[Rob Ski]

Thanks!

I had to change the wood color on this and my PSL.

The light wood just didn't look right to me.

EDIT: I did get some pushback from some hardcore AK-guys and M76 owners that said the typical M76 wood is a mid to light tone, and not that dark - but I like the dark look. Not going for a serious M76 clone or anything, just a similar DMR-look.

You did very nice job on the wood, but, PSL54 blond wood color was also legit color, used across the world...just saying.

 

[jkv45]

You did very nice job on the wood, but, PSL54 blond wood color was also legit color, used across the world...just saying.

Thanks Rob.

Ya, I realize the blond wood on the PSL is correct - I just didn't like it.

The darker wood is more SVD-ish, which just looks better to me.

EDIT: The PSL in a darker tone, with a few other changes -

 

[jkv45]

Had the M77 out again this weekend, doing some basic testing with inexpensive factory ammo at 100 yards. Weather was good. No wind and about 70F most of the day.

Changed the gas adjustment to "1" - which is the most bleed-off, and it ran fine with everything. Recoil may have been a bit softer than on "2", but not a huge amount. Also added a cheek riser, which helped. The scope is 8x.

Shot Norma Tactical .308 147gr, Saltech .308 147gr (stamped 7.62...), Igman .308 147gr, and Federal GMM 168gr.

Overall, the results were average. It preferred the Igman light ball over everything else - including the GMM.

Results were -

Norma - 3.6" 5-shot

Saltech - 5.4" 5-shot

Igman - 2.4" 5-shot

Federal GMM 168 - 3.5" 5-shot

About what I expected, except for the GMM not grouping better. Not sure what the barrel twist is (EDIT: it's 1:12), but it seems to favor the light ball. Most of my other battle rifles like GMM best.

I still have a few other inexpensive factory loads to try, and I'll try the GMM again to see if it was just operator error - which is always a major factor!

Igman .308 147gr at 106 yds -

 

[TheShooter]

Thanks Rob.

Ya, I realize the blond wood on the PSL is correct - I just didn't like it.

The darker wood is more SVD-ish, which just looks better to me.

EDIT: The PSL in a darker tone, with a few other changes -
View attachment 517344

I like this. Did you just get this,

 

[jkv45]

I like this. Did you just get this,

I bought it in 2019, and it's a 2018 PSL54 factory Cugir production.

The price was still a bit much back then, but today they are going for more without the Russian 4x scope.

Some member here will brag that they bought one back-in-the-day for around $700 (you know who you are!).

 

[TheShooter]

Had the M77 out again this weekend, doing some basic testing with inexpensive factory ammo at 100 yards. Weather was good. No wind and about 70F most of the day.

Changed the gas adjustment to "1" - which is the most bleed-off, and it ran fine with everything. Recoil may have been a bit softer than on "2", but not a huge amount. Also added a cheek riser, which helped. The scope is 8x.

Shot Norma Tactical .308 147gr, Saltech .308 147gr (stamped 7.62...), Igman .308 147gr, and Federal GMM 168gr.

Overall, the results were average. It preferred the Igman light ball over everything else - including the GMM.

Results were -

Norma - 3.6" 5-shot

Saltech - 5.4" 5-shot

Igman - 2.3" 5-shot

Federal GMM 168 - 3.5" 5-shot

About what I expected, except for the GMM not grouping better. Not sure what the barrel twist is, but it seems to favor the light ball. Most of my other battle rifles like GMM best.

I still have a few other inexpensive factory loads to try, and I'll try the GMM again to see if it was just operator error - which is always a major factor!

What exactly does igman “light” ball mean?

 

[jkv45]

What exactly does igman “light” ball mean?

Are you yanking my chain?

Standard 147 gr vs 168/175 gr "heavy ball".

Is that incorrect terminology?

 

[brianns]

I just asked Zastava after seeing the above post/range report.

"Hi Brian-

The M77 is a 1:12 Twist. Please let us know if you need anything else. Thank you."

Last week or so, I had mine all apart and saw no stamp on the barrel I could discern.

 

[TheShooter]

Are you yanking my chain?

Standard 147 gr vs 168/175 gr "heavy ball".

Is that incorrect terminology?

Yeah I’m giving you a hard time. I never seen 147 grain marked light ball .

 

[WaM14gunner]

I like the project.

I looked at M76 8mm rifles a couple of times, but then they got hard to find and expensive. I still have my PSL and like it, but the stocks they come with suck, so I put a nice Rhineland Arms on mine and the longer LOP, and rubber pad make it much easier to shoot, night and day difference.

 

[jkv45]

I like the M76, but didn't want to deviate from my standard .308/7.62 into 8mm Mauser.

The PSL is fun to shoot, but 7.62x54R isn't as easy, or cheap, to get as it used to be.

The M77 gives me something similar in a readily available caliber.

 

[WaM14gunner]

I like the M76, but didn't want to deviate from my standard .308/7.62 into 8mm Mauser.

The PSL is fun to shoot, but 7.62x54R isn't as easy, or cheap, to get as it used to be.

The M77 gives me something similar in a readily available caliber.

Its easy when you have almost two cases of 7N1, LOL.

 

[jkv45]

Its easy when you have almost two cases of 7N1, LOL.

Refer to post #25...

 

[WaM14gunner]

Refer to post #25...

Yeah but this time I was bragging about all my ammo! Ha!

 

[XM25Dweeb]

Had the M77 out again this weekend, doing some basic testing with inexpensive factory ammo at 100 yards. Weather was good. No wind and about 70F most of the day.

Changed the gas adjustment to "1" - which is the most bleed-off, and it ran fine with everything. Recoil may have been a bit softer than on "2", but not a huge amount. Also added a cheek riser, which helped. The scope is 8x.

Shot Norma Tactical .308 147gr, Saltech .308 147gr (stamped 7.62...), Igman .308 147gr, and Federal GMM 168gr.

Overall, the results were average. It preferred the Igman light ball over everything else - including the GMM.

Results were -

Norma - 3.6" 5-shot

Saltech - 5.4" 5-shot

Igman - 2.4" 5-shot

Federal GMM 168 - 3.5" 5-shot

About what I expected, except for the GMM not grouping better. Not sure what the barrel twist is, but it seems to favor the light ball. Most of my other battle rifles like GMM best.

I still have a few other inexpensive factory loads to try, and I'll try the GMM again to see if it was just operator error - which is always a major factor!

Igman .308 147gr at 106 yds -

View attachment 521314

You might have already advised of this but I gotta ask anyways. What twist rate is the barrel in this rifle?

 

[XM25Dweeb]

LOL, remove 6 yards from the total distance and you have a 2 MOA SVD. Yes Im kidding....awesome gun man.

 

[brianns]

You might have already advised of this but I gotta ask anyways. What twist rate is the barrel in this rifle?

1:12

 

[jkv45]

LOL, remove 6 yards from the total distance and you have a 2 MOA SVD. Yes Im kidding....awesome gun man.

Thanks. I need to spend some more time with it, but overall it has performed about as expected. It's enjoyable to shoot, and seems to favor the less expensive lighter .308 ammo, so it's all good.

I did enter the info with 106 yards as the distance, but it didn't seem to change the MOA as much as I thought it would.

 

[XM25Dweeb]

Is the top SVD type rifle one of yours as well?

 

[jkv45]

Is the top SVD type rifle one of yours as well?

If you mean in post #22 - yes.

It's a Romanian PSL54, chambered in 7.62x54R (Rimmed - not Russian).

They are often referred to as the "Poor man's SVD", but differ quite a bit from a SVD Dragunov. A more correct nickname is "Big AK", as it is the same configuration as an AK (7.62x39) - only bigger.