Which milsurp rifle for use as a light-ish hunting rifle?

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alpining

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Hi all - I don't know a thing about milsurps, so any input is welcome.

I just saw the Carcano cavalry carbine is available for peanuts, and I thought that with handloaded ammunition it might work reasonably well for deer hunting. Just thought I'd ask here if there are any other similar options I should consider. Let's say we keep the weight around 7lbs (the Carcano is apparently 6.4lbs), and no need to mount a scope.

Thanks in advance...
 
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The Steyr M95 Stutzen/Carbine may be the lightest. I've used it on Mule Deer and taken it on a Goat hunt.

To shoot to the sights at 100 yards my handloads are doing ~2000 fps. Full Power loads are ~150 fps behind the 30-06 in the short barrel. I'd bet in the full length rifle the 8x56R is more powerful than the 30-06.
 
Good luck hunting with a Carcano cavalry carbine. The sights are awful and the Italians did not use the standard sight technique— to hit at point of aim you have to bury the front sight in the rear notch, and the point of aim is then in the empty space between the top ends of the rear sight. It is difficult to do accurately if you are not used to the system.
 
Second vote for Mosin Nagant, an M44 is still relatively affordable, but even just a standard 91/30, while a bit long, you can’t beat the combination of cheap, available and cheap ammo, accurate, and reliable. 180gr soft points out of a 91/30 are muy caliente
 
From my experience light and milsurp don't usually go together.

Having said that I recommend the "shorter" of the Swedish Mausers, the M38.
 
Thanks, folks, for all the suggestions.


Northern Shooter said:
From my experience light and milsurp don't usually go together. ....
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That's what my very limited experience tells me, too - But I didn't know that reasonably light options existed.

Of these suggestions, which are going to be more available and affordable? I don't mind rough cosmetic condition, but mechanically sound with a "good" bore is good enough for me.
 
alpining said:
Hi all - I don't know a thing about milsurps, so any input is welcome.

I just saw the Carcano cavalry carbine is available for peanuts, and I thought that with handloaded ammunition it might work reasonably well for deer hunting. Just thought I'd ask here if there are any other similar options I should consider. Let's say we keep the weight around 7lbs (the Carcano is apparently 6.4lbs), and no need to mount a scope.

Thanks in advance...
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If the reason you're looking to hunt with a milsurp is economy, you'll be disappointed. If you just want to hunt with a milsurp and won't be modifying it, then you have some good suggestions.

A used hunting rifle will be less expensive, lighter than most milsurps, "fit" better to the shooter, have good sight options such as adding a scope, will be in better overall condition, will probably be more accurate, and will have more commonly available ammunition and ammo components.

I hunt with a Bubba'd milsurp I bought dirt cheap, as the previous owner is the one who did all the work and devalued it, but nowadays, if I was looking for a hunting rifle I'd look elsewhere.
 
An already sporterred Enfield, an EAL, or a Swedish M38. You might find a sportered Enfield that's drilled and tapped, which makes life easier than trying to use irons in the field. Decent sportered Enfields can found for a few hundred dollars.
 
I would add my vote for the Swede M38. It is a light, handy rifle in a great hunting cartridge. If the standard sights don't suit you there are replacement rear sights with a ghost ring aperture that should be a significant step up from the original notch.


Mark
 
MiG25 said:
Bubba's Lee Enfield still weights 8lbs.
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For sure it can! I cut this barrel off to be 18" from front of receiver to muzzle. Added a Bishop brand "pistol grip" butt stock that had a "Monte Carlo" top edge on it. Parker Hale A20 and A21 bases, RALS.3 rings and Weaver K3-1 scope. 10 rounds 180 grain "Super-X" ammo - kinda shocked it was past 9 pounds, 2 ounces ... It started as a Maltby made No. 4 Mk.1. The fore arm is unusually short - measures 12 7/8" (32.7 cm) from wrist to forearm tip. Length from centre of butt plate to muzzle is just under 38 1/2" (97.7 cm) Without the ammo, but with the empty 10 round magazine and the carry strap, it still weighs 8 pounds 9 ounces

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Mosin carbines are not cheap nor are they very light for the length. Carcanos you won’t hit anything. Enfields (ex Jungle Carbine) are generally the lightest, most accurate, and have the most available ammo (though 303 is getting hard to find— still plentiful for hunting purposes.) Some sporters are cheap. Go with one of them I think.
 
Butcherbill said:
^^^They’re not lightweight but they’re nice to hunt with, just feels right in the hand.
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Yes - when I was younger (and apparently much stronger!!!) I carried a sawed-up No. 4 for many miles - often with a full extra magazine in my pocket. Then came the Win. Model 70's, the Mauser 98's and a Ruger No. 1 - I eventually got deer and/or elk with all, except that No. 4. Turns out in those cases was the same "nut behind the butt plate" and that seemed to be the main difference ...
 
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