[Rustle in the bushes]

I love this thing, shoots like a laser. I reload for it so Im sure Ill be able to figure out a nice deer busting load. Just need to find a scope mount and an optic and.....oh yeah, maybe get my hunting license and learn how to hunt...


But I was wondering if anyone else uses their military surplus guns in the field?


I almost feel guilty taking this piece of history out to possibly get banged on, rained on, etc. etc..Especially when I can get
a savage/scope combo almost for the cost of a scope + scope mount for this thing.

[TurtlePhish]

I haven't been out hunting, but there are lots of people who use milsurps in decent condition. If it can shoot well and there's good hunting ammo for it, no reason not to.

Edit: I just realized, this is your first post! Welcome to THR!

[Plain Old Bill]

Yup, I hunt with a Finn M39. Can't beat it. Was thinking about taking out one of the K31s...the other one I've hunted with is an Eddystone 1917.
Guns with character.

[hirundo82]

On the other hand I almost feel guilty taking this piece of history out to possibly get banged on, rained on, etc. etc..

That's what these milsurps were built to take. Absolutely take proper care of it, but I'm sure the average draftee is far harder on their rifle than the vast majority of hunters.

[Mikee Loxxer]

Currently I am working on setting up a K31 as a deer rifle. I’ve got the Swiss Products clamp on scope mount and a Sightron SI 3-9 X 40 scope with Burris High rings. I will be working on developing a 7.5X55 load using a 165 gr Hornady Boat Tail Spire Point bullet. I hope to use this set-up hunting deer in November.

[Vaarok]

Killed my first deer with a WW1 Gew98. Killed my second deer with a WW1 Winchester '95 Russian Contract. Killed my third deer with a Ross 1905.

Works fine, and more fun than a all-looks-alike purpose-built remchesterby.

[LJ-MosinFreak-Buck]

Took my 3rd deer with my K31.


Sent from my MP3/Hands-Free/Web-Browsing Device

[RPRNY]

My new acquisition for deer is a sporterized M94 Mauser carbine in 6.5x55.

[Swing]

A long time ago, I used a beat up old K98 for deer hunting. It worked, but if I still hunted now, I'd just use a Rem 700.

So, I don't see any harm with using a proper milsurp for venison gathering purposes.

[Rustle in the bushes]

just "wipped it out". Its a heavy gun, and I'm 6"0 170 on a good day. Im pretty sure my sissy arms would cry if I lugged this around for a day.

I need to man up. Or an excuse to buy a remmy 700....

[Shadow 7D]

Many a deer has fallen to the service rifle
and well
it AIN'T a feather weight
you should see what some of the heavy guns were like.

[nathan]

I would love to see my K 31 take a deer or hog. I already sighted the baby with Hornady 165 gr BTSP, prints 1.5 inch grp at 100 yds. The GP 11 was much tighter at 1 MOA.

[fireman 9731]

If it seems heavy then use the sling! Thats what it was made for!

Depending on what kind of hunting you plan on doing, you may be able to just use the original open sights. If you really want a scope then St Marie makes a pretty good clamp on mount. I have never used one but I have heard good things about them and it doesn't alter your rifle in any way.

[TenDriver]

These rifles are tools, their original use being to defend a homeland. They were superseded by newer models, but they are still a tool. Now they have a different use. Yeah... Hunt with 'em.

I fully plan on using my Garand to hunt with when I change the gas plug. It will stay in original configuration, but if it was good enough to win a war, it's good enough to take a deer.

[hang fire]

The game is not going to know if it got hit with a .30-06 from a 03 or a model 70.

[C'Thulhu]

They can be great hunting rifles, so long as you're mindful of the weight. I personally feel my RFB will be better suited, but my M39 served me well.

[inclinebench]

I puchased a K31 with a busted stock, with the idea to make it into a sweet deer rifle. I look forward to deer season this fall.

[Don357]

I won't own a gun that I can't use. I had a CETME that I deer hunted with, and I have a M48 Yugo that gets used and I just got a PSL that will get used if I can figure out the scope.LOL

[schnarrgj]

Lets see, I have taken deer with a number of different military surplus Turk M38s, Chillean 7x57, Russian 91-30s, M44s, Yugo M48a, SKS and the K31. Actually, my son in law took his first deer 3 years ago with it. Love the K31 and seeing that most of our hunting is stand hunting, it is great. Accurate and deadly when you do your part.

[ball3006]

I would not hesitate to hunt with any of my milsurps. All I have to do is pick the right rifle for the area I am hunting with. As far as a hunting load for the K31, my first attempt using 4064 powder resulted in a more accurate load using a 150 gr soft point than Swiss military ammo......chris3

[Robert]

But I was wondering if anyone else uses their military surplus guns in the field?
Run a search for Caribou, he is a member that post down in the Hunting sub forum.

[303tom]

Every Deer I have ever taken has been with a Milsurp rifle...............

[TurtlePhish]

Run a search for Caribou, he is a member that post down in the Hunting sub forum.


He's the one with the M39 and the bears, right?

[Robert]

M39 for bears, seals and anything else his family can eat or make use of.

[montanaoffroader]

I have hunted in the past with a number of milsurps, including an SKS, .303 Enfield, 7x57 Mauser, M1917 Enfield, and a .30-06 Springfield. This year, MN 91/30...............

[Dean1818]

Yugo mauser. 24/47

Rolls up the Texas piggies

[Ignition Override]

If an opportunity is found to hunt feral pigs, then either the Enfield "Jungle" or Spanish FR8 Mauser will be used.

[offthepaper]

INCLINEBENCH

That's a beatiful stock.
Can I ask who made it?

[barnbwt]

Attention K31 Hunters!!!

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=288517018

One of those badass ZFK sniper scope mounts is on GB right now! And for the low, low price of...

$950.00 :eek: oh well, so much for that idea...I have visions of improving the sights on my rifles, but at 3X the cost of the rifle, I just don't see it .I haven't even priced those diopter sights:(. Maybe if I had a nicer stock I could justify it...:p

TCB

[Rustle in the bushes]

Ive seen diopter sights go for $215 up here in Canada. Im actually looking to get rid of mine soon Im not using them at all.

[inclinebench]

Offthepaper, I ordered the stock from Boyd's. It comes pretty rough and took some time with my chisels and rasps, but finally fit well. I then sanded her well, stained with a Minwax "gunstock" and sealed with a beeswax based concoction I put together. I was pleased with it. If you order from Boyd's be prepared to put some time in, but I enjoyed almost every minute of it.

[MilsurpShooter]

scoped K31 without alteration mount can be found here

http://www.swissrifles.com/~swiss-sights/

So far my Mosin 91/30 with PU Scope, my winchester Trench gun, K98, and my Springfiled trapdoor have all taken game.