Ever hunt with a battle rifle?

[TheLastBoyScout]

In some states (not mine) you can hunt with a semi-auto... I've never tried hunting before, but if the opportunity were to present itself after I go to college, would an M1, FAL or G3 clone serve adequately if I do my part behind the rifle?

Thanks.

PS: I don't have any non-semi-auto centerfires... If I did, I'd use one.

 

[Smoke]

I have used my AR on numerous occasions to take, Deer, Sod Puppies, Feral Hogs, and the occasional pest (skunk, possum, armadillo, etc)

If the caliber is suitable for a critter, and your abilities with it are sufficient, a battle rifle will work just fine.

Smoke

 

[TallPine]

Yeah, sometimes I just grab my Saiga during deer season if I think I am only going to have short ranges shots (like up on the hill right behind my house). I make sure to load some JSP instead of FMJ for those occasions.

But the only thing so far that I have killed with it is a stray dog.

 

[Kevlarman]

Is the AR considerer a battle rifle? I was thinking along the lines of an M1A, M1 Garand, or G3.

 

[NavajoNPaleFace]

Are bolt actions, like the 1903, 1917, the Enfield, Mosin Nagants, etc., considered battle rifles too?

I think so.

I know of several people that have taken elk with those weapons.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

When growing up, I hunted with a 1903A3. Didn't have the funds for a "real" hunting rifle.

 

[mete]

Yes ,Remington rolling block [once the military rifle of 24 countries], M98 [it's taken many deer] , 1903 . One shot is all you need !!!

 

[armoredman]

I can say with fair certainty, that the 7.62x54R catridge out of a 91/30 or M38 will do a number on a deer, even with the superexpensive hunting ammo...AZ is like many states, in that you may not hunt with military/FMJ rounds.
As for semi, I know of one man who uses an SKS as a pig gun, with aftermarket 5 round mag. Another has used an FAL for deer, also with the mandated 5 round mag. No problem. Groups are a little wider than civilian bolt action hunting rifles, IMHO, so maybe the use of a miltary "battle rifle" shows more skill.....

 

[Bear Gulch]

I have taken lots of game with Mosins, mausers, Lee Enfields, and Springfields. All were "battle rifles" in their day. I really see no need for a autoloading hunting rifle as I can count the number of large game that I have needed a second shot on on one hand. That includes deer, bear, moose, elk and antelope. I have actually toyed with the idea of getting a ruger #1 for just that reason. Good shot placement and ethical shot selection save a lot of trouble inthe field.

 

[yesterdaysyouth]

AK and the AR....

they both work well...

 

[All-Around-Shooter]

I used my 1917 Enfield in Pa. Had good accuracy with handloaded Ammo.
Too bad the deer didn't cooperate...
People will look at you funny if you fix the bayonette...

 

[bud45]

AK & SKS---both can & do get dirty & just keep on shooting. Soft-nose ammo with do a number on game- took the head off a doe I shot this fall!

 

[theCZ]

I hunted a dead, bloated bull once with my SKS. 75 yard shot, when the bullet hit all I heard was a big "HISSS", and then I got the heck out of there once the gas wave hit me.

 

[Kevlarman]

Cool!
I want go try hunting with my VZ-24!

 

[junke]

i have NM M1A bush rilfe that has been my hunting rife for several years, have taken freazers full of game with it.

 

[junke]

hey CZ i shot a "Bedded down Doe" that made the same ssssssound.

 

[Preacherman]

Memories...

I sent this comment to a friend on the API List some time ago:

I do love the Americanism that someone who's been there and done that has "seen the elephant". Those of us who "were there and did that" in Southern Africa often literally saw the elephant!!! Have you any idea how fast a company of front-line, combat-ready, mean-as-all-Hell soldiers can be scattered to the four winds by a couple of angry cow elephants looking for their babies? Have you any idea how a mine-proof armored personnel carrier looks after Momma Elephant has finished stomping it (with a little help from her pachyderm pals)? And have you any IDEA how utterly helpless you feel holding your high-capacity, latest-technology 5.56mm. "rifle" while Momma Pachyderm thunders down upon you? Gives new meaning to the old expression about "f**ting against thunder"...

 

[bernie]

I killed a deer with my M-1 a couple of years ago and it was DRT. I have toyed with drilling out a rear sight aperture to make more of a "ghost ring" aperture. The only problem with the M-1 as a deer rifle is the peep sights get tough to use in low light.

 

[Sam]

Been using my M1 to hunt with for quite a while.
Works well. The gun shoots OK, it's an 06 why not?
I have even gone hunting with the M1 using cast bullets.
Sam

 

[armoredman]

I wanna see what an elephant does to a South African Buffalo APC....

 

[JohnKSa]

Check with your game warden, but I'll bet that if you plug a mag to make it a single loader (not so that it holds one round, but so that it holds zero rounds--you just want to make it a platform--a place to set a round on with the bolt open) then it's legal to use a semi-auto. You'd just have to make sure that was the only magazine you had on you.

 

[rick_reno]

When I was a kid my father bought a British military surplus rifle in .303. I'm pretty sure it cost about $20. We hunted with that rifle for many years and it put venison in the freezer almost every year. I guess it could be termed a "battle rifle".

 

[firesafety3]

An AR on hogs is both fun and effective.

 

[foghornl]

Brother-in-law has used one of the various .303 Enfields for years in the deer woods. Always put deer down quickly, as in DRT.

Uses [I think] PMP brand soft-point ammo.

 

[cracked butt]

I've used the M1 and K98 in ther past.