Valmet Hunter M/83
Valmet · Rifle · Discontinued · 1983
Also known as: Valmet Hunter, Valmet M83 Hunter
Overview
The Valmet Hunter M/83 is a Finnish gas-operated semi-automatic sporting rifle built on the Rk 62 (Kalashnikov-pattern) long-stroke piston action but fitted with a conventional wooden sporting stock and forend. Marketed for hunting and target use, it was offered in .308 Winchester, .243 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield and .223 Remington and fed from a detachable box magazine. Sold outside Finland as the Valmet Hunter and imported into the United States by Stoeger, it paired the rugged reliability of the Rk 62 mechanism with civilian-legal furniture.
Specifications
| Barrel Length | 521 mm (20.51") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Long Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Effective Range | 300 m (328 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .308 Winchester · primary · 7.62x51mm NATO — also known as .308 Win, 7.62x51mm, 7.62 NATO
- .243 Winchester — also known as .243 Win
- .30-06 Springfield — also known as 30-06, .30-06 Sprg, 7.62x63mm
- .223 Remington — also known as .223 Rem, 223 Remington, 5.56x45mm
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Lever
- Features: Rk 62 Gas System, Sporting Stock, Detachable Box Magazine, Hunting Sights
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Civilian hunters and sport shooters
Production
Production years: 1983-1994
Civilian sporting production; exact totals not published
Origin
Country of origin: Finland
Discontinued: 1994
Notes
Domestically the same rifle was marketed under the Petra name. It reached the US civilian market through Stoeger Industries into the mid-1990s before Valmet's small-arms line was folded into Sako.
Background
Under the hood the genteel walnut-stocked Hunter is an Rk 62 assault rifle in a sport coat - it borrows the same Finnish Kalashnikov action that armed the Finnish Defence Forces, making it one of the few 'hunting' rifles that shares its guts with a frontline service weapon.