Best military rifle for hunting....as is!

[Adam Helmer]

Mr. 16 gauge,

Great thread. I would point out that the Krag and M1884 Springfield have very fine sights, ladder sights ahead of the receiver, finer than, say, the M38 Swed 6.5 or my 98k. My favorite woods rifle is the M38 Swede with muzzlebrake/flash hider. The sights are large and easy to pick up. My second favorite woods rifle is a M1894 26-inch barrel .30/30 made in 1919.

In the late 1950s, many PA deer hunters retired their small game shotgun and "pumpkin balls" for deer for an "Army Rifle" and a box of huntin' loads. Back then a M1903A3 went for $25 and the M1903 for $29.00. A P-17 was about $25.00 and my first rifle, a M1938 7.35mm Carcano was $13.88. All my neighbors acquired "Army Rifles" and enjoyed more deer hunting success. Unfortunately, far too many of those folks "sporterized" (butchered) those old army guns. Rare is the "as issued" rifle in their gun racks today.

Adam

[Rapier]

For a modern military I would have to go with the M-38 Swede, in 6.5x55, a fine rifle with an excellent cartridge. Very accurate, pleasant to shoot and a proven game dispatcher. I prefer the bolt gun for a hunting rifle and I do not like the weight or length of the larger military rifles, to lug around.

For the antique or BP guns, I would select the big Martini-Henry 577/450. I have watched them work in many BP matches and they are wonderful rifles, fast lock time and very accurate. All you need is a Zulu here or there to pot.

On the Martini, according to Wikipedia, the 101st captured one of them in Afghanistan in April 2011.
Ed