Picked Up My Finnish 27 Yesterday

[woodchukhntr]

I went to Gander Mtn. Sunday and found a M27 that was marked as a M44 for $89.95.  It had rifling, but I cant tell how good the bore is.  The stock has several cracks, but none seem to be fatal.  The metal is fair, functioning is good, and nothing is missing.  It is a later (1938) produced by Tikka (a T in a triangle) I believe.  I picked it up yesterday and have started cleaning the bore.  The trigger pull is about 4 1/2 lb.  If it shoots well, it'll be a good stable mate to my M39 and 31/59 carbine.   If not, there is the big gun show coming up in Syracuse ion April, I should be able to make a buck on it there.  One thing I'll have to do is make a new rear sight leaf (these are replaceable so I won't have to ruin the original) so I can actually see the sights.

[bluebayou]

WTC?

When I go to Gander Mountain all that they have are beater 91/30's for $150.  They did, once, have a Swede bubba sporter for $400 one times, yikes.

Congrats on the Finn.  I would like one myself.  One day I too will find a bargain..........

http://www.mosinnagant.net/finland/The-Finnish-M27.asp

[EVOC ONE]

Oh Boy!  You did good on that one and it would seem that someone at Gander made a rather large boo boo. 

I shake my head ruefully each time I see the $150 Mosins there.  What's amazing, is that I've actually seen guys buy them at those prices. 

Good luck with the Finn.   

[woodchukhntr]

I was able to find the time to strip it yesterday.  The barrel finish is actually very good, with the exception of a pitted area below the rear sight.  The action looks like it had been lightly pitted during it's prior life as a 1891.  It looks refinished and then mated to the new barrel.  It has a serial number that matches the barrel's just below the stock line on the left side of the action.  The bolt binds a bit during operation.  I made an new rear sight leaf with a larger notch so I can actually use the sights.  I plan on cleaning up the stock and patching the cracks, any suggestions?

[bluebayou]

Out of curiousity did it have any shims under the receiver?  I read that the M39's were shimmed when the Finns did their tricks to accurize. 

I have read about closing cracks with superglue or epoxy.  Wedge the crack with toothpicks and squirt it in.  Clamp tight to dry.  I have used the surgical tubing and bicycle inner tubing to clamp irregular shapes with.

 I know that some people do not like soap and water cleaning, but there are just as many people who do.  I like paint thinner/mineral spirits, but I don't know what that would do to the pinetar/beeswax/whatever that the Finns used. 

[woodchukhntr]

There are 2 brass shims under the receiver.  I don't remenber if my M39 has any since I haven't had it out of it's stock in a while, if ever.

I keep working on the bore, and the patches still come out with deposits on them.  Maybe some day they will come out reasonably clean.

I was swapping bolts and the one from my 91/59 gives the rifle a trigger pull of 3 lb., spooky in a military rifle!  It gives about 4 1/2 lb. in the 91/59.  I should be able to swap bolt heads without a problem and maintain headspace.

[Graycg]

The bore on my finn 27 slugs out at .309 and perhaps yours is the same way....hence all the deposits in the barrel.  I find that I can shoot just about any brass cased ammo, but most steel cased ammo needs to be banged out on the bolt.  My Russian 91 takes the steel cased ammo just fine, but the Finn doesn't.  The bore on the finn needs to be cleaned with copper solvent a lot more often than the russian.  The russian slugs out at .313.

regards,
 Graycg