M-39 FINNISH RIFLES CALIBER 7.

62X54R

Re-Born into a Tack driving long-range hunter

Built by: U.S. Army Sniper in His spare time using basic tools and innovation
While stationed at Fort Irwin National Training Center, I decided to do what I have never seen done before with
an old war horse, I wanted to make a Finnish sniper/target rifle but only modern in appearance and function but
keeping the original caliber of 7.62x54R, I have always enjoyed shooting this caliber and found and abundant
amount of surplus rounds available, as well as the fact that many companies are now making commercial ammo. I
purchased three M39 Fin rifles, this particular one had a barrel that was slightly corroded. Using the tools I had in
my US Army Base housing, I went to work; by the way my lathe was at my fathers in storage in Michigan so I had
to wait until I was on leave to do the lathe work.
My background in building weapons goes back to 1992 when I became a Sniper for the US Army (Honor
Graduate of the Sniper School) as well as US Special Forces Sniper Course (SOTIC), I have always messed
around working on firearms as a young teenager but became more involved after I acquired the skills of shooting
out to and beyond 1000 Meters.

Here is the actual rifle as it started its life

I wanted to do something different this time I have built many tactical rifles from Mauser’s, Savage and
Remington's but never from a 91/30 or M39 so I went for broke; my first step was to contact Lothar Walther
http://www.lothar-walther.de/html/107.php and had them make me a heavy barrel for the particular rifle so I called
them on the phone and here is what I ended up with:
a. Chambered in original 7.62x54 R
b. Contour it for #2340: Medium Target Varmint
c. .310 Dia. Bore
d. 25.6"
e. The twist is 9.44, 11 degree crown, the barrel is long chambered
I thread the barrel when I was on Leave at a local machine shop because my lathe at my fathers was to short for
the long barrel blank, I made it 16 TPI / 60 degree to keep with original specs for thread and tapper. This went
very well since I already had a thread cutter I got from Brownells

I made the extractor cut and feed ramp lip with a dermal tool; worked very well you just need to mount the barrel
and mark where it needs to be cut so make sure you are accurate, for some reason the Finn’s or Russians put a
feed ramp on the barrel chamber area? but hey if it works then good for them, only part that makes it hard is you
need to line up the barrel in the receiver first before making the extractor groove that the extractor on the bolt fits
into. Here you can see the new barrel threaded and mounted. I made a receiver mandrill out of bar stock on the
lathe then trued the receiver witch was almost perfect in the first place; Finnish did a hell of a job on these rifles.
 Here you can see the new barrel threaded and mounted. I made a receiver mandrill out of bar stock on the lathe
then trued the receiver witch was almost perfect in the first place; Finnish did a heck of a job.

For the stock I went retro, and ordered an Electric Blue Tac-Driver stock from Richards Micro Fit gun stocks.
http://www.rifle-stocks.com/]http://www.rifle-stocks.com

The stock was pretty good though it needed allot of final finishing and some minor inletting, I have used many
Richards micro-fit stocks and have had great luck but for some reason this one was slightly off on the angle for the
trigger guard and receiver, I had to file it straight, but over all it worked out well once glass bed
After searching and doing research for a good solid mount, I ordered Scope mount, Allen screws and pillars from
Ken at Rock Solid Ind. http://rocksolidind.com/products.html]http://rocksolidind.com/products.html

I drilled and tapped the receiver with drill and tap provided, then mounted the scope mount and glass bed it for
further stabilization, it did not need the glass bedding under the mount but I figured why not it could not hurt, it is
a solid mount with the side locking screw, very well made, I cannot say enough about this mount so far it is the
best aftermarket mount I have seen and tried for a M39/91 it Rocks, no pun intended :).
Ken the owner of the company tells you to mount a scope then bore site the mount before drilling the side locking
screw; this allows you more MOA on your scope that was a big help and I suggest that’s exactly what you do this
caliber will shoot out quite far.

Here is the Bolt Handle back from rock solid Ind. super job and very easy to use and the aluminum pillars were
cut to size.
Here you can see the Dev-Con bedding between the mount and receiver.

Got a Hubber trigger from Tennessee Gun Parts; real nice Huber trigger http://www.tngunparts.com, (great
Service and super folks there) I installed a trigger fast and very easy, here are so photos of it and I am very
impressed with the adjustable ball at the top.
Installation was a breeze and made a nice addition to the rifle, and adjustments were easy as well.

Friction ball makes for fast and easy adjustment not sure what the poundage is but it is good enough to engage
targets out to 700 meters as you will see in the on coming reading.
Together you can see the trigger and the Allen bolts: what a great accessory for this old M39 rifle.
Here is everything put together

I lapped the lugs by cutting and old barrel butting a spring in the chamber and half a shell casing to push against
the bolt. And using 600 grit valve grinding compound, I rotated the bolt until I got 100% surface contact.
The Stock came in and I spent a few days inletting it and prepping it for final finish, I used a drummel tool and
lipstick on the metal to show me were the stock was touching the wood then I removed the extra for good fit and
free float the barrel channel.
Lower trigger guard painted with Dura coat and fitted to the new stock

The Dura-coat paint is the Navy blue that I mixed a little silver with to try to match the stock as best I could, at this point I was a little
worried that I was creating a Monster but I was optimistic it would turn out good.
I mounted a Sightron III.5X10x42 Tactical mildot Rifle Scope
I like the turret adjustments and recital and it comes with side focus for great glass good mildot very pleased with
the scope.

These are the Allen bolt I got from Rock Solid Ind.
Next was Dev-Con Steel bedding as you can see I only bed the action; making sure the barrel was free floated all
of the way. This is great stuff and easy to use and dried rock hard, I ended up using it on 3 other rifles while
building this one.

Pillars were glass bed into the stock

I cut the Pillars, and groove them with the drill press, put tape around the screws to keep them centered in the
pillar then Dev-con steel bed, once dry I will bed the receiver then Finnish the stock with polyurethane - 5 coats...
I was undecided on a what type of design I would use to match the stock, I messed with stripes and other ideas but
I decided on an urban type camouflage and this is what I came up with using Tape and a permanent Marker; I cut
out the patterns in masking tape

I parkerized the bolt and barrel for protection and to match the rest of the gun: then painted it gray; I then started
the paint and design on the rifle metal I wanted it to be something different that no one else has done before.
After the paint and Permanent marker I used Clear finish as a sealer.
I ordered a finishing reamer from 4 D reamer rental so I finish hand reamed the barrel, head spaced it with go
gage and fresh never loaded Shell to get a snug fit on shell, also tested no go Gage all is good.

I got these really nice Sling swivels from Tennessee Gun Parts http://www.tngunparts.com.

solid steel and I mean solid, great for heavy duty rifles I never have to worry about them breaking, I will duracoat
them the same color as the barrel

they will be perfect for my project cause you know I will be hunting with it :)

And this is the finished product what a beauty

And this is how she shoots:

.675 with 7.62x54R 180gr FMJ, had no target so I just set up out on the California desert and used a field
expedient target (Half Dollar) taped on a box, of course this is after I adjusted the Sightron scope on the box.

And after 1 round and clean for 20 rounds of barrel break in, I was able to achieve this shot group witch I still can
not believe
Oh and my wife shot this gun out to 700 Meters while stationed at Fort Irwin in CA, and was hitting 6 inch steel
targets at every 100 meter interval. She says its her gun, well she did help sand the stock.

When on leave in Michigan she got this nice 8 point at 428 Yards, mind you she is only 4’11” from the Philippines,
never fired a gun before Fort Irwin. I created a monster and I guess I need to watch what I do around her since she
shoots so good now.