Milsurp After Hours

Shotgun News has a good article on the TKIV 85. This is a bolt action military rifle still used by the Finn army that was developed in the early 80's. It uses a hex Russian Nagant receiver and Nagant bolt design and fires the 7.62x53r Finn round. They still haven't made a receiver better than the Russian ones. The barrel is a thick match grade and the barrel floats in a stock with a hexigonal bedding sleeve. It shoots a classified sniper formula cartridge with a lapa 200 grain boat tail projectile. It also has the safety cut off for better bolt handling characteristics. No safety at all.

The auther traveled to Finnland to get a chance to shoot one. He says, that although it is mostly outclassed now days, including the special wood stock, it still out shoots the Brit L42A1 which is not in active service anymore. It's effective out to 800 meters.

Interesting story.

Not from the story.. but gives you an idea of what it looks like.

http://www.mil.fi/maavoimat/kalustoesit ... dsp?id=560

I sure like to have one. And wonder what a built up would cost. The mount,scope and wood wouldn't be easy to find . Then you have to put a barrel on it. Looks like alot of work. Nice though. Guess I go to the store an get a copy.

I think these are a couple, maybe early ones.

I too have read the article in shotgun news regarding the finnish sniper rifle you refer to. One thing has always bothered me was why do the finns

seem to prefer the hex russian receivers??. Was it a case of using what they had available or did they prefer them over all other moisin receivers?

tarasbulba.

I think it was what ever they had ,what ever the captured,and what was at the arsenals.