Which C&R would you take deer hunting?

[David the Gnome]

One of my friends had his deer rifle stolen this morning; right at the beginning of deer season. I offered to let him borrow one of my rifles to take hunting since all he has left is his muzzle loader. The catch is that I only collect C&R rifles so the only gun I can loan him will be a WWII-era piece. Of the following rifles which would you take deer hunting?

British Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk.1* - British .303
Mosin Nagant M44 - 7.62x54R
Mosin Nagant M91/30 - 7.62x54R
Yugo M48 Mauser - 8mm
German K98 Mauser - 8mm
Swiss Schmidt Rubin K31 Carbine - 7.5 Swiss

Keep in mind the availability of commercial ammunition locally. The gun I would like to let him borrow is the Yugo M59/66 SKS that I just got from AIM but I haven't had time to disassemble, clean and remove the cosmoline yet; let alone test fire it. I also have a M1 Garand and a case of Greek surplus ammo but the gun is too valuable to me and I'm not comfortable letting someone else take it hunting. There's also a M1 Carbine but that's hardly a deer rifle.

 

[fisherman66]

Shame on you for not having a Swede Mauser. I guess I'd pick the K-31 given your lack of 6.5 choices.

 

[grimcreeper]

any one listed will work.although the m44 blast may scare a deer to death,or you could spear it with the bayonet i would have to consider sp ammo availability.1rst choice-k31,2nd choice-m48(better safety for hunting),3rd would be the mosin 91/30(longer sight plane,less weight than m44).i don't know that i would lend a k98 with an m48 present.just my opinion.

 

[garryc]

I went with the K98. First choice would be my m1917

 

[Boris Bush]

I have shot deer with many of them rifles but I voted for the Mosin 91/30.

Why not put the Yugo SKS? I use that rifle more than any rifle I have for deer and it does a nice job at bang flops, never had one go more than two feet straight down....

 

[Gewehr98]

This week, I'm taking the other one.

My 1944 BSA No5Mk1 Jungle Carbine.

Last Saturday, it was my Romanian SAR-1 sidefolder that brought home the first deer of the season.

 

[jbrown]

c&r

i voted k98,but any would do.

 

[David the Gnome]

I gave him the choice and he ended up taking the Enfield and the M44. He will use the Enfield if he can find ammunition for it, if not the M44 is the backup gun since it's easy to find 7.62x54R.

 

[David the Gnome]

Why not put the Yugo SKS? I use that rifle more than any rifle I have for deer and it does a nice job at bang flops, never had one go more than two feet straight down....

I haven't had time to process the Yugo yet. It's still full of cosmoline.

 

[Dirty_Harry]

I only have experience with the m44 and mauser, and I would take my m44 over the mauser.

 

[rr2241tx]

I think you're missing a bet on the Yugo M48. Wolf Gold or S&B soft points are easy to find and do a real good job on deer. The gun is reasonably accurate and short enough to be easy to carry. Obviously not everyone agrees.

 

[ISC]

WHatever you'd go wih, proper ammo is a must. Unlesss you reload alot of milsurp hunting ammo is going to be hard to find. 8x57, .303, or possibly 7.62x54R hunting loads can be found, but other stuf is not nearly as easy to find.

I'd choose one of my FR-8s or my 1903.

 

[Jimro]

I've never had a problem finding commercial hunting loads for any of the more common milsurp calibers; 8x57, 303, or 7.62x54r.

On the other hand I've never seen a hunting load for 7.5 Swiss, but I'm sure it's out there somewhere.

I stockpiled a couple hundred rounds of Barnaul 7.62x54r 203 grain softpoints when it was on closeout at midwayusa.com a few years back. It will serve me well into the next couple years as hunting ammo. The commercial 8x57 loads are perfect for deer, and they are a great low recoil option for the recoil shy.

Jimro

 

[Andrew93]

I voted the german mauser because i like them and I can get 8mm core-lokt ammo at my local meijers or wal-mart.

 

[FirstFreedom]

Probably No. 4 Enfield ==> Better sights.

 

[Benonymous]

.308

If you handload, you can put any .308 hunting projectile you like through your Schmidt and Rubin K-31 Gets my vote

 

[Jseime]

I would take then Enfield because that action is one of the faster ones you can get and .303 brit SP ammo isnt hard to come by

 

[Magnum88C]

Hunting ammo for the Enfield, Mausers or Mosins should be easy enough to find most places.

I think he chose well. The Enfield would be my first choice, followed by a Mosin (the sights are easier to pick up than a Mauser's).

 

[wolfdog45]

I have used my M1 Garand to hunt with before, but this year I have used my K31 and have taken a buck with it last saturday.
100 yard shot through both shoulders taking out his heart, he jumped a little and died right where he was standing when I shot.
I plan on using my K31 more often for hunting now.

 

[Dave R]

I used my K-31 for my first hog hunt. The character of the rifle added to the hunt.