FAL for deer hunting?
- Thread starter Roadkill
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Member kotengu took his first deer with an FAL last year.
Generally, expect a battle rifle to be heavier and more cumbersome than a purpose-built hunting rifle. I tried using an HK 91...ONCE.
'Course, my sporterized '03 works just fine...
Incidentally, 14x is way too powerful. These deer were taken with the scope at 2.5X- the further was at 173 yards.
Generally, expect a battle rifle to be heavier and more cumbersome than a purpose-built hunting rifle. I tried using an HK 91...ONCE.
'Course, my sporterized '03 works just fine...
Incidentally, 14x is way too powerful. These deer were taken with the scope at 2.5X- the further was at 173 yards.
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El Rojo
Member
I haven't used a FAL, but I used my Remington 700 VS in .308...once. It was probably the same weight and I didn't have fun lugging it around. When it comes down to it, a good light bolt gun in .30-06 or any other good caliber is hard to beat for putting meat on the table. That doesn't mean I haven't loaded up some hunting loads for my K-31. Still, when something works, why do we always want to mess with it? I guess it is just who we are as gun enthusiasts. I would only recommend a lower power scope, but other than that, it will work if you do. Get some 150 gr. hunting loads and get them dialed in and you will be able to do it.
Many states require that if you use a semi-auto that it CANNOT hold more than five rounds in the mag and one in the chamber.
Hey if you are willing to crawl up a tree with a 12 pound over-scoped battle rifle, be my guest...
But 14X is WAY TOO MUCH. Get a 3x9, leave it on 3. If you see something far away, you'll have time to dial UP.
Maker sure your rifle will function with hunting bullets (soft points).
Hey if you are willing to crawl up a tree with a 12 pound over-scoped battle rifle, be my guest...
But 14X is WAY TOO MUCH. Get a 3x9, leave it on 3. If you see something far away, you'll have time to dial UP.
Maker sure your rifle will function with hunting bullets (soft points).
Johnny Guest
Moderator In Memoriam
It is worth remembering - -
The vast majority of military sniper rifles, over the decades, have been fitted with three- to four-power scope sights.
While field sights can do a very credible job on the target range, it is less frequent that the reverse is the case. Since the aiming points on paper targets are relatively small, high magnification is valuable from the bench. You can make a good humane kill of a deer if you can place your bullet anywhere in a ten-inch circle. A four power scope will allow this out beyond the distance where bullet drop becomes a major factor.
By the time extreme magnification becomes an aid to proper shooting on a deer-size target, the trajectory of a load becomes a problem. It is easy to sight in a .308 to use the same hold from right-up-close out to 275 yards. Once beyond 300 yards, you need to be a pretty good at range estimation, or have your range finder well tuned up.
Besides, an FAL just LOOKS better with a more compact scope.
Johnny
The vast majority of military sniper rifles, over the decades, have been fitted with three- to four-power scope sights.
While field sights can do a very credible job on the target range, it is less frequent that the reverse is the case. Since the aiming points on paper targets are relatively small, high magnification is valuable from the bench. You can make a good humane kill of a deer if you can place your bullet anywhere in a ten-inch circle. A four power scope will allow this out beyond the distance where bullet drop becomes a major factor.
By the time extreme magnification becomes an aid to proper shooting on a deer-size target, the trajectory of a load becomes a problem. It is easy to sight in a .308 to use the same hold from right-up-close out to 275 yards. Once beyond 300 yards, you need to be a pretty good at range estimation, or have your range finder well tuned up.
Besides, an FAL just LOOKS better with a more compact scope.
Johnny
seeker_two
Member
FAL...good choice....
14x scope....all you'll see are the deer ticks....
Dial it down to 4x & you'll do fine...
14x scope....all you'll see are the deer ticks....
Dial it down to 4x & you'll do fine...
Nightcrawler
Member
DSA makes five round hunting mags for the FAL.
A 4x scope will suit you just fine. Just make sure it's a good one; FALs are unforgiving of cheap scopes. They tend to beat them up.
A 4x scope will suit you just fine. Just make sure it's a good one; FALs are unforgiving of cheap scopes. They tend to beat them up.
kotengu
Member.
"Member kotengu took his first deer with an FAL last year."
I plead guilty! I would agree that there are rifles that may be better suited to hunting (a lightweight bolt gun would be ideal), but I used that FAL for two reasons -
1. To become more familiar with my weapon of choice, practice my skills, and put them to a little more reality-based "test" than punching holes in paper.
2. The FAL makes a great "general purpose weapon", where it can be used for everything from troop issue, to shooting 3-gun matches, to general range plinking, and hunting just about anything in North America. Sure, they may be better choices for each individual event, but I have found none that can do all of them any better than the FAL
If you have unlimited financial resources - buy a specialized gun for each thing you want to do in life, and more power to you! Keep in mind you'll also have to allocate a lot of time in really getting to know each firearm, not to mention all the varieties of ammo and the like.
I'd have to agree with the low-power scope issue though. I started out using just iron sights, but after the difficulty in picking up the front post in the near darkness, I switched to a 3-9 power Leupold that I almost always leave on 3x. The added bonus to a scope is it's great for confirming target identification.
I plead guilty! I would agree that there are rifles that may be better suited to hunting (a lightweight bolt gun would be ideal), but I used that FAL for two reasons -
1. To become more familiar with my weapon of choice, practice my skills, and put them to a little more reality-based "test" than punching holes in paper.
2. The FAL makes a great "general purpose weapon", where it can be used for everything from troop issue, to shooting 3-gun matches, to general range plinking, and hunting just about anything in North America. Sure, they may be better choices for each individual event, but I have found none that can do all of them any better than the FAL
If you have unlimited financial resources - buy a specialized gun for each thing you want to do in life, and more power to you! Keep in mind you'll also have to allocate a lot of time in really getting to know each firearm, not to mention all the varieties of ammo and the like.
I'd have to agree with the low-power scope issue though. I started out using just iron sights, but after the difficulty in picking up the front post in the near darkness, I switched to a 3-9 power Leupold that I almost always leave on 3x. The added bonus to a scope is it's great for confirming target identification.
Thanks all, the scope is variable so I can dial it down, and in Alabama, well, its not like we get checked a whole lot down here so the magazine capacity factor isn't a factor. If you are man enough to carry and shoot it then its ok to use. Too bad I can't hunt deer with it in prone with bipod extended. It is one accurate hard hitting gun. Friend has a sod farm with real long shots possible so I might be able to try it there.
Rk
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