Deer hunting this fall with a Mauser?

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  • ru44mag

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    Feb 6, 2013
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    Anyone getting their old Mauser out of the closet for deer this fall? I'm thinking my Swedish 6.5x55 would do nicely. When my eyes were younger I could hit targets quite handily at 250 yards. In my woods it would be awesome. Any suggestions on ammo at a reasonable price? I started to by 2 boxes off cheaper than dirt, but did not want to pay $17 in shipping.
     

    AtTheMurph

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    I used my old sporterized Husqvarna the last few years in Wisconsin. It's an awfully good deer rifle. Flat shooting, low recoil, accurate and effective. Shot twice and dropped both deer in their tracks.

    I bought ammo at Cabela's in L'ville. It was pretty inexpensive for an off caliber load. Bought the only soft points they had at the time, Herters 140g. I think it was $17 for the box if I remember correctly. Shot two rounds to test the zero on the Redfield scope I mounted on it and two more to bag two deer.

    I also bought a bunch of 120g Swedish Match ammo just so I had some around but have never fired a round of that stuff. Figured had the gun and should have enough ammo around to fire if I ever want to take it out and shoot it.
     

    Mgderf

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    These new rule changes have presented me with a conundrum that I never thought I'd see.
    I have more deer legal long guns now than I can shake a stick at.

    I've thought about using an old type 99 Arisaka in 7.7x58, or maybe an Enfield in .303 British.
    I could always go with the .30-06, or maybe a .308, but then what would I tell the .30-30, the .300 Blackout, the SKS in 7.62x39.
    The Mosin Nagants should get some respect...

    That doesn't even get into the pistol caliber offerings or shotguns I have available.
    It's a great problem to have.
     

    clfergus

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    I have a beautiful Marlin 336 from 1957 that is chambered in .35 REM. I have wanted to hunt so long with that gun but my Howa 1500 in .308 with the Nikon glass is so so accurate and quick on the follow-up shot I just can't stand to not take it. This is a bad bad rule change for an OCD gun owner.
     

    oldpink

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    Dunno if you're a reloader, but if you're not satisfied with the factory offerings, you could roll your own and use some of the new premium bullets to get the most out of your downrange performance.
    Hell, it's worth it to roll your own regardless, both to see if you can improve your accuracy and because of the satisfaction of taking your deer with your own ammo.
     

    ru44mag

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    Dunno if you're a reloader, but if you're not satisfied with the factory offerings, you could roll your own and use some of the new premium bullets to get the most out of your downrange performance.
    Hell, it's worth it to roll your own regardless, both to see if you can improve your accuracy and because of the satisfaction of taking your deer with your own ammo.

    I just started reloading pistol ammo again last fall. I actually bought bullets in 6.5 20-25 years ago. Just have not had a good reason until now to graduate to reloading rifle ammo.
     

    oldpink

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    It's not that hard.
    Just get the dies, shell holder, primers, powder, and brass, and you should be all set.
    If you don't already have it, you'll also need a case lube system of one sort, at least if you intend to full length resize your brass.
     
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    On a hill in Perry C
    I may give Inga, my 1900 Carl Gustav a whirl this fall. Or maybe Elsa, the 1900 Oberndorf. Or Frida, my 1916 96/38. Or maybe Tuulikki (a female Finnish forest goddess, fyi), my favorite M39. Ooops, she's not a Mauser. :ugh: Then there's...
    But anyway, if you're looking for 6.5x55 ammo, Aim Surplus has PPU 139 soft points for a bit under $14 a box. It's good stuff, I've tried it 4 or 5 of mine and it shot well in all of them. Bullet will do a number on a deer as more than one Kentucky whitetail has found out.
     

    sheepdog697

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    Sep 2, 2015
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    Cedar Lake
    These new rule changes have presented me with a conundrum that I never thought I'd see.
    I have more deer legal long guns now than I can shake a stick at.

    I've thought about using an old type 99 Arisaka in 7.7x58, or maybe an Enfield in .303 British.
    I could always go with the .30-06, or maybe a .308, but then what would I tell the .30-30, the .300 Blackout, the SKS in 7.62x39.
    The Mosin Nagants should get some respect...

    That doesn't even get into the pistol caliber offerings or shotguns I have available.
    It's a great problem to have.


    what new rule changes? can anyone post a link
     

    sheepdog697

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    I know these are listed as "not limited to", but i dont see any 6.5 variants in there...

    • 6mm-06

    • 6mm BR Remington
    • 6mm PPC
    • 6mm Remington
    • .240 Weatherby
    • .243 Winchester
    • .243 Winchester Super Short Magnum
    • .30 Carbine
    • .30 Herrett
    • .30 Remington AR
    • .30-06 Springfield
    • .30-30 Winchester
    • .30-40 Krag
    • .300 AAC Blackout (.300 Whisper)
    • .300 H&H Magnum
    • .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum
    • .300 Savage
    • .300 Weatherby Magnum
    • .300 Winchester Magnum
    • .300 Winchester Short Magnum
    • .300 Remington Ultra Magnum
    • .308 Marlin
    • .308 Winchester
    • 7.62x39mm
    • 7.62x54mmR
     

    oldpink

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    I know these are listed as "not limited to", but i dont see any 6.5 variants in there...

    • 6mm-06

    • 6mm BR Remington
    • 6mm PPC
    • 6mm Remington
    • .240 Weatherby
    • .243 Winchester
    • .243 Winchester Super Short Magnum
    • .30 Carbine
    • .30 Herrett
    • .30 Remington AR
    • .30-06 Springfield
    • .30-30 Winchester
    • .30-40 Krag
    • .300 AAC Blackout (.300 Whisper)
    • .300 H&H Magnum
    • .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum
    • .300 Savage
    • .300 Weatherby Magnum
    • .300 Winchester Magnum
    • .300 Winchester Short Magnum
    • .300 Remington Ultra Magnum
    • .308 Marlin
    • .308 Winchester
    • 7.62x39mm
    • 7.62x54mmR

    The changes are very simple, i.e. any caliber with a minimum .243 bore diameter and a minimum 1.16" case length, with a maximum of 3" case length.
    That last limitation is to stop yahoos from going after Bambi with .50 BMG.
    The only other requirements are that you must be hunting private land only when using a rifle that fits into this category, and you must have no more than ten rounds on your person, whether in the rifle magazine, in your pockets, or any combination between the two.
    In short, as long as you have private land to hunt, any 6.5 variant (or even .45-70 and other artillery) is good to go.
     

    oldpink

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    thanks for the clarification oldpink. i guess there is no more reason to keep my .308 bolt gun...

    Unless you're in real need of the money or just don't like the rifle, why sell?
    It's still perfectly legal and one of the better choices for deer.
    Having choices for the first time in state history is a beautiful thing.
     

    42769vette

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    Oct 6, 2008
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    south of richmond in
    thanks for the clarification oldpink. i guess there is no more reason to keep my .308 bolt gun...


    I would bet you never kill a deer with a 6.5 anything that couldn't be killed with a 308. I switched to 308 last year, not because it gave me more preformance than my 358, but because I own a 30 cal suppressor, and not a 25 cal suppressor.
     
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