New Finn 28/30

[jindodog]

Got this about a month ago at the Annapolis show. If it looks familiar to some of you guys it's because it's made the rounds to several area shows, I just wasn't in a position to pull the trigger. I finally got the seller to give me a twofer price break, (pics of it's buddy and more of the story in a couple of weeks).

 

[bdiddle]

VERY NICE.

 

[mawkie]

That's why you were hovering over the sellers table when I met you at the HC show! Glad to hear you found a way to make it happen. Don't think I've ever bundled gun stuff before. Always a good strategy.
If this is your first 28/30 you're in for a treat! Easily my favorite MN at the range. I probably have around 40 MNs, almost all Finns, and only shoot the 28/30s. Slick and accurate!

 

[yellowsled]

nice!

 

[h2u]

Now THAT is a gorgeous rifle!!

28/30's are widely considered the most accurate of the Finns-and generally prove it time and again. The 28/30's are the one model I've never seemed to be able to score with. I own only one. Because of it's popularity-I never win any at auction.

For my collection - I must find one of the early ones, as well as an updated M28 to M28/30 specs. The search never ends - but I'm DEFINITELY sure jindodog knows that!!

Congrats again on a great rifle!

 

[yellowsled]

I thought the m39 was the best of the bunch.

 

[jindodog]

Thanks for looking guys! I'm going to slug the bore and see how it shoots, I've got some Lapua D-46 .308 and D-166 .311 bullets on the re-loading bench. I'm covered pretty much anything it slugs out to be.

 

[jindodog]

Don't think I've ever bundled gun stuff before. Always a good strategy

Yeah the Mrs. said I better not bring one more new gun in the house, so I didn't; I brought two!

 

[Lou45]

I thought the m39 was the best of the bunch.

Me too.

 

[h2u]

I thought the m39 was the best of the bunch.

The M39's are accurate-but the 28/30's always seem to do a little better. I have zero first hand knowledge as I've never shot a 28/30, but pretty much everyone I've seen post on the various national and international gun forums say the 28/30 is tops. I'm guessing this is why the Finns used many as the base for the 28/76 target rifle.

 

[Lou45]

The M39's are accurate-but the 28/30's always seem to do a little better. I have zero first hand knowledge as I've never shot a 28/30, but pretty much everyone I've seen post on the various national and international gun forums say the 28/30 is tops. I'm guessing this is why the Finns used many as the base for the 28/76 target rifle.

It does make sense.

 

[PGTMG]

VERY NICE.

Very nice indeed

 

[Sirex]

Do the 28/30s require special loadings? I thought I read somewhere the 28/30s need a .308 bullet, not the typical .301/.311 bullet the Russian Mosins use for the bore. Just curious.

 

[jindodog]

Do the 28/30s require special loadings? I thought I read somewhere the 28/30s need a .308 bullet, not the typical .301/.311 bullet the Russian Mosins use for the bore. Just curious.

Yes, the barrels on the Finn 28/30's were designed for their D-46, a .308 FMJ. Later the chambers were modified to shoot the captured Russian ammo, and the Finns called their version the D-166 bullet. The receiver then received the "D" stamp to show it had this modification. Most 28/30's received this mod and years of shooting the slightly larger rounds have opened up the bores somewhat. It's always advisable to slug the barrel to get the best accuracy from your reloads..The newer M39's were bored to accept the larger D-166 round.

 

[psoyring]

The reason that most people don't get the best results from their M39s using milsurp ammo is that they use light ball instead of heavy ball the M39 does better with heavy ball.

 

[Sirex]

Yes, the barrels on the Finn 28/30's were designed for their D-46, a .308 FMJ. Later the chambers were modified to shoot the captured Russian ammo, and the Finns called their version the D-166 bullet. The receiver then received the "D" stamp to show it had this modification. Most 28/30's received this mod and years of shooting the slightly larger rounds have opened up the bores somewhat. It's always advisable to slug the barrel to get the best accuracy from your reloads..The newer M39's were bored to accept the larger D-166 round.

Thanks

 

[cjroman]

I need to get a 28-30 to round out my collection. Yours looks very nice. I was thinking of going to the Annapolis show...maybe I would have got there first. I stayed home and won a M-27 on Gunbroker instead...

 

[h2u]

I need to get a 28-30 to round out my collection. Yours looks very nice. I was thinking of going to the Annapolis show...maybe I would have got there first. I stayed home and won a M-27 on Gunbroker instead...

Don't be too sure. Jindodog and Mawkie are alpha Mosin hunters, nothing is safe with either of them in the building

Please post of pics when you get the M27 - or any of your other Finns!

 

[mawkie]

Don't be too sure. Jindodog and Mawkie are alpha Mosin hunters, nothing is safe with either of them in the building

Please post of pics when you get the M27 - or any of your other Finns!

You know me so well! In the past I've never been able to say no to a reasonably priced 28/30. They're a no-brainer for me. The best analogy I can use to describe the 28/30 vs the 39 is between a Corvette and a Camaro. Both are awesome at what they do but the 28/30 takes it to another level.
Plus I doubt you'll see another 28/30 at the bench next to you at the range. I love Garands but you can't say that about them!

 

[Threeband]

Here are some pictures of my 28/30 from an old thread.
http://www.mdshooters.com/showpost.php?p=877334&postcount=17


And at the range







I was actually doing a bit better with the Updated Dragoon that day. Frankly, I find the front sight on the 28/30 a bit too wide for my taste.

I've only fired it on two occassions: once when I first got it, about 1988 or 89, and on this snowy day early in 2010. Mine does not have the "D" mark over the chamber, so I've always been a little unsure about shooting it. Still, the bolt closes easily on both Serbian Heavy Ball and on the Prvi loads in the photos. There are no apparent signs of high pressure with either load.

As near as I can make out from the contradictory and unreliable information I've seen online, the issue is the throating rather than the bore diameter. Apparently the "D" marked rifles had their throats opened a bit. Perhaps mine has a throat that's already open enough.