Shot the Finn M39 for the 1st time today

[StPatrick]

And since it will be demanded, here's a picture of it taken by the TGO member who sold it to me:

...It still looks the same.

My 1st target at 50 yards, front elbow supported:

Before you all get too excited and beg to be my friends over that fine display of marksmanship, count the holes. It was a 10 shot string; one was 2" off to the right, and the other is a mystery, cause I effed that one up real good. I feel bad for the imaginary commie standing 2 feet to the left of this one - I think he may have taken one to the junk.

This was my first time firing 7.62x54r, and I am officially a fan. It's stout enough that you know you're firing a rifle meant for more than plinking, but the M39 is a heavy gun, so it wasn't unpleasant, even with the metal buttplate. I'll be putting a 1" extension on to lengthen LOP, so recoil is going down in the future.

[Garufa]

That is one fine looking rifle.

Attaching a Nancy Pad will make benching it a little more tolerable.

Edited December 19, 2010 by Garufa

[StPatrick]

That is one fine looking rifle.

Well, you would know. I'm not so sure about the pink carpet...

As for the pad, it really is for lengthening things more than recoil - my nose ends up almost on top of my right thumb as it is currently. I did move back from that position after some unintentional nosepicking, but it's not quite natural, so the extra inch will be great (that's what she said!).

As for benching, that's a sickness I haven't gotten yet. I do most of my shooting offhand, and the rest standing with my front elbow resting on something. I can't imagine letting my shoulder take all the force of that 7.62x54r recoil...ugggh. I'm much happier letting my body weight soak some of it up.

[Westwindmike]

Try not to permanently alter the stock. Those M39's are not as common as most other Mosins.

[Ghooge2008]

Good shooting man, to me it's all about having fun with these old guns, I have an m44 that shoots like yours, and a finnish m27....that wont put 10 rounds on the same pie plate.