HBK
member
I am looking for a military rifle that I can use for self defense and for hunting. Does anyone have any good suggestions?
Best Military/Hunting Rifle?
- Thread starter HBK
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They are classics and would make for some fine hunting rifles but I'd rather not have to defend myself with one. They will do the job though. It's all about training!
My all time favorite rifle is my standard M1A. It is accurate and reliable and fires a round with some umph behind it. If it were legal to hunt with it here in PA I'd hunt with it in a heartbeat!
As much as I like my M1A though, I'd have to give the AR the nod as being a more flexable general purpose rifle. It excells for defensive work. While not ideal, it will serve as a hunting rifle if need be. Drop in a .22 LR conversion kit and it will will serve well for hunting small game at short range. Pin on a .458 SOCOM upper and the big critters are fair game. The modern AR is a rugged and reliable rifle with plenty of accuracy. It's modularity makes it adaptable to many uses. Kind of a jack of all trades, master of none.
If I could only have 1 rifle for all purposes (and you have no idea how hard it is for me to say this!!!!) I would have to go with the AR15. Thank goodness I don't have to make that choice!!!!!!!!!!!
My all time favorite rifle is my standard M1A. It is accurate and reliable and fires a round with some umph behind it. If it were legal to hunt with it here in PA I'd hunt with it in a heartbeat!
As much as I like my M1A though, I'd have to give the AR the nod as being a more flexable general purpose rifle. It excells for defensive work. While not ideal, it will serve as a hunting rifle if need be. Drop in a .22 LR conversion kit and it will will serve well for hunting small game at short range. Pin on a .458 SOCOM upper and the big critters are fair game. The modern AR is a rugged and reliable rifle with plenty of accuracy. It's modularity makes it adaptable to many uses. Kind of a jack of all trades, master of none.
If I could only have 1 rifle for all purposes (and you have no idea how hard it is for me to say this!!!!) I would have to go with the AR15. Thank goodness I don't have to make that choice!!!!!!!!!!!
Many great choices listed previously. If you like C&R:
For accuracy and cheap ammo - Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant. Price $100-200
For accuracy and more expensive but not too expensive ammo - Swedish Mauser M96. Price $175-250
For fair to good accuracy - M1 Garand. This is also fun to shoot as it is semiautomatic. Ammo is common but not as cheap as it once was. Price $550 - .
There are a number of other fine C&R rifles especially in the Mauser line that would be great but the above are my favorite.
For accuracy and cheap ammo - Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant. Price $100-200
For accuracy and more expensive but not too expensive ammo - Swedish Mauser M96. Price $175-250
For fair to good accuracy - M1 Garand. This is also fun to shoot as it is semiautomatic. Ammo is common but not as cheap as it once was. Price $550 - .
There are a number of other fine C&R rifles especially in the Mauser line that would be great but the above are my favorite.
Andrew Wyatt
Member
enfield number4 mk1. the sights are fantastic, and hunting ammo's available for cheap.
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Cousin Steve used an SMLE to hunt with once. I think it's rather heavy for a hunting gun myself. Anyway, he missed and started working the bolt while the game was running. Took him about all ten shots to bring it down. 10 shots, the SMLE advantage.
Personally, I would prefer a sporterized Springfield. Just old fashion I suppose.
Personally, I would prefer a sporterized Springfield. Just old fashion I suppose.
mephisto
Member
I have a deer and a elk that i brought down with a .303 MK4 no 2.
I too have put the lead to them with an SMLE.
That was in my youth.
I now know that if I don't hit it with the first three, I may as well just quit.
Anyhow, there is nothing wrong with one as a hunting rifle.
My hack-job SMLE will put three shots into the same hole at 80 yards with just the open sights. That was from a rest, so no, I am not that good with it.
But it works.
If there was nothing that the battlefield could do to stop them, then there is nothing you could do to one in the woods that would stop one.
That was in my youth.
I now know that if I don't hit it with the first three, I may as well just quit.
Anyhow, there is nothing wrong with one as a hunting rifle.
My hack-job SMLE will put three shots into the same hole at 80 yards with just the open sights. That was from a rest, so no, I am not that good with it.
But it works.
If there was nothing that the battlefield could do to stop them, then there is nothing you could do to one in the woods that would stop one.
HBK
member
Oops, I should've specified what I was hunting. I was thinking of anything from deer to bear. I don't much like the ARs. I had one, but I sold it. I was thinking of something like the Swede mentioned, the M96, but I was concerned about the availability of ammo in a pinch. I wanted one rifle I could depend on to take down bear or deer that I could also use if some unheard of event were to take place that would make a rifle a daily neccessity (SHTF). Thanks for the information so far.
HBK
member
Oh yeah, which is easier to clean, the M1A or the AR 10?
Mannlicher
Member
M1A, with Federal 150 grain HiShock SP. Use a 5 round mag, and you are in the hunting business.
Cosmoline
Member
A Mauser is an obvious choice, but if you're limited to off-the-shelf ammo it has drawbacks in the US.
A good 91/30 is hard to beat for field use. Lighter than the Finns, though not as accurate.
A good 91/30 is hard to beat for field use. Lighter than the Finns, though not as accurate.
Springfield 1903-a3. Its a 30-06 has really good adjustable sights, and you can 'sporterize it" by just changing the stock.
Andrew Wyatt
Member
DO NOT SPORTERIZE ENFIELDS.
Sporterizing a non sporterized enfield in a manner that is non reversable is offensive to the gods of milsurp riflery.
You can make a more sporterific number4mk1 by putting on one of those sporter stocks, without any other modifications. I don't know why you'd want to, though.
Sporterizing a non sporterized enfield in a manner that is non reversable is offensive to the gods of milsurp riflery.
You can make a more sporterific number4mk1 by putting on one of those sporter stocks, without any other modifications. I don't know why you'd want to, though.
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My Enfield started life as a #5 Jungle Carbine. It had already been seriously hacked before I ever laid eyes on it. There are so many chopped and channeled Enfields out there that laying into a complete one should be unneccesary.
All of the attributes that made the Enfield the best bolt action battle rifle also make it a serious hunting tool. I love mine and reach for it more often than my high $ modern rifles.
I'm having trouble with pics. I'll post one as soon as I get it figured out.
All of the attributes that made the Enfield the best bolt action battle rifle also make it a serious hunting tool. I love mine and reach for it more often than my high $ modern rifles.
I'm having trouble with pics. I'll post one as soon as I get it figured out.
Andrew Wyatt
Member
I meant to include a section about how it's OK if the gun has already been sporterized, or the sporterizing process is reversable and hasn't permanently modified the weapon.
Pumpkinheaver
Member
Get yourself an L1A1 or Fal you won't be disapointed!
The FAL/L1A1 is an excellant option. The trigger and the iron sights aren't as good as the M1A but a good trigger can be achieved and a scope will negate the sight issue. It will also be more tolerant of different types of ammunition due to it's adjustable gas system. Parts and mags are plentiful and dirt cheap too.
My Imbel FAL is a 1.5 to 2 moa gun while my M1A is a 1 to 1.5 moa gun. (both with iron sights) I prefer my M1A but I'm not getting rid of my FAL any time soon!
My Imbel FAL is a 1.5 to 2 moa gun while my M1A is a 1 to 1.5 moa gun. (both with iron sights) I prefer my M1A but I'm not getting rid of my FAL any time soon!
Let's see if this works.
http://www.hunt101.com/showphoto.php?photo=55063&sort=7&thecat=548&password=
http://www.hunt101.com/showphoto.php?photo=55063&sort=7&thecat=548&password=
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Smokey Joe
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Milsurp for self defense and hunting
IMHO, you don't want the same gun for these 2 purposes. Too many compromises.
Home defense needs from burglars and similar baddies are better served with a pistol than with a rifle. You need something that is handy, quick-pointing, and one-handed, so you can hold your tactical flashlight or dial 911 with the other hand. You want something you can reload for, so as to afford practicing with it. Then you gotta practice, practice, practice. There are milsurp pistols to be had that would serve this purpose. Some are both inexpensive and high quality, but you have to do your homework before buying.
Then for your hunting rifle, you can get a real hunting rifle. I used to be of the convert-a-cruffle school. Not any more. For less than $400 you can hike down to your friendly local Wally World, and come back with a Rem 700 ADL in a variety of calibers. This is one of the finest actions you can buy, anywhere, at any price. You can get other models/brands at Wally's, for even lessÑSome with 'scopes already fitted. OK, listen up, now, this is the important part: YOU WILL SPEND A LOT MORE THAN THAT BUYING A CRUFFLE AND CONVERTING IT TO A HUNTING RIFLE!!!
Now, if you don't care about accuracy, or ill-fitting stocks, or horrible trigger pulls, or dreadful sights, or useless dead weight, you can just go hunt with your cruffle, as is, and there you will save $$ over the Remington. But don't say you weren't warned.
As to using an autoloading rifle for hunting, military or not, well, if you like hauling around the extra dead weight I'd say then it would be good. But in hunting large game, shooting 5 or 6 aimed shots in one whole day is considered a lot. And in some forms of hunting, hiking for miles with your rifle slung on your shoulder is standard practice. The elk (deer, bear, whatever) won't be shooting back. So why use an auto?
IMHO, you don't want the same gun for these 2 purposes. Too many compromises.
Home defense needs from burglars and similar baddies are better served with a pistol than with a rifle. You need something that is handy, quick-pointing, and one-handed, so you can hold your tactical flashlight or dial 911 with the other hand. You want something you can reload for, so as to afford practicing with it. Then you gotta practice, practice, practice. There are milsurp pistols to be had that would serve this purpose. Some are both inexpensive and high quality, but you have to do your homework before buying.
Then for your hunting rifle, you can get a real hunting rifle. I used to be of the convert-a-cruffle school. Not any more. For less than $400 you can hike down to your friendly local Wally World, and come back with a Rem 700 ADL in a variety of calibers. This is one of the finest actions you can buy, anywhere, at any price. You can get other models/brands at Wally's, for even lessÑSome with 'scopes already fitted. OK, listen up, now, this is the important part: YOU WILL SPEND A LOT MORE THAN THAT BUYING A CRUFFLE AND CONVERTING IT TO A HUNTING RIFLE!!!
Now, if you don't care about accuracy, or ill-fitting stocks, or horrible trigger pulls, or dreadful sights, or useless dead weight, you can just go hunt with your cruffle, as is, and there you will save $$ over the Remington. But don't say you weren't warned.
As to using an autoloading rifle for hunting, military or not, well, if you like hauling around the extra dead weight I'd say then it would be good. But in hunting large game, shooting 5 or 6 aimed shots in one whole day is considered a lot. And in some forms of hunting, hiking for miles with your rifle slung on your shoulder is standard practice. The elk (deer, bear, whatever) won't be shooting back. So why use an auto?
But Joe, making your compromises and deciding where to give and take is half the fun!
I would go with a Yugo SKS for this area. Like new condition models are $150 (either AIM or SOG), and they can hold a group on the vital area of a deer out to 125 yards or so with irons. Shots around here are rarely more than 100 yards.
Varmint hunting is a little different. An AR is the only rifle that would really fill that bill, and that will set you back at least $550.
I was thinking on a budget.
I would go with a Yugo SKS for this area. Like new condition models are $150 (either AIM or SOG), and they can hold a group on the vital area of a deer out to 125 yards or so with irons. Shots around here are rarely more than 100 yards.
Varmint hunting is a little different. An AR is the only rifle that would really fill that bill, and that will set you back at least $550.
I was thinking on a budget.
Winchester/Marlin 94 in 30-30. Decent defense rifle, decent hunting rifle, a bit of a compromise on both counts, but they work well if you do your part. They are cheap and don't threaten anybody with scary folding stocks or big banana-shaped magazines.
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