EnfieldKindaGuy
New member
- Location
- Ontario, Canada
This is great. I'm intrigued but not surprised at the amount of people still runnin around with these old guns. Great calibers and proven weaponry make for fun talks and even more fun shooting
Milsurp for hunting? Whos who?!
- Thread starter EnfieldKindaGuy
- Start date
You've answered the question well, but in a limited manner. The OP certainly didn't state whether or not he meant milsurps in full military garb, or milsurps that have been modified for modern sport shooting and hunting.
After I posted my answer to his query, two fellows dropped by to show me the White Tail spike buck they shot this morning, on the hill behind my place.
Not a long shot, but it was done with a No4, MkI with a "two groove" barrel, built by Savage in 1943. The original stock was replaced with a nice Monte Carlo type butt and new fore end, made from straight grain Walnut, and nicely checkered. One of those available from International Firearms back in the eighties, until they closed in the mid nineties. It also wore a fixed 4X40, Burris "fullfield" scope, in one of those mounts where the rear sight is replaced with a folding flat base and a D+T receiver ring base, held by Weaver made rings.
The shooter was gifted the rifle for his 12th birthday, 15 years ago. The shot, this morning, was around 175 yards, and in the center of the lung area, just behind the front leg. It was a through and through, done by a Federal 150 grain, 303 British, Power Shock.
I should have taken some pics, but I didn't have my phone on me.
They were "weapons" once, but those days are long gone, now they're "tools" for pursuit of sport shooting/hunting. Big difference, no matter what Nathalie Provost and Gary Anandasangaree try to tell the millennials who voted for the Liberals.
My first rifle I hunted with was a scope sighted 303 that deer were pretty safe from being hit with it. I am sure a large percentage of Canadian hunters started the same some with maybe a gun that could hit a barn. ran into a truck load of kids and their father once in the Porcupine Hills in Alberta and every one of them had a different Mil surp even a 30 carbine was funny to see.
When I started with this almost everyone else around me started out hunting with sporterized Lee enfields. Like the ratchet ones you can pick up for 225 bucks these days. They are a lot lighter than you’d think in the sporterized form. It’s still pretty common in my area. The only downside I can think of is scope mounting, which isn’t an issue for me. I mostly hunt with lever actions and iron sights. I think an m44 would make a great hunting rifle if you have decent eye sight. You can get good soft point ammo in almost any chambering you want online
Also, I had a long Mosin that I didn’t love and sold before the values went up but had a scout scope mount that went in place of the rear sight where I tried mounting a 2-7 scout scope and decided scout rifles weren’t for me. But could be an option if you need the magnification
Also, I had a long Mosin that I didn’t love and sold before the values went up but had a scout scope mount that went in place of the rear sight where I tried mounting a 2-7 scout scope and decided scout rifles weren’t for me. But could be an option if you need the magnification
Over the years , I've taken game with a number of No1 and No4 Lee Enfields , P14 Enfields , Swedish M96s and M38s , a Lungman AG42 , Mosin Nagants and exactly one White Tail with a converted , semi only 1918 BAR when it was still legal , along with a number of others like an old M1 Garand I used to own . You might say I like hunting with milsurps , and if you haven't guessed yet , I'm old . I still hunt with a 43 Long Branch No 4 regularly , along with a 91/30 Mosin Nagant . I have modern sporters that I hunt with , but I'll always make a point of packing an old war horse every now and then to remind me of my well wasted youth .
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
I have used a .30 carbine a couple of times and a P17 a bit , my old man used a "Parker Hale refurbished 98 Mauser" for 40 yrs to feed us hungry kids.
I wanted to use my Garand last year but after reading the Ab regs it is illegal to do so. Some will say that using a modified enbloc that only holds 4 rounds is legal but I dont think so...the wording used is "capable of holding" describes the rifle , not the magazine/clip capacity and the rifle can still accept an 8 rounder.
I wanted to use my Garand last year but after reading the Ab regs it is illegal to do so. Some will say that using a modified enbloc that only holds 4 rounds is legal but I dont think so...the wording used is "capable of holding" describes the rifle , not the magazine/clip capacity and the rifle can still accept an 8 rounder.
A Garand with 5 round clips is perfectly legal for hunting in Alberta. Your interpretation would ban every single semi-auto that has detachable magazines.
Mark
This . I have used my Garand with modified en-bloc clips a number of times for hunting , with the approval of Alberta Fish & Wildlife .
Attachments
I have one , it is .
I don't disagree with your points but I'm simply saying that they are no longer the common tool or as easily serviceable/supported as a modern firearm. Sure, a gunsmith can source parts to fix up an old firearm, but it's certainly not quite the same level of logistics as dealing with something like the ubiquitous Rem 700.
It's like anything else that requires fixing. A good mechanic can fix just about any old vehicle, find NOS parts, source from a scrapyard or whatever but it's not quite the same as a quick call/order of an itemised/catalogued item from a distributor.
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
Did you get that in writing as the judges & prosecutors are going to use the regs a written and the regs clearly say "a rifle capable of holding" and "capable" will be the ruling definition in a courthouse...not a field grade flatfoots say so.
and so it does with a literal, exacting reading of the regs ...my Carbine wont be going hunting anytime soon either.
I contacted AFW and got it in writing . They consider the en-bloc the same as the magazine in any other semi auto centerfire , such as a Browning BAR or Remington 742 . They did mention that things could get sticky if I was found in possession of 8 round clips while hunting though .
dgradinaru
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- British Columbia
I've used several milsurps over the years hunting. As much as I love some of the Mausers I do have to say the sights they come with are difficult to use in low light. Using them at the range is one thing, easy consistent hits at 300-400 yards in the prone or on bench but in the field it's a different story. Especially the vz 24, the rear sight v notch is one of the smallest I've used and made for difficult spring bear hunting last year. Got a bear but with a different sighting system I would have had an easier time. The Swedes, Yugo, and 98ks have larger v notches that help. The p14, M17, no. 4 Lee Enfields with the peep sight would be much better choice.
In some cases, it's "easier/faster" to source milsurp parts than calling a distributor or dealer. Many sources for milsurp parts have itemized lists, often with pics, and descriptions of the rifles they fit as well.
They make rear sight bar replacement mounts for that rifle, which require removal of the elevator bar, and inserting a scope base, for long eye relief scopes.
There was also another rear elevator bar replacement sight made for Mausers that had a large diopter style ring, where the V notch would normally be. Very easy to use and install, without damaging any value, or parts.
