Sep 2010
Surplus rifle for hog hunting?
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Hey nice blog and thanks for the email. Yes, my question is why should I bring my expensive hunting rifles to the field when hog hunting when I can go out and buy an old Milsurp rifle and not have to worry about it due to being so many nice rifles on the surplus market? I’d like to buy one and keep it in my different rigs just in case I run up on a hog and not have to worry about the rifle getting scratched etc.
Which is the best – 8mm mauser / Mossin Nagant / Enfield / other?
Looking for suggestions.
Thanks- Alex
This would depend on the game you’re hunting. A medium deer -a SKS is an excellent firearm. SKSs are affordable ($200) and reasonably accurate at reasonable ranges. SKSs are semi-automatic which allows for quick follow up shots should you miss. The ammo for the SKS (7.62×39) is the cheapest rifle ammo excluding rimfire that money can buy.
Other choices for Bucks:
mosin nagant 91/30
its 69 bucks
the 91/30 is longer and bigger than the m44, but also less recoil
7.62×54r is still plentiful by the case online.
corrosive only means you need to clean your gun with windex often.
c/r eligible
SVD rifle (surplus)
a bit on the expensive side
semi automatic “sniper”
7.62×54r
same action as AK47
also c/r eligible
if you miss, simply aim and pull the trigger again.
I have several surplus rifles for hunting, the Swedish Mauser in 6.5×55 caliber is my favorite. Recoil is light, the quality of the macxhined surfaces is excellent. If you choose to sporterize, there are many stocks and styles available. It was also the most accurate of my surplus guns, holding a 2″ group at 100 yards with military open sights. I have since fabricated my own scope mount that requires no permanent alteration to the gun, and mounted a 2-6 variable pistol scope, ala the “scout rifle”. It is one of my favorite deer guns.
Second choice would be -.308 Enfield from C.A.I. Made in India in the late 60’s.Fabulous rifle for +/- $100.00.Mine is good out to 150 yds with the open sights, and and after market mounts are available. She might now be a beauty to look at, but damn fine rifle for a $100 +/-.
The biggest problem with many older surplus rifles chambered in 7.62×54R or 8mm Mauser. They all have corrosive ammo and I would look into a 7.62×51 (308 Winchester). If you can find an Ishapore Lee-Enfield they rock. Or start scrubbing with hot soapy water after you shoot something corrosive, then clean normally. Of course, you can find quality non-corrosive ammo but it makes the reason you want a surplus rifle kind of odd. Cheap ammo. Which is why I pointed towards the 308 Enfield. I have one, as smooth as butter. Ammo is plentiful and I don’t have to worry about the ammo becoming scarce. It’s a NATO caliber and a good hunting round.The Mauser, Mosin-Nagant and the Enfield are all good quality rifles. Each has their own distinct ammunition, and you can find quality, non-corrosive rounds at most any good sporting goods store. Any of those rounds will take most North American game – remember, placement is more important than quantity!
The least expensive will be the Mosin-Nagant, at under $100 for a nice rifle. Practice with fifteen cent corrosive surplus rounds that do NOT have a lacquer coating or you will suffer from the dreaded “sticky bolt syndrome”, with all brands you would then fine tune your sights with the newly made, non corrosive hunting cartridges for about 75 cents a round.
Next up is the Enfield. You can get a .303 or a .308 for under $200 and they have actions that are usually quite smooth.Last, the 8mm Mauser. Most modern bolt actions were fathered by this type of action, and they are fine rifles but they may average $250. Of all these, the older caliber .303, #4Mk1 Enfield seems to have the best sight for me, a peep sight in the rear like all modern rifles.You can get scope mounts for all of these, but at distances of about 150 yards or less, you truly do not need a scope.