Which Mil-Surp for deer season.

loneguitar · October 6, 2006, 08:48 PM

JUst curious about which would be the better deer rifle for this season a Schmidt Rubin K31, a Finn M 39, or a Mosin Nagant 91/30?

stevelyn · October 7, 2006, 08:22 AM

You're not going to find much performance difference between the two rounds.
Between the K-31's fast cycling bolt and the M-39's ease of carry, I'd pick the M-39 and not even consider the Mosin 91/30 unless I was going to be hunting in flatter more open country.

Dave R · October 7, 2006, 11:30 AM

Any of 'em that you can shoot well enough should work.

I used a K-31 with a scout scope and handloads to take my first hog.

loneguitar · October 7, 2006, 04:53 PM

What about a K98 mauser?

texfar · October 8, 2006, 07:54 AM

You hunting out of a blind or trucking it on foot???

FirstFreedom · October 8, 2006, 09:34 AM

Probably the Finn:

1. Like the Mosin, you can find loaded commercial ammo with a good expanding bullet, more easily than with 7.5x55mm. This is the most important consideration.

2. It's likely to be more accurate than the Mosin. But pick the one that shoots the most accurately, for you, with a good hunting bullet, not a spire point / ball ammo type.

Smokey Joe · October 9, 2006, 10:55 AM

Loneguitar--Dave R and Stevelyn have it right. Use the one that shoots the best for you. My preference would be a Mauser (better mechanics and safety than the Mosin, cheaper, easier-to-find ammo than the K-31) but I'd go with the Yugo M-48 Mauser, not the k98K.

With the M-48, it's cheaper to begin with, you can get one that is unissued, and you're not going to ding up a piece of history (they weren't made until after WWII.)

Personally, I do NOT like the "safety" on the Mosin, although there seem to be lots of people for whom this is a non-issue. Come to think of it, the safety on the K-31 also has to be pulled back and turned--a big movement when you may want to be as inconspicuous as possible--compared to just thumbing the Mauser safety from middle to left.

Whichever you get, get it as far before season as possible, and shoot it enough at the range to have confidence in your ability to hit what you aim at, before pointing it at a living thing. Goes w/o saying that you also need to study the anatomy of your intended quarry enough to know where you need to hit it.

Enjoy the preparation. Enjoy the hunt. Report back to us on yr results, please.

October 6, 2006, 08:48 PM	#1
loneguitar Member Join Date: August 28, 2004 Posts: 21	Which Mil-Surp for deer season. JUst curious about which would be the better deer rifle for this season a Schmidt Rubin K31, a Finn M 39, or a Mosin Nagant 91/30?

October 7, 2006, 08:22 AM	#2
stevelyn Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2004 Location: Fairbanksan in exile to Aleutian Hell Posts: 2,655	You're not going to find much performance difference between the two rounds. Between the K-31's fast cycling bolt and the M-39's ease of carry, I'd pick the M-39 and not even consider the Mosin 91/30 unless I was going to be hunting in flatter more open country. __________________ Stop Allowing Our Schools To Be Soft Targets! http://fastersaveslives.org/ East Moose. Wear Wolf.

October 7, 2006, 11:30 AM	#3
Dave R Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2000 Location: Idaho Posts: 6,073	Any of 'em that you can shoot well enough should work. I used a K-31 with a scout scope and handloads to take my first hog. __________________ I am Pro-Rights (on gun issues).

October 9, 2006, 10:55 AM	#7
Smokey Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2001 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,106	Milsurps for hunting Loneguitar--Dave R and Stevelyn have it right. Use the one that shoots the best for you. My preference would be a Mauser (better mechanics and safety than the Mosin, cheaper, easier-to-find ammo than the K-31) but I'd go with the Yugo M-48 Mauser, not the k98K. With the M-48, it's cheaper to begin with, you can get one that is unissued, and you're not going to ding up a piece of history (they weren't made until after WWII.) Personally, I do NOT like the "safety" on the Mosin, although there seem to be lots of people for whom this is a non-issue. Come to think of it, the safety on the K-31 also has to be pulled back and turned--a big movement when you may want to be as inconspicuous as possible--compared to just thumbing the Mauser safety from middle to left. Whichever you get, get it as far before season as possible, and shoot it enough at the range to have confidence in your ability to hit what you aim at, before pointing it at a living thing. Goes w/o saying that you also need to study the anatomy of your intended quarry enough to know where you need to hit it. Enjoy the preparation. Enjoy the hunt. Report back to us on yr results, please. __________________ God Bless America --Smokey Joe

October 7, 2006, 04:53 PM	#4
loneguitar Member Join Date: August 28, 2004 Posts: 21	What about a K98 mauser?

October 8, 2006, 07:54 AM	#5
texfar Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 404	You hunting out of a blind or trucking it on foot???

October 8, 2006, 09:34 AM	#6
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Probably the Finn: 1. Like the Mosin, you can find loaded commercial ammo with a good expanding bullet, more easily than with 7.5x55mm. This is the most important consideration. 2. It's likely to be more accurate than the Mosin. But pick the one that shoots the most accurately, for you, with a good hunting bullet, not a spire point / ball ammo type.