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B decimal target with 500-yard slow fire group using handloads reproducing the .30-06 National Match cartridge using the M72 FMJBT 173-grain bullet, shot with 1903-A3 Springfield.

880-yard slow fire group with No.4 Mk2 SMLE using South African GI 7.7x56R (.303B) Mk 7Z 1980 Ball with 174-grain FMJBT bullet reseated .015 deeper than issued. Note two sighters at 11 o’clock.

The one I got was rebarreled and rebuilt in 1942 by “B.” I understand that means Valmet. If it had been shot since it was proofed, I saw no evidence of it with a Hawkeye borescope. This rifle was big, tough, heavy and clumsy but all business. It got known as “Ivan the Terrible” or just “The Brute” for short. The trigger was almost 7 pounds with two stages but was amazingly uniform. Despite the weight of pull, the second stage was sharp and predictable, making it quite usable. I can see how such a trigger would be no drawback at -30° F in blowing snow while wearing gloves.

A variety of steel case Eastern Bloc ammo with 154-, 174- and 197-grain bullets was quite uniform in performance – all bad – with 8 inch to 10 inch groups at 200 yards and getting worse at 300 yards. The barrel however was really nice inside, appearing to have been carefully lapped to a very uniform .3105 diameter. The first load of 4320 with the Hornady 174-grain .3105 bullets in Lapuan 7.62 x 54R brass chronographed 2660 fps and grouped into just over 1 MOA at 200, 300 and 500 yards, impacting right on the 200 meter, 300 meter and 500 meter settings. Would it work as a sniper’s rifle? Hell yes!