The dream: M1a and hunting

[Rustle in the bushes]

Anyone tried this? Seems a bit crazy, but I gotta say I'm intrigued- especially upon reading that some wackos even use it for elk hunting! Id be very interested to hear anyones tips on loads/bullets that would do the trick safely as well as ways to knock a few OZ off the rifle. Im looking at picking up an 18.5" bbl model currently.


Please no "7mm rem mag is the minimum elk cartridge chatter". As far as m1a and elk there are definitely shot placement/range issues that I agree with- within 200 ish yards, quality bullet, and being capable of saying no to an unethical shot.

 

[NOLAEMT]

Why not? they have a reputation for accuracy, and the 308 round it MORE than enough for elk, especially inside of 200 yards, and probably much further, provided the shooter is capable.

I know they are not easy to scope, but if you have a reliable scope set up, or are confident with iron sights, I can think of no reason you couldn't use one for elk. Are there rifles that might be better suited? of course, but that is not to say that you couldn't use an M1a for elk or anything else in the lower 48 states if so inclined.

 

[Redlg155]

I hunt deer with a 18" scout. 150-168 grain bullets should have work just fine. A. I would definitely invest in a rangefinder and know your trajectory.

I would also invest in a good treadmill, protien powder and a possible gym membership if you want to tote the beast!

 

[gearchecker]

The M1A would be an excellent Elk rifle, even way out here in Northern Idaho.
I've strongly considered using mine for hunting this season, but I got another powerhouse to use instead.
Get in enough practice so you know your up to holding your accuracy into a clean kill. The .308's been used for elk hunting for many, many years, so why not an M1A. If you break hunting down to the basics, it's just another wood stocked rifle in a known hunting caliber, albeit heavier than most others out there. If it's the only rifle you have in this caliber, it's just one more reason to get to shoot it.
Go for it.

Gearchecker

 

[Jeff F]

Why not, I use a No 4 Enfield hunting deer and elk.

 

[Slamfire]

Why not?

You can easily scope an M1a and find five round magazines.

Using an M1a for hunting is no crazier than using a Rem M7400 or a BAR. Why not?

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I think the "what's appropriate for X animal..." discussion is framed around playing it on the safe side. There's nothing wrong this this at all. However, there is absolutely no reason .308 would be much inferior to what's typically used for elk. Personally, the .308 is probably good enough for anything we'll find on this continent... Perhaps even something smaller would also suffice. That doesn't negate larger calibers, it's just, in my opinion, a realistic observation.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I have lots of nice rifles, but now and then I take my SA M1A standard loaded to the stand, loaded with 180 grain CoreLokts and deal many a hog misery up to and over 300 yards, I love irons on my M1As, wouldnt think of scoping them.

 

[gfanikf]

If I didn't live in PA I'd use my Ruger 10/22 and M1 Garand. If you can use semi auto...go for it!

 

[Swampman]

I've hunted deer and hogs with the same old M1a Standard model since 1980. My personal best is nine hogs out of one sounder in about 12 seconds (guesstimate, it wasn't actually timed). On another occasion, I took a wounded doe at 427 paced yards. A friend used that rifle to take the largest wild hog that I've ever seen, we couldn't get it to a scale, but it would have been well over 600 pounds and had a five inch tusk on one side and a four and a quarter incher on the other. He shot that hog at about 15 yards with a Speer 165 grain boattail, and the hog never took another step.

I said all of that to show that I love the M1a and think its a great hunting rifle, BUT, don't elk tend to live where there's a lot of up and down? M1as are pretty substantial in weight. Elk, unlike hogs, have fairly restrictive bag limits, fast follow up shots aren't likely to be needed or useful.
I have no doubt that an M1a shooting a properly placed 165 grain Nosler Partition would kill a elk as dead as last weeks fish.
The problem would be that carrying that sucker very far would be likely to kill YOU as well!
Think about it, the disadvantages of the rifle are weight and possibly reduced range.
The main advantage is quick, accurate follow up shots.
The weight disadvantage is a fairly big deal, reduced range, not so much.
The fast follow up shots are generally going to be useless, you're gonna be hunting a single animal and if you don't hit it properly the first time, blasting four (or even 19) more shots at a now scared and running animal isn't likely to improve the situation.
With all that said, I think the M1a would make a serviceable tool for elk hunting, but probably not the best tool that you could carry.

 

[nathan]

I would go for my Garand, same peep sight and in .3006 caliber.

 

[Rustle in the bushes]

the dream might be dying....Im a lefty and Im not sure how I feel about shooting with that OP rod right in my face. Im a careful reloader but still just in case of some kind of crazy failure Id probably be chewing on that thing.

So....conflicted....

 

[HorseSoldier]

At the end of the day it's a .308 and suitable for anything you can reliably take with 308.

 

[Swampman]

nathan,
I think this is one case where the 30-06 isn't going to have any real advantage over the .308.
Due to the gas system and weak op rod on the Garand, you're not going to be able to use the heavy bullets and slow powders which are what allow the '06 to outperform the .308.

 

[gfanikf]

the dream might be dying....Im a lefty and Im not sure how I feel about shooting with that OP rod right in my face. Im a careful reloader but still just in case of some kind of crazy failure Id probably be chewing on that thing.

So....conflicted....

If its anything like a mini 14....don't worry. Just get used to the wonderful gas ejection smell, but that is about it.

 

[DesertFox]

There's a whitetail mount on the wall behind me that was taken with - you guessed it - an M-14. The recovered Nosler Ballistic Tip slug is there too.

The M1A isn't exactly light, especially wearing glass. But it does a fine job on deer or elk.

 

[Reloadron]

While I have never taken deer sized game with an M1A or for that matter a M1 Garand it was only because I had plenty of rifles in the .308 and 30-06 chamberings more suited for hunting. I know plenty of people who have used both the M1 Garand and M1A for deer hunting as well as all deer sized game. If I did not have rifles in .308 and 30-06 more suited for hunting I would not hesitate to drag a M1 Garand or M1A into the woods.

Ron

 

[Vern Humphrey]

If you like it, use it.

That said, consider that elk are usually killed at altitudes of around 11,000 feet in steep, rugged mountains. An M1A is a heavy rifle to lug around in those conditions.

 

[mljdeckard]

I tried it. What I found was, it becomes a project pretty quick. If you scope it, you need at least a cheek piece, and a new stock with a raised comb would be better. I learned that at the range after leaning into it so far I got a cut in my eyebrow. (Yes, it drew snickers.) The same mount sat so low, I couldn't adjust the iron sights to work as a backup either. I thought to myself; "Now why was it again I decided a conventional bolt rifle in .308 wasn't enough?" I sold it for what I paid for it at a gun show to...a nice young man who wanted to hunt with it.

 

[Kingcreek]

I've hunted with my M1a bush rifle and it worked great but was heavy. I hunted northern Minnesota woods and used the iron sights. Killed a big whitetail buck at 80 yards using 165 Sierra game kings over 4895 powder.

 

[jmr40]

Nothing wrong with the 308 and elk. With proper loads in an accurate bolt rifle it is good for closer to 400 yards than the above suggested 200, but a limit of 200 yards may be reasonably with this rifle.

Compared to a more traditional bolt gun you'll have a lot heavier rifle to lug around. The semi-auto action will not allow you to use many factory or handloads that would increase perfomance and a shorter 18" barrel further limits velocity. Your range may also be limited by the type of accuracy you get with the rifle. You'd just have to do some range work and see how far you can shoot and till get groups in an elk size kill zone.

It wouldn't be something I'd want to use, but if you enjoy hunting with it, and accept the limiations then go hunting and have a great time.

 

[desidog]

The reality: at the end of the day you'll have a sore shoulder from carrying it around, and a sore spot on your back from the magazine's sharp corners.

I can be done; and it should be done...because you'll really enjoy carrying around a rifle that weighs half the M1A's weight afterwards.

 

[Kiln]

I'd say it would work just fine. Now if you really want an interesting outing try using it for squirrel or rabbit.

 

[X-Rap]

I have considered using my M1A for elk hunting but as others have said it has its limitations and is on the heavy side for what you get.
Over a good many seasons I have pared down my cf elk rifles two pretty much 2 choices, both in their element are extremely effective and while one is on the heavy side and not considered a close range gun I have taken game between 50 and 450 yds the other is strictly a 150yd and under but is fairly light and goes to work very fast.
I just don't see the M1a supplanting either. As to the cartridge, I have taken elk with 308 but it is far from my favorite.

 

[Driftertank]

Sure!

Heck, me and a buddy are currently talking about doing a "boat-anchor" hunt next season if we can get it arranged...him with his M1A, and me with my PTR. Not an elk hunt, but probably mulies, on a high-desert plateau near here where we might find a spot to make shots at longer range. Both our rifles have gotten close to MOA 5-shot groups, and we're still working on our handloads.

The round is capable, the rifle is capable, it a matter of getting it to where the shot can be taken.