M39 Ammo Recommendations

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Kenfal	M39 Ammo Recommendations	Lead	[-]
Posts: 607 (03/01/09 12:49 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Tags : None I just picked up 3 M39's, 2 1968 sneaks and a 1944 VKT. I tried out 2 of the rifles yesterday in less then ideal conditions, 35 degrees, 20 - 25 mph wind straight from target to shooter. I was using 70's Hungarian LB, 60's Czech LB and 80's Czech LB. Besides the wind and cold (my fingers getting numb), the groups were less then impressive. I have some 80's Yugo HB but I didn't get it delivered until I got back from shooting so I didn't get a chance to see how it performs. The best groupings were with the 80's Czech, opposite of what I expected. I know each rifle will have it own preference for ammo but do the M39's in general like HB or LB ammo? I decided to get the rifles I wanted before there are any problems(Obama) and picked up 2 PSL's and 2 91/30 snipers (PE and PU). I stocked up with LB ammo (PSL's). I decided to add the M39's last and ordered the Yugo HB. If you could let me know what your M39's shoot best it would be appreciated very much. Thanks, Ken
Renfield54		#1	[-]
Posts: 395 (03/02/09 01:44 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Mine seem to like the old 200 grn. wolf softpoints the best. It's an SK.Y 1943........ "Dusty old helmet.....Rusty old gun......They sit in the corner and wait" ~Audie Murphy--1925-1971~
zeebill		#2	[-]
Posts: 3496 (03/02/09 08:18 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	You know guys I would have thought everyone would have figured this out by now? First off I apologize to the poster as this will come out personally to him no matter how I state this. It is not meant that way honest. I have at least 40 M39's right now and every and I mean each and every one is different. If I slugged them as many would suggest they would all be different too. Each and every one of the rifles you own are different even if they are the same models. Each and every type of ammo you buy will be slightly and sometimes majorly different too. You really just have to try stuff and see what it likes. I have seen people just say heavy ball and I have M39's that just seem to love Bulgarian light ball. I sure as heck don't know why and enjoy shooting much too much to go into a big quest for the answer. Try what is available to you at a decent price and in good number and in that way you keep the local source in business. You will find things that work better at times and suddenly become totally unavailable in this day and age especially. Shoot it! Enjoy it! Use what you have and maybe once in awhile things are just right and you will enjoy that I know! Good Luck! Bill ELT
Kenfal		#3	[-]
Posts: 608 (03/02/09 10:46 AM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Zeebill, No offense taken and I agree with what you are saying. I still wanted to get feedback on what ammo worked best in others M39's. Due to the weather here I will not get a chance to really try out the rifles until next month. I tried last week and my fingers got numb. I am looking to add some more x54R ammo and the varieties available are a lot less then 2 years ago. I will try to trade for some Bulgarian HB from the 50's and see how that works. Ken
zeebill		#4	[-]
Posts: 3500 (03/02/09 06:16 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Thank you for acknowledging my post and I am glad it did not offend you. I found the quality of the Bulgarian HB to be inconsistent. I had some that was really great then they hit a point when everything in that weight and caliber from there was really shaky stuff with some people reported to have been having big problems. I bought a bunch of Bulgarian light ball as a result of that. Yeah you know the story everyone began having split brass and problems with it. One can never just seem to really win with surplus as it varies greatly from batch to batch it seems. I have had great luck with Yugo brass case ammo and don't you know I got one spam can that had all thicker than spec rims. It was an absolute nightmare to try and cycle through a rifle! The remains of the can are still out in the shop pissing me off every time I look at it! One just never knows I guess? Good Luck with the M39's I really like them. Just recently got a milestone with a 1969 I now have them 1967 through 1970 and boy did that take awhile to get! Bill ELT
Kenfal		#5	[-]
Posts: 609 (03/02/09 06:28 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	The brass cased ammo with the thick rims, that isn't Albanian is it? I just wanted to pick up some more ammo while I can. Here is my latest purchase. http://www.auctionarms.co...em.cfm?ItemNum=9003428.0 Nicest stock I've seen on an M39. This makes my 2nd 1968 rifle. Ken
69396		#6	[-]
Posts: 798 (03/02/09 06:57 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Kenfal, zeebill is right about trying a variety of ammo types in your 39s. More of mine ( I have 29 of the things ) shoot 1960s Czech light ball accurately than any other one type tho some do prefer HB. Yugo and Bulgarian work well in those. If memory serves Czech ball is made by Sellier and Bellot. hth Lamar
gil		#7	[-]
Posts: 876 (03/03/09 04:44 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	35 degrees and a 25 mile per hour headwind sounds about ideal for a finnish mosin nagant. They put them in 2 and 3 part stocks to keep them from warping when it really gets cold! : < ] that said, the Czech Light ball and Albanian shoot well in most of them that I have owned. I am down to a handful of them now a sky, Sako B and tikka. I gotta sell the Tikka off some day as it is too pretty for me. The B is the best shooter (never shot the Tikka its unissued). The Sako was a truck gun for years on the rare possibility that a legal bull moose dared to venture on the road. Over the years the cracked stock special became too valuable to carry around anymore. It sure does shoot well, and loves the 203 grain Baranails soft points. gil
Stan the bolt action man		#8	[-]
Posts: 113 (03/20/09 11:28 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	Most of my M39s like the Czech light ball and YUGO brass cased 198Gr. I also handload... all components except primers are finnish made..Lapua 7.62X53R brass...Lapua 155Gr. Scenar or Lapua 200Gr. D166 bullet...Vihta Vuori N140 powder. It is fun to go to the range when all the whitetail hunters (me included) are zeroing in their rifles for the season. After I zero in my scoped deer rifle..old 03A3' springfield custom, I pull out the old VKT 42 M39...most are amazed that the "old beat up battle rifle" will shoot as good or better that their new wizz bang magnums. Most all of the M39s are capable of impressive groups...find the right ammo each one likes..then you can check the rifle to make sure the stock is not touching the barrel to hard near the bayonet barrel band..shim with brass shims as the finns did to relieve barrel pressure. The action should not bind on the stock at all. Stan
Kenfal		#9	[-]
Posts: 611 (03/23/09 05:16 PM) Veteran member Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	I have plenty of both the Czech ST and the Yugo HB ammo. I finally got my prescrition shooting glasses so I am hoping my group size will drop. I do love the M39, it just feels right. Now I need to find the right height front sight and I will be all set. Thanks, Ken
george1108	reply to kenfal. front sights	#10	[-]
Posts: 18 (03/28/09 09:38 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts Report Post	There is an outfit called tennessee gunparts that sells a tall sight that can be filed down to adjust point of impact. I have several on my M-39's and the workmanship is excellent and they look original on the rifle. Most of my M-39's like the bulgarian HB, 10/55, yellow tip, The Czech silver tip, bxn/63 is also very good and the current Serbian(not sure) nny/1986 is another good performer for me. I haven't seen any bulgarian HB around recently. The other 2 are still available, and IMO 7.62X54 is the only ammo with a decent price currently available.