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Posted: 4/28/2025 9:04:04 AM EDT
Finally scored one of these rare rifles. This variant of the Valmet was unobtainable in the US up until about a year ago when some small scale importers started bringing some of these M/88s in from private collections in Finland. These were never imported to the US in the 80s or 90s, only the older Petra model which did not receive the final accuracy upgrades. The M/88 is the final evolution of the Valmet Kalashnikov design and incorporates some really neat features. It was designed just after the SAKO-Valmet merger and was marketed as both a hunting rifle and a sniper rifle to LE/military. The production run was short, and ended when SAKO decided to permanently close the Valmet factory and get out of the semi auto rifle business. Talking to some folks in Finland, these rifles are capable of even better accuracy than the SVD platform. We will have to put that to the test.  SAKO publications from 1988:  
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Originally Posted By TonyRumore: I had one of the older Valmet Hunters in .243. It wasn't very accurate at all. Tony Here are the differences on this newer variant, they took a new approach as to how to stabilize the top cover. Secured by a tapered Allen bolt that is centered through a plate welded onto the back of the cover:      The front of the cover then has two tabs that slide into an adjustable groove in the front of the receiver:    They also incorporated an accuracy feature with the front stock and two "drums" slid over the barrel during assembly. The front drum is fixed in place by a pin, but the rear drum is free to slide back and forth. This is done to provide some flexibility for the wood to shrink/expand during temp changes. The wood is attached with two screws from the bottom. I know of no other rifle that has such a feature in its design:  Here is the new magazine release design with the new bolt hold open button as well:  Here is the bolt and gas system disassembled:  
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Originally Posted By Esterhase: Is this essentially a factory sporterised and rechambered Valmet Finnish army rifle? While it certainly has some basis in that rifle, it's a much more refined design than the RK 62. Seems they were trying to squeeze and all accuracy out of the Kalashnikov design. |
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Originally Posted By mgwantob: Very cool, if it was 1986 then it would've been this Petra model below. The M/88 didn't come out until 1988. https://i.imgur.com/nzxgvdA.jpeg Originally Posted By mgwantob: Originally Posted By 18B30: My father, being Finnish, bought one in 1986. And it still sits to this day in the shelf of his closet. Very cool, if it was 1986 then it would've been this Petra model below. The M/88 didn't come out until 1988. https://i.imgur.com/nzxgvdA.jpeg Thats the one. I confess no knowledge about the gun other that it looks like the Valmet 78 receiver on Dad's Valmet 78. (My father bought every model of Valmet made). |
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Originally Posted By 18B30: Thats the one. I confess no knowledge about the gun other that it looks like the Valmet 78 receiver on Dad's Valmet 78. (My father bought every model of Valmet made). Smart man, not only are they top quality rifles but they’ve probably gone up in value a huge amount since he bought them new. |
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