartment), Flip-Up Tritium Night Sights, Wire-Cutting Flash-Hider/Bayonet Mount and proprietary 30-round Steel Magazine (worth $500 USD EACH!!!). The rather rare Fiskars Bayonet was a nice addition to the package.

The Valmet M76 is arguably the ultimate refinement of the AK platform built to exacting Finnish manufacturing standards. I am impressed.


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That's a nice and clean one. However what do you compare it to? Which AKs did you test when you came to this conclusion? - "Unlike most stamped receiver AKs however, this Valmet has the one of the smoothest cycling actions I have ever felt".
 
Horilka said:
That's a nice and clean one. However what do you compare it to? Which AKs did you test when you came to this conclusion? - "Unlike most stamped receiver AKs however, this Valmet has the one of the smoothest cycling actions I have ever felt".
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Well, I can compare the new M76 to this Russian AKMS, which I extensively fired before it became prohibited:


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I can also compare it to this Hungarian FEG AKMS:


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Then there is this Galil ARM:


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And this Galil SAR:


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Those are the ones from my personal collection that I own (or have owned) and can compare and contrast right here in my gun room. On top of those are the literally countless select-fire military AKs and AKMs from various nations that I had the opportunity to handle, carry and fire during my 34 years of service in the Canadian Army Infantry. As a conservative estimate? I have easily handled and fired well over 100 different AK/AKM/AKMSs over the years. And then there are the plentiful variants and off-shoots that I have also encountered over the years....
 
Very nice. I haven't fired 100, but about dozen, all USSR made, some were brand new, some were used for years for training. All were smooth, two Valmets I handled in Canada were not different. I would not say they were more or less smooth with action operation. As for quality of materials - I have no way to compare. I was afraid you were comparing to US version either made from kits on US receivers or made in USA completely, that would have been a poor comparison.
 
I had a Valmet , in wood yrs back , and it did seem to me it was quite a bit nicer then the Russian and Chinese milt. ones I had.
Fit and finish is where the difference comes in to my way of thinking.
You also see it on a few SKS's depending what country makes them. apples to oranges of courses.
 
In my personal experience, AKs differ greatly in terms of their fit and finish (such as it is), depending on their country of origin. The Soviet-made guns tend to be in the upper 1/3 tier of quality, with the former East German MPiKM rifles topping the list. I would place the Chinese stamped-Receiver guns are bottom of the quality list, with cheap salt-bluing and razor-sharp internal edges that will slice you to the bone during routine maintenance. Everyone else's AK or variant falls somewhere along the quality spectrum, but at the end of the day? All AKs are definitely NOT created equal.
 
Have you tried any Yugo AKs?

Bartok5 said:
In my personal experience, AKs differ greatly in terms of their fit and finish (such as it is), depending on their country of origin. The Soviet-made guns tend to be in the upper 1/3 tier of quality, with the former East German MPiKM rifles topping the list. I would place the Chinese stamped-Receiver guns are bottom of the quality list, with cheap salt-bluing and razor-sharp internal edges that will slice you to the bone during routine maintenance. Everyone else's AK or variant falls somewhere along the quality spectrum, but at the end of the day? All AKs are definitely NOT created equal.
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Mik123 said:
Have you tried any Yugo AKs?
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Yes, the M70B1 and AB2 (Fixed-Stock and Underfolder) variants. We frequently encountered (and confiscated) them during my 1997 Bosnia tour as part of the NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR). I had the opportunity to examine and fire examples that were seized by our forces. They are nice AK variants, I would place them on par with the Soviet rifles. The Receivers are constructed from a heavier-gauge sheet steel than a standard AK manufactured elsewhere. I was duly impressed by the Balkan AKs, FWIW.
 
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enefgee said:
I Googled "been there, done that" the other day, and up pops Mark's pic. Not surprised.
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LOL!! Hardly - my "Action Guy" time jumping out of aircraft and serving Canada in far-flung places like Cyprus, Bosnia, Poland and Afghanistan was a while ago. Thanks for the kind words, but time marches on. I do still have some cool guns though, at least for now....
 
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