Hunting with a Yugo M48 or Swiss K31 using iron sights

[Snowdog]

Has anyone here had the chance to hunt deer with the Yugoslavian M48/M48A or the Swiss K31 using only the iron sights? If so, perhaps you could share your observations.

Specifically, what ammunition did you use? And of course, were you successful in your hunt? At what range did you take your deer?

I have an itching to use one of these two C&R rifles in their original configuration for deer this season (in Western NC) and feel confident I can humanely harvest the small deer around here if within 75-100 yards.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Plain Old Bill]

Almost...

Actually, I have hunted with a Finn Model 39 Mosin-Nagant for years. BUT- have considered taking the Swiss, because it now sports a St. Marie's Graphics mount and is the most accurate thing on the planet.
I'd do the swiss before the Mauser, but good luck with either!!!

 

[jd46561]

Get the best...K31.

 

[Snowdog]

Oh, I already have both. Had 'em for a long time now. I'm just having trouble deciding.

 

[Cosmoline]

Most people find the mojos easier to deal with than standard tangents, because the military sights are so fine.

For a lot of personal observations and photos, check over on the gunboards collectors forums. Parallax has an entire forum on the subject:

http://p102.ezboard.com/Hunting-wit...rms/fparallaxscurioandrelicfirearmsforumsfrm7

 

[sharkhunter2018]

Deciding? You can always try both you know .

 

[Nameless_Hobo]

People have been using irons for a long time, you'll be fine.

 

[dstorm1911]

the use of optics only started with hunters to any real extent in the early 60s before that .... pretty much all hunters except the very wealthy hunted with Iron sights.

The 7.92x57 has taken huge quantity of game in North America everything from lil ol deer to elk and moose, there was a thread on Gunboards several months ago about a family of substinance hunters who feed a village way up north all the family members use Mosin nagants and Czech silver tip to take ANYTHING from small game to whales (literally) there were tons of pics of moose just stacked up elk bear basically if it can be eaten they are hunting it... no scopes no fancy ammo etc... the majority of the guys shots are 1 shot kills the whole family right down to his 12 year old daughter

 

[DWARREN123]

Either one will work if it and you are accurate enough. The hunting ammo for the Mauser (8mm) is usually downloaded by American companies but not much by European ammo companies. I would and have used a soft point ammo in the basic bullet weights.

 

[Steve in PA]

Last year I had my K98 Mauser for part of the season. Didn't get a chance to shoot anything. I use my own reloads for everything. I might take out my K31 this year, although I really want to get a deer or bear with my 1903A3.

 

[wnycollector]

I use wolf gold 196gr soft points in my K98 w/ iron sights for whitetails. The area I hunt keeps shots less than 100 yards so its a nice combo.