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

The info sources I checked say the Swedish m38 clocks in @ 8.5 pounds or 8 pounds 8oz. My Remington 1903A3 tipped the scale @ 8 pounds 12 oz.

4oz. more is acceptable to me...
 
Swedish M94. It came to me drilled and tapped so....
Weighs in at 7 pounds 8 ounces.

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Been getting some decent shooting done with this one. Been knocking some chalk off of a rock at 770 meters. Drone was used for the range Calc.
Posted it in the target forum, that brought few to the table. Mostly the folks of that discipline like plastic fantastic rifles and Bluetooth scopes... I did not know this.
But it is getting easier to 'knock chalk' with it.
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When those Bushnell, then later Bausch & Lomb scopes first appeared on the market, they were the best deal going. $200 for a straight 10x with target knobs. If you happen upon a used one in good condition, they're still a great deal.
 
Reading the above posts on the fit , accuracy etc of milsurps . Isnt it or shouldnt it be basically a known , when you purchase a milsurp , whether its been used or not . To completely clean , check it over to best of your abilities . Or take it to an experienced ( with that firearm ) gunsmith and have it checked , repaired , adjusted . Then sight it in . Then evaluate it .
I,m not trying to start a battle , but I wouldnt expect a rifle thats 30 to over a 100 yrs old to function properly , shoot straight with out checking it and tuning it first .
To the orig poster , two of my favourites are a 66 2A1 full wood in 308 . Its a love hate relationship , with more hate towards the end of the day LOL . Same with my 26 inch model 94 , reguarding weights
I believe any rifle can be made into a fairly accurate hunting piece , once you tune it and get used to it . Only limitations to me would be effective range / stopping power of a smaller calibre , in my final choices .
 
Why would you use a milsurp rifle for hunting, unless it is in original and un-modified condition?

If you are looking for cheap and light, get a Savage Axis.
 
Why would you use a milsurp rifle for hunting, unless it is in original and un-modified condition?

If you are looking for cheap and light, get a Savage Axis.

I can give you all sorts of valid reasons for using a "milsurp" rifles

Right now, I have several rifles that I hunt with using milsurp receivers.

One is an M96 chambered for the 6mm Remington, which has been modified for #### on opening, with a low swing scope safety and fitted with a take of Remington 700 Varmint barrel, which was threaded/chambered and fitted to the receiver and has a Burris 4-16 with AO, all mounted into a Hogue stock with an aluminum bedding block. It shoots like a laser if I do my part.

I have at least 8 other WWII dated 98 receivers that I've picked up, already modified for scope mounting, chambered in 338-08, 7x57, 8x57, 30-06, 308Win and an almost finished 280Rem.

I shoot a 6.5x57Mauser that was built on a bubbaed Greek Mannlicher Schoenauer surplussed during the 70s. It's got the non detachable rotary mag, Habicht rail type scope and even better, a 1-8 in twist barrel with an excellent bore that shoots all bullet weights available for the 6.5 extremely well and is as smooth as oiled glass to operate.

I haven't shot the 280Rem yet but all of the others shoot better than I can hold, the 7x57 and 8x57 have original barrels, with excellent bores.

They just feel right to me and because I have a few bins with accessory parts, some getting darned expensive, as long as I can obtain decent take off barrels for reasonable prices, I will build anything I feel like playing with or shooting when the whim strikes.

I will agree though, for the average shooter my options aren't open.

The Savage Axis is about a cheap as it gets and even though they are FUGLY, they shoot better than most people that own them, and they are extremely functional. Sadly, most people going to these low-end, good-quality rifles put low-end, poor quality scopes/rings/bases on them and don't reload to bring out their full potential.
 
I can give you all sorts of valid reasons for using a "milsurp" rifles

Right now, I have several rifles that I hunt with using milsurp receivers.

One is an M96 chambered for the 6mm Remington, which has been modified for #### on opening, with a low swing scope safety and fitted with a take of Remington 700 Varmint barrel, which was threaded/chambered and fitted to the receiver and has a Burris 4-16 with AO, all mounted into a Hogue stock with an aluminum bedding block. It shoots like a laser if I do my part.
... and you call this a milsurp

I have at least 8 other WWII dated 98 receivers that I've picked up, already modified for scope mounting, chambered in 338-08, 7x57, 8x57, 30-06, 308Win and an almost finished 280Rem.

I shoot a 6.5x57Mauser that was built on a bubbaed Greek Mannlicher Schoenauer surplussed during the 70s. It's got the non detachable rotary mag, Habicht rail type scope and even better, a 1-8 in twist barrel with an excellent bore that shoots all bullet weights available for the 6.5 extremely well and is as smooth as oiled glass to operate.

I haven't shot the 280Rem yet but all of the others shoot better than I can hold, the 7x57 and 8x57 have original barrels, with excellent bores.

They just feel right to me and because I have a few bins with accessory parts, some getting darned expensive, as long as I can obtain decent take off barrels for reasonable prices, I will build anything I feel like playing with or shooting when the whim strikes.

I will agree though, for the average shooter my options aren't open.

The Savage Axis is about a cheap as it gets and even though they are FUGLY, they shoot better than most people that own them, and they are extremely functional. Sadly, most people going to these low-end, good-quality rifles put low-end, poor quality scopes/rings/bases on them and don't reload to bring out their full potential.

If you modify, or use only the receiver, it is NOT a milsurp anymore.

A milsurp is an un-modified rifle like a K98k or Enfield #4 with full wood, original open sights and stock trigger, as issued.

Your explanation sounds like the sale's ads for totally sporterized Enfields, chopped and drilled everywhere, topped with the cheapest scope, but the seller points out that the serial numbers are matching. who cares?
 
If you modify, or use only the receiver, it is NOT a milsurp anymore.

A milsurp is an un-modified rifle like a K98k or Enfield #4 with full wood, original open sights and stock trigger, as issued.

Your explanation sounds like the sale's ads for totally sporterized Enfields, chopped and drilled everywhere, topped with the cheapest scope, but the seller points out that the serial numbers are matching. who cares?

I'm going to go with the middle ground; there is a point where it 'isn't' anymore. But I don't agree it has the be clad in wood to the end of the barrel to be milsurp.
Sporting an original mechanism & sights, but someone 'bobbed' the wood?
Sportered milsurp is what I would call it.
 
That's the issue...

I interpret milsurp as an original as issued firearm.

Otherwise, my Remington 700 classic in 8mm x 57 IS (Mauser), is a milsurp rifle due to the milsurp caliber.

If I am not mistaken, the OP asked for a milsurp rifle light-ish enough to be used as a hunting rifle.
The question was NOT which sperterized milsurp...
 
I think there can be that sort of thing in the car world too.
I'm of the thought that more people united is a better thing. Hence if someone tells me they have a milsurp gun and it's a polymer stocked unit with a scope?
"Nice rifle, man"
Seems unfriendly to bring that opinion up... because of my pickiness?
Better to be a tad more inclusive.
Sometimes I can be a grumpy old curmudgeon, but I'm trying.
 
Sure, good points.

... and if you don't call that highly customized rifle, built on a Mauser action a milsurp, you migh hurt the rifle's feelings.

:redface:
 
On a random and upbeat line of thought. Just threw my Israel trainer on my shoulder, grabbed a half dozen 'pop' cans and went out into the field ( remote oilpatch location) and gave it its initial outing.
Quite fun to shoot.
Better to swing around than a normal K98. Slimmer profile barrel I suspect.
Back to the question posed; an SMLE has a purportedly slimmer barrel than a number 4.
Lee Enfield guys, which handles better?
I know my sportered M10 feels 'Thicke' like Beyonce ( I say that right?).
I've run Lee Enfields, but always sell them. Got a Tiger one in the hope that I keep it. Very Un-Canadian for a man of my vintage to not have a bubba'd LE.
So my opinion on them is thin at best
 
Well, I am going to admit I took the one inch wide canvas sling offa the 2A1 and put on a wide comfortable sling , and I made a simple quik disconnect strap attaching sling to front of my jackets . But its still full wood and mechanicals like from factory . Same with the 94
 
If you modify, or use only the receiver, it is NOT a milsurp anymore.

A milsurp is an un-modified rifle like a K98k or Enfield #4 with full wood, original open sights and stock trigger, as issued.

Your explanation sounds like the sale's ads for totally sporterized Enfields, chopped and drilled everywhere, topped with the cheapest scope, but the seller points out that the serial numbers are matching. who cares?

Lots of "chopped" milsurps have all matching numbers.

A fellow came to me on Friday with a M48 Yugo, that he purchased last fall and "sporterized"

All he did was cut off the fore end and plug the cleaning rod hole, then rounded it off. "JUST LIKE THE ONE HIS DAD HAD"

He wanted the dual stage trigger modified to single stage and the let off on the sear surfaces smoother and not so creepy.

Then he decided he wanted it drilled and tapped for scope mounts, and he would put all of that together later, when he could afford it.

It's now his version of a "milsurp"

Just because someone "modifies" an ex military rifle from its original issue design, does not mean it isn't a milsurp.

You just get your rocks off splitting invisible hairs.
 
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