Who hunts with a service rifle?

[Nightcrawler]

Just out of curiosity, anybody here take a service type rifle hunting? M14/M1A, AR-15, AK, FAL, G3, etc.? How about a Garand?

Right now my only rifle is my FAL carbine. So, if I were going to go hunting, I'd have to grab a five round mag (wait...does Utah require a five round mag?) and take it afield. Wouldn't bother me too much. I'm pretty out of shape now, but it's still way lighter than the SAW I used to have to lug around.

The SAW would take a deer, I'm sure, but you'd waste a lot of meat.

 

[foghornl]

Most states that allow rifles (Ohio is NOT among them) require max of 5 rounds in the magazine. Your Mileage Will Vary, so double check with the "Game-n-Fish" guys. I have seen modified en-bloc clips for the M1, and small mags for the SKS series. Not sure on availability of small mags for the others you mentioned.

IF I could use a rifle for deer here, I'd probably carry my M-44 Mosin Nagant...Up close, you could shoot-n-roast your venison at the same time (Certain ammo in the M-N carbines generate a HUGE fireball....puts some blackpowder guns to shame )


One tiny caveat about ammo...no Mil-Surp FMJ stuff. But I do have some Barnaul Arsenal 200-Gr "Soft Point Hunting Cartridges"...or at least, thats what the box says those rounds are.

 

[BulletFan]

If I did hunt, I would most definately take my Mosin Nagant M44. Serioulsy sufficient bullet, reasonabley accurate, and I can't put a scope on it so I'd have to get close, that'd be the fun part!!!

 

[peyton]

M-1 Garand used to shhot my first deer

In 1979 I shot my first deer with my new acquired M-1 garand at 150 yards. I frankly was amazed that it is so accurate. There is a known distance range at Ft Hood and military personnel were encouraged to bring their rifles for zero at the 100 or 200 yard targets. I knew the sights were good when I aimed at the deer, but I it was my first time hunting and buck fever took over. That hunt still brings back memories.

Peyton

 

[Thrash1982]

DSA sells 5 round magazines for the FAL for $25. Or you could make one out of a standard 20 round magazine using a dremel to cut the mag body and spring. I've done this before and it works well.

 

[Black Dragon]

I've used my M1A with 168gr bullets and Springfield scope in Northern
Michigan on Deer. My Father-in-Law is "trying" to use his AR-10 with 180gr
bullets. The reason I say "Trying", is because for the past two years he
hasn't had a good shot at anything bigger then a woodchuck (the woodchuck
never knew what hit him )
My Father-in-law also uses a AR-15 out west on prairie dogs. Not sure if you
call that hunting in the sense of putting meat on table.
By brother uses either a 1903/A3 or a .303 Enfield and has taken several deer
with both rifles. The 03/A3 was our fathers who had taken a number of deer
with it before he stopped hunting (says it's a young mans sport) .
There you go - Service/Military Rifle for general hunting.

 

[10X]

M1 Garand with a scope for antelope with 168 BTHP.
M1A

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Prior to me, my 03-A3 has taken countless Deer, several Elk and Bear. Your guess is good as mine what it took before that. It was grand dad's rifle. Uncle said it was 'his' service rifle. I don't know if there's truth to that.. He shot that rifle for better than fourty years at wild game. My uncles hunted with it when he passed on in 59'. Into the 50's it was the only rifle in the house. When times are tough, you have to share. The choices of hunting rifles then weren't what they are now. A lot of people hunted with service/surplus rifles. I wouldn't even guess at how many rounds have gone down the pipe. I know I've got a few thousand through it.. I have taken a few Deer and one Bear with it. Glass bedded action. Sporterized stock. Leupold scope. Timney trigger. Yeah, it's a bit on the heavy side, but deadly accurate. It's not the first rifle I grab when I go on a hunting trip, but it is always there as the backup tucked safely away in the trailer. 'Semi-retired' I guess you could say.

-Steve

 

[Deer Hunter]

I killed my first two deer with an SKS. Second deer was at 100 yards facing me.

 

[steveracer]

Enfield Jungle Carbine.

Chambered in .308.
Killed a 190# doe at 150 yards. Shot her in the neck, she decided to take a walk around the field, and after a 200 yard circle, she died where I first shot her.
Does the 1911 count as a service weapon? I shoot deer from time to time with that.

 

[Limeyfellow]

With 1903a3s, Lee Enfield No4s and once or twice I taken Mausers and Mosins. Really these old things are rather accurate and going to take down pretty much anything you aim them at. I may take a Swiss K31 out sometime should I be bothered to get some sp ammo.

 

[America_without_liberals]

PA does not allow more than 5 rds for hunting and nothing semi-auto.

I have used my Enfield 1917 to put down many furry woodland creatures. The time has come to retire this rifle to the safe and give it a well deserved rest. I have just (I know I'm going to get all kinds of comments on this) sporterized a Russian M44 for this year's season. The only issue that I can forsee is that it is heavy but then so is my Enfield.

 

[Eat Beef]

A SOCOM 16 is pretty handy to have near a herd of hogs.

 

[.45Guy]

Yep, I use a Carcano Moschetto Truppe Speciali in 7.62x39

 

[Roadkill]

I use a Marlin 336 30-30 becase its light, powerful and accurate. But I would have no hesitation using any of the milsurps I regularly shoot. First choice would be the Garand, next the 03A3, then the 98K, and M39. Little too heavy though.

rk

 

[chrisTx]

i hunted last year with an FAL. it looked funny with the 20 round mag sticking out, as opposed to everyone else who had scoped deer rifles. i use my old surplus rifles (to include a garand) to hunt with as well. i like hunting with iron sights. just be sure you stay within your comfortable range for accuracy.

 

[oneshooter]

M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, Trapdoor Springfield, 1926 Mauser, A3O3 Springfield, tried once with an Arisika but got weathered out.

Oneshooter
Livin in Texas

 

[Terrierman]

If an M-38 Swedish Mauser counts, then yes, I have hunted and taken deer with a service rifle. But it did have a MOJO rear sight on it, so it wasn't in complete service trim.

 

[Rembrandt]

Wyoming Antelope....

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

Looks like you can use whatever magazine you want in Utah:

A. Prohibited Weapons
R657-5-8
(1) A person may not use any weapon or device to take big game other than those
expressly permitted in this proclamation.
(2) A person may not use:
(a) a firearm capable of being fired fully automatic; or
(b) any light enhancement device or aiming device that casts a beam of light.

B. Rifles and Shotguns
R657-5-9
(1) The following rifles and shotguns may be used to take big game:
(a) any rifle firing centerfire cartridges and expanding bullets; and
(b) a shotgun, 20 gauge or larger, firing only 00 or larger buckshot or slug
ammunition.

http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/proclamations/2006_biggame/2006_big_game.pdf

 

[sscoyote]

I also use my ISSI AR 223 AI for coyotes, and pr. dogs.

 

[mljdeckard]

I'm going to politely disagree with Jorg, in my lifetime, there has always been a 5 rd capacity limit. It must be somewhere else in the proclaimation. (The Utah Big game proc reads like war and peace, but I force myself through it every year.) Call the guys at Sportsman's on 72nd, they'll clarify for you.

I bought an M1A for hunting but never wound up using it. I just told someone else the story, if you want to look up my last post, but the long and short of it is, to make it work, I would have to get a higher-end stock, scope, trigger, and mount to make it so I could use it accurately without having the scope ding me over the eyebrow. I went back to a 700.

I've known a few old guys down home in the desert who hunted with Garands, they had special 5rd clips for them. My grandfather had a sporterized 1917 Enfield in '06, which my father still carries, and I got the M-1 carbine, which my father has actually killed three deer with over the years. (My grandfather paid I think $15 for it when he joined the NRA in the 50s.) (Every time he tells people that, they look at him like he is crazy for using it on deer.) I keep it loaded for HD for my wife, (for her to USE, not to defend AGAINST her, wisenheimers,) and sometimes I take it out to splatter jackrabbits.

General guidelines, as the game warden I grew up with in southern Utah explained them to me: A centerfire rifle or pistol, with a barrel at least 5" long, with a capacity of no more than 5 rounds in the magazine, capable of firing expanding bullets. No night-vision or light projection devices. Fully-automatic weapons are not allowed. (We BOTH agreed that this should be amended to include a caliber and/or muzzle energy requirement.)

I suppose, over time, if it really does become widely used and accepted, I might get an upper in 6.8 spc or whichever similar round they decide on and hunt deer with it. Or when I'm rich, I might get an AR-10 chambered for .243, something like that. But having been out of the military for a while now, I find myself grudgingly using the same non-tacticool rifles as everyone else.

 

[mattw]

first deer i killed was 150 yards away facing me, shot it thought the heart with a remington 700. Thats not a real military arm but thats what the Marines built their M40A1s on.

Right now if i were to go hunting though i'd have to get a 5 round mag for my M1A. I keep it loaded with a 10 rounder (nothing in the chamber) at home for when that monster buck might walk across the back yard again, though.

I've got some winchester ballistic tip .308 WIN ammo that i think i would use for hunting. Is that ok to run through an M1A? i hear that you should only use stuff loaded to 7.62 NATO specs.

 

[lawson]

took a cow elk with an k98 Mauser with iron sights at 50 yards. used 170gr Remington Core-Lokt, from prone position with a rest.

took a javelina with a customized SKS at 80 yards. used Winchester 123 gr soft point, from sitting position.

would love to hunt with my k31, but i don't handload and haven't been able to find any suitable hunting ammo.

 

[TimboKhan]

I am actually very much considering taking my Mosin out next time I draw a deer tag. I have an 03-A3 that I would also not hesitate using for a second on anything up to and including black bears.