SVT-40 problem

[cubuffalo]

I fired my newly acquired SVT-40 for the first time today and have a couple of concerns with the spent cartridges. Here is a photo.

The rounds used are Romanian surplus 7.62x54R, from 1973 production and have not been reloaded. I have fired rounds from the same supply in a 91/30 and M44 without this issue. The SVT-40 is a 1942 Tula re-arsenaled and was striped down and cleaned and lubed just prior to today. No FTF and one FTE today.
I can see the sidewall has split open on the neck of one shell, and all the others show fluting at the neck. The fluting is visual but can't be felt. Most shells were very dirty from burned powder. Is this typical for an SVT-40 or indicative of something else like a worn out chamber? Thanks for any thoughts or opinions.

[Justintoxicated]

Try some better ammo. I get split cases (usually at the shoulder) from time to time in my mosin with surplus ammo, but never with good brass ammo. I think it's just **** ammo ^^

I'm not sure about the flutitng on the necks with an SVT40 though.

[jamesob]

Your gun is fine.

[gunboat]

It has been 30 years or more since I had a tokarev, even forget if it was a '38 or '40 -- but as I recall the chamber is fluted, apparently to correct/minimize an extraction problem. The fired cases showed the same gas blackening pattern as yours.
I never used steel cases though as brass ammo was plentiful/cheap then.
It is possible this lot of steel cases are not flexible enough to flow into the flutes without rupturing.
I seem to recall that lubing cases was practiced for extraction ease.
I never did that as it puts a lot of extra pressure on the bolt locking mechanism.
my tuppence--

[cruddymutt]

Fluting is normal, all SVT's have them. The split case is also nothing to be concerned about. I get them from time to time myself.

[cubuffalo]

Thanks for the information, I am glad to hear that it's all good.

[Fate]

Agree with the above posters. SVT function appears normal.

[mosinnagantm9130]

Just make sure you clean all the corrosive crap out of the gas system.

The cases look normal for an SVT.

[DennisCA]

I fired my newly acquired SVT-40 for the first time today and have a couple of concerns with the spent cartridges. Here is a photo.

The rounds used are Romanian surplus 7.62x54R, from 1973 production and have not been reloaded. I have fired rounds from the same supply in a 91/30 and M44 without this issue. The SVT-40 is a 1942 Tula re-arsenaled and was striped down and cleaned and lubed just prior to today. No FTF and one FTE today.
I can see the sidewall has split open on the neck of one shell, and all the others show fluting at the neck. The fluting is visual but can't be felt. Most shells were very dirty from burned powder. Is this typical for an SVT-40 or indicative of something else like a worn out chamber? Thanks for any thoughts or opinions.

I agree with my fellow posters-nothing wrong with you gun. Since you said you are shooting surplus, you got few bad ammo shells. I would go through that batch and check them individual.