New to Me M-39 (PHOTOS ADDED)

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altera6	New to Me M-39 (PHOTOS ADDED)	Lead	[-]
Posts: 12 (12/18/08 05:20 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None Guys and Gals, Today at lunch I bought a Finnish M39 for $290. It has the following features; barrel is stamped with SAKO gear/SA in box/serial number/1943, the stock is the round dovetailed version/stock maker and SAKO cartouche on right side are very clear/no splits or cracks but does need to be cleaned, high edge wear and a few thin spots on the bluing, none of the screws are buggered, bore is VG+ to Excellent, all matching serial numbers. It appears to be original and not arsenal refinished. Merry Christmas to All, Last Edited By: altera6 12/30/08 11:41 PM. Edited 1 time.
chcusnr1		#1	[-]
Posts: 70 (12/18/08 08:02 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	altera6 wrote: Guys and Gals, Today at lunch I bought a Finnish M39 for $290. It has the following features; barrel is stamped with SAKO gear/SA in box/serial number/1943, the stock is the round dovetailed version/stock maker and SAKO cartouche on right side are very clear/no splits or cracks but does need to be cleaned, high edge wear and a few thin spots on the bluing, none of the screws are buggered, bore is VG+ to Excellent, all matching serial numbers. It appears to be original and not arsenal refinished. Merry Christmas to All, Where are you having lunch where you can buy an M39? I gotta check that out! Everybody's got to eat, but man does not live by bread alone. Great deal when you can fill your belly and leave with a rifle all in one trip! Jim
duster		#2	[-]
Posts: 274 (12/21/08 12:35 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Sounds like a nice rifle. Any pictures?
altera6	2	#3	[-]
Posts: 13 (12/21/08 01:39 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The ten day wait is up on Dec 28th, so I'll be able to get started cleaning up my M39. For some reason the cartridge interrupter and ejector are pretty rough along with the stock being pretty crusty. I ordered replacements parts along with a SA cleaning Kit form Tennessee Guns. To clean up the crusty stock I'm going to rub it down with turpentine to clean off the crud they apply a few coats of 1/3 Mix from The Stock Doctor. I also reload for the 7.62x54r and now the 7.62x53r. My RCBS dies came with both .308 and .310 expander buttons. For my first attempt at reloading 7.62x53r I'm using Sierra .308 150gr SP's over 52gr of IMR 4350 in a Winchester case. Using the .308 expander button neck tension appears to be OK to hold the bullets without crimping. Fortunately my 1891/59 shoots well with .311 bullets and from my readings the M39 bore is .310 for the specific purpose of shooting both .310-.311 7.62x54r captured ammo along with Finn 7.62x53r .308 ammo. However, using Hornady .312 bullets may be stretching thing and I will not be shooting these in the M39.
zeebill		#4	[-]
Posts: 3400 (12/23/08 12:20 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Mineral spirits is a lot easier on the finish of a stock and I don't reload but it sounds to me like you should be slugging the barrel with what you appear to know about reloading. Good Luck cleaning and don't judge the inner parts of the Mosin by their looks as I have a bunch of them that look horrid but work just fine. Remember the axiom of if it ain't broke don't fix it and you will save bundles of time and effort and at the same time keep the integrity of the original Finnish Mosin intact and thus the value too. I and lots of collectors value that quite a bit! Congrats on the find! Bill
george1108	COMENTS TO ALTERA6	#5	[-]
Posts: 14 (12/28/08 11:27 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Where do you live that requires a 10 day wait????? I have a hard time waiting 2 days for the UPS truck to deliver my "antique" class M-39's. I have "several" of these fine rifles, and they are a joy to shoot. My favorite part is the first cleaning when I find all of the stamps and markings on the receiver and bolt parts. For your info, most of my M39 bores slug to 0.300"/0.311" and are most accurate with a 0.310"/0.311" dia bullet. The triggers are also a lot crisper that the regular M/N's. The extra weight of the Finn stocks helps to tame the recoil also. Good luck, shoot often and enjoy these fine rifles.
altera6		#6	[-]
Posts: 15 (12/28/08 11:51 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Just picked it up today and spent the afternoon scrubbing the bore and rubbing down the stock with turpentine. The bore is VG to EX and the stock looks nice after the first rub-down with 1/3 Mix. All the numbers at matching. The reciever shank in date 9, arrow, upsidedown 2, 7.
gandog56		#7	[-]
Posts: 111 (12/29/08 10:48 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	george1108 wrote: Where do you live that requires a 10 day wait????? I would guess Kommie Kalifornia Go ahead, make my day.
altera6		#8	[-]
Posts: 17 (12/30/08 11:40 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Last Edited By: altera6 12/31/08 12:37 AM. Edited 1 times.
ParrisIsland79		#9	[-]
Posts: 97 (12/31/08 12:37 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	That's a beauty, congrats. Keep us posted on range results!
altera6		#10	[-]
Posts: 19 (12/31/08 12:52 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The bottom of the tang is marked 9 arrow 2 7. So the original rifle was manufactured in 1929, interesting since that is 10 years after Finland declared independence from Russia/USSR. Therefore this rifle was either procured after indecencies or captured from the Soviets before being converted into a M39. The Fin rifles are covered with interesting stamps that tell a great story.
Draybo		#11	[-]
Posts: 1839 (12/31/08 01:15 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Nicely done!! There was nothing lost in your bringing that M39 back to life! She looks really really good. Price was right too. Nice looking Sako! You have an eye for the details and a talent in restoring one of these "warhorses". You did good!! Now everybody is going "range report"!! Good for you altera6 You did good! And a big congrats on a job well done! Draybo : )
zeebill		#12	[-]
Posts: 3409 (12/31/08 02:26 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	That came out nicely. Dents are blended by the turpentine moving the finish a bit. 9 arrow 27 reads 1927 Sestroryetsk arsenal (for the plain arrow) to me. The arrow in different forms can mean Izhevsk arsenal too so maybe a more specific description is in order? Wait till you shoot that! I would bet you will be very pleased! Just shot a new to me one the other day to just check function really and she was blasting away at the 350 yard target with old Yugo ammo. They are a joy to shoot! I haven't cleaned this one the final time yet and the trigger is still a mile of creep but very positive breaking though and still fun to shoot. My old eyes don't really see well enough to shoot 350 yards but I had a buddy with a spotting scope there and he told me where I was hitting so I was able to walk it in with his help. What a marvelous weapon! Good Luck at the range! Bill ELT
Pahtu		#13	[-]
Posts: 2179 (12/31/08 03:10 AM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Nice rifle! Pahtu.
altera6		#14	[-]
Posts: 20 (12/31/08 01:38 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	It is the plain arrow that belongs to the Sestroryetsk Arsenal. I hand rubbed in three coats of the 1/3 Fin mix over the past couple days, then this morning buffed to with an old wool sock over my hand. The bore was scrubbed out with a bronze brush and tight patches over a 8mm jag using Hoppes #9. The rest of the metal was rubbed down with Kroil. The trigger has a long smooth two stage pull with crisp let off. All that is left is to shoot her and collect some of the original accouterments that were issued with this rifle.
zeebill		#15	[-]
Posts: 3411 (12/31/08 04:49 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Original bayonets are going out of sight if you can find them at all. There is a repro bayo that is very nice and found for usually less than $100, generally in the $70 range plus shipping. I think SARCO or Samco had them awhile ago. The slings and other stuff are generally available if you hunt around a bit. Good Luck on the bayonet though! I have one and it is not a very good one in all my years of looking for them! Bill
altera6		#16	[-]
Posts: 27 (01/10/09 07:23 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Just got back from the range, the wind was really gusty but I could not wait any longer to try out the M39. The good news is that my reloads using Sierra 150gr SPs, 52gr of IMR 4350, and Winchester WLR primer print 1.5 inches high at 50yd, meaning the sights are correct for a 150m zero, with the rear sight set to 150. 180gr Yugo ball printed 5 inches above point of aim at 50yd, while 150gr Bulgarian printed 5 inches high and 2 inches to the right. Groups ran 1 to 2 inches, not bad for a VG bore. I also noticed that the chamber is much tighter in the M39. Closing the bolt of reloads in the M39 was noticeably tougher than in the 91/59, while surplus ammo chambered fine in either gun. Reloads using Sierra 150gr .308 SPs, 52gr of IMR 4350, and WLR printed 3 inches to the right of the point of aim at 50yd with the group opening up to 5 inches. So it is clear in my mind that my particular m39 does not like the smaller .308 bullets. The 91/59 performed a bit better. With a 6 o'clock hold on a 3 inch bull at 50 yd my reloads shot to point of aim at 6 o'clock, Bulgarian 150gr ball shot at 3 o'clock , and the Yugo 180gr ball shot to 9 o'clock everything staying in the 3 inch bull for the most part. Group averaged 1.5 inches with a couple flyers I attributed to wind gusts.