you guys still use the Valmet as your service rifle?

Yup

great rifle

very hard to find in the US

We in arty used Rk62 and infantry uses RK95

I think you guys are one of the few modern countries still using 7.62x39 ammo

I know Russia still somewhat uses it, but they use 5.45mm now

mostly

Why did they switch to 5.45 mm?

Well we're not nato country and our most likely enemy still uses it for some extend

less heavy, flatter shooting

proprietary

not 100% sure

I think there has been talks to change the ammo from the rainbow round to something else

@Finno If that's the case, why not switch to 5.45 mm?

Your most likely enemy would use LOADS of that.

well Finland has a history of bushwhacking people who invade so

#skipatrol

lol "bushwacking"

Remember that sniper who killed over one thousand people?

Russians did use 7.62x39 more in 1995 and I think they're probs going to change it to that or some NATO round (5.56x45 NATO perhaps?) with next gun design but for small nation it ain't so big priority to design new guns for every change

Simo Häyhä you mean?

Short guy, his career ended when he was captured after an exploding bullet to the face.

well just the Winter War in general

I don't remember if Häyhä was captured but he did get exploding bullet to the face right before end of the war

maneuver defense worked well

That guy was like a Hurricane Katrina with arms and legs.

lol

Tbh I don't know why arty in general uses rk62 and not something more compact that would be lighter and less in the way, something like vz.61 škorpion

who would win? a battalion of Russian Soldiers or an angry Finnish farmer with a bolt gun and a suomi sub-machinegun

@Grump The Horrible The katrina man wasn't a trained soldier?

I think he was a reservist

Rk62 was good gun but for what arty is for it ain't that practical, it will just lead to golf reloading and such

Still a trained soldier.

Also, lol, let's not shit on reservists then.

Around 80% of finnish men (could be higher % cba to check right now) are military trained

No not poking fun at all

@Grump The Horrible I know, I was just saying that with this knowledge my opinion of reservists has changed a wee bit.

Also, wow, you never know where among the Finish population a gifted commie slayer might be hiding.

Invading that country would be the stuff of nightmares.

Russians could probs invade us but staying would be the true nightmare