P54 Just picked up a P54, who else has one

[icebear]

To elaborate a bit on "pystykorva," the term refers to the upright ears of the Spitz dog. When the m/27 and m/28 rifles were issued, soldiers saw a resemblance to the dog's ears and gave the rifles their nickname.

 

[icebear]

And those Baikal shotguns have nickname Balalaika, which is a russian instument.

As in "Total Balalaika Show?"

 

[Olli]

As in "Total Balalaika Show?"

LoL, I have almost forgotten these Showmen. I remember those fellass with redarmy in Senate Square.

 

[icebear]

LoL, I have almost forgotten these Showmen. I remember those fellass with redarmy in Senate Square.

I was there. Both times, in 1993 and in the ten-year reunion in 2003. Best concert I've ever seen. I have the CD and the video, but I can't play the video as it's in Euro format. Leningrad Cowboys forever!

 

[stonecreek]

I have been talking to a Finnish gun dealer and it amazes me at the price difference on these rifles, the P46, and other Sako rifles in general. The prices I see on them over there, they are easily 2-3 times as much here in the states.

Olli would have a much better handle on European prices than I would, but over the years I've noticed that there has been a significant decline in the demand in Europe for rimfires and small centerfires. I think that this has to do with the declining number of farmers and other rural agrarians who typically use small calibers for pests and small game. On the other hand, hunting larger game in Europe (and Africa) has become largely dominated by higher-income individuals, so it seems that "hunting" calibers go for proportionately more money than smaller calibers.

Gun stores usually have more of the well-used P54 and L46-type rifles in stock than they can sell. This is also in part due to many European countries having a limit on the number of firearms that an individual may own, so very few people want to use up their quota with a 70 year-old .22 which has gouges in the stock and only about 60% of its bluing left. But since such a rifle was never commercially imported to the U.S., we grab them at several times their European price and feel as if we're lucky to have stumbled onto one.

Conversely, as Olli points out, a pedestrian Ruger which wouldn't get a second look in the U.S. will bring double its U.S. price in some European markets.

 

[icebear]

LoL, I have almost forgotten these Showmen. I remember those fellass with redarmy in Senate Square.

When the Russians opened the show with the "Finlandia-Hymni," the crowd went crazy. It was a rare moment of friendship and warmth between the Finns and the Russians. Too bad it didn't last. For that, we can than Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

 

[Olli]

I think that this has to do with the declining number of farmers and other rural agrarians who typically use small calibers for pests and small game. On the other hand, hunting larger game in Europe (and Africa) has become largely dominated by higher-income individuals, so it seems that "hunting" calibers go for proportionately more money than smaller calibers.

I think that you are on the point here. I'd also like to add that our hunting laws don't favor .22 caliber firearms. The minimum required muzzle energy for hunting firearms was 150 Joules for many decades. That is quite optimistic for 22lr. Our hunting law was revised to 100J few years back when our "feral" rabbit population grew out of control. But still .22lr are not allowed for most common farmland animals like hare and fox. Now days you can shoot waterfolw and pigeons but there is better suited tool for those. Larger game have always been community effort and most moose and deer hunting groups consists of local farmers and forest owners. I think that southern EU states have far more developed comercial hunting sector. Finnish model is quite utilitarian meat production model.

 

[Jeeps-And-Guns]

I was able to shoot it again this weekend. I tried some norma tac-22, some rws rifle match, and some eley target.
All pretty much matched the group posted on page 2 with the geco match.
Seems the limiting factor here is my abilities with the open sights.

 

[Oak163]

Here is a pic of my P54. Has been a safe queen since I bought it. Have the palm rest too.

Beautiful rifle! Mine is similar, no ball rest and some sight parts, but in great condition. How did you remove the sling loops?

 

[paulsonconstruction]

Beautiful rifle! Mine is similar, no ball rest and some sight parts, but in great condition. How did you remove the sling loops?

The rear sling loop just unscrews. The front one is a real pain. You have to bend the loop ends out of the stud until you can remove the loop. Then the stud unscrews up & out through the barrel channel side. If you don't absolutely have to remove it, don't!