My son called me last night from Auburn University and announced that it's "two down and one to go."

What this ment is that he has now killed deer this season (Alabama season goes until the end of January) with two of his three military surplus rifles he has aquired. He shot one last week with an 8mm K-98 (1943), and one yesterday afternoon with a .303 No. 4, Mark 1 SMLE. With the M-98, he used 196-grain S&B ammo, and the .303, 180-grain Privi Parizan. Both deer were small does.

Getting the Enfield zeroed was a feat unto itself. It had the flip-up apature rear sight which at its lowest setting, kept bullets nearly a foot high at 100 yards. We were unable to find a higher front sight blade for it, so my son simply put a blob of solder on the front sight blade and filed it down to proper 100-yard zero at the range. It ain't pretty, but it worked (and is surprisingly strong, too)

Next in line is a Model 44 Russian Nagant carbine. It shoots quite good with the military sights and 180-grain S&B ammo out to 100 yards. He'll try to get the trifecta this weekend.

BTW, He's hunting a farm in Union Springs, Alabama that is knee deep in deer. I warned him that he is going to get "spoilt" when he comes back home and hunts our regular lease.

Congrats and War Eagle!

Last season a guy in the office had been talking about wanting to go deer hunting so a buddy and I took him out for his first big game hunt during the late anterless season in Nebraska. The two rifles he had were both mil surps. The first was a 1903A3 and the second was a Garand. Since the Garand was in for a re-barrel he took the Springfield. He filled his tag with two fat little yearlings. He's hooked now and might even get a normal deer rifle.

I have a swiss k31 in 7.5x55that is an absolute tack driver. Have never taken a deer yet but have carried it in the woods. Has a bit more case capacity than a 308 but with the straight pull bolt I load it probably just a hair under 308 vel.
Also have a 8x56r steyr carbine. That thing is kind of a dog....lucky to get 5-6" groups at 100 yds with that sucker and never have carried it in the woods.

I got a buck a couple of years ago with my K31 and a 2.5 power scout scope. I did not need to shoot twice, but I had the second round chambered in no time!

My son has all the deer rifles in the world to choose from, however he has made it a project to shoot deer with his mil-surps with standard military sights.

I think he is trying to justify buying them in the first place.

I tell you, though, they are a ball to shoot, and a lot more accurate than I thought they would be. Plus, ammo is so cheap that I can't justify reloading for them (even though I do reload for the 8x57).

i was really disappointed in my 8x56r as well, kraky. i paid the extra for hand picked and got one with a very, very frosty bore. if i hadn't paid for the rifle,i would call it a seriously pitted bore. i have heard of folks getting rifles with really nice bores.

i appreciate the recoil on the rifle, just wish it would shoot a little better.

i have been obsessively reloading for my 8x57 24/47. think i have a decent load with the 200 grain speer, but it does not group as well as the surplus 150 grain romanian. really like the surplus rifles. my first rifle was a 95 ovedio in 7x57. has a great bore, only one, small bad spot half way down the tube.

i would like to take a hog with a 303 mark VII ball cartridge. from what i have read, that would be heck on wheels for that type of game.

quote:

... swiss k31 in 7.5x55 ..... with the straight pull bolt ...

I did not know about the straight pull bolt!

The bolt handle is affectionately know as the "beer keg" bolt. (Looks like a mini beer keg.) Just pull it straight back and push forward. I guess like a blazer and the steyr is the same thing. A european thing I guess. One thing about a straight pull bolt is that it is totally IMPOSSIBLE to even think about max loads because the image ofthat thing imbedding itself in your cheek pops up in my mind while conjuring up new loads on quickload and the manuals.
The K31 was a super piece of workmanship and features.....except for the funky safety.

Do you have pictures perhaps?

Not really sure how to post pics but here's a site where they break down a bolt. THIS IS A VERY NICE LOOKING GUN BY THE WAY!!!

http://www.surplusrifle.com/sw...isassembly/index.asp

303Guy - there has been a few K31 rifles on Trade Me lately ....

I have popped few with my 1909 Argentine in the 7.65x53.


180 grain round nose bullets @ 2600 fps put the hurt on the deer.



Cal30

Every older member of my family hunted with a milsurp soemthing or other until they could afford something else at which point a younger family member took it over. Prosperity has arrived I guess since now only one custom 1903 is still in service.