amickey1979
Active Member
Was thinking of picking up a milsurp for hunting. What are your guys thoughts, feelings, or suggestions. Been leaning towards a Mosin.
Thanks
Thanks
Military Surplus for hunting
- Thread starter amickey1979
- Start date
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Machodoc
Old Guy
What are you planning to hunt? A Mosin would be a bad choice for squirrels and rabbits.
I'm assuming, though, that you are talking about hunting deer. In that case, many of the milsurps out there make excellent deer rifles. I coincidentally just read this article a couple of days ago, and thought I'd share it here.
Twenty Five Greatest Deer Rifles Ever
You'll quickly see that lots of our favorite milsurps are listed here ... and for good reason. Where it gets sticky is when you realize that the average person who is looking for a deer rifle is going to want to mount a scope on it ... and that often involves defiling the original rifle. Not to worry, though. There are lots of bargain-priced Mausers and other milsurps that were "sporterized" in the '50s and '60s, when they were cheap, and people in the U.S. thought the supply of them was endless. Many of these are well-done, and would make excellent deer rifles. Also, because they were bubba'ed up to the point that they can't feasibly be put back to collector quality, they are usually pretty cheap. You should be able to find, for example, a sporterized Argentine Mauser for around $250.
zombiehunter
Ultimate Member
- Jul 8, 2008
- 6,505
Everything I've read says 7.62x54r is approximately equal to a .30-06 ballistics-wise. Everything I've read says 7.62x54r will kill anything you can find in North America.
You may want to research your ammo and spend some time at the range with different stuff to make sure you're accurate enough. Happy hunting!
You may want to research your ammo and spend some time at the range with different stuff to make sure you're accurate enough. Happy hunting!
I'm hoping to take my 1903a3 out for firearms season over in the Eastern Shore.
The thing is darn accurate and don't have to fudge with a scope.
I think you have to think about the distance you are shooting, if you are in a clearing or in the woods. I plan to be in the woods and the distances are very short. Accuracy is not as big of a deal as other things like length and weight. In the woods its all offhand and short distance.
The thing I like about the 1903a3 is the safety.
1) Its in your field of view when aiming so your know its on safe when you raise it
2) Taking it off safety is easy and quiet.
I recently got a Steyr M95. Although its not very accurate, its more than accurate enough at 25 yards or less for where I last hunted which the deer were 15 yards or less in the woods in a ground blind. The small length and light weight makes it attractive for that. If I hold it with the bolt up, I can quietly pull it off safety by just pulling the cocking knob back and the safety falls down.
If distances were longer and I could use a tripod, I'd still use the 1903a3 or my Mosin PU Sniper.
You have to use soft point bullets and PPU makes those if you don't reload your own. I reload my own and often use Soft points.
The thing is darn accurate and don't have to fudge with a scope.
I think you have to think about the distance you are shooting, if you are in a clearing or in the woods. I plan to be in the woods and the distances are very short. Accuracy is not as big of a deal as other things like length and weight. In the woods its all offhand and short distance.
The thing I like about the 1903a3 is the safety.
1) Its in your field of view when aiming so your know its on safe when you raise it
2) Taking it off safety is easy and quiet.
I recently got a Steyr M95. Although its not very accurate, its more than accurate enough at 25 yards or less for where I last hunted which the deer were 15 yards or less in the woods in a ground blind. The small length and light weight makes it attractive for that. If I hold it with the bolt up, I can quietly pull it off safety by just pulling the cocking knob back and the safety falls down.
If distances were longer and I could use a tripod, I'd still use the 1903a3 or my Mosin PU Sniper.
You have to use soft point bullets and PPU makes those if you don't reload your own. I reload my own and often use Soft points.
amickey1979
Active Member
Hunting
It'll be for deer...
It'll be for deer...
Sirex
Powered by natural gas
Europeans use many milsurp rifles for hunting. The keys from what I read are, type of ammo, condition of rifle, and skill of the shooter.
jimbobborg
Oddball caliber fan
All of my milsurps (except the Vz-52) has hunting ammunition available and all are capable and accurate enough to take deer out to 100 yards, further if I can see the deer and the front sight doesn't cover the entire animal.
And as jimbobborg alluded, make sure you use HUNTING ammo, not milsurp. Don't know what experience you have hunting, but many new hunters don't always realize that. In fact, it is illegal in Maryland (and unethical everywhere) to hunt with non-expanding ammo.
The following verbage is found on the firearms reulations page of the Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping: It is only lawful to hunt with ammunition of soft point (expanding) construction. All military, full metal jacketed, incendiary or tracer bullets are prohibited. (Italics and bold are mine for emphasis)
The following verbage is found on the firearms reulations page of the Maryland Guide to Hunting and Trapping: It is only lawful to hunt with ammunition of soft point (expanding) construction. All military, full metal jacketed, incendiary or tracer bullets are prohibited. (Italics and bold are mine for emphasis)
amickey1979
Active Member
Thanks for the info...I am a very experienced Hunter...just looking for some advice on milsurp rifles
lsw
לא לדרוך עליי
- Sep 2, 2013
- 1,975
I have one of those and it will easily put 10 rounds in a pie plate at 100 yards. For my old eyes and iron sights that is pretty darn good.
axshon
Ultimate Member
I inherited a Madsen in 30-06 that was taking deer up north since before I was born. Straight shooter and easy to carry but a little hard on the shoulder.
- May 13, 2005
- 2,770
Can't go wrong with a K-31.
Turbohugh
Squib..
M38 pretty good for anything. U can 'sporterize' it cheaply or add a scope if you'd like, but the iron sights are pretty nice.
7.62x39 is a good round as well, and you can find soft-point ammo for them [sks?] I plan to go hog hunting with mine soon.
Handy size, easy carry, accurate as can be, Happy's right, "Can't go wrong with a K-31!"
Abulg1972
Ultimate Member
I'm taking my M1 Garand on my next pig hunt. It is by far my most accurate rifle, as I can put all 8 rounds in the 10 circle at 100 yards (or pretty close to it), and the round is plenty capable of doing what I need it to do. A Mosin would be okay too, as long as you're comfortable shooting out to 100 yards. There are lots of milsurp rifles that will get the job done. It's really a matter of personal preference and what you can do with your rifle.
Mooseman
R.I.P.- Hooligan #4
M1 Garand.
yellowsled
Retired C&R Addict
M38
