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to hunt with? By sporterized, I don't mean to include a Mauser or Springfield action which was used as a donor from a M'98 or '03 for a custom rifle. I'm talking about a true military rifle, with its original barrel and at least most of its original stock...maybe drilled and tapped for a scope, and the bolt handle bent or cut off and re-welded, but not a new bolt either. Iron sight replacement(s) would be okay within the intent of my question. Chamber "improvement" like running an Ackley, Mashburn, or Wby reamer into the original chamber would be okay, and even complete rechambering to get useable brass...like when we used to run a .257 Remington-Roberts reamer into a 6.5 Japanese rifle so we could use the easily made (from surplus '06) .257 brass. I guess what I am trying to find out is whether anyone still uses those old rifles we used to be tickled pink to be able to get during the Great Depression and for the duration of WWII and about 10-15 years thereafter. I have and use several of them...all for coyote to elk size animals. One is a MAS 36 in 7.5x54 French, with a Weaver K-4 added, but otherwise completely original. I like to hunt Pacic Blacktail, and the small Arizona Whitetail deer with it. Another is a Hembrug M'95 6.5x53R Dutch Mannlicher, with the forearm shape "sporterized" and the barrel/forearm cap removed; everything else original. Alhough it has been fired at coyotes and foxes, it would really be better suited to somewhere like the dense Oregon coastal Salal & Salmonberry jungles. A third is an '03-A3 with the forend cap and the forend top removed. It still has the steel buttplate (as do the other two above), but it also has the bolt bent for a scope and an old, old Leupold 6-X mounted on it. It has been used successfully for Saskatchewan mule deer and Arizona elk. So, those are some of mine. What "sporterized old militaries are you guys using, to hunt what? | ||
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In the not too distant past, I shot a deer or two with my Enfield No. 5 Mk.1 jungle carbine. Other than cleaning the cosmoline off of it and sighting it in, I did nothing to it. I have a Enfield No. 4 I am in the process of sporterizing. My 6yr old wants it as his first rifle. I like hearing about the old warhorses still in action. Good idea to start this thread! 30+ years experience tells me that perfection hit at .264. Others are adequate but anything before or after is wishful thinking. | |||
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While I lived in WV, I was surprised at how many bubbaized milsup rifles there was in use. They ranged from some pretty good kitchen table gun smithing to real hack jobs. What they had in common, however, is they killed stuff. Very well or the owners would have kept them. Aim for the exit hole | |||
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Yep!! I have a sporterized 03-A3 with a Bushnell 2.5 power scope and a 1917 Eddystone with a 3-9 Weaver. Both are deadly accurate, the 03 might be a little better. | |||
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Not quite to your specs but close enough. 8X57 K98 with original barrel, Bishop stock, decelerator pad and Williams receiver sight. Liberated by my dad during the great war. Haven't killed any deer with it yet but will try again next month.  Have gun- Will travel The value of a trophy is computed directly in terms of personal investment in its acquisition. Robert Ruark | |||
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Good timing for you to post this thread A.C. I am in the process of having a Yugo M-24/47 (8X57) sporterized. Also a 6.5x55 but it won't meet your criteria. On the 8mm I am Having bolt handle modified (forged), FN type safety installed, receiver drilled/tapped and forearm of stock shortened and rounded (and leave handguard off). All the rest, open sights, step down barrel, etc. will remain the same. The most amazing thing is that in it's original military configuration, it shoots better than many scoped, bedded and floated rifles that I have seen. I am looking forward to using it this year. "The right to bear arms" insures your right to freedom, free speech, religion, your choice of doctors, etc. ....etc. ....etc.... -----------------------------------one trillion seconds = 31,709 years------------------- | |||
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I still shoot my father's sporterized 30-40 Krag. He bought it as a kid in the 1920s for about $4.75 as I recall, from the NRA. It has a receiver sight and it still quite accurate and effective. | |||
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yep .. my 300 win is a high number springfield rechamber job opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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I use a Yugo M47/24 for hogs. Orginal except for rear sight (a mojo). And I use my handloaded 8mm cartridges.  | |||
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Here is the one I use from time to time. Got it from a Pawn shop for $125.00. I finished and checkered the stock. Former hunting partner made the scope mount. Has a terrible trigger pull, but one of the smallest groups I have ever shot with any gun came from this one. Three shots I could cover with a dime at 100 yards. Barrel is 19 1/2 inches long, and it the bolt and action have matching serial numbers. It is a 6.5x55.      The scope mount ws machined from aluminum bar stock. The scope is an old K 6, El Paso made, Weaver. I will be using it on a doe speedgoat hunt in September. Even the rocks don't last forever. | |||
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 I have about 7 sporterized that have the original stock and military barrels. The stocks have been greatly changed for the most part, four have scout type scope mounting,two with standard scope mounting and the Carcano with open sites. There were a number that were rechambered for 8mm-06 one of which a buddy still uses in Canada and carried for many years when he lived in Alaska.Most of these have had their photos posted some time back on the "Sporterized Military Rifle " forum in AR.  rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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Remington O3A3, re-bored to .338-06! | |||
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Kinda - this is my spare. Shortened front stock & new sights.  Took a 14 point moose last season (alas, no photos!). - Lars/Finland A.k.a. Bwana One-Shot | |||
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30-06 or 30-40 Krag? Even the rocks don't last forever. | |||
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Couldn't pass up a deal on a $79.99 Russian military surplus 1932 Mosin Nagant so I bought it and for a little extra cash had the barrel cut to 600MM, new bolt handle welded on, scope mount, ATI stock...and cause the gunsmith thinks I am a nice guy he threw in a Timney trigger. I also have a wood stock coming but that is still in the works. Scope is a Burris 1.5x5 Load for the 7.62x54r with Barnes 150 gr .311 TSXs that shoots right at an inch. 46.9 grns of Varget @ a chrono'd MV of 2794fps This blondie evaded in us a creek bed but we had an idea of where he was headed so we set up an ambush and sure enough he showed. Quartering shot at about 90 yards. The blood you see just in front of the ham is an exit wound...he took off and he slowed to a walk at about 150yds or so and I hit him with another. The shot was low but it broke both front legs. When I got to him he was still alive, so we slit his throat.    Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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It fits perfectly, Rae...in spirt it is just the sort of thing we used to do, and produces much the same results which used to surprise us (and gave us the illusion we knew something about "accurizing") too. | |||
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I am going to have to look at that load for my M-N. Was that a 91/30 you started with Mike? | |||
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Density 2, Yes its a 1891/30 with a hex receiver. Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue. What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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I had a G33/40 with the original mountain troop skinny carbine barrel. It was full length bedded in an old Bishop stock and had either an old Williams or Lyman aperture sight on it. The barrel looked horrible, but offhand at 100 meters it would break four clay pigeons in a row before barrel heating caused shots to go wide. It was a great truck/boat gun. I kept it at a friend's house in Minnesota. I have not seen him or the rifle in 16 years - he evidently moved a while back. It would be nice to clean up the action, have it re-carburized and put a fresh 7x57mm barrel on it. The peep sights will still work fine...  | |||
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Hunt with a 112 year old Springfield Krag-Jorgensen. Lightly sporterized with a period recoil pad (1927) and Lyman peep sight:   Dave | |||
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I have a '95 Mauser I'm slowly bringing on-line, and I'm negotiating a bubba'd Krag. | |||
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7,62x53R - Lars/Finland A.k.a. Bwana One-Shot | |||
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I use an old mauser 98 that used to be an 8X57. Now it's an 8mm/06. Bent bolt and added a scope, cheap replacement stock. It's my go-to deer rifle. I also use an Enfield that's been re-chambered to 303 Epps. It wears a rynite stock set and has a scope mounted. Someone jeweled the bolt before I bought it. It looks nice. My Siamese Mauser in 45-70 is likely more refined than you were wanting to hear about. | |||
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I've one that I had changed stock to a Fajen cheapo, AlaskaArmsInc 2pc. trigger with a Lyman 48...1935 Chilean 7x57. Shooting 175 Partitions, one of my favorite rifles to date. | |||
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I use a Springfield .30-06 which is made from an original military rifle. Barrel is original, has the front spade blade removed but the spade blade holder is still there. I assume the bolt handle has been cut off and rewelded, because I now have a scope on it. My dad put it together. He made the stock from a walnut stock blank -- likely rough inletted by the factory. It is a beautiful stock, and the rifle is very accurate. I use it for elk hunting. I've taken two bull elk with it on three elk hunting trips and hope to take more. | |||
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I shot a whitetail doe several years ago with an unmolested M1 Garand. 150 Speer grain mag tip at 75 yards right in the boiler did the trick. Have since sold the gun. Father-in-Law left me an unmolested Arisaka 38 carbine (with the mum intact.) Shoots 139 grain Hornady's very well. Sights are tough to use but I plan to use it int he near future. | |||
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A CZ in 8mm Mauser, all originally military furniture, except drilled and tapped, with turn down bolt handle... wears a 1.5 x 4 Shotgun Scope on top... Turk 8mm Mauser, all military original.. Swedish Mauser, all military original... 1898 Krag Calvary Carbine, original military except for the addition of a Lyman Peep sight and an Ithaca Shotgun butt pad...and a Redfield Front Sight.. 1917 Enfield ( Winchester made).. 30/06, rabbit ears cut off, top wood taken off...drilled and tapped.. wears mid 60s vintage Leupold 4 power on top with a dot reticle... hunt with each of them... | |||
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Am just finishing a Fajan stock on a sporterized 1917. The mag dog leg has been straightened and it is a good looking plain Jane. Will shoot it next week. rogerOld age is a high price to pay for maturity!!! Some never pay and some pay and never reap the reward. Wisdom comes with age! Sometimes age comes alone.. | |||
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Does anyone know where to get a synthetic stock for a 24-37? Thanks in advance | |||
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Sorry for the typo, I mean a yugo 24-47 Mauser. Evidently the bolt spacing is shorter than a 98 | |||
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I've got a Centurion P14 now in 300 Win. Mag., a US M17 Enfield 30-06 sporterized by BSA and a Canadian Ross straight-pull 303 I was given when I was 13. | |||
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old western scrounger is selling sporterized yugo mausers for $130 right now, that might be less than the cost of sporterizing the one you have right now. but they might be "rough." | |||
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1905 springfield with original barrel in a fajen stock with weaver scope | |||
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This '09 Argentine.  | |||
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This is my Swede. The stock was trimmed down by someone that really knew what he was doing. Original bbl and it shoots very well indeed.  Here are my two 1903s and my 1917. The top Springfield was built up as a target gun for a small person at some time in the past. The lower one is all military except for a ramp front sight and an aftermarket stock of some sort.  This is my Krag that has had the wood trimmed down and a 10 pt buck's head carved into the stock. The carving has a date in 1934 stamped into it.  The last is my Chilean Mauser that I turned into a scout by filing the rear sight base down flat and attaching a Weaver base. A Tasco 2X pistol scope, Timney trigger, and Ramline stock were added. Even with this sighting system, I have shot several MOA groups through the military bbl using 175 gr Hornady reloads.  | |||
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I still use my 98, All the numbers match. The person before me stuck a differnt stock on the gun. And stuck a williams scope mount on it. Bought it for 250. Its my deer and elk gun. It likes imr 4064 with 150 grain speers and accubonds. Also used bruno, 09 argentine 765-53, used both to take a few deer. | |||
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I have two that I hunt with: Griffin & Howe 7x57 short rifle Sedgley 1903 in 30-06 | |||
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I have used a Russian made SKS on many hound hunts for Bear, as well as a M44 Mosin Nagant. Russian military design is ideal for hound hunting, "no matter what, the damn thing will go bang". Not a bad military weapon philosophy, even if it's not followed in our country. | |||
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Depending on how much he modified it, your Sedgley MIGHT fit into the genre I was asking about, but the Griffin & Howe doesn't. I'm not asking about high dollar "customized" former military rifles, but about military rifles which have had a little sporterizing done to them, such as was often called "kitchen table" gunsmithing back in the day. I envy you your rifles, and I'm sure they are great "hunters" just as my Griffin & Howe Krag was. Just not really what I was looking to gather info about in this thread.  Cheers  My country gal's just a moonshiner's daughter, but I love her still. | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Medium Bore Rifles Anyone still use sporterized old military rifles
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