Military Surplus Bolt Action for Hunting

[451 Detonics]

If you don't want to go with the options you listed in the OP I would say start watching gunbroker closely. Last year I picked up a semi bubba'ed 98 Mauser on the cheap. Two good thing had been done to it however, properly drilled and tapped and the barrel cut to 22 inches and re-crowned correctly. It had ridiculously high rings on it and a cheap plastic stock. I ended up with $140 in it shipped.

Today it wears a Boyd thumbhole stock, has the bolt handle turned down for lower rings, and I use either a Gibbs 3 round detachable magazine or a 20 round mag. Total in the project without the Glass was well under $400. If you stick with the internal mag you would save a good bit. This rifle shoots 1 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards with surplus. Next summer I will start working up handloads for it.

 

[MrBear27604]

The major issue for many of us who own Mil surp rifles are the sights. The vast majority of bolt action rifles issued had big barleycorn front posts and tiny notches on rear sights that were zeroed at 200-300 yards/meters. Not well suited for hunting IMHO except under ideal conditions. And with older eyes like mine it's getting darn near impossible for me to focus on the front sight and make consistent hits. I hear good things about the MOJO sights for Mil surp rifles but have no 1st hand experience. Good luck whichever way you go.

 

[Roadkill]

This is my #1 deer rifle - its a surplus FN military Mauser in 30-06.These were sold under various store brands in the 1950s. I have $200 in the gun (pawn shop) and $300 in the scope. I hand load 180g .312 bullets sized down to true .308 diameter with 46g of IMR 4895. Don't hunt with it much because I only shoot what wife and I can eat but its the most accurate gun I've ever used. I have actually flipped large deer with it. Any standard issue WWII era military surplus gun is more than adequate for deer hunting.