Which sporter?

[HB]

I'm going to pick up a project gun in the next few weeks and wonder which one would be best. I will likely buy a bubba'd milsurp and turn it into a nice sporter.

I doubt I'd rebarrel it, but factory ammo is plentiful in most cases. Most work will be cosmetic, maybe redo the current stock or buy an unfinished one and complete it, and do a reblue job. I will certainly add a scopemount or peep sight however and possibly delve into a little trigger work.

Which is my best option? Mauser, SMLE, Springfield, or other? I don't really mind which caliber, they are are fairly similar and will drop a deer under 200 yards, which is my intent with this rifle. I'd like to end up with something on the lighter side with about a 22" barrel.


Thanks,
HB

 

[jimmyraythomason]

Mauser 98 or 96 Swede. Latin contract Mauser 98s in 7x57 or 30.06 make great deer slayers.

 

[stan rose]

I would say go ahead with a Mauser 98 variant, but there are alot of already "modified", and non modified Mosins out there. With a Boyds stock ATI scope mount and a bolt job you would be in business. I am not trying to sell you on one or the other, I just think either would make for a fun project, so why not do both. When your done with them you could find an already "modified" Swede, and have a 6.5, then gey a Carcano, then a......., and in the end compare them all against one another.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Mausers, they have the most after market options available.

 

[Maverick223]

I'll fourth the suggestion of a Mauser 98...best hunting rifle ever issued.

That said, I have been considering ruining a K31 by rebarreling it and chambering it in 6.5x55mmSchmidt-Rubin (yeah, you read it right...not the Swede but a wildcat based off the Swiss round). I just have some particulars to work out first (like how easy the bbls are to replace).