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Posted: 3/4/2008 12:05:07 PM EDT
| I've been thinking about getting one of the SVT 40 rifle's, been checking them out on Gunbroker. They look very interesting and the ammo is inexpensive, relatively speaking. Anyone know if there are things to be cautious of? I see different years of manufacture offered, any one better than the other? Thanks in advance for any assistance. |
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Corrosive ammo is just fine, although cleaning is a bit tedious. It won't ruin the barrel even if you clean it, like the previous poster mentioned. They are loud! My brother has one and it's a great shooter. It's really light for such a long gun. Numrich has spare mags. They will need a little fitting around the front catch, but they work just fine. Be sure to use light ball ammo (147 gr.). It's one of my favorite rifles, to be sure. The Russian's made over 2 million of them, but only issued them to NCO's, as they didn't trust the average conscript with one. I wouldn't either. The SS was very fond of it, too. |
Thanks for the info guys. Always looking for something new and interesting, preferrably black rifle-ish in nature if not color (!) Looking at a FN49 in 308 with detachable mag as well. I know, "get both", but not this time. Gunbroker is going to be my downfall, I just know it
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I did not say corrosive ammo would ruin the barrel it will ruin the gas system The gas system of the svt 40 is finiky and delicate, it is also the start of the SKS, and FAL, with that said it is not diffucult to clean the short stroke piston however there is no way to get corrosive slats out of the gas valve it self. These rifles are hard to get spare parts for, a new gas system will be harder to comeby than a new rifle. Do not shoot corrosive ammo in the SVT-40, save it for the Mosin Nagants, it has no place around the SVT gas system. Historical note the SVT was used extensivley in the defense of Moscow winter 41-42. The AVT-40 is the select fire modle and are also available in semi in the US thety have a different muzzle break. sniper rails on the reciever push the price of the rifle up about $100, the scopes are PE 4x but the mounts are impossible to find for under $2000 original, but $700 repilicas are around. |
There is so much bad info in here I don't even know where to start.  These rifles were DESIGNGED to shoot corrosive ammo. You can clean the gas system just fine if you take your time. To say it's impossible to clean the gas valve is silly. The AVT models were imported along with the SVT models, but simply switching the trigger group redered all the autos semi automatic. The muzzle brake design is an early/late feature and is not related to whether the rifle was originally an AVT or an SVT. Some rifles are in AVT stocks, which are somewhat thicker than SVT stocks and are sometimes marked as such, but that too is not an indication of whether the rifle was originally an AVT or not, since the stocks were swapped randomly during rebuild. Re: sniper rails. Most SVT40s and all SVT38s were manufactured WITH scope rails. To find a SVT40 without them is actually a little more rare. The presence or lack of scope rails alone does not have an impact on the rifle's value. The true snipers had a special "notch" cut into the back of the receiver which is very easy to fake, and if verified, can really, really boost the value of a rifle. As for the shootability of the rifles, they are fun and accurate shooters. Spare parts is an issue, as the rifles are hard-used, even if refurbed (no such thing as a truly "mint" or "unissued" SVT, at least on this side of the atlantic... they're all arsenal rebuilds from the 1950s-1970s) and the parts available are all also used. They're not a rifle that you'll want to shoot 10K rounds through for "fun," just like you wouldn't do that to a collectible M1 Garand. Stalin had wanted the Soviet army fully equipped with the SVT rifles as standard issue. Those plans were put on hold when the Germans invaded in 1941 (years before Stalin expected him to) and production switched back over to Mosin 91/30. There were still many SVTs produced through 1945. German and Finnish troops prized the SVT and they were used extensively by both armies. Finland even toyed with the idea of adopting the SVT as a standard issue weapon after WWII, but the AK made it obsolete pretty fast. They're fun to shoot, but make sure you get the gas system worked out right. You want it on the lowest setting that will still allow proper function. It'll work with the thing wide open, but it'll beat the rifle pretty hard. I like shooting mine more than my M1 Garand. It's far more slender and light, and has no more recoil. |
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With mine it is down to being shot maybe once a year or so. Just too collectable and hard to replace for me to shoot it much. That beign said though.... its is a joy to shoot. I shoot 'mildly' corrosive ammo.. .which I take as being similar to 'mildly pregnant'  .Cleaning the gas system hasnt been pretty easy. Disassemble, spray down with windex (making sure to give a couple sprays into the gas valve to clear it out as well), and dry. Whats nice though, is the gas adjustment valve has little numbers on the flats, so you can set it the gas system back to your 'working' setting easily. Hell yea, get one. They are fun to shoot, but as others have said ... they are freakin' LOUD!!!! |
Sorry, I meant gas system, and it's not hard to clean. Run it under hot water and let it dry. All my surplus ammo is gone, so I guess that's not an issue for me anymore. That's also the same procedure I use with my FN49. The SVT had nothing to do with the FAL. The FN49 (precursor to the FAL) was in development concurrently with the SVT and has it's roots in the M1918 BAR. |
I have two, and I always shoot the nastiest, most corrosive ammo out of them, (all I have)-- Then I scrub the heck out of them with windex or water, then clean and oil as usual. I have NEVER had a gas system problem, although I myself have that problem on occasion.--- ahem!--- (maybe I should drink some Ballistol?)
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