Romanian M1969 Trainer

[Buford Allen]

I just got me a Romanian M1969 Trainer in .22 LR. Traded a Brazilian 12ga. double barrel for it. I only had $100.00 in the shotgun. Was this a fairly good trade? It would have cost me about that same amount for a friend of mine with an FFL to order me one from Century Arms. This rifle is in excellent condition and is dated 1977. I don't know much about it or what rifle this was used to train for by the Romanians or what it's military purpose was. It is bolt action with 5 rnd. mag, deep blueing, beautiful stock with no dings, flip up rear sight with 25, 50, and 100 meter blades, front post with elevation adjustment and shroud, sling swivels, Mauser type safety lever, and buttstock cleaning kit. Does anyone have info on the value or history of this rifle?

[z537z]

There is an INCREDIBLE amount of info on this gun, including a book which I HIGHLY reccomend.
http://www.arnoldline.com/Paul/RomanianM69.html

Anything you need to know just ask, I know just about all of it, as do many others.

As for the value, 100$ is probably a good deal for a good condition gun. They're getting hard to find. They sell them at various internet sites for cheaper (though probably about the same after FFL and shipping fees), but they're usually pretty beat up.

Nearest anyone knows, the gun was used to train non-combatant personell in the Romanian forces. The gun's production began in 1969, thus its name.

It's a really nice shooter, and very reliable. By nice shooter, I mean a stock gun in good condition with the right ammo will shoot a dime group at 50 yards if you do your part. The stocks are usually beat up, but do refinish nicely (see my refinished Romy pics at www.pbase.com/z537z/arsenal), as shown in the attached picture (another guy's rifle, not all woodgrains line up this nicely).

The trickiest thing about it is the "scope rail," which is picky about rings as its so narrow.

In order to widen your horizons, check out these two forums (but stay here!):
http://p077.ezboard.com/fparallaxscu...rmsforumsfrm23
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums...play.php?f=125

Like I said, any other questions, fire away. Happy shootin!

_z

[Buford Allen]

Excellent pic z537z. Haven't had time to check the links you listed but will as soon as I get a chance. Thanks for the info.

[Cliff]

BA, you will not regret the acquisition of the Romanian trainer. I bought one and then within a month I bought another and at the time should have bought one more of the suckers. I would not take for them. The only thing that I don't care for is that the safety is somewhat hard to flip up for me. I have a little trouble with the fingers working correctly. I may take a wood chisel and chisel out a trough as is liking to the ones made for the turned down bolts. Then stain it and it would look pro.

The two that I have are really decent shooters condsidering what/where they came from and the action they saw in the trenches with yo-yo's, if you know what I mean.

We need to get a Romanian training club going somewhere around the WF area. I live 48 miles from there, Olney but would be willing to meet somewhere around in that area. If you know of any others in that area let's do it to it! Or maybe we can get together sometime at the Northwest Field and Stream in Wichita Falls sometimes. I also have an SKS, M44 and have on order a 91/30. course we don't have to stick to the Romanian's but it would be a start.

[Smallbore]

I have a pair of them myself. Nice little guns. The only problem some folks have with them is that they are sometimes "weak" ejectors. Just make sure you clean up the bolt real well and remove all the grease as cosmoline and it should work fine for you.

[iceman27406]

I have one that i got from this old guy living in a shed it had cat piss all over and it took hours of the good old 3 in 1 oil to make it smell better and clean the action but that thing still can shoot pretty damn accurate. quick question did your rifles come like that or did you have to refinish the stock and reblue the barrel?

also here is a great website for telling you about the m1969 trainer
http://www.surplusrifle.com/romanian1969/index.asp

it will tell you the history, spec, maintenance, cartridge and disassembly procedures for the entire rifle. same thing for most surplus rifles