The Finn M39 was free floated. The sniper version was made in 43 and used a Soviet type top mount(VKT made what was a close copy of the mount) and a PE or PEM Soviet scope. It is amazing that replicas of these have not been used more in CMP matches.
On the PUs going up against the 03A1s with Unertls, a board member here, and his partner won their CMP vintage sniper match with PUs and there was at least one Unertl rifle in the shoot. Many of us are getting sub-MOA groups pretty often with match ammo and handloads. As with most good WW2 snipers it is more reasonable to expect 1.5 MOA and be happy if you get better and work on it if you get worse.
A big debate on "what is the best sniper rifle of WW2" on another forum, there were some strong arguments for the Enfields. The scopes had clicks, windage adjustment and were good return to zero when adjusted. The rifles were built with care by H&H. I need a better example myself. This is another rifle that should be seen more at CMP VSMs.
Elsewhere on this forum, I am documenting a rather laborious process involving the cobbling up of an inexpensive 7.62x54R shooter. I have already expended probably as much on scout-style optical mounts as the rifle's original cost ($114 for a 1943 wartime Izshevsk)). I have found that simpler is better, using a set of supremely rugged UTG medium height
airgun rings mounted on the original sight dovetail that is incorporated directly into the barrel, well under $20 shipped, with an Aim Sport 2-7x42 30mm
scout scope. The optic retails at under $60 shipped and probably approximates the quality found in wartime soviet optics.
This project required no modification to the rifle beyond removing the rear sight assembly, and is completely reversible. It is decidedly rugged and the lowest I have seen anywhere, with the scope lens covers clearing the barrel and receiver by about 1/16". I have added a Limbsaver slip-on recoil pad and an Allen Stock Pack with about 25mm of neoprene foam padding under it, along with side offset sling studs and a reproduction Garand type sling. My own personal rifle also uses an inexpensive rubber butt extension to add another 2" of LOP to accommodate my 6 1/2ft frame.
This project intends to provide an inexpensive shooter based on an unmodified antique surplus rifle, with no particular attention to recreating anything of an authentic historical nature. So much for preamble.
The rifle is finally sighted in at 200yd, and in test firing on a day with stiff and variable crosswinds, it managed a respectable 2"H x 6"W group of twenty at 200yd, using 188/'71 147gr steelcase surplus ammo right out of the spamcan, shooting off a rudimentary wooden 'V' rest on a wooden range bench. The only mod to the rifle besides the optics/mounts is the emulation of the traditional barrel 'corking' technique; with modern 2mm thick neoprene craft foam sheeting substituted for the traditional cork/leather barrel wrapping under the stock at the two stock band locations.
I think that this simple improvement process, using inexpensive modern components on an unbutchered off-the-rack battle rifle, demonstrates the kind of effectiveness the wartime 91/30 sniper rifles could be expected to provide.
In terms of cost, the expenses for the final version could be somewhere in the $200-$250 range, rifle included, involving the basic modification of optics and mounts only. The overall expense of this project has been moderated by extending the final result over a group of four such rifles for training and fun comp with the family. I am no gunsmith, and these alterations could probably be accomplished by any of our forum members with no woodwork or metalwork required.
Greg