Classic military rifles for hunting

[tgomez]

Anyone have an original military rifle or sporter they use or have used to hunt with? Would love to see some pictures.
Here is my Smith Corona 1903a3 30-06. This rifle has original receiver, bolt, floor plate, and barrel. It was built in August of 1943. Love this 30-06 even more than my 700. Buying some new glass for it end of this month. Going to drop a bear and buck with it this year!

[Bill W]

No pics but I hunted with a sporterized .30/40 Krag and an as issued 1903-A3 in the 60's.   The Springfield (03-A3) was one my uncle got from the DCM for about $20.  I have it now.

[wheels]

have a3 o3   had to get new barrel for it

[Alchase]

I would put it up on the wall in a place of reverence, love old wood guns. We are loosing the old classics every day because they were built to be used.

Still nothing better then an old rifle with the patina of years of history and stories behind it, especially if they belonged to a loved one who has passed.

[NRA4LIFE]

My first 3 or 4 deer were taken with an old German Mauser in 8mm, iron sights only.  It's the rifle I learned to shoot with.  I believe the rifle is 100 years old this year. It was my grandfathers first rifle, my dad's and mine.  I haven't fired it in a while but I bring it along on hunting trips, mostly for the memories. 

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

Used a A3-03 for many years.  It was a very common hunting rifle.  My granddad used it in it's military form for many years before he could afford to sportorize it.

[hunterclark]

1943 mosin, good steady rifle.

[hunter399]

1943 mosin, good steady rifle.

Got to plus one  +1 I got a 1944 m44 carbine ,mosin are great hunting rifles.

[JL]

I hunted with this Yugo M24/47 8mm Mauser for 3 years or so. They were about $250 when I picked it up (w/o bayo). I’m pretty sure they’ve gone up in value slightly, especially in this condition. Man, it shoots straight. A bit heavy lol, but so is most of my milsurp gear I regularly use to hunt with. The gloss you see is just polished boiled linseed oil. What a great action.

[lazydrifter]

Here is a small ring mauser my dad gave to me when I was 12.  7mm original caliber.  Had it rebarreled to 257 Roberts.  B&C Medalist stock.  Leupold scope. Bold Trigger. This will be the 1st year hunting it.

[Pathfinder101]

I had a buddy I used to hunt with that had a sporterized .270 built on a Mauser action he got from his grandpa.  No markings on it anywhere (we thought).  One morning we were hanging out in his living room waiting for it to get daylight and we started inspecting it closely.  It looked like it had a marking on the action that was mostly covered by the stock.  When we took the stock off we found a Nazi Iron Eagle stamped on it. 

[Okanagan]

My first scoped rifle was an 03-A3 30-06 and the only rifle I owned for 20 years of steady hunting.  Barrel, action and all metal stayed the same except for a right side safety, a Timney trigger and drilled for scope mounts.    I put a semi-inletted Fajen stock on it and shaped the stock to my body, best fitting stock I've ever shot.  I liked the parkerized finish and grew to like the shark fin front sight because it would grip and not slide off when leaned against a tree trunk etc. 

Mine was made in 1942 (? early in the war).  The outside metal was a little rough and it had lathe marks on the outside of the four groove barrel.  The rifle shot like a dream, well under MOA with several hand loads.  It would shoot 165 grain Sierra game kings into a 5/8" hole all day long.

 It was heavy.  I got a stupid idea that I wanted a newer rifle and sold it.  Biggest mistake I ever made with a firearm.  I have tried to buy it back.  My son wants it if I ever get it back.  I have gone through several Remington 700's and a Savage and never have found a rifle that shoots as well. 

[CP]

I’ve hunted with a few of the years, M1 Carbine, 1903 Springfield, Lee Enfield 303.  I no longer own any of them and frankly don’t miss them.  They all did the job but the M1 was under-powered with marginal accuracy and the others were heavy and awkward to use.

[lokidog]

No pics, but shot a deer in WI with my Finnish Mosin Nagent, all original condition.

I wish I could use my M1 Carbine out here for our close range hunting.

[WSU]

I used to have what I guess was a modified 1903.  My dad had it and I used it in high school.  I never put any thought into what make or model it was but did shoot my biggest buck with it.  It ended up getting stolen when my house was broken into.