Anybody here hunt with C&R rifles?

[calidefector]

I've always been a fan of hunting open sights, as opposed to scoped rifles and try and instill the love for open sights in the kids.

So, I've got a few C&R rifles, namely an 8MM Mauser and a M44. I was going to purchase some reloadable ammo for both with the thought of determining what would be good loads. In addition, I also am applying for a C&R FFL and will be going through other rifles also to find real nice shooters.

So, do any of you successfully hunt with a C&R rifle and ammo that you have confidence in, or have proven performance with? I hear in Europe the 8MM Mauser is a very popular and capable hunting round.

I realize this kind of borders on reloading territory as I would love to hear what you have used, what cartridge you put together, and how it performed on the harvest. But, other tidbits related to the experience of hunting with the C&R are also what I'm after too.

[PJA]

Back in the day, I used to hunt deer in Lake County with a sporterized Springfield 30-40 Krag. Was moderately successful. Sold the rifle in about 1955 to buy a car.
Pete

[Seesm]

yeah a german sporterized mauser... BUT it's got a scope... My grandpa put it on... So I left it on... GREAT gun.

[stevenjay1]

Yep, I started hunting with a 6.5 Carcano that I had a Williams rear barrel sight but on. I took a lot of Texas deer with that rifle.

[Rule .308]

I hunt coyotes with a sporterized Swedish mauser and the guy I hunt with drags around a beast of an M48 with a period correct scope mount set up and a 2-7 Nikon on it. While it is too heavy for my tastes it is darn accurate for sure. My M96 looks pretty much just like any other bolt gun from a distance but there surely is a nostalgic coolness to the silouette of the M48 sniper set up, unweildy beast that it is.

[762cavalier]

I've taken my K31 pig hunting. It has a St. Marie scope mount and Burris scope on it. Little heavy but gets the job done. As far as ammo you are going to have to use commercial ammo or roll your own. All surplus ammo I have seen is FMJ and it is not so good for hunting.

[Dolk]

You bet. My first hunting rifle was a 303 British Enfield NO.5 Jungle Carbine. I love that rifle.
I've owned it for over 40 years now. I had a sporster stock on it, but my Dad was smart enough to store the original stock away for me.


Bill

[calidefector]

You bet. My first hunting rifle was a 303 British Enfield NO.5 Jungle Carbine. I love that rifle.

That is a nice looking rifle!

[w55]

Krag 30-40 is a good deer rifle, my dad used it alot, so have I.

[biscuitninja]

I think the Inuits have posted a few threads on THR about using Mosins in their hunting. Anyways good luck
-bix

[Full Clip]

My primary hunting rifle is a sportered 30-06 Enfield M1917 that my grandfather left me. He hunted elk and deer with it for some 25 years after buying it as surplus in 1948 for $4. (Yes, $4. I have the original receipt!)

[Nodda Duma]

My hunting rifle is a SMLE No. I Mk III Enfield dated 1913. I worked up a 150 gr soft point load for it that is accurate. Took a white-tailed doe just before Thanksgiving with it while visiting family back in Southern Missouri. The .303 British cartridge did its job. One shot right through the heart from 50 yds.

Iron sights. I bought this rifle from Century Int'l as a "Good with cracked stock" I replaced the broken stock with a set from Springfield Sporters, so it's "as-issued". I like the SMLE because it is light, uses one of the best hunting rounds in the world (.303 British), and disengaging or engaging the safety makes absolutely no sound. Important when hunting.

-Jason

[CSACANNONEER]

Well, I guess my 3 pre '64 94s would qualify. The earliest one I have was made in 1899.

[calidefector]

My hunting rifle is a SMLE No. I Mk III Enfield dated 1913. I worked up a 150 gr soft point load for it that is accurate. Took a white-tailed doe just before Thanksgiving with it while visiting family back in Southern Missouri. The .303 British cartridge did its job. One shot right through the heart from 50 yds.

Iron sights. I bought this rifle from Century Int'l as a "Good with cracked stock" I replaced the broken stock with a set from Springfield Sporters, so it's "as-issued". I like the SMLE because it is light, uses one of the best hunting rounds in the world (.303 British), and disengaging or engaging the safety makes absolutely no sound. Important when hunting.

-Jason

Oh how I miss hunting the Ozarks! Through the heart though... that's my favorite part! Coming home that morning, slicing it up and rolling it in flour and frying it. But, that's another story.

Kudos to you for going it open sights and getting so close you have to worry about the click of the safety (although long shots in the thick timber of the Ozarks aren't a common thing.) I'd not tried taking a deer with a scope until a few years ago and I didn't like the results. I'll stick to open sights and getting close to my prey when it comes to big game. Closest deer I took was under 20 yards and that was in National Forest area here in California.

I'll get back onto the original topic now....

It appears that variations of the Enfield are a trend in the replies as popular rifles for this role. These would have easily available commercial ammo (.303 British, 30-06) so I wouldn't have to go through purchasing more reloading equip to try them out with non-milsurp ammo.

I'll still research and develop some potential hunting loads for other C&R rifles I already have (7.62x54R, 8MM Mauser) when I get some reloadable brass, but this thread has given me some ideas of other C&R rifles to investigate and purchase when I get the license.

Thanks much to those that have posted so far and please feel free to keep adding to the thread!

[gun toting monkeyboy]

My fist deer was with a sporterized (read:rescued from the scrap heap) swedish mauser. I shot my first pig with an as-issued Dutch 1895 Mannlicher carbine. If I am paying for a hunt, I will use one of my C&R hunting rifles with a scope. Either my Savage Model 99 in .300 Savage, or my Remington 141 in .35 Remington. Otherwise I use an old milsurp in whatever flavor tickles my fancy that morning. Mosin-Nagants, Enfields (.303 and .30-06), Lee-Enfields, Carcanos, Arisakas (both calibers), Mannlichers, Mausers, Commission rifles, several kinds of French rifles... If it can hit a pie plate at 100 yards with it, I am willing to take it out for a swing. Usually carbines for stalking, full sized rifles for tree stands. I reload because some of these cartridges were never made with softpoints, and some of them shoot otherwise unobtainable cartridges. So if I want to use the, I roll my own.

-Mb

p.s. Please don't chop up good rifles to make second-rate sporters people. Raid the junk bins or get one that has already been chopped by Bubba. That way you aren't destroying a piece of history. And the junked guns are usually cheaper. I have picked them up for as little as $25.