Finn M39

[JSH]

I believe that is the proper name. There are so many variations i have a hard time keeping up with them.
Trigger is outstanding on this one, bore is good to excellent, still need to slug it as it just came home last night. I was looking at one to shoot cast in and everyone pointed me to this one.
Funny thing is the thing was full of sand in the barrel channel and inside the stock. Not fine sand but more like concrete sand.

Any of you have any comments? Powders, bullets what I can expect from it.
jeff

[Calamity Jake]

I believe that is the proper name. There are so many variations i have a hard time keeping up with them.
Trigger is outstanding on this one, bore is good to excellent, still need to slug it as it just came home last night. I was looking at one to shoot cast in and everyone pointed me to this one.
Funny thing is the thing was full of sand in the barrel channel and inside the stock. Not fine sand but more like concrete sand.

Any of you have any comments? Powders, bullets what I can expect from it.
jeff

Taker a look here:http://www.surplusrifle.com/finnishmosin/index.asp

for a lot of info the M39.

If your M39 is a rebuild by Sako then it should have a .308-.309 bore.

Slug the barrel then take a look a Lyman 311299 or 314299 depending on bore dia.

Any of the heavy(170+) boolits with the right dia. should shoot good in your M39.

Like all military rifles there long throated so getting a boolit seated long enough to engage the rifling may be difficult.

My Sake M39 slugs at .308 while my Finn arsenal rebuild is .312

[Freightman]

M39 wins almost all the military shoots at the range wipes up on the '03's bad and also beats the Swedish Mausers. The good thing about the match he can only win three times with the same rifle.

[chuebner]

My 1968 M39 slugs at .299 X .311. I have been using a Lyman 311299 beagled to .314 which I size to .312 on a honed out Lee push thru sizer dia. Best load to date is 12gr. Red Dot with the bullet seated with only the gas check in the neck and using the Lee factory crimp die. This load keeps all bullets in the 10 ring on the SR1 target at 100yd with issue sights. Love this rifle. I still have a number of load combinations to try but this one works until I find a better one.

charlie

[seppos]

The model 39 is commonly called Ukko-Pekka in Finland..
Courtecy of the former president of Finland: Per Evind Svinhufvud, who:s nick name was the same.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Presidentti_Svinhufvud_-_1234%2C0492.jpg

He was the president from 1931-1937

S

[JSH]

VKT is the Sako marking isn't it? This is in a sort of an octagon
Other markings are SA in a box and a "D"
1944 is the date.
jeff

[Nora]

VKT stands for Valtion Kirvaaritehdas. The Sako stamp is an "S" inside a sort of squiggly circle. SA stands for Suomen Armeija, and is a property mark showing that is belongs to the Finnish Army. The D is to show that the chamber was throated to except the Finnish D166 round.

Nora

[beemer]

I believe VKT is Valmet. The best I can tell the D means the barrel will use Russian ammo that is .311 and Finn ammo at .308. The bore should be about .300-.311. The Finnish used about as much captured ammo as their own.

Yours has the same markings and year as mine. My M39 has got to be the least fussy cast rifle I have, just don't shoot it enough.

Dave

Nora was posting at the same time as I was. Nora do you have info on the D166 round? I looked around a good deal and what I posted above was all I could find, would like to know more. Thanks.

[Nora]

The D166 round used a 185 gr, .308" bullet instead of the 149 gr, .311 bullet of the "normal" 54R.

Nora

[txpete]

factory specs on a M39 is .310,28/30 .3082,m28 .3095,M27 .3095

I use the lee 185 gr gc bullet sized .311 and its very accurate in my M39's.
19.0 grs AA5744 laupa brass win a win lr primer.

pete

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/txpete/2008_0119finn20002-1.jpg

[JSH]

VKT

State Rifle Factory at Jyvaskyla (Valtion Kivaarithedas) Found on M27, M39 and M91 rifles.

SA in a box
Finnish Army (Suomen Armeija) property mark, used after POULUSTUS LAITOS in 1942



http://www.finnishmilitaryguns.com/cartouches.asp

[mike in co]

tx pete.
"factory specs on a M39 is .310,28/30 .3082,m28 .3095,M27 .3095"

can you tell me where these numbers come from ?

a site, a data sheet ? what ?

thanks
mike in co

[txpete]

sorry mike got the flu it took a bit to get back on this.
doug is a member here also.the book is excellent and just full of info and has a reloading section.it is this book that got me hooked on the finns.
pete

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/txpete/IMG-3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/txpete/IMG_0001-9.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/txpete/IMG_0002-3.jpg

[EMC45]

Nice Finnish turds Pete!

[StarMetal]

Foiled again huh Mike? :kidding::kidding:

Joe

[txpete]

Nice Finnish turds Pete!

thank you emc :lol:.I think there is a few more stash in the safe since this pic was taken.I picked up a very nice M27 tikka 1931 that a guy was selling as a M44.[smilie=1:
pete

[EMC45]

Do they shoot all that much better?

[Mike Venturino]

A month ago I hardly knew what a M39 Finnish rifle was. Then I bought one someone had mounted with one of those eastern European scopes like they put on Draganovs. Dang is that thing accurate! I'm truly impressed with it.

MLV

[mike in co]

Foiled again huh Mike? :kidding::kidding:

Joe

naw you got me on the wrong side of this one. i have three of them(39's)...and love them....and i'd say he is close(or the factory was close), but i see guys claiming a 308 m39 i ask questions.

i have '44 circle S, a 1970(no mark), a 1943 circle S, sa; and well i thought i had a fourth...can only find 3...lol.


isnt vkt just the mil version of tikka( converted after the war to tikka ?)







mike in co

[JSH]

So, should the one I brought home be a good shooter. I know I will need to do a bit of measuring but will it keep up with a Krag, 03, Argie and a Swede? I bought the swede on a whim, it is a heck of a good shooter to 100m. After that it goes crazy,long bullets. I needa shorter one for this one and a fatter one for a couple of others.
Gosh dang you Ken any way ,lol.
jeff

[chuebner]

The M39 I have have will go head to head with my 1903A3. The Springfield may just be a tad better due to the peep sight. But the M39 just feels more natural to shoulder. I guess the 03A3 was designed for midgets with the short length of pull.

charlie

[StarMetal]

naw you got me on the wrong side of this one. i have three of them(39's)...and love them....and i'd say he is close(or the factory was close), but i see guys claiming a 308 m39 i ask questions.

i have '44 circle S, a 1970(no mark), a 1943 circle S, sa; and well i thought i had a fourth...can only find 3...lol.


isnt vkt just the mil version of tikka( converted after the war to tikka ?)







mike in co


Yeah, my Sako M39 is .310.

Joe

[txpete]

naw you got me on the wrong side of this one. i have three of them(39's)...and love them....and i'd say he is close(or the factory was close), but i see guys claiming a 308 m39 i ask questions.

i have '44 circle S, a 1970(no mark), a 1943 circle S, sa; and well i thought i had a fourth...can only find 3...lol.


isnt vkt just the mil version of tikka( converted after the war to tikka ?)







mike in co

VKT is the same a valmet.the circle S is sako.the 1970 is what they call a sneak M39 but it was built by sako.part of the deal with the russians after the war was they were not going to make anymore sako rifles :grin: so they just didn't stamp them:lol:.they made the M39 up to 1972.

now if you have deep pockets....

http://www.estonianarms.com/2876.htm

[Dutchman]

Do they shoot all that much better?


Only those Finn Mosins with Finn barrels or barrels procured by the Finns.

The m/1891-24 civil guard rifles, some of them, have Swiss SIG barrels. My Finn m/1891 rebuilt with one of the Belgian "B" barrels dated 1942 is so sweet you wouldn't believe the quality of the bore. The barrel was unfired when I aquired it. Like a mirror.

One of the first things we all learned about many of the Finn Mosins was when it was noticed the bands were kept loose and instead had little screws threaded into the stock in front of the bands to keep the bands from sliding off. Why? Smart Finns learned how much better the rifles shot with loose bands. So they did it the easiest and fastest way, screwed in little "keeper" screws.

Finn sights are usually much better, depending on the model. The m/39 wasn't the first to have a square post front and U notch rear. This makes a much cleaner sight picture than inverted Vee front and Vee rear notch. Better sight picture = kill more Russians. The Finns had a fetish for killing Russians. They did it very good.

Last year I bought a "new" Finn 91/30 for my son-in-law. New barrel, new stock and handguard, new finish. Unfired. $240. That was a private party sale. Ten+ years ago the Finns weren't so much. I remember the Century m/39 3/fer $100. Not the best condition but complete shootable m/39 Finns.

<gee...wonder if he ever made a LER scope mount for a Finn Mosin?>

Well, since you asked.....

http://images41.fotki.com/v1255/photos/2/28344/2479279/m39a-vi.jpg

The m/1891 looks so much slimmer and more graceful without a handguard. This one came out of Finland without a handguard. The bands are cut for handguard tabs but when it was rebuilt with the Belgian barrel the handguard didn't make the journey. This one shoots really good with 314299 @ .312".

http://images5.fotki.com/v68/photos/2/28344/157842/f2-vi.jpg

http://images5.fotki.com/v68/photos/2/28344/157842/f3-vi.jpg

Dutch

[EMC45]

I have a New England Westinghouse reworked by the Finns. It has the squared SA on the barrel shank. Shoots well. It is a 91.

[doubs43]

So, should the one I brought home be a good shooter. I know I will need to do a bit of measuring but will it keep up with a Krag, 03, Argie and a Swede? I bought the swede on a whim, it is a heck of a good shooter to 100m. After that it goes crazy,long bullets. I needa shorter one for this one and a fatter one for a couple of others.
Gosh dang you Ken any way ,lol. jeff

Jeff, the Finns are the top of the line in MN's and are capable of shooting with any turn-bolt military rifle; IOW, they're excellent.

Some 15 years ago or so, our local gun club held military rifle matches and the prizes for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place was an M-27 Finn MN. That's how cheap they were then.

[StarMetal]

Only those Finn Mosins with Finn barrels or barrels procured by the Finns.

The m/1891-24 civil guard rifles, some of them, have Swiss SIG barrels. My Finn m/1891 rebuilt with one of the Belgian "B" barrels dated 1942 is so sweet you wouldn't believe the quality of the bore. The barrel was unfired when I aquired it. Like a mirror.

One of the first things we all learned about many of the Finn Mosins was when it was noticed the bands were kept loose and instead had little screws threaded into the stock in front of the bands to keep the bands from sliding off. Why? Smart Finns learned how much better the rifles shot with loose bands. So they did it the easiest and fastest way, screwed in little "keeper" screws.

Finn sights are usually much better, depending on the model. The m/39 wasn't the first to have a square post front and U notch rear. This makes a much cleaner sight picture than inverted Vee front and Vee rear notch. Better sight picture = kill more Russians. The Finns had a fetish for killing Russians. They did it very good.

Last year I bought a "new" Finn 91/30 for my son-in-law. New barrel, new stock and handguard, new finish. Unfired. $240. That was a private party sale. Ten+ years ago the Finns weren't so much. I remember the Century m/39 3/fer $100. Not the best condition but complete shootable m/39 Finns.

<gee...wonder if he ever made a LER scope mount for a Finn Mosin?>

Well, since you asked.....

http://images41.fotki.com/v1255/photos/2/28344/2479279/m39a-vi.jpg

The m/1891 looks so much slimmer and more graceful without a handguard. This one came out of Finland without a handguard. The bands are cut for handguard tabs but when it was rebuilt with the Belgian barrel the handguard didn't make the journey. This one shoots really good with 314299 @ .312".

http://images5.fotki.com/v68/photos/2/28344/157842/f2-vi.jpg

http://images5.fotki.com/v68/photos/2/28344/157842/f3-vi.jpg

Dutch


The Finn 39 has kind of a different front nose cap. It's hinged for one thing. I wondered about tightening it, if it had any effect on the accuracy. It does. After I found the sweet spot, I made me a little brass bushing to fit the space between the two halves so I don't over or under torque it. That did it, it's a one holer with cast now.

Joe

[JSH]

Ok I looked around a bit. Still couldn't find pics and so forth of the various different ones. Wanting some good refrence material.

[higgins]

Take a look at http://7.62x54r.net. It's a good site with lots of photos of markings, and model variations. Also a lot of good information on 54R surplus ammo. Although a lot of the ammo isn't available in quantity now, it still is a good reference for what may turn up on the market.

[JSH]

Not what I had hoped for
Throat/leade 301-311
muzzle 301-314

I am going to get the cero safe out and do a chamber cast.
Bore is still dark, but is cleaning up fairly well with kroil -bronze brush- JB's.
Then another over night soak in Kroil.
I have done this for four days, gets better every time. Hoping the throat comes around with the muzzle.

Whilst I have your ears bent a bit. Whos die set should I look for. Or, who's is speced out properly so as not to over work the neck brass all the way down to 308, then drag the neck back over a .31++ expander ball.
jeff

[beemer]

JSH
I had the some problem with the FL sizers. I had a collet die for a 303 Brit so I ordered an extra collet and mandril. I shortened the collet to size the 7.62x54 but ended up making a mandril so my .314 boolit would fit properly. I doesn't decap but thats not a problem.

Both Lyman and Lee size for .308, don't know about the others.

Dave

[dualsport]

I am about to begin loading for my 2 MNs. I ordered Lee dies from Midway. I already have Lee .303 Brit. dies with a collet neck sizer die. What's the drill for loading up fat cast bullets for my Russian? Just use the .303 expander in the 7.62? Thanks

[beemer]

The collet sizer for a 303 Brit. will size about half of the neck of the 7.62x54, that might work. I have sized about half the neck of a 30-30 and it worked fine. As I stated above I modified one to size the entire neck of the 7.62x54. Lee does not make a collet die for the MN.

With the standard FL sizer replace the .308 expander-decapping pin with the one out of a 303Brit.

Dave

[StarMetal]

I took my Lee sizer die and opened the neck up to end up only a few thousandths larger then the bullet I'm shooting after expanding it. This stopped all the neck splitting I was getting. I don't run the case all the way into the sizer either, just a tad short. I'm getting really really good results this way with my Finn 39. I though about just getting or making a neck sizer, but don't know now.

Joe

[mike in co]

the ideal situtation for the averaqge guy is a die that sizes the neck straight and at the proper dia WITHOUT the use of a ball pulled back thru the neck.
that type of die is over working the brass as it first undersizies the neck and then opens it back up to the size or there abouts of the ball. the other issue with this is the ballis often not pulled back straight...resulting in off centered necks.

i have the same issue as the rest of you...lack of a good neck sizing die for cast boolits, as most commercial 7.62x54/53r dies are set up for a 308 bullet.

so i currently partial neck size with no ball pulled back thru.

the lee classic loaders are set for 308..and i have three of them. i think me and my lathe may have to fty opening the neck of a couple of these.

a willson bushing die would be nice...may have to co look if they have one...i got lots of bushings.

mike in co

[txpete]

I just use the lyman M die no problems with my cast loads.
pete

[mike in co]

ok guys back from doing a little checking...

as usual, midway pricing beats the costs of becoming a le wilson dealer.( $500 min buy)

IF we can get midway to cary the dies,,they are only 43 bucks plus shipping and bushings.
this is based on thre price of a 30'06 die.

so i guess the best plan would be for 5 or 6 of us to call midway and ask them to stock the die and see what happens.
any takers ?

mike in co

[StarMetal]

ok guys back from doing a little checking...

as usual, midway pricing beats the costs of becoming a le wilson dealer.( $500 min buy)

IF we can get midway to cary the dies,,they are only 43 bucks plus shipping and bushings.
this is based on thre price of a 30'06 die.

so i guess the best plan would be for 5 or 6 of us to call midway and ask them to stock the die and see what happens.
any takers ?

mike in co

Why not just get someone like Redding, Forster, etc., to make a run of bushing dies?

Joe

[JSH]

I read somthing a while back some place that modified a FL die to take the bushings. I will ask around. I don't think I have any bushings or, bushing die bodies any more.
jeff

[mike in co]

Why not just get someone like Redding, Forster, etc., to make a run of bushing dies?

Joe


because the folks at l e wilson have bushing ..arbor press dies...and i have an arbor press.

i just think that the pool of cast boolit, large dia shooters is too small.

redding would be good as midways retail is about my dealer price!

on the other hand if just 5 or 6 people called and requested the wilson die ..i think they would stock it.

mike in co

[LIMPINGJ]

Could you do like Star Metal and just have the neck honed to the desired diameter? Lathesmith or Buckshot might be able to do this if the die body is not to hard. Has anyone checked?

[StarMetal]

I took my sizer die apart and chucked it in the lathe and had at it. Open a little, clean, size a piece of brass and measure. Continued to the process to I got to where I wanted to be with it. I done the same thing with a Lee 6.5 Grendel sizer. Then I bought a set of Redding bushing dies in that caliber.

Joe

[bigbear]

Just got one of these with a B barrel. O.K. to shoot with surplus I presume( and should I try reloads with 308 bullets first. I don' t have a mold for this rifle. Front sight has been shifted far to the left. What's the best way to move it back, don't want to mar this old rifle

[coyote hunter]

If your talking about a M-39, the front sight can be dialed back and forth with a screwdriver, the 91s, and 91/30s need the old brass punch. I have a number of Finn and Russ/Soviet variations, and shoot all of the M-39s and 91/30s with GI ball. The older and rarer Finn models with the .308-9 dia. bores don't do well with ball, and due to the advanced ages of their old dry artic birch stocks will sometimes develop serious cracks near the reinforce. I do hand load for those models, (27s, 28s and 28/30s) but with moderate loads using .308 bullets. I think cast would be the real ticket, and I have yet to try that myself.

[JSH]

GS yesterday, what a waste of time gas and $ to get in. $10!! for a flea market. All the beefsticks candles, jewlery and body creams I could stand. It was an RK show.
Ben Dover was there selling dies. I AIN'T giving $39 for a set of lee dies.
I have found with me at least it is the chase as much as it is procuring the vintage gun. All in all it is very interesting history lesson that I enjoy researching.
I did see a couple of M-39's that were I would say good to fair shape. Bolts strapped shut of course to protect us from the town idiots that are out there. $300+tax. I did see a few variations, but am not yet familiar enough to judge what it is for sure.
Looked around for a 314299 of some sort, nothing there either.
jeff

[Maven]

JSH, A "fat" Loverin design, e.g., one of our group buy molds, may be just the ticket if you can't find #314299. If you can't find the Loverin or -299, ask Jim Allison (CBE molds) or one of our sponsors about the former.

[StarMetal]

I'm sure BaBore would cut his version of the 314299 provide you get 45 2.1 off his butt to draw it up.

Joe

[bigbear]

If your talking about a M-39, the front sight can be dialed back and forth with a screwdriver, the 91s, and 91/30s need the old brass punch. I have a number of Finn and Russ/Soviet variations, and shoot all of the M-39s and 91/30s with GI ball. The older and rarer Finn models with the .308-9 dia. bores don't do well with ball, and due to the advanced ages of their old dry artic birch stocks will sometimes develop serious cracks near the reinforce. I do hand load for those models, (27s, 28s and 28/30s) but with moderate loads using .308 bullets. I think cast would be the real ticket, and I have yet to try that myself.Yes it is an older one with a Belgium barrel. Wood screws to hold the barrel bands in place, so I take it you recommend low pressure 308 bullet reloads. I may just buy some 308 cast bullets for it as I don't have a 308 mold. What weight would you suggest ?150,170,180 200?

[mike in co]

Yes it is an older one with a Belgium barrel. Wood screws to hold the barrel bands in place, so I take it you recommend low pressure 308 bullet reloads. I may just buy some 308 cast bullets for it as I don't have a 308 mold. What weight would you suggest ?150,170,180 200?


the rifle is not likely to be a 308 bore.....go do some reading. mos tlikely a 310/311...or bigger.

[coyote hunter]

Yes it is an older one with a Belgium barrel. Wood screws to hold the barrel bands in place, so I take it you recommend low pressure 308 bullet reloads. I may just buy some 308 cast bullets for it as I don't have a 308 mold. What weight would you suggest ?150,170,180 200?

Big Bear...the M-39's are .311 to .312 in bore size, I was refering to the Model 27, 28 and 28/30 rifles have the smaller bore. As for boolits for the M-39, I have been shooting the standard east block ball which is usually very close to 150 grain, and the Sov. sniper ball that reeciently came into this country...I've heard these rounds are about 164, sorry I can't be more exact, i've never pulled one to weigh it yet. However, it does not track with the original Soviet PU sniper's scope cam, which was designed for the 150 grain boolit and I suspect it' weight is about what I've heard. I think any good boolit design nominally in about .312 die (slug your bore) in at least 150 should shoot very good. The accuracy of my M-39s with old GI ball is amazing. I think you'll like it!

[bigbear]

I've checked, my rifle is a model 91, Finn , Barrel marked with a B.

[txpete]

fwiw

the "B" barrels are the same in the M-39 and the M-91.


The VKT and Belgian "B" barrel markings are very similar to each other with the same stamping styles and sizing used. This could be explained by the fact that VKT may have handled the delivery of the blanks and the serial numbering and marking of them when they were put into use. The only difference is that the "B" replaces the <VKT> in a diamond symbol on the Belgian produced barrels and the test proof for firing of 3600 does not include the VKT symbol on the Belgian barrels. The markings from top to bottom include the boxed [SA] followed by the "B" or VKT manufacturing marking, the "D" bullet type marking and the serial number and date. There is no marking to denote that the rifle was assembled at the AV3 depot. The serial number is sometimes stamped along the side of the receiver per import legislation and occasionally serial numbers of previous rifles can still be seen. It is noted here that some of these receivers and components were being rebuilt and refit to a new rifle for the third time when they ended up assembled on a m/39. For example, many receivers started out on a Russian m/91 then could have been rebuilt and refurbished while being assembled into a Finnish m/91, m/24, m/27, m/28 or a m/28-30. Its final use then would have been on the m/39.
One characteristic noted from observed specimens and from the database of registered rifles of VKT and Belgian barreled m/39’s is that the dates on the barrels are not chronological in the order of the serial numbers. This raise the possibility that the barrels were not date stamped until they were actually assembled at AV3. Of the 30,300 reported barrels that used VKT and Belgian specimens, it appears that 1943 dated VKT barreled rifles are quite scarce and that Belgian produced barrels as used on m/39’s are rare as well. An educated guess by analysis of known serial numbers and determination of barrels produced apparently in sequence can be ventured as to total numbers of guns produced. Since no concrete numbers can be ascertained on specific "B" barrel m/39 production, it is my opinion that approximately 9,000-10,000 barrels were made for the m/39 rifles with the Belgian produced barrel blanks and marked with the identifier of "B" on the barrel shank and dated 1942. It is also apparent that the "B" barreled m/39’s outnumber the rifles assembled with the original m/91 configuration barrels considerably. This would include post war assembly of "B" marked barrels on m/39’s as well.

http://mosinnagant.net/finland/M91inFinland.asp

The B Barrel M91’s


One version of M91 and M39 rifle that causes much confusion are the so called B barrels. There are M91 barrels that have a B proof where the manufacture’s proof would normally be found. This B marking has been debated time and time again but it is clear the B signifies a barrel blank from Belgium. It is assumed these blanks were made into barrels at VKT and some rare examples have VKT and Belgium proofs as well as the B marking. Belgium supplied at least 13,000 of these blanks and all were supposed to be for the M91 rifle; however, the Finns did use a number of these blanks for the M39 service rifle. The exact number of these B barrels which were made into M39s is not clear and the serial numbers also run in the same range as the M91. Almost all of the Bs were assembled post war regardless of whether they are M91s or M39s with a small number being made in 1944-1945. It is known that 5,000 Tikka M39s were produced post war from M91 rifles but the number of B barrels has never been shown (to my knowledge at least). Both the M39s and the M91s have 1942 dates but that does not mean they were assembled in 1942. It is estimated that there are 4,000-5,000 B M91s still in existence but this is only an educated guess. There are far more M39 B barrels than M91 B barrels so the M91s are a good find for the shooter and collector.

[JSH]

Back at this again.
I found on accident somthing that would neck size down to hold a 312+ and larger bullet. 300WSM die. Works perfectly too. I bought this die on accident and had forgotten about it.
It didn't hurt that I ran across a gent with a pile of moulds for a good price. Picked up a 311299, 311466 and a 358315 + a couple of new sizer dies for $75. I would have bought more but was low on funds. All were SC and had high hopes they would cast on the large side as from what I have read in the past, a fair bunch of the early lymans dropped on the large side. 311299 drops at around .311ish+ and the 311466 drops at .313++.
Got real lucky as the 311466 sized to .313+ seats to flush with the bottom of the neck when contacting the throat.
Now to load and shoot a few as soon as the rain quits.
jeff

[new2cast]

I hand a standing and waiting offer to buy a very nice M39. So far I've stopped myself from buying it for one reason: I know of no affordable brass source to reload.

Is there some secret webiste or something that I'm missing?

[chuebner]

Graf's has 7.62X54R Privi brass for about $43.00/100. I consider that inexpensive for reloading.

[new2cast]

Graf's has it for 49/100 w/o shipping