Anybody hunt with gp11

[7mmsavage]

Has anyone out there hunted whitetail or anything similar with GP11? I am going hunting in a week with a friend who does not own a rifle. It is his land we will be hunting so I am more than happy to lend him my trusty Savage. My problem now is what rifle to use myself. I have other rifles I could use, but a K31 that my father gave me for Christmas just keeps coming to mind. I have no problem using it as far as reliability or accuracy, there is no where to make a shot more than 100 yds where we will be. The problem is ammo, if a close shot is taken, will the surplus FMJ ammo be up to the job? I really want to hunt with this gun but if it seems irresponsible, an often unused 30-30 would probably like a little time in the woods too. Thanks for any input.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

FMJ for hunting a non pest game animal. I'm sure that it is possible to make a clean kill shot right through the heart, I personally wouldn't do it. I would order some real hunting ammo if you want to use you K-31. The gun is fine, I just think the ammo choice is iffy and it could just wound a deer. It is one thing to make a shot and wound a deer, it is another to be unprepared with the wrong ammo. In short, yes you could kill a deer with it, but why not use something that gives you a better chance.

 

[yesit'sloaded]

Don't think I'm just going to tell you something without a follow up. You have a week, shipping takes 3 days or sooner for priority. Here is an example of what to use. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=341187&t=11082005

 

[TheLaxPlayer]

Why risk it when you can get a box of Wolf Gold for about $14?

 

[7mmsavage]

Thats kind of what I was worried about, and why I asked. Yesitsloaded, thanks for link on the hunting ammo!

 

[mustanger98]

If I had a K-31 and the softpoint hunting ammo, I probably wouldn't hesitate to hunt/shoot deer with it. However, you mentioned you do have a .30-30 you haven't used in a while which you could also take out there. You can get .30-30 150gr CoreLokts or PowerPoints just about anywhere without having to wait for the Serbian-made Swiss round to come in. I'd be leaning that way, but then, I keep two .30-30's (Win94 and Savage M340) ready to go anyway. I'd say you have two good choices there.

 

[TehK1w1]

I've considered hunting with GP11 out of my K31, but I've seen enough deer shot through the heart(with Soft-point ammo) run away that I just bought some Hornady ammo for it. I believe they no longer make hornady ammo for it however

 

[mustanger98]

According to Hornady's 5th Edition load manual, 7.5x55Swiss uses the same .308" jacketed softpoint bullets as .30-06. So, in absense of factory loaded SP hunting ammo, handload your own so you know what speed it's supposed to be running and so it shoots to the sights.

 

[TehK1w1]

That is correct, 7.5x55mm Swiss is actually a .308" dia. round

 

[Deer Hunter]

If you hit the deer right, it'll fall with FMJ. My Brother in Law took his first deer this year (And 8 point, that lucky little...) with his Swiss K31 and GP11. Not his choice, but he forgot his SP ammo.

 

[qajaq59]

Many, (or maybe all?) states wont let you hunt with FMJ.

 

[mustanger98]

Many, (or maybe all?) states wont let you hunt with FMJ.

Some will. Some won't. Georgia won't. OP's in Virginia... don't know about them.