Just inherited some rifles - which one for hunting?

Hi all, I've been reading around here for a couple of weeks now and figured it was time to sign in. So here goes my first post...

I just inherited some old military rifles from a long friend who passed away. In our discussion years ago about him wanting me to have them, he said that he'd rather they not sit in a closet like they did all the years he had them. I'd really like to honor that and use one or two (or three - or all) of them for hunting rifles. I hunt mainly whitetail deer in the woods and fields of Mississippi. I'm most likely never to hunt bear, elk, water buffalo, or anything large like that. Just deer.

Anyway, here are the ones that I'm considering candidates. I would love to hear opinions, advice, etc. Which ones would you use and why? Which ones would you not use and why not?

Krag 30-40, mfg in 1901, extremely nice shape.
1903-A3 30-06, mgf in 1942, lefty sporter stock, recently refinished and parkerized, no non-standard drilling or mods to the metal.
Enfield .303, Model 3
Enfield .303, Model 4

I have some others, but I don't consider them contenders, either because of the condition of the rifle or availability/cost of ammo.

The 03-A3 is the only one that's not stock. It was purchased by my friend from the NRA but is not stamped NRA. The other three are all stock and have all necessary clips, sights, and slings.

Personally, I'm leaning towards the Krag and the Enfield Model 4, mainly because the just feel right in my hands. The Model 3 feels a bit clumsy in my hands. The 03-A3 is also a strong possibility because it's not original and won't feel any guilt about scoping it (don't hate me!) if my getting-older eyes require that.

Ok, I'll stop rambling. Opinions? ...

Welcome to the sight!

The A3 would be my pick. (You wouldn't have to worry about dinging up the stock for one thing) Plus it's my favorite rifle of any I have for shooting. The action is wonderful, the sights are simple and work well, and they're as accurate as about any rifle anywhere.

The 30-06 ammo would be a huge consideration for hunting. They've been making many types of hunting ammo in 30-06 cal for many years. Partly because of all the Ex-military 1903's that were used for hunting since WWI because it worked so well. The caliber is excellent for any game you're hunting, it's plentiful, and the A3 will work well with any 30-06 ammo you might want to use in it.

Also, there are three military configuration stocks for the A3 if you ever got the urge to put it back to it's wonderful looking military trim.
The 'C' stock is the most comfortable and looks beautiful to me, and there are aftermarket ones that won't set you back a great deal.

There are also scope mounts made for it that you don't have to drill the receiver. (Please don't drill the receiver)

I think you should use the 1903 for hunting and sell me the Krag

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Originally Posted by jam

Enfield .303, Model 3
Enfield .303, Model 4

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Im a bit confused by this? Are you refering to a No 4? And if so what is the model 3? Take the 1903, theyre great.

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Originally Posted by mdrim13

Im a bit confused by this? Are you refering to a No 4? And if so what is the model 3? Take the 1903, theyre great.

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My guess is a No.4 mkI and No.1 MkIII. I would agree with the A3 for use as a hunting rifle.

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Originally Posted by mdrim13

Im a bit confused by this? Are you refering to a No 4? And if so what is the model 3? Take the 1903, theyre great.

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Sorry about that. I'll write the markings down and repost. New to this milsurp stuff. I was just going by what my friend had listed them as. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I have. This sure is different from buying a gun from walmart and reading the label, isn't it?

And sorry, NRA, I think I'll be hanging on to the Krag for a while. It's a beauty. Out of all of them, it's in the best condition.

Harlan, I suppose I'll be digging around for info about no-drilling-required scope mounts and "C" stocks. Interestingly, the sporter stock that's on it is a lefty, but my friend was right-handed. He had lots of left-handed holsters for the handguns, too. His family and I were trying to figure that out. There's still a lot we're learning about him.

Thanks guys for the suggestions so far. I'll be reposting the info about the .303s

Hi Jam,

There are two other military stocks for the 1903A3 that are just fine too, and much more affordable.

By far the most common is known as the 'S' stock. Personally. I love it for shooting, but a lot of people prefer the 'C' stock because it has a pistol grip. C stocks are pretty hard to come by so they're expensive when you do find one.

Here's an S stock for comparison -

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2/01/1s1-1.jpg

There was one stock known as a 'Scant' - It was mostly used as a replacement stock. Some don't like the looks of them as much as the other two, but they work very well for shooting because they have a semi-grip on them. The full pistol grip C-stock came out last. They had many blanks already cut for making the first style S stocks, so they used the forms for the C stock and made the "Skant' stocks. There wasn't enough material for it to be formed into the full sized C stock pistil grip, so the word "Skant" came from that situation.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1/1skant-1.jpg

All three types will put your 1903A3 back into military trim. As I said before, please don't drill your receiver. As has been said many times before, you can spend hundreds to turn a $700 rifle into a $200 rifle. Sporterized milsurp rifles lose all of their collector value. A very few were done by professionals and they still retain some value, but most of them you just about can't give away.

you could sell the milsurps, and buy a real nice hunting rifle in about any cal, you like, nice scope, ammo, ect...

Give me the Enfield every day of the week and 10 x on Sunday I own both an M1917 US Enfield and the Lee Enfield #4 MK1 303 British ( I won a local shooting match with her) You can't go wrong with that rifle. Her and the #1 MK3 saw the Empire through both WW1, and 2 and Korea So my choice would be those Enfields

The Krag, if it is a carbine, is the best hunting rifle SA ever made. If you can butcher the gun with a clean conscience, the '03 would be better, but as-issued? Go with the Krag carbine (even if it's a fake or a bubba job)

jn

Thanks for the input, everyone! Well, as I'm getting to know these guns a bit, it appears that the only one that's not been sporterized is the Krag. It's also the best shape out of all of them. It sounds like I should use all of them!

I took the A3 out to a range this weekend and really, REALLY like the way it shoots. I was hitting the target out to 300 yds with the iron sights! (for me and my eyes, that was pretty exciting) I'm looking forward to getting more confident with my shots with that one. In fact, I think I'll spend some range time with all of them this summer and just see which one really speaks to me as a hunting rifle.

The Krag is the one that's putting me in a dilemma. On the one hand, I see it as an amazing piece of history and it's in really nice shape, so I'm thinking it would be good to preserve it. On the other hand, I don't see myself ever selling it, so I might as well use it. And it feels really good in my hands, so I'm itching to test it. Hmmm.... At least I don't have to decide right away.

Thanks again for all your opinions. You've all been very helpful.

Go with the No.4, the .303 has been used on big game in Africa, buff in Oz, moose in Canada and it was/is used here in Kiwiland for most game.

.303" loaded with a 150 just about perfectly equals the original specs for the .308W.

Around here, they bring down whitetail very nicely out to 300 or so; you can extend that with a scope and an S&Kmount.

With the 180, it is the best old Moose-dumper ever made, also works fine on Elk. I would recommend the 180 for Caribou as well: they are small enough to kill with a 150 but they are also so stupid that they don't know they've been hit,so you have to make the statement more emphatic.

Hope his helps.
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I'm with you on the Krag. They just feel right.
A solid 200-300 yard gun, and really...should any of us be shooting at game with irons further than 300 yds?
A twitch or a gust of wind and you've got a gutshot animal to track down and deal with.
I'd bet the krag equals less ruined meat too. Probably eat everything but the bullet hole.

From a stand or blind at a dear that is relaxed and not moving? The Springfield. I absolutely love the 30-06 cartridge. it is what I have used on every dear I've shot except the first and I can tell you for certain that a well placed shot with an appropriately constructed bullet ruins very little meat. From all accounts the Springfield in good condition is a very accurate rifle.
Stalking or where a quick yet well placed shot might be needed? The No.4 Enfield. The No.4 just points so naturally for me that it looks like it would be excellent for close to medium range hunting with an aperture sight and the .303 is a very capable round that has taken many dear here in Maine.

ANY of those rifles will work with appropriate ammo. I'm taking one of my No. 1 Mk IIIs out for deer this fall, and my Model of 1917 for Aoudad if I can get a spot in PA. I'm comfortable enough with open sights on game animals out to 100 yards, past that and I'll be needing a scope.

Is it possible your friend was basicly right handed but shot left handed. I have a son that was ambidextrous as a child but as he grew older he settled on doing some things right and some things left. He writes right handed and shoots left handed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jam

Sorry about that. I'll write the markings down and repost. New to this milsurp stuff. I was just going by what my friend had listed them as. I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I have. This sure is different from buying a gun from walmart and reading the label, isn't it?

And sorry, NRA, I think I'll be hanging on to the Krag for a while. It's a beauty. Out of all of them, it's in the best condition.

Harlan, I suppose I'll be digging around for info about no-drilling-required scope mounts and "C" stocks. Interestingly, the sporter stock that's on it is a lefty, but my friend was right-handed. He had lots of left-handed holsters for the handguns, too. His family and I were trying to figure that out. There's still a lot we're learning about him.

Thanks guys for the suggestions so far. I'll be reposting the info about the .303s

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It is not a matter of being left or right handed. It is a matter of eye dominance, is the right or left eye the one that you shoot with? That is the reason that some people are right handed but shoot left handed.