Should I buy a mil-surplus rifle for deer hunting?

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wcoats

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Ok, so I might have the chance to go deer hunting this year, but don't currently have a deer rifle. I picked up a sporterized m1917 that was in really nice condition. The ears had been ground down and it had been drilled and tapped for a scope mount, but i couldn't find a mount to fit it. So I dropped it off at the gunsmith a little over a month ago to get a scope mount made for it. But he still hasn't gotten to my rifle, and probably won't be able to until hunting season is over. :banghead:

I only have a little over $200 to budget myself
so should I...

1. find a different gunsmith that can work on it right now(I haven't been able to find one :confused: )

2. Buy another mil-surplus that has iron sights on it, so i don't have to worry about a freaking scope mount. (I'm comftorble wiht my ability to shoot decnet groups wiht iron sights)

3. Try to somehow find a modern sporting rifle in my price range. I'm not sure if I can find something worth having in my price range tho.

4. Just buy some slugs for my pump shotgun and put a red-dot sight on it.

I aperciate any ideas!
 
if you can find a quality surplus firearm for that price, go for it... they are more than adequate for the job... then again, if you are comfortable with your shotty, then that is a fine way to go as well.


I tend to go the direction that ends in another gun in the safe.
 
With only $200 to spend I would check the pawn shops to see what they have. You might find something you like. I recently saw A Marlin 336 in .35 Rem for $250.
Good luck with your search
 
The reason I was thinking mil-surplus is they I can probably find one in my price range and, I've always kinda liked old mil-surplus boltactions. I was thinking about maybe getting this,
http://www.jgsales.com/product_info.../1334?osCsid=3650c8bd27fb35a208e8658699ee598e
Are Yugo mausers any good?

Or
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Czechoslavakian_vz._24_8mm_Mauser_Rifle.html
It's pushing my price range a little, but I've head Czech mausers are good.

Or I could probably find a sporterized mil-surplus at a local gunshop with enough looking. I have only had time to stop buy one place but I saw a sporterized Spanish Mauser(in 8mm) for $175, but it wasn't in the best of condition.
 
Also what surplus rifles are easy to find and chambered for 7mm Mauser. I kinda like that cartridge. And it doesn't seem hard to find softpoint ammo in this.

Or should I just go the cheap rout and buy a $90 moisin nagant? It doesn't seem to hard to find softpoint ammo in 7.62x54.

edit: I can't use a no drill B-Square mount on mine because the ears are already ground off.

And I'm going to pick up some slugs for my shotgun and take it to the range and try it at 50 and 75 yards and see how I do with it. Not sure how it'll work out never tried slugs.
 
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surplus for hunting?

lets start with where are you thinking of hunting? that dictates what type of gun your going to need. do you really want to carry some old big and bulky military surplus gun that you wont be able to get on target real fast if you need to? your much better off these days by saving your money and buying a good bolt gun that is drilled and tapped for scope bases and even if you get a cheap box gun like a savage 110 or a ruger mk II or a howa 1500 new or used your better off than trying to convert a military gun. but if you have alot of money, there isnt anything much better than a custom springfield or enfield or mauser.
 
I would reclaim the hacked Enfield, get a dovetail file and reinstall simple irons on it. From Midway total cost would be a lot less than $200. I'd suggest a sourdough/patridge front and an aperture rear. Simply file the front down to sight in. Crude but very tough and effective.

If you want to use your shottie I'd suggest getting a slug barrel to slip on, with the rifle sights. I used those for my Mossbergs and had great results.
 
4. Just buy some slugs for my pump shotgun and put a red-dot sight on it.
Click to expand...

Don't under estimate the power of a slug. They are, by design, short range. But within 100 yards they hit very hard.
 
get a m38 mosin, or a 8mm mauser, or a 3030 lever, or even a Savage or stevens or mossberg with a allready mounted scope/package; the latter 3 will be around 300 bucks. Or go to a pawn shop, and start the haggling.
my sweet, shorty m38.
vivi054.jpg
vivi055.jpg
vivi053.jpg

by the way, that is a SMALL SIZE, butler creek slip on pad. It is very tight.
 
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you can always find a gun for under 200. get the addition to the safe and wait on the mount for the other. you don't have to go with a mil sur you can opt for a single shot like H&R or New England in what ever calibre you want. the good thing with these you can buy additional barrels for them very cheap later down the road. not like a thompson center where you might have sell an organ. I have an H&R and a New England have killed game with both. the H&R was my first gun and still use it today. not very accurate. with hand loads I can get 1.5 MOA which is not bad for a cheap gun.
 
hhhm, I don't have any experience installing simple iron sights on a rifle, how hard is it to do? I kinda like that idea, I first learned to shoot with peep sights. Are there any simple peep sights I could get? Also how hard are they to install, and how do I know what front sight will be at the correct height with respect to the rear sight? How hard is to to get zero correct?

I really like the m1917 Enfield, and think it'll make a nice sporter.
 
Most mil-surplus rifles are not well suited for hunting (either due to weight, size, and/or condition/accuracy). I would check pawn shops for a used 30-30 lever, or other inexpensive (but reliable and accurate) rifle that fits your budget.

:)
 
While there are many who get very good, straight-shooting Mosins, the one I bought was minute-of-dinner plate at 50 yards. Not something I wanted to risk for any game -- even "just" hogs. There were other issues, too, but this was one. When I can't hit what I am aiming at within a few inches either way, no thanks. Sold it and can't say I miss it a lick.

I would 2nd the .30-30 or other pawnshop find. Better for you to max out your budget for a gun you can be reasonably sure will bring home the venison than buy a "bargain" gun that causes you to miss or - worse - wound and loose a deer.

Q
 
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Put em down with some slugs. IMO, you don't need a red dot for it either.

Then again, a Mosin may be nice to have - that way, you get another rifle that is about as cheap to shoot as anything if you just want some range time.
 
The Mosin M44 and a 91/30 that I have both put their bullets where I aim them, Just have to find one with a good barrel.

Also have a Yugo M48 that had a new barrel put on it and put away for WW3. It groups better than I can with iron sights.

They all would do well if the range is kept reasonable.

The best thing I think is the history behind the rifles, they may be old but they still work.
 
Best $95 dollars I ever spent on a gun, an all matching 1941 Turk Mauser. Killed 2 deer with it the first season.
 

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