Huntng with milsurps 2013 edition

[maxim]

Took a 6 point this year with a 1903A4 clone. Many with a .44 mag, .303, 8mm, .375 H&H (reduced cast). Went afield with a 11mm Mauser later in the season, but alas did not connect.

[jmoore]

Took an 8th series Nagoya Type 99 out into the woods today. It shot spot on at 50yds and within a couple of inches of POA at 100 with Hornady ammo during a previous range visit, so it ought to be fine for deer. Creeped about for several hours and then went on a short hike. The 99 carries and handles as well as most sporters and better than some due to the good proportions of the stock and handguard. The sights are fine during the day if the sun doesn't glare off the various sharp edges. In low light they aren't ideal, but that goes for many other rifles as well! It's a both eyes open during aiming thing though. Otherwise, you might lose a fair amount of time getting on target.

Weight is excellent. Balance, excellent. Length of pull with lots of clothes layered up? Quite acceptable. Safety is a little slow and noisy on this particular rifle, but the Arisakas have lots of variation in ease of safety operation. As a lefty, I appreciate the straight bolt, but do have to watch that it doesn't start to unlock whilst holding it close.

Still no deer, but there's scrapes appearing in quantity in the past few days. Some cloudy nights would help!

Some file photos of the rifle. (Misplaced the camera again, so no field shots today.):




Simple rear sight, which if regulated for the load used is a comfort. KISS. The rear of the handguard and forestock grasping area may be my favorite part of this rifle! VERY comfortable.

Uncluttered front end on this series.


The well designed hinged magazine floorplate and release make unloading a breeze.

[vintage hunter]

Finally had a bit of luck this evening, this is the first deer I've seen while hunting since Nov.27. Our season ends in a few more days so I'd all but given up on getting one with the L42 this year. It's a rather small sorry looking specimen but it feels fat and should be some good eating. I'm going to get it all cleaned up here in a minute then hand it over to a buddy who's going to marinate it whole in his secret concoction for 3 or 4 days and then toss it on the grill around Friday afternoon. I've yet to try one prepared this way but look forward to it.

[jmoore]

Good on ya! A police friend says that the deer came out as soon as it quit raining last night. So no wonder there's no activity in these parts: The deer have NVGs. I don't recall having a tougher time just making contact. I don't mind coming up empty handed at season's end so much as just not seeing anything but carcasses alongside the road...

Was out in the wet all morning and the sun part of this afternoon until bailing around 1500. Much prefer the wet. Easier to see through the undergrowth!

[vintage hunter]

Well another one's came and went. Today marked the end of my 34th season of matching wits with these crafty critters. My final score is 22 kills, 5 misses and 1 I failed to recover. The last one I got with a milsurp was Christmas Eve, a big 5 year old doe that hadn't, as far as I was able to determine, ever produced any off spring. My last kill for the season was yesterday with a shotgun while attempting to rabbit hunt.
I killed my first deer 34 years ago today. I was 12. I killed it with a shotgun in front of a pack of dogs. Time sure flies when you're having fun.
BTW, anybody know a good remedy for withdrawl symptoms caused by the closure of deer season?

[seabot2]

Lucky you. A good remedy for me is to eat as much of the deer you killed this season. Burp...Ahhh...

[jmoore]

No deer. Withdrawal already setting in, even though I was suffering very low morale by the end. Might try a milsurp .22 or 12 Ga on small game yet.

[jmoore]

Some parting shots taken during the big game season:






Recovered from a wall in Fredricksburg, Va. Still quite usable, even if the front sight needs to be all the way left in the rear sight notch.

Being in the woods has not all that much to do with the bagging of game, that takes but just a moment if things work out. Lots of things to learn and see. Feel free to add lots more, please!