Milsurp Hunting: Garand - 1, Deer -0

mmattockx

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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Yesterday was opening day for my zone and I took this mulie doe late in the afternoon with the Garand. I shot her at about 125yds while on the run. Load was a 168gr Amax over 48.0gr of IMR4064 for a velocity around 2600fps. One shot put her down and out after a short run of maybe 40yds.

The little guy looking over my shoulder is my youngest, who was on his first ever hunt. He enjoyed it all, but wasn't that impressed with having to hold a bloody deer leg while I gutted her. Despite that, he still wants to go out again, so I guess it wasn't all that bad after all.:D

First game I have taken with a milsurp.w:h:

My goal this season was to get one animal with the Garand, so I am off to a great start this season. We are heading out saturday to try and get the big buck that was hanging around with this doe and I will have my M38 Swede Mauser with me, looking to make it 2 for 2 with milsurps this year.

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Mark
 
Awesome! I have hunted with an M14 (TRW) back many years ago, shot a doe with it. Hunted with one M1, Loved it too.

Pete
 
Congratulations on the kill. I wish you greatest of luck with your Swede. They make great hunting rifles. Where are you located, that land looks amazing!
 
Congratulations on the kill. I wish you greatest of luck with your Swede. They make great hunting rifles. Where are you located, that land looks amazing!

Thanks. The area is WMU #164, northeast of Hanna, AB. It isn't as wide open as that pic indicates, it really is mostly rolling farmland with scattered patches of brush and trees. They had a lot of rain this summer and the uncut grass areas were very overgrown and tall, often waist high. It made pushing bush harder, because there was so much cover that we nearly had to step on a deer before we would see them in that tall grass.

My regular deer rifle is a BSA CF-2 in 6.5x55, so I am already a believer on the calibre for medium game. It is a truly great cartridge. The M38 is such a light, handy rifle that it practically begs to be carried in the bush and used on game.

Mark
 
There isn't much reason to look beyond the old MILSURP ctgs for big game hunting. I've taken a lot of animals with the 100plus yr old .303 British, 7x57 Mauser, and .30-06. The 6.5 Swedish and 8mm Mauser are in the same category. The almost 60 yr old .308 Win, altho a "comparative "newbie", is excellent as well. There was a great deal of R&D put into these ctgs. They have stood the test of time and only improved with modern propellants.:D

Many of the "offspring" of the basic MILSURP rounds, incl the .260 Rem, 7-08,.358 Win, .257 Roberts, .25-06, .270, .280, and .35 Whelan are equally good.

The gun rags have persuaded many folks that they are sadly undergunned with anything less than some 7mm or .30 cal magnum variation with at least a 3x9 scope.:rolleyes:
 
Thanks. The area is WMU #164, northeast of Hanna, AB. It isn't as wide open as that pic indicates, it really is mostly rolling farmland with scattered patches of brush and trees. They had a lot of rain this summer and the uncut grass areas were very overgrown and tall, often waist high. It made pushing bush harder, because there was so much cover that we nearly had to step on a deer before we would see them in that tall grass.

My regular deer rifle is a BSA CF-2 in 6.5x55, so I am already a believer on the calibre for medium game. It is a truly great cartridge. The M38 is such a light, handy rifle that it practically begs to be carried in the bush and used on game.

Mark

Nice!!!

Me and my hunting partner have tags for Zone 404 south of Kananaskis and haven't even SEEN a deer since opening day!! GRRRRRRRRR!!!

We're going to try tomorrow in the bush and I'm bringing out a new (to me :D) Russkie SKS. It's pretty thick bush where we're going, so my M305 isn't really practical there.
 
Nice!!!

Me and my hunting partner have tags for Zone 404 south of Kananaskis and haven't even SEEN a deer since opening day!! GRRRRRRRRR!!!

We're going to try tomorrow in the bush and I'm bringing out a new (to me :D) Russkie SKS. It's pretty thick bush where we're going, so my M305 isn't really practical there.

They are out there. 4 yrs ago, just before hunting season, I was driving north on the Kananaskis Hwy to join up with the TCan and spotted one of the nicest WT bucks I have seen in many yrs of hunting:eek:. He just stood there about 70 yds off the rode and sort of smiled ;)as I stopped the truck to admire him. He even obliged me by swinging his head back and forth to offer the best appraisal of his rack.:p
 
They are out there. 4 yrs ago, just before hunting season, I was driving north on the Kananaskis Hwy to join up with the TCan and spotted one of the nicest WT bucks I have seen in many yrs of hunting:eek:. He just stood there about 70 yds off the rode and sort of smiled ;)as I stopped the truck to admire him. He even obliged me by swinging his head back and forth to offer the best appraisal of his rack.:p

We've seen plenty of deer...

in the Wildlife Corridor!!!!!:mad:

Can't shoot them there!!!! (dammitall:D)
 
Great pics ... sounds like you and your wee lad had fun. I'm planning on hunting a Umingmak(muskox) with my M1 Garand Old Betty this year. I went out this past January looking for some in -50 weather which was no fun and no luck ... hopefully this year will be better weather and luck. Congrats on your hunt. Cheers,

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
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