What milsurp would you hunt with?

Husky 65x55 swede for deer or a 8x57 or 9.3x57 if there were moose/bear around. Finest crafted military rifles around and best value for your money.Call Tony at Tradeex
 
Lots of folks hunt with 303, 8x57, Remington 1917 and a few SKS, and have never owned higher priced modern rifles. When asked about the milsurp rifles that they use for hunting I have heard them say: "That's all I need". I like the K-31 and it would be good to see hunting rounds made available for it. I'm not fussy about the mosin but it could be done if needed. As for an all-rounder - anything in a 6.5 x55 would do the job.
 
I'd recomend the Swedish M38 or the #5 Jungle Carbine. That said, really anything you can get or make proper shells for will work just fine.
 
I am still waiting for my unmolested NOR K98 rebarrelled to .30-06. Hunted for a few years with a sporterized .303, plenty for moose, unfortunately mine had to much use to spend any money on it for drilling for mounts and install scope
 
I 've used my Mosin 91/30 on black bear and deer in some thick bush in BC.

More accurate than a 38 or 44 I'll bet.

A Swede Model 38 would be nice too.
 
I have to agree with folks that say they are heavy, cumbersome, unwieldy, awkward but have found a few very adequate for deer. I've killed deer with a Springfield Trapdoor, an 1868 No 1 Rem rolling block, a couple with a 42' Underwood .30 Carbine, a couple with an Argentine Mauser (one with the original 7x57 barrel and one with her new duds, a R Smith 25-06 barrel ), one with a Win. p17. Others I have hunted with but not made a kill: .577 Snider (missed a doe at 30 yrds with that one) and another P17 (this one an Eddystone). All in all I have to agree they are a terrible choice....for the uneducated.
 
I'd hunt with any of my milsurp rifles but think my M95 carbine would be the most handy well rounded rifle for large game or maybe the M44. Not sure how 8x56R matches up against 7.62x54R so I'd have to find that out to make a true informed decision.
 
I have several sporterized milsurp rifles that I've developed loads for and give me very nice accuracy (1" to 1-1/2" groups), and have put game on the table for me. Depending on the terrain where I'm hunting depends on which rifle I take out for that days hunt. Where I have shots of 100 yd.+, I'll take the Swedish Mauser or the venerable No.4. If I'm in thicker cover where I'm limited to 60 yds. or less, I take the SKS or my 20 ga. I've tweaked the rifles to the point that they're comfortable for me and with the recreational shooting that I do prior to the deer season, I know that if I have a clean shot, I have a clean kill. All the rifles were very reasonably priced. I understand brand loyalty, bragging rights, aesthetics, etc., but if you can get a good reliable rifle that shoots where you aim, puts game on the table, and is comfortable to carry and shoot, what more do you need? Pictures always illustrate points better than idle chatter, so here you go.
As an aside to Superbrad (if you're still keeping an eye on this thread), some of your comments lead me to believe that A) you're a shooter, but not a hunter, or B) you like being a s%#t disturber, or C) you're a newbie and a little obtuse, and please understand that I don't mean this in an insulting way. For instance, why a 5 rnd. semi for hunting? Really? Scenario; you're on your watch and your buddy pushes 4 deer out to you. You have 3-6 tags for the group. You nail 3 of the deer as they come into your fire lane. BTW, that is exactly what happened to me 3 yrs. ago. With a bolt action, you may get two unless you're really quick. Or, you're on your way home in the dusk. Some wolves decide to check you out. Would you be happier with a semi or a bolt or pump? Rabid bear? Rabid wolf? The answer to your comment was so obvious that any experienced hunter saw it as a given.
BTW, no milsurps were bubba'd by me in acquiring these. All were sporterized prior to my purchasing them and all I did was modify or tweak them to suit my length of pull and my physiognomy.


 
Nothing against this thread, or anyone participating, or milsurps, but why isn't this in the milsurp section or even the hunting section? Lol
 
jongun said:
I'd hunt with any of my milsurp rifles but think my M95 carbine would be the most handy well rounded rifle for large game or maybe the M44. Not sure how 8x56R matches up against 7.62x54R so I'd have to find that out to make a true informed decision.
Click to expand...

1938 Factory loads for 8x56R (208gr FMJ) clock at 2380, Modern factory 7.62x54r has a 180gr bullet at over 2500 fps from an M44.

My hunting load for the 8x56R doesn't even break 2000 fps with a 205gr SP, but it does shoot to the sights of an M95 carbine, faster goes higher, the factory stuff shoots over a foot high.

I've taken deer with both the 8x56R and the 7.62x64R, they couldn't seem to tell the difference.

A person's ability with the sights is the limiting factor, not the cartridge that any particular milsurp is chambered for.

I've taken deer with:
Swede 1896 6.5x55
Spanish 1893 7x57
LE #4 303 British
SKS 7.62x39
Polish M44 7.62x54R
German 98k 8x57
Yugo M48 8x57
Portuguese M904/39 8x57
Austrian M95 carbine 8x56R

They all do the same thing.
 
Looking at some ballistics charts I'd have to go with x54 if I were to be hunting moose for example. For whitetails I'd grab any of the milsurp rifles. For bear(black)I'd just disqualify the SKS even though the x39 cartridge is capable of taking bear it's just marginal.
 
^ 7.62x54r and .303 are the equals of some very popular sporting cartridges and its safe to say .303 is a popular cartridge in its own right.


I have a love hate relationship with 7.62x54r and the mosin...

I just wish the bore diameters were at least a bit standardized, and I could find some published reloading data that doesn't use .308 bullets.

I think a single shot or o/u in that round would be very attractive.
 
Love that avatar Conor. One can only assume you may be a fan of the sweet 7.5x55 cartridge. Had one of my K31s out last spring on the bear hunt but wasn't successful in the hunt and only got to use the rifle to dispatch a nice boar I snagged in a trail snare. That beautiful piece of Swiss craftsmanship is quite a bit to lug around in the bush for any amount of time.
 
^ sadly do not own a k-31 at the moment. Funny story though, my dad is Swiss but not a gunny and he got his PAL after watching Hickok45 shoot a k31 and going on a nostalgia trip.

I would sporterize the k-31 but it would be a sin. Can you imagine in a med-bore with a battue sight, just cranking that straight pull bolt...
 
I was lucky enough to come into possession of my great grandfathers service rifle some years back and also bought one from Trade Ex. Amazingly accurate rifles I must say. Haven't put anything but reloads through the rifles and have had good success. Would love to give the inherited rifle an other shot at a bear this spring. I'll just add, to sporterize one of these rifles would be outright blasphemous IMHO.
 
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