Whatcha feeding your Reds?
- Thread starter EL34/6L6
- Start date
- Location
- Algoma, ON
In my SVT I've fired both Chinese and Bulgarian. NO real problems with the Bulgarian, I only had one hang fire with about 150 rounds, but the chinese surplus is another story. I've fired roughly 80 rounds of the chinese through my svt, and I've had about 15 rounds not fire. They've work every time the second time around though.
.30/06 FTW
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
Czech 7.62x39,
Soviet 7.62x54R.
Soviet 7.62x54R.
Czech steel, Romanian steel, and soon to try out the Chinese copper 7.62x39
Bulgarian copper and Chinese copper 7.62x54R
I haven't had an issue with any of them thus far, but I have yet to try the Chinese copper x39. I really like the Czech x39, I must say that.
Bulgarian copper and Chinese copper 7.62x54R
I haven't had an issue with any of them thus far, but I have yet to try the Chinese copper x39. I really like the Czech x39, I must say that.
7.62x54R (SVT, 91/30, M44)
Chinese bi-metal FMJ, '71 manufacture
Bulgarian Silvertip FMJ, also (weirdly, I wasn't trying for it) '71 manufacture.
MFS 203gr Softpoint
Similar accuracy for all (as far as I can tell with stock battle), 100% reliability. At 100yards, no change in point of impact between the Surplus FMJ and the MFS Softpoint hunting loads. Very nice seeing as I'm thinking of using my M44 as a bush/hunter, so I get to practice cheap but have a hard and heavy hitter for the fall.
7.62x39 (Tula SKS)
Czech surplus lacquered steel FMJ
Barnaul commercial lacquered steel FMJ
Hornady SST
The Czech and Barnaul share similar accuracy and point of impact. No difference I can notice with open sights anyway. 100% reliable so far. Aside from being corrosive, the Czech is noticeably dirtier, really leaves behind some black throughout the barrel, gas block, and action. Then again, when I'm firing it, I tend to shoot a LOT more of it because it's so cheap.
The Hornady SST ammo is no more accurate than the Czech or Barnaul - same sized groups at 100 yards. It is, however, a fair bit hotter, or else the ballistic profile is different. Hits about 6-8 inches higher at 100 yards, so I tend to dial the front post up 2 turns when I have it loaded. The flextip ammo is Hammer of Thor against coyotes - bang-flop-done. Coyotes may be small(ish), but they're surprisingly tough, I've seen .223 do a pass-through on coyotes a couple of times, knock the coyote over but then they get back up to stagger around a howl and wail for a bit before going down for good. I'm conflicted enough about shooting coyotes (leave them alone if they stay away from the house/barn - good for keeping down the gophers, but when the barn cats start vanishing in rapid succession, you gotta do what you gotta do), so I'm severely non-interested in seeing them suffer.
The SKS has turned into my go-to gun for Coyotes and Badgers. Quick follow up shots and those SST rounds really get it done.
That sounds more like a light strike problem (the gun itself) than an ammo problem. Military ammo has hard primers on purpose for safety reasons. Do the whole "check headspace, disassemble bolt/carrier remove pin and hit it all with brake cleaner, lube up the hammer assembly" yadda yadda (there's a guide somewhere in here about that). The SVT action needs to be maintained/cleaned/lubed properly or you get light strikes. You can use a Mosin Go/NoGo guage (the dis-assembly tool that comes with Mosins) to check your headspace.
Chinese bi-metal FMJ, '71 manufacture
Bulgarian Silvertip FMJ, also (weirdly, I wasn't trying for it) '71 manufacture.
MFS 203gr Softpoint
Similar accuracy for all (as far as I can tell with stock battle), 100% reliability. At 100yards, no change in point of impact between the Surplus FMJ and the MFS Softpoint hunting loads. Very nice seeing as I'm thinking of using my M44 as a bush/hunter, so I get to practice cheap but have a hard and heavy hitter for the fall.
7.62x39 (Tula SKS)
Czech surplus lacquered steel FMJ
Barnaul commercial lacquered steel FMJ
Hornady SST
The Czech and Barnaul share similar accuracy and point of impact. No difference I can notice with open sights anyway. 100% reliable so far. Aside from being corrosive, the Czech is noticeably dirtier, really leaves behind some black throughout the barrel, gas block, and action. Then again, when I'm firing it, I tend to shoot a LOT more of it because it's so cheap.
The Hornady SST ammo is no more accurate than the Czech or Barnaul - same sized groups at 100 yards. It is, however, a fair bit hotter, or else the ballistic profile is different. Hits about 6-8 inches higher at 100 yards, so I tend to dial the front post up 2 turns when I have it loaded. The flextip ammo is Hammer of Thor against coyotes - bang-flop-done. Coyotes may be small(ish), but they're surprisingly tough, I've seen .223 do a pass-through on coyotes a couple of times, knock the coyote over but then they get back up to stagger around a howl and wail for a bit before going down for good. I'm conflicted enough about shooting coyotes (leave them alone if they stay away from the house/barn - good for keeping down the gophers, but when the barn cats start vanishing in rapid succession, you gotta do what you gotta do), so I'm severely non-interested in seeing them suffer.
The SKS has turned into my go-to gun for Coyotes and Badgers. Quick follow up shots and those SST rounds really get it done.
That sounds more like a light strike problem (the gun itself) than an ammo problem. Military ammo has hard primers on purpose for safety reasons. Do the whole "check headspace, disassemble bolt/carrier remove pin and hit it all with brake cleaner, lube up the hammer assembly" yadda yadda (there's a guide somewhere in here about that). The SVT action needs to be maintained/cleaned/lubed properly or you get light strikes. You can use a Mosin Go/NoGo guage (the dis-assembly tool that comes with Mosins) to check your headspace.
