What size animal is the 71/84 mauser to take correctly.

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10-10-2018, 10:42 AM
22_boomer

What size animal is the 71/84 mauser to take correctly.

I have a 71/84 Mauser that I load with 410gr cast bullets and 28grs of 5744 AA powder. I was wondering what size animal would this be able to take with a correctly placed shot? I don't want to injure an animal with what might be an under powered round and have to track a blood trail that goes on forever. Will this rifle with my hand loaded rounds be able to take down something the size of an elk? Muzzle energy is just a hair over 2,000 foot pounds. Please, an honest answer and not something like you can kill an elk with a 22 rimfire.

Thanks,
Boomer
10-10-2018, 11:43 AM
browningautorifle

The honest answer is bullet placement is everything...
10-11-2018, 08:24 AM
Eaglelord17

A rifle like that can take anything on the continent (and rifles like that can and have). That being said, shot placement is important as is the range your shooting at.
10-11-2018, 10:31 AM
22_boomer

Thanks to both of you. Shot placement is something I've practiced for years but I was not sure this big old rifle had the capability.
10-11-2018, 10:35 AM
browningautorifle

Long range will be a challenge with it's large bullet and trajectory but it has lots of smack to do what you seek. I used 45/70 for years with a light load comparatively...with great success. Stalk close and aim small.
10-11-2018, 01:46 PM
Daan Kemp

Compare the muzzle energy with a 308, then compare with muzzle loader statistics, such as a 50 calibre; that should be ample to decide.

I would think that most soft-skinned animals can be hunted with a properly placed shot with that rifle and load.
10-11-2018, 06:50 PM
gew8805

The correct animal intended to be taken by the Gew71/84 Mauser is a human being. Not being flip, just stating a fact.
10-11-2018, 09:12 PM
Aragorn243

Compare it to the rifles used in the past. Black powder was all they had until the late 1800's and they managed to wipe out almost all the big game animals on the continent with them.
10-12-2018, 03:15 PM
Lee Enfield

Quote:

Originally Posted by 22_boomer

I have a 71/84 Mauser that I load with 410gr cast bullets and 28grs of 5744 AA powder. I was wondering what size animal would this be able to take with a correctly placed shot? I don't want to injure an animal with what might be an under powered round and have to track a blood trail that goes on forever. Will this rifle with my hand loaded rounds be able to take down something the size of an elk? Muzzle energy is just a hair over 2,000 foot pounds. Please, an honest answer and not something like you can kill an elk with a 22 rimfire.

Thanks,
Boomer

My great grandfather hunted moose with his .43 Mauser 71/84.

That is really all I know,
but a 350grain bullet at 1450 fps is pretty much a .45-70 Carbine load, heard any real concerns regarding .45-70 lately?
12-01-2018, 12:11 PM
Oldandblue

My experience with 5744 is that it is temp sensitive. I was shooting a load of 24 gr. with the Lyman 350 gr. 446110 in the usual 70 degree Wisconsin temp and all was good. Went to a CBA Military match in Iowa where it was 97 and it was leveling primers. When I was setting up a load for deer this year in 20 degrees, I could shoot 29 gr. with no problem and could possibly have gone higher. Might want to check that out.