Author Topic: Mil.Surplus for varmints? (Read 1459 times)

UMFAN1 · « **on:** June 07, 2004, 04:44:50 PM »

Are there any military surplus rifles that would make decent varmint shooting rifles?

patm41 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 07, 2004, 04:55:43 PM »

there are several
from cheap SKS's to hi dollar Sniper rifles
how much do you want to spend?

and what kind of varmits?

Mil guns are fun and cheap to shoot ...some are very accurate with a little work..

UMFAN1 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 07, 2004, 05:08:20 PM »

I'm thinking of lower to moderate priced rifles. Varmints such as woodchucks & coyotes. I'm not looking for great accuracy, but something that could possibly be tweaked some and provide fun shooting whether at the range or out in the field.

patm41 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 07, 2004, 05:33:08 PM »

A SKS is great on coyotes ... real overkill on chucks..

UMFAN1 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 07, 2004, 05:36:21 PM »

I'm thinking of lower to moderate priced rifles. Varmints such as woodchucks & coyotes. I'm not looking for great accuracy, but something that could possibly be tweaked some and provide fun shooting whether at the range or out in the field.

ediehaskell · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2004, 08:57:04 PM »

6.5X55 Swede will do it all

Jack Crevalle · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2004, 01:27:26 AM »

Swiss K31 is extremely accurate and can be had relatively cheap. They were going for as little as $89 but since the supply is drying up figure on about $125. There are clamp-on, drill and tap and scout mounts available. Ammo is a little pricey but if you reload it should be no problem. Otherwise, unless you are shooting 100's of rounds at prairie dogs you're not going to be using all that much ammo.

An even better way to go might be to find a budda'd 03 Springfield. They seem to be around $250 and shoot 30-06.

1911crazy · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2004, 02:01:51 AM »

My first choice for a cheap varmit gun and cheap ammo brings two guns to mind a Yugo SKS 7.62x39 and a YUGO 8mm mauser with the 8mm surplus FMJ ammo being so cheap too like 1,800rds yugo ammo for about $147 delivered or 7.62x39 for around $70/1,000rds. while both rifles are pretty much the same price the mauser is the most accurate. BigBill

I'm sure the groundhogs will never run back into the hole on you when you hit them with the 8mm bullet I'm sure the'll just go splat.

Val · « **Reply #8 on:** June 09, 2004, 03:10:49 AM »

Have a look at the British Enfields .303. I have a sporterized No1 Mklll that shoots 123 grain bullets in less than MOA. My best 5 shot group is .75". I have a original condition N04 Mkl with a no drill and tap scope mount that is also a good shooter.

UMFAN1 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 09, 2004, 05:38:33 AM »

I'll be doing some checking at the local gun shows this summer.

Runs with Scissors · « **Reply #10 on:** June 10, 2004, 05:15:19 AM »

Samco still has some very nice M41B Sniper rifles.
These were made from the M96 Swedish long rifle in 1941 and sport an excellent 4-power Ajak scope. The scopes were overhauled in 1955 and the lenses were coated.
Hirtenberger 6.5X55 milsurp ammo is great as far as accuracy goes, and 200 round "battle packs" run $80.
Sportsman's Guide also sells ammo for around $125 per 500 rounds.
The M41B's were retired by the Swedish Home Guard in 1995.
There likely is no other military surplus rifle that received as much attention from the armory as the M41B.
Mine shoots very well.

Bill

Jack Crevalle · « **Reply #11 on:** June 10, 2004, 07:26:18 AM »

Quote

WVery Good Condition: $1,195.95
Special Select Condition: $1,295.95

Wow, I'd like to have the kind of $ that let's me think of one of those as "lower to moderately priced".

Runs with Scissors · « **Reply #12 on:** June 10, 2004, 07:56:27 AM »

Uhhhhh............

Sorry. I didn't mention they (M41B's) were cheap.
However, since there were only 5200 of them made between 1941 and 1943, and even fewer with the Ajak scope, the initial investment will likely multiply several times in the next decade.
Admittively, the M41B was the most expensive rifle I have ever purchased.

Bill

RB Rooson · « **Reply #13 on:** June 10, 2004, 02:12:04 PM »

WOW!!!??? A very tough question - "moderately priced military surplus that is good for both coyotes AND WOODCHUCKS"?

The K-31 (7.5x55mm) - overkill......

Mauser (8mm) - overkill.....

Mosin-Nagant (7.62x54R) - overkill.....

Any of these are okay for long shots on coyotes - but woodchucks?

Kind of like deer-hunting with an RPG!!

patm41 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 10, 2004, 03:01:05 PM »

Overkill,,,,, naaa
this is over kill.....

20 mm Laihti
120 lbs
sled skids for snow use
garrenteed i shot 1 kill if ya can find the pieces.....lol....

just for fun :grin: :grin:

RB Rooson · « **Reply #15 on:** June 10, 2004, 05:26:46 PM »

patm41......you continue to amaze me!!!

:sniper:

(By the way, what is that black box that appears to be hanging down from the barrel?)

redial · « **Reply #16 on:** June 10, 2004, 07:31:43 PM »

looks like the issue muzzle cover, suspended from a thin chain.

Well, I was gonna suggest my McBros 50 BMG as bad medicine for wounded chucks but I've been trumped! Rough crowd!

:eek:

Redial

1911crazy · « **Reply #17 on:** June 11, 2004, 05:29:05 AM »

Holly crap mon!!!!!!! Thats only second to the 155mm howitzers I assembled but a little more easily moved around. Do you shoot that puppy?? Ever hunt with it?? I wonder what the local game warden would say if he caught me varmit hunting with that puppy?? BigBill

MIKEY / BULLETMAKER!!!!! We need this for bigfoot hunting I'm sure it won't walk away from that round?? Heck if we don't want to shoot it we can surely smack him with it?

Now how much for one of those and is it legal to own a working one?

This would be a great one for ESPN's "GOTCH YA" show just put two guys walking thru the woods with this puppy during deer season near a real gamewarden that would be awesome just to see his face!!!!

And I was just going to boast about my cute little Savage 93 I just picked up in that big .17HMR???

1911crazy · « **Reply #18 on:** June 11, 2004, 05:42:38 AM »

Go to; http://www.ohioordnanceworks.com/lahti/l.htm

BigBill

Kind of tough on consealed carry??

RB Rooson · « **Reply #19 on:** June 11, 2004, 10:59:29 AM »

Bigbill,

The above website that you directed us to was very interesting. I especially like the part where it says that the "Finnish 20mm Lahti comes with a coffin, gunners kit, etc......."

Coffin? Coffin? Anything hit with this should probably come with a large Hefty trash bag!

It's kind of cool. when you buy a gun and it arrives with it's own "coffin"! A great endorsement for the efficiency of the weapon.......

(By the way, with that big clip in place how did one sight the gun - or maybe it simply didn't matter!!?)

patm41 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 11, 2004, 01:23:25 PM »

hey guys ,, let me clear one thing ,,, thats NOT me in the pic ...or My Gun
I posted it as "fun" but they do exist and a couple people are lucky enough to own them... as a matter of fact there are a couple for sale in the US.. They will run you $17,000 - $20.000 and are classified as a destructive device (wonder why) by the BATF.. When these were imported they came with reloading equpiment (cause you cant buy 20MM
shells at Wallyworld!) ... I have never seen one and you may never will neither... I myself have a collection of not the ordenary guns and have a
album full of unusalgun pics.. i post some kool stuff from time to time
but will always comment if its mine or not...

1911crazy · « **Reply #21 on:** June 11, 2004, 03:51:13 PM »

patm41 all i can add is you southern boys sure know how to have a good shoot!!!!! All I would have to do up north here is get caught putting something like that in my car?? Heck they wouldn't let me shoot it at the local range anyway. BigBill

patm41 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 11, 2004, 05:20:12 PM »

BigBill... well consider moving.... lol.... lots of guns , critters that need shootin too...lots of places to shoot...

Just a shot here of my range on private land ,,,shooting area and a covered picnic area too... great place for overnite camping,, and the nearest house is 3 miles away.......

1911crazy · « **Reply #23 on:** June 11, 2004, 11:35:34 PM »

I bought a new gun the other night and after not buying a "new" one in many years at the checkout line which the two registers were crowded on a thursdaynite, you had to be there to see the looks I got while waiting to checkout with it. I believe I was condemed to death many times for just buying a gun here. Maybe I should of wore a gilie suit when i purchased it? BigBill

In my 53 years of living in the northeast I wish I was born elsewhere in the country because the northeast sucks for sure(CT./Mass.) If I was younger I'd be with you guys either down south. southwest or in the midwest somehwere I can hang a rifle or shotgun in my rear window in my pickup truck and to buy a gun without being looked at like a criminal or a killer. Its funny how in some places across our great country guns are accepted as a way of life and in some places it isn't and its only getting worse here. Like the saying goes if you see a bear mauling an animal lover do you stop it or let nature takes it course?? I would roll up a chair /popcorn and sit back and enjoy the show?

patm41 Your pic says it all shootin and grill'in life doesn't get any better than that.

RB Rooson · « **Reply #24 on:** June 12, 2004, 03:28:43 AM »

Bigbill,

We in Texas do feel very blessed! We have freedom that others can only long for - and it comes from our pride in being Texans.

I used to hunt extensively (every weekend all year around), but no longer do that (because I know that I can do it, have done it and can do it with a modicum of efficiency). There is nothing more to prove to myself or to any of my friends. I do not have any problems with anyone that does hunt, that is their thing and go for it if you wish.

I am actively involved in Cowboy Action Shooting (...go figure, Texas, huh?) and Military Matches. I just shoot targets (metal or paper) now and enjoy the heck out of it. I shot 42 combined (CAS & Mil) matches last year and continue to do so. I bought both of my sons identical pump shotguns for Christmas last year (both are in their 30's) and they have both said they had never received such an excellent gift in their lives.

I am not a raving killer that looks to shoot everything that moves, crawls or flies. I simply use a tool (a gun) to compete in my hobby. A golfer has his "tools", a bowler his and a stockcar racer his.

An explanation of the acronyms that appear below above my signature line:

SASS - "Single Action Shooting Society" (Cowboy Guns) Duelist - shoot one-handed, no Weaver Combat Stance.

SBSS - "Stealth Bullet Shooting Society" (Organization that promotes shooting Clean Matches. OGB - Order of the Golden Bullet is for shooting a Clean Match. XVI - have shot 16 Clean Matches to date.)

BOLD - "Bold Order of Law Dawgs" (Fraternal Organization for Police Officers involved in Cowboy Shooting)

So, you see I take shooting seriously. I am not a frivilous person and I do not foam at the mouth. And finally, my signature line.......

"Every day I pray to be the man that my dog thinks I am!" I love my dog and my wife (not necessarily in that order......) and I am a Christian. If I can aspire to be what my dog thinks of me, then I am doing alright in life.

Came along way from the original topic of this forum ".....varmint shooting.....", didn't I? But, I believe we should all stand up for our sport - it is not a bad thing and others should not look down on us. We are all Americans and have freedoms, some seem to forget that others have interests other than theirs. Thanks for listening........

moosehead · « **Reply #25 on:** June 12, 2004, 03:58:23 AM »

Texas is awesome...Kentucky is not too bad either. I live 5 miles from Knob creek gun range. They hold an all out war twice a year. Its pretty neat.

S.S. · « **Reply #26 on:** June 14, 2004, 08:39:58 AM »

Assuming that you don't want a crater where your target was,
(Referring to above mentioned 20 mm)
I would go with a 6.5x55 Swede for varmints. If we
are talking Coyote sized varmints close in, an SKS should
do quite nicely.

alpini · « **Reply #27 on:** June 15, 2004, 09:22:07 AM »

I'd say any of the 6.5's would be good for varmints. Excellent ballistic coefficient for longer ranges with low recoil. 6.5x54mm, 6.5x55mm, 6.5mm Italian, and 6.5 Japanese are all very effective for varmint hunting. I originally bought my Swedish m96 for this role but have since decided it worked well for everything.

Runs with Scissors · « **Reply #28 on:** June 15, 2004, 10:19:47 AM »

The 6.5X55 Swede is my favorite cartridge.
I wish I had chosen it instead of a .270 barrel on the Encore for deer hunting.
The ballistic coefficient is almost identical and the Swede is far more accurate.

Bill

1911crazy · « **Reply #29 on:** June 19, 2004, 07:47:08 AM »

S.Sumner and Mikey talked me into buying my first swede and they were right they are very accurate too. I like both small ring mausers the swede 6,5 and the chilean 7mm mausers both are very similair giving the 7mm with the heavier bullets more knock down power. From talking to guy at the local range when he seen my 7mm they said his hunting partner uses a 7mm mauser(7x57) all the time and has hunted all over the world with it besides killing everything in north america and thin skinned game in africa he sure got my attention about this slightly unknown caliber to me. It sure got me thinking. My one of my christmas presents from the misses was a M1895 Chilean Mauser barreled action $89 from Samco and it fits a swede mauser stk w/hardware $52 numrich if no chilean mauser stocks can be found and add a scope and your good to go. There is a wide variety of bullet weights in new 7mm ammo from S&B if you don't want to reload and if you reload you can go with 100gr(coyotes) to 175gr rounds which covers varmit to big game.(deer/bear) I built this 7mm for larger varmit but after doing some reasearch it just may cover the lower/upper end of my hunting(up to deer). The swede mauser is ok too just as accurate the only thing is a swede will run about $225+ if you can find a decent one. I went the same way with swede's from Samco too I bought a barreled action reciever from them and a swede stk w/hardware and I assembled another swede too. If you can't find what you want there are other ways to get one as they become scarce. If you get a excellent 6,5 or 7mm I'm sure it will last you a lifetime they are quality guns for sure. BigBill

I purchased "3" of the M1895 chilean 7mm barreled actions from Samco so far and all of them are in very good condition and are all shooters. They all came with turned down bolts too which is rare and i used there large ring scope mounts by changing the front mount base(small ring) and the $15 see thru high mounts clear the bolt perfectly. I got a scope from CDNN its a military style 3 post on sale for $29 so your around $200 for the whole gun/project.