Hunting with Military Guns

[Halo]

Since military guns are so effective and designed to take abuse and still function in awful conditions, how many of you prefer to use military guns for hunting rather than the usual civilian long or short guns?

If you do, which military guns do you recommend for hunting?

This presumes that the military guns meet federal and state hunting laws, e.g., magazines with limited number of cartridges, etc.  

For example, I'm not a hunter, but if I were, I'd try my replica M1 Carbine .30 caliber with a five-round magazine for varmints up to maybe small deer size within 100 yards.

I'm curious whether military guns are perceived as sufficiently accurate and cost effective because hunting places a premium on well-placed shots delivering the quickest and most humane kills.  

Kinda ironic, isn't it, that most military, law enforcement  and home defense applications accept slightly less accuracy since their emphasis is on knock down, stopping the assault.

[Odee]

M-14 with 5 round box works dandy on any large game on the North American continent.

I think it's the H&K H91 that's in the same caliber but more accurate. *mental note to check*  Was thinking the H92, but that was .223

M1 Garrand is probably better suited all around if you don't mind carrying the weight around and using those 8 round clasps.

.45 Colt Commander is reserved for smaller to mid size game.

[lasersailor184]

You don't have to use the 8 round clips with the garand.  You can get 5 round clips, 2 round clips, and you can load each round singly by hand.

However in Pennsylvania, you're not allowed to hunt with a semi.  You can deactivate the semi automatic feature to compensate for this.

[SIK1]

Yep the HK91 and M14 share the same cartridge NATO 7.62 (.308). The HK93 was chambered for the 5.56 (.223). The .308 cartridge is a good all around shooter, and many hunting rifles are chambered for it.  I think in the long run it is easier to just buy a hunting rifle for hunting than it is to use a military style rifle.

[derelict]

Hunted in TN with my Father-in-Laws .30 M1 Carbine.  My then wife used it for deer also.  Was just not impressed with it.  Never hit anything with it, but the rounds themselves and the feel of the gun made me think I was a kid again running through the woods with a toy.  From what he told me he'd killed quite a few deer with it, but he was a ranging alcoholic...so who knows if it was true (shrugs shoulders).  He used to carry it behind the seat of his truck for "popping deer outa corn fields".

I've used a Mk 4 mod 1 .303 British several times, starting when I was a kid (one of  Grandpops guns).  Dang peepsights, I've only ever managed to hit one deer with it, followed the blood trail for about 1/2 a mile before it petered out.  Again, less than impressed, never used it again.  I'll stick with my .270 thank ya very much

[Hornet33]

I have a friend of mine that hunts with a Lee Enfield .303 surplus British army rifle. He loves the thing. My uncle has used a Springfield 1903 service rifle for years to hunt with. I also know a few people that use Mosin Nagant Russian army rifles. Of course those are all bolt action rifles, but I have in the past used an AR-15 for varmit hunting. Coyotes and stuff like that, but for big game hunting I think I'll stick to either my Ruger 77 .308 or my Remington 700BDL 30-06.

[Leslie]

Have killed a deer with the 1895 Mauser carbine in 7 x 57, but the main drawback with that was the closest sight on that rifle is 200 meters or so, and the deer was 20 yards away.  So had to aim at the feet just about to hit it in the engine room.

Killed my first deer with a replica 1873 Sharps carbine in 50-70, again from about 20 to 30 yards away.  Killed another deer with a replica 1865 Zouave (Remington) in .577 from about 30 yards away.  Most shots in these woods are close in, and these probably aren't the military style weapons Halo is referring to.  Guess my point is iron sight usage on some of the military rifles may involve Kentucky windage, and I am a bit uncomfortable with that for hunting.  Of course, with plenty of practice at the expected range most shots will be, there should be not too many missed shots.  I still prefer a scope for hunting.




Les

[Xargos]

There is an old saying that:

Springfield makes the best target rifles, Mauser makes the best hunting rifles and Enfield makes the best battlefield rifles.

[Blooz]

My only concern hunting with military weapons is to not use military ammunition.

Military ammunition is full metal jacketed and not intended for hunting.

Another drawback though is that self loading military weapons tend to damage the soft lead or hollow point tipped ammunition and this leads to jams and inaccuracy downrange.

My solution was to use the Nosler ballistic tipped ammunition in my M1A.

It's hunting ammunition that is designed to be durable enough to withstand the feeding process and recoil while in the magazine.

[Airscrew]

Had a friend that used a garand ONCE, after an hour all I heard was complaints about how heavy it was.   One year i used a 6.5 x55 swedish carbine.  Worked great, bolt action, light weight, iron sights

[Sting138]

Originally posted by derelict
Hunted in TN with my Father-in-Laws .30 M1 Carbine.  My then wife used it for deer also.  Was just not impressed with it.  Never hit anything with it, but the rounds themselves and the feel of the gun made me think I was a kid again running through the woods with a toy.  From what he told me he'd killed quite a few deer with it, but he was a ranging alcoholic...so who knows if it was true (shrugs shoulders).  He used to carry it behind the seat of his truck for "popping deer outa corn fields".

I've used a Mk 4 mod 1 .303 British several times, starting when I was a kid (one of  Grandpops guns).  Dang peepsights, I've only ever managed to hit one deer with it, followed the blood trail for about 1/2 a mile before it petered out.  Again, less than impressed, never used it again.  I'll stick with my .270 thank ya very much

I've also hunted with the Universal 30 cal M-1 carbine. Its agreat gun for deer at close range but the knockdown power still leaves a bit to be desired. I've also hunted with a 303 British Enfield which is a great gun with great accuracy but a lot of weight as is the case with the Garand. However I wouldnt shoot at a deer at over 50 or 60 yards with the peep sights. You can have them drilled and tapped for scope mounts as is the case with my 303 which now has killed deer in excess of 250 yards. I also hunt with a 30-06 Savage 110 LY with Simmons 4x10x44 scope which is now my main deer rifle. Its a great budget gun and can be bought in a package deal at most Wally Worlds for under $300.00. I bought mine without a scope just because I didnt like the one that came with the package deal and I also wanted the laminated stock instead of the poly or standard walnut. It cost me about $100.00 more to go that route but I got the gun and scope I wanted. It's all about personal preference.

[VOR]

I took my 98K hunting one season. It's ok for the job, but there are better choices available commercially at very reasonable prices.

[Gunthr]

i use a scoped Mauser 98 Sporter in 30.06 cal for deer hunting.  the bolt action is like butter.  the thing is a heavy canon, but very accurate.  its all i need.  im picky about what shots i will and won't take.   i'd still like to try the military version just for the fun of it.

[Odee]

Originally posted by lasersailor184
You don't have to use the 8 round clips with the garand.  You can get 5 round clips, 2 round clips, and you can load each round singly by hand.

However in Pennsylvania, you're not allowed to hunt with a semi.  You can deactivate the semi automatic feature to compensate for this.

Didn't know you could get 5 and 2 round clasps for the M1...  Got links?

Would love to replace my missing Lee-Enfield Mk4  =(  I found the .303 to be a pretty good deer stopper in VA if you pick your shots properly.  200 yards was tops I went... got a neck shot that dropped 'ol buck like he hit a 9G gravity well.  *lucky shot imo*

[FX1]

SKS works great.. I have killed deer Hundreds of pigs coons and anything else that needed killing.

M1 Carbine might be on the weak side out side of 50 yards.

Their is nothing wrong with a military rifle for hunting. Only problem is that a Remington 700 .270 bolt gun is better than most assault weapons and cheaper.