What Milsurp for Varmint Hunting?

Paden Full

Paden Full

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Greetings,

OK...The rifle I really want is waaaaaay too expensive and I really want some kind of milsurp rifle anyway, so what would be your recommendation for a milsurp rifle I could use for coyote and other varmint hunting?

Thank you,

Matt
 
Anything in a legal caliber that is accurate enough to do the job. There are some "no gunsmithing" mounts out there so you can mount a scope without permanently altering it's milsurp value.

Eventually setting up a reloading setup would be a plan too as surplus quantities of 8mm and 303 and 30-06 seem long gone. Maybe a Moison-Nagant rifle would be a good bet for you.:).

I don't think these rifles are sufficiently accurate as a whole for anything smaller than 2-3 moa, unless you want to do a fair amount of rifle/ammo mods, except for the above Swede 6.5's; they have a good reputation for being accurate. How much so I can't tell you as I've never owned one.
 
Like Stevo said, a swedish mauser would work. My M38 is the most accurate milsurp I have, and I believe is legal in southern Ontario for yotes ?? I reload the 6.5x55, and am really impressed with its accuracy. Do a search on this round and you will find it has a great following.
 
Paden Full said:
Greetings,

OK...The rifle I really want is waaaaaay too expensive and I really want some kind of milsurp rifle anyway, so what would be your recommendation for a milsurp rifle I could use for coyote and other varmint hunting?

Thank you,

Matt
Click to expand...

IMHO the 6.5x55 is the most likely to get you there w/out having to monkey with the rifle too much. Might I suggest something like this?;

ht tp://psmilitaria.50megs.com/images/ps941.jpg Or Tradeex for a nice G63 target rifle?

7x57 Mauser and 7.5x55 Swiss others to look at...
 
If you are looking for a proper varminter you will want a smallbore, high-velocity rig.The only FORMER MILITARY rifles I can think of that fill this would be the 5mm Mondragon semi-auto or the Lee 6mm Straight-Pull. Alas, both of these are just a touch on the pricey side. You might pick up a 5mm Mondragon in the $40,000 price range, then all you have to wory about is magazine limits with semi-autos and hope that you didn't get one of the selective-fire variants. The Lee Straight-Pull, on the other hand, is much more common but the special 6mm ammo has been out of production for 75 years now. And there is always the Meuniere A6, but the ammo for those is a bit scarce..... as are the rifles.

Of the MODERN military stuff, the only one even to think about would be some kind of M-16/AR-15 variant as it is the only one firing a varmint-type cartridge. FORGET AKs, SKSs, CZ858s and things lke that: the ammo just is not up to the job. Even Elmer Keith called the M-16 "a gopher gun" and Elmer was the man who did it ALL, at least according to Elmer.

Most of the guys I know who are using military surplus rifles for coyotes are using either the 6.5x55 Swedes which have been suggested, Lee-Enfields with 150-grain bullets, or converted P-'17s with BIIIG scopes.

If I wanted to do the same thing myself, I think I would opt for a P-'17 in original military trim, fitted out with an S&K Insta-Mount and a Tasco 4 - 12 scope, shooting 150-grain flatbase bullets. That should give you the best of all worlds,even if it did weigh 12 pounds.

Have fun.
.
 
6.5 x 55 swede.
I think I'd skip the 6mm Lee if I was you, even if you could find one & brass; bullets would be next to impossible to find anyhow. They musta been 1.5 inches long to need the high rate of twist the guns were made with. Get vertigo looking through the barrel.
I just got an original 1903 Carl Gustaff and the craftsmanship is extra-ordinary.
But please stay with a previously bubba'd gun, don't wreck an original.
 
smellie said:
If you are looking for a proper varminter you will want a smallbore, high-velocity rig.... SNIP Of the MODERN military stuff, the only one even to think about would be some kind of M-16/AR-15 variant as it is the only one firing a varmint-type cartridge. FORGET AKs, SKSs, CZ858s and things lke that: the ammo just is not up to the job. Even Elmer Keith called the M-16 "a gopher gun"...SNIP
Click to expand...

I'll stand up and be corrected but I'm pretty sure the only AR variant you're taking anywhere but to the range is an AR180b, and that's going to run $1500-$1800 for a nice one.
 
I took 5 yotes this weekend with an SKS. It'll shoot minute of coyote up to 200-300 no problem. The milsurp does a nice job of little hole in little hole out so it is great on the pelts. I've also found that my old spanish calvary carbine in 7mm does a really nice job with the coyotes. FMJ doesn't tear up the pelts and 300 yards is no problem with it either. My nephew is using my old MkIII scoped enfield with handloaded 150 FMJ and it does a bang up job too. I've ruined far more pelts with my 223 and 22-250 than with these calibers. Bullet type and choice are really more important than the caliber.
Call them in close and anything works good as a coyote gun.
 
When we used to go to Camp Wainwright for annual month-long training concentrations we would book some of the most heavily gopher infested areas for live fire training. Quite a few bit the dust from FNC1s, C2s, SMGs, and pistols. It really used to sharpen your eye with the pistol.

Then there was always " the bravest gopher in Alberta" who would decide to cross the rifle range during the midst of annual qualifications.;)
 
An accurate SKS shooting Prvi Partizan 123 grain soft points will do the job well if you keep it under 100 metres. A properly scoped SKS will extend your effective/accurate range. Just my humble opinion.

from the muzzle:
2461 fps
1660 ft-lbs of energy
 
huntermb said:
I took 5 yotes this weekend with an SKS. It'll shoot minute of coyote up to 200-300 no problem. The milsurp does a nice job of little hole in little hole out so it is great on the pelts. I've also found that my old spanish calvary carbine in 7mm does a really nice job with the coyotes. FMJ doesn't tear up the pelts and 300 yards is no problem with it either. My nephew is using my old MkIII scoped enfield with handloaded 150 FMJ and it does a bang up job too. I've ruined far more pelts with my 223 and 22-250 than with these calibers. Bullet type and choice are really more important than the caliber.
Call them in close and anything works good as a coyote gun.
Click to expand...

You can use FMJ with coyotes?
 
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