Finn-diferously (as in M39) good!

[iamkris]

Wow! Just received my 1944 Sako Finn M39 from AIM. Wow! Hard to believe that it is based on the MN91/30. It makes both of my M-N's seem...well...very Russian.

This one has a slightly tiger-striped stock with few storage dings, nice cartouches, excellent metal, shiny bore, hex receiver. All around I couldn't be happier.

It exudes quality...the bolt is smoother, the trigger smoother, balances nicely, nice metal finish, nice sights. I'll never mistake it for my 03A3 but still, it seems like quite a rifle.

I really can't wait to shoot the old girl.

Sorry for the dark pics...

 

[Cosmoline]

That's a nice one! Looks like most of the original pine tar finish is still on it. I love the sort of "proto-tactical" black look to those. I'd suggest a gentle cleaning and survey for any cosmoline reservoirs, but try to keep as much of the black tar oil on there as you can. Nobody has figured out exactly how to replicate it.

Just FYI, it's not directly related to the 91/30. Tikka made its own version of the 91/30, but the M-39 is a completely new design that evolved primarily from the Civil Guard's M-28/30. Most M-39's used old M-91 receivers and magazines.

The M-39's iron sights are very powerful tools. They're not your typical slapped-on military sights that may or may not function. Here's a handy Finnish cheat sheet, with a 300m target default.

 

[iamkris]

Just FYI, it's not directly related to the 91/30. Tikka made its own version of the 91/30, but the M-39 is a completely new design that evolved primarily from the Civil Guard's M-28/30. Most M-39's used old M-91 receivers and magazines.

Thanks. Yeah, I guess that's what I meant...reuse of the receiver, bolt and mag.

Thanks for the note on the finish. It was very dark when I started. Murphy's Oil Soap and a wet cloth got it like it is. Suppose I'll stop now while I'm ahead.

 

[Cosmoline]

Thanks. Yeah, I guess that's what I meant...reuse of the receiver, bolt and mag.

Thanks for the note on the finish. It was very dark when I started. Murphy's Oil Soap and a wet cloth got it like it is. Suppose I'll stop now while I'm ahead.

If you want to protect the existing finish, some gunstock wax works very well. The most I'd do is put some layers of clear BLO over it to seal it in.

 

[jagdpanzer347]

Splendid. Just freakin' splendid. All's I need is another reason to go to AIM!!!!! Seriously that's a nice looking piece. I trust AIM treated you well? I've been there three times and can't hardly recommend them more to my shooting buddies. Kinda' hard on the wallet though. But this is mostly due to my weakness and certainly not due to their prices.
-jagdpanzer.

 

[english kanigit]

Cosmo, where in tarnation did you get that info?

 

[iamkris]

Splendid. Just freakin' splendid. All's I need is another reason to go to AIM!!!!! Seriously that's a nice looking piece. I trust AIM treated you well?

AIM is one of the good guys in my book. I find that they consistenty UNDER rate their firearms. This one was supposed to have "very good" stock and "thin metal finish". I'd call this VG+ stock and excellent metal finish.

I've had various success with the rest of the C&R haunts...never anything but good experiences with AIM though.

 

[Niner]

Some of those recent AIM M39 Finn's are really priced pretty high. I've got two I paid less than $100 for each of them. But... that was then and this is now too.

The Finn's are among the best milsurp shooters. I particularly like the sights and the tuned trigger that the Finns put on these rifles.

 

[jagdpanzer347]

That was then, this is now.

You couldn't have said it better brother. I think this is one of those "Golden Age" times folks speak of. Wide variety of surplus rifles and "no-ban" EVIL rifles as far as the eye can see. Buy it cheap and stack it deep!!!!
-jagdpanzer.

 

[iamkris]

Yeah except now the M39's and Swede M96's and M38's are all "expensive"...at least more so than they once were. Just when I start jonesing for one, too.

Oh well...$250 for a genuine piece of history is still a good deal. Saying I won't buy one since they were $100 just a few years ago is like saying I won't buy a Coke for $0.75 from a machine since I could get them for a dime when I was a kid.

I shoulda bought them "back then". I just wasn't a C&R junkie then.

 

[Ad Astra]

AIM is on top with the Finn M39's. I got one of the "sneaks" they had about a month ago....

Very happy with it (seen with a walnut K31).

Wasn't $99, but those days are gone. Glad to have it.

With some other milsurps and HI khukuris. Note I DID obtain the correct Finnish green leather M39 sling (Layne at Tn. Gun Parts has them).

Really, really enjoying the C&R, wish I had more time to shoot.



Ad Astra

Now, anybody know where to get Mosin-Nagant strippers that are made right & work? And a repro M39 bayonet?

 

[Davo]

Thats a great looking colection...

Im impressed, ad. Makes me want to get my C & R lisense.

 

[Cosmoline]

Cosmo, where in tarnation did you get that info?

Some E-Finn around here, IIRC. It might have been on the Mosin boards.

I like the M-39's, but the stocks are a bit too thick and bulky for my taste. I prefer the late-model Tikka M-91's and 91/30's. They can be exceptionally accurate, and have fewer stock interference issues than the M-39's. My Tikka 91/30 is the most accurate Mosin I've ever owned.

 

[ChevellRCR]

I have three M39 rifles. They are very accurate. I hated it but I have to sell one. I have it listed in the classifieds here.

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=181286

 

[Onmilo]

I always though the Finnish Mosin rifles were cheesy looking with the tongue in groove birch stocks and super heavy barrels.
That is until I shot a few of these rifles and later learned those cheesy stocks kept the wood from warping in cold wet weather and the guns would group just as nice in a down pour as they would on a mild spring day.

 

[benEzra]

Mine is a great shooter. Best group is 4 shots into 1 3/8" at 100 yards, with Wolf 148gr FMJ, and one called flyer that was totally my fault. I saw though the spotting scope how good a group the first four made, and choked on the fifth shot.:banghead:

 

[Cosmoline]

Finland, Finland, Finland
...
Your rifles so lovely
And still pretty cheap

Eating breakfast or dinner,
Or snack lunch in the hall.
Finland, Finland, Finland,
Finland has it all.

 

[iamkris]

Cosmo...

Do you have one of those for Swedes? My M38 comes next week!!

 

[Jack Straw from Wichita]

Finland, Finland, Finland ...

Finland, Finland, Finland
...
Your rifles so lovely
And still pretty cheap

Eating breakfast or dinner,
Or snack lunch in the hall.
Finland, Finland, Finland,
Finland has it all.

I suppose you have a collection of Scandinavian credit cards as well?

-Jack

"I'm a lumberjack and I'm okay, I sleep all night and I work all day ..."

 

[pkm]

m28-30

I happened to find a M28/30 from my local gunshop last fall.
It's made by SAKO in 1934. Was only 250$ probably because previous owner had changed the stock to a M39 stock.
It has S.k.Y stamp but no [SA] so it hasn't been in the last wars for some reason.
I looked up the price for m28/30 back in 1934 and it was somewhere around 650-700mk (markka's)
wich corresponds to 2500$ of todays money. I get consistent under 4" groups from 300 yards with it
Of course using self loaded ammo with any lapua .30cal bullets weighing over 154grs.
I can understand why Simo Häyhä used it..
To achieve the authentic feel I sometimes use the bolt that i got from my 89year old grandfather-
a little souvenir from karelian isthmus summer 1941.
Has a small star stamped on it
It's quite worn but somehow the trigger feel is better than normal..

Enjoy your finnish 3'line rifles- they've been through hard times and deserve a good home.

 

[Cosmoline]

Yeah, the 28/30's are generally considered the ultimate manifestation of Finnish Mosinsmithing. They were basically custom rifles issued to each Civil Guardsman for life. I picked one up this summer for $200 that had been mis-marked as an M-39. It was in fantastic condition. So good I couldn't let myself keep it, so I sold it off for cash and another Finn. The M-39's included some of the 28/30 improvements but weren't quite as well made and didn't have the special sleeve to float the barrel. The heavy wood stock interfering with the barrel is the M-39's single great weak spot, and accounts for a lot of accuracy falloff after the rifle heats up. Those shims you find in many M-39 receivers are an effort to lift the barrel up away from that massive birch stock, but they're not as elegant or effective as the sleeve.

 

[longhorngunman]

Aim's prices actually seem to be pretty fair. These Finns have become quite popular and were very rare around 6 months ago. $300 for just a "fair" one was common and they go for more than that at the local funshow. I got two for barely over $100 apiece from a local gundealer. 1942 "B" barrels and I consider it one of the best gun deals I've ever made. They are probably among the top three milsurps in accuracy and that's with cheap milsurp ammo. One good thing is the 7.62*54 is so cheap you can shoot your Finn all you want, but please, for the love of God and all thats holy BE sure and clean those guns well after use. These rifles are too nice to let them get corroded!

 

[english kanigit]

Since I'm such an Arse I'll go ahead and give you this teaser pic for my new bayonet...

Once photoserver.us quits having "issues" I'll get all my pix uploaded with a report.:banghead:


P.S. for Ad Astra - I've got an M39 repro bayonet if you're interested. I'll be doing a comparison post between it and the real thing in the next couple of days...


Linkey!!!!

 

[iamkris]

You silly english kannnnniget

I might be interested in the repro M39 bayonet also

 

[jobu07]

I'm not interested in the repro bayo... But I am interested in seeing more photos of that new one mounted and seeing your comparison!