Hunting With Milsurp Weapons- 2010 Edition

[jmoore]

Much more satisfiying than a range trip, taking an old Military firearm into the woods can give the user much more input as to a particular rifle's traits and handling quirks ove rthe course of several hours, days, months, or years. Even if you don't shoot it at all on a particular outing (as I did not in the example below) you will learn a bunch, if you're paying attention.

So, I'm interested in what y'alls' impressions are of rifles you've used- preferably in "stock" or "original" configuration.

To start below is a brief rundown of what I learned about a rifle with which I've never before hunted:

Information

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[jmoore]

Japanese T99 4x scoped rifle ("Sniper")

Did a brief range session as detailed here:

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=25713

Next morning dark and early, off to the woods we went. No hunting from stands or such, I like to skulk about, usually w/ the rifle at a low ready postion.




These two photos were taken at about the same time, but the flash was used on the second one. Reality was somewhere in the middle.

Started scoping before sun-up: objects down range were no problem- plenty of light transmission, but the reticle was VERY difficult to see as the fines are fairly fine, and the woods are rather thick. In more open areas it might not have been so bad. Unfortunately, I could not get a good photo through the scope all day, I think because the camera couldn't focus at infinity due to all the growth!

Use of the battle peep sight in the low light was difficult as well (but marginally do-able) until about an hour after "sun rise". Thereafter, the peep was OK to very good even as far forward as it sits.




Also taken at about the same time as above. Generally, one can not swing the rifle in the firing position w/o hitting a tree trunk...


Transitioning from the pines to hardwoods.- Sun is getting well up, but the scope crosshairs are still easily lost or confused as to the proper one at this point.


By now the undergrowth is a bit less daunting, and the light has improved. Scope use still slow.


This full daylight shot was taken about the time I reckoned the optics superseded the iron sights in utility. Sitting down now...

Hey, look- this here's a pretty nice rifle, at least in full sun! It's condition just never really impressed me before today. It's not often these old arms look better in harsh lighting!







Well into the afternoon before we decided to make the trek back and report. Nice day!

[jmoore]

Oh, a couple of other points;

The rifle generally handles well. It's light weight is appreciated after a few hours of toting.

The bolt handle is a bit annoying. Straight would not have been much less weildy, but more turn down would have been preferred. The in between-ness seems a poor concession to the scope placement.

Safety use right handed is fine, but it tends to "pop" when coming off. Left hand use is compromised by the scope. Not quite enough clearance to manipulate easily.
BTW, the "pop" upon release seems to be peculiar to this particular rifle. May be a bit of internal burr? It still works fine, but the noise is not desirable whilst hunting.

Grip seems a little awkward at times, but is fine when aiming.

LOP is good!

[paulm]

I just got my hunter safety certification, and I'm going with the club next year. Think I'll take the M1917 with me, to see how she performs in the woods. I always thought if I went back to hunting it would be the Lee Enfield 303, or the 91/30. But my next hunting trip will be with the M1917. That will be the deciding factor whether or not I keep her.

[Frappe72]

I've never gotten a deer with anything but a milsurp. I haven't been deer hunting for all that many years but I've gotten nine deer in total all with milsurps, all but one were in original condition. First deer with a 1903A3 Smith Corona, second with a T97 Japanese sniper minus the scope, third with a T99, fourth with a Pattern 14 Enfield, 5-7 with a sportered M94 Swedish carbine, 8 with a M28 Finnish Mosin, and 9 with a Russian SKS45. This year I'm taking out the old MAS36 to see what it can do. I've hunted with sporting rifles but always seems the deer came by when I had a milsurp at hand. The milsurps must be good luck.

[browningautorifle]

Yes, I've taken milsurps hunting. My first deer was shot with Springfield M1 #328219 which resides in the lockup now. It doesn't hunt anymore however. I've also taken out #5 Jungle Carbine, M1917, #4 Lee Enfield and K98.

[riceone]

Jmoore, that is a beautiful rifle. Thanks for the nice pictures. You almost persuade me to go hunting again, its been at least 20 years. I would love to have a 4x scope, mine are 2 1/2. riceone

[jmoore]

My hunting started w/ milsurp rifles as well, but my first deer was actually taken w/ a 44 Mag revolver. I've strayed a bit, but more often than not, I'll be using a weapon that's at least military derived.

The little outing above covered a span of eight hours or so, all with the rifle in hand (RH or LH).

Feel free to post you evaluations of features you like or don't like about your rifles. The more detail the better! This isn't a "combat" evaluation, obviously, but more of an ergonomics study.

[Aragorn243]

I learned to hunt with lever action rifles, Savage 99's. Had a bolt action 22 for a couple of years but never cared for it much and soon got a Marlin 39 lever action. They have been what I have hunted with nearly every season for the last 35 years. I made the switch to a bolt action 17HMR last year for small game. I have however taken various other rifles doe hunting in the past. My first milsurp was a 303 British Mark III that I got at Woolworth's about 20 years ago for $90 or something like that. Not sure why I picked that one, but I've always had an interest in the 303. Took it home disassembled it, worked for a couple of weeks getting the cosmoline out of the stock. I assembled, disassembled that rifle so often I could do it in the dark. I've always been a scope hunter so that was a pretty high priority with me. Found a B-Square mount that required no drilling and tapping and stuck a scope on it. It shot well enough for deer, about an inch and a half group.

So this was the first season after all that effort, I wanted to see what I could do with it. I had gotten a buck in buck season so a doe was no longer "high" priority. I went to one of my usual spots, a place that overlooks a group of pines that intersect with the mountain and waited. After an hour or so I hear deer coming up out of the pines, I got the rifle ready, had my right hand on the safety. The deer came up over the rise, they were a pair of does. I eased off the safety, lined up on the first, pulled the trigger and "CLICK". Both deer now staring at me from about 30 yards. I realized immediately what I had done, I had put it in the half cock position and the charger went in stopped. So I slowly ease my right hand back, with both deer watching me, pulled the charger back, "CLICK", which was finally enough for the deer and off they went. I pushed the safety off, lined up on the first running deer, pulled the trigger, "BOOM", chambered another round, lined up on the second which by this time was about 100 yards away, "BOOM" and the forest went quiet. I didn't think I could operate a bolt action that fast but it was very smooth. The first deer was lying about 60 yards away and the second about 120, two shots, two deer. Never took it hunting again. Not sure why but I should. Still have it. Brother in law wanted to borrow it and I said heck no.

Only time I hunted with a milsurp. I'm getting so many of them now though I need to start.

[rich v]

i harvested two whitetail's using as issued military rifles > first was a 03A3 using a handloaded 150gr the other a swedish M38 using a handloaded 140gr both deer dropped like they here hit with the hammer of thor.