Reloading for the SVT

[merritt]

So I just got my hands on a SVT 40 and aside from the fact that some of the cases go missing Its doing this to my brass:

now do I have any hope of getting those dents out with a light load or at least preventing this from happening again -- after all that is lapua brass which cost me 75c apiece before shipping ...

I probably should note that those are 4 of 20 some-odd rounds I fired so its not every piece

[wilit]

Russian arms aren't known for being kind to brass. They're designed to use steel cased ammo. Not sure there's a whole lot you can do to fix the issue, but then again, I'm certainly no SVT expert, but I do love 'em.

[Pthfndr]

Either shoot surplus ammo, or turn the gas valve in so it doesn't cycle making it in effect a bolt gun.

[Agustav]

I have a PSL that does the same thing to the brass. I just reload them as usual and shoot them out of my bolt gun (91/30) to blow them out. I have been reloading the same brass for 5 + time now and seem to work out great. Just very carefully inspect each brass before reloading to make sure there is no split, crack or any other signs of failure and you are good to go!

[Nitroman]

Case bashing is the norm for SVT and PSL types. It is caused by a gas port that is far too large than it needs to be, but does allow reliable functioning with a wide variety of ammunition in almost any environmental condition. Like others have said, make doubly sure the case does not have any cracks.

Rich

[AaronHorrocks]

Looks like the load is too light for your rifle. Are you shooting commercial, "light ball" or machinegun rounds?

Russian arms aren't known for being kind to brass. They're designed to use steel cased ammo. Not sure there's a whole lot you can do to fix the issue, but then again, I'm certainly no SVT expert, but I do love 'em.

That true about most of the coldwar era Russian firearms, but not so with WWII and earlier Russian firearms.

[Agustav]

I am actually kinda fond of the the dents on my brass... I can tell how many times I reloaded each brass by counting them!

[merritt]

this is the .311" 174 smk over 53.5gr of IMR 4350 wolf LR primers

the load works well in my mosins... the svt's fluted chamber causes neck blow by on every piece of brass; but yeah that one casing has way too much soot on it

now if only i got one dent per firing instead of 0-2

[Army GI]

My buddy's 7.62x39 Saiga does that too. We were considering buying up all the equipment to start reloading for it then we saw this:




I was a newb to reloading at the time, but someone said that the dings should be no problem. But the bloating at the case neck scared us so we just stuck with steel cases in that particular firearm. Plus the primers were flowing as you could see in that second picture.

[EBR Works]

My buddy's 7.62x39 Saiga does that too. We were considering buying up all the equipment to start reloading for it then we saw this:

I was a newb to reloading at the time, but someone said that the dings should be no problem. But the bloating at the case neck scared us so we just stuck with steel cases in that particular firearm. Plus the primers were flowing as you could see in that second picture.

The bulges and primer flowing is NOT normal. That weapon definitely has a problem or the loads you were using were way too hot.

[Army GI]

The bulges and primer flowing is NOT normal. That weapon definitely has a problem or the loads you were using were way too hot.

Those aren't reloads. That's Yugo surplus and Winchester FMJ.

I told me friend to take it back to where he got it from (it was some dealer in LA). But what do we tell the dealer when we get it there?

[merritt]

i've seen worse primer flow on factory rounds (some pistol rounds, every WSM case i've seen) ... best case something is weird with gas/locking system... worst case your barrel is messed up (chamber cut wrong) my sks throws cases sky high but leaves 'em untouched otherwise

wait did I just participate in jacking my own thread?

[Army GI]

LOL!

It's related though, isn't it? Aren't the SVT and AK/Saiga actions built similarly just scaled down?

edit: Nope, I was thinking of the SVD. Nevermind, but the condition of the brass is similar so I wouldn't consider it thread-jacking (trying to cover my own ***)

[merritt]

The case can be made that they are all russian and of tilting breech lock design

anyway I'm checking out that cheap 54R brass that grafs has.. sounds like an easy way to not cry over dinged cases

[Army GI]

Oh, you saw that did you