Military Rifles, Preferrd?

[Hanshi]

Not a real good place for this topic but it's as close as I can find.

Question: Do any of you like, shoot, hunt with and/or treasure a military rifle either flint or percussion? 

I'll start off by fessing up to having one I dearly love; a US M1841 "Mississippi" rifle in the original .54 caliber, from Euroarms.  I bought it years ago from Jarnigans for about 60% of the cost of the same rifle from DGW; in other words, a deal.  This rifle is fitted and finished as nicely as most custom rifles I've seen.  It has a walnut stock, smooth lock and very nice trigger.  It's also as accurate as any deer caliber rifle I own.  It has taken deer although I haven't hunted with it in a long time due to my preference for flintlocks.

EDIT: Pictures Deleted by REd Badger at Hanshi's Request....

It's the only military rifle I own.  It's heavy at around 9 to 9.5 pounds but delivers excellent butt strokes to...well, the enemy.  May yet hunt with it again.  WHAT ABOUT YOU?

[Hawken50]

There is one thats on my bucket list. The Sharps 54 used in the Civil war.... maybe one of these days.....

[Hanshi]

There is one thats on my bucket list. The Sharps 54 used in the Civil war.... maybe one of these days.....

Let's hope, let's hope.....

[Patocazador]

None that I can afford. Your 1841 is real nice. If I had one, I could participate in the local annual reenactment of the Dade Massacre during the Seminole wars.

[old salt]

I do not know why but I have never wanted Military rifle. My family as had at least one member of the family in every conflict that this country as been in. From French and indian to the present

[Cranbrook]

I have owned a few military repro rifles over the years but never even considered them for hunting use.

Just a bit too "clunky" for me.  I have been fortunate to have had options including several Kentucky longrifle's that were light weight and well balanced for a long day in the woods.

The military rifles which included a Euroarms 3 banded Enfield 58 cal., a shorter Zoli Zuave typed 58cal, and another English made 2 band Enfield 58.

They were fun to shoot on the target field but just not up to my hunting standards.  If I had nothing else, sure, I would make do. I have often pondered over the idea that these military arms were designed to kill men. My preferred hunting rifle's were made to hunt with.

[Cranbrook]

I have owned a few military repro rifles over the years but never even considered them for hunting use.

Just a bit too "clunky" for me.  I have been fortunate to have had options including several Kentucky longrifle's that were light weight and well balanced for a long day in the woods.

The military rifles which included a Euroarms 3 banded Enfield 58 cal., a shorter Zoli Zuave typed 58cal, and another English made 2 band Enfield 58.

They were fun to shoot on the target field but just not up to my hunting standards.  If I had nothing else, sure, I would make do. I have often pondered over the idea that these military arms were designed to kill men. My preferred hunting rifle's were made to hunt with.

[Rocklock]

I've never hunted w my Brit made PH P58. It is plenty accurate and the 550 gr slug would deliver an awesome whallop. I have no problem with its original use, plenty of fowlers, long rifles, pistols etc have had martial use. I just prefer to hunt with my flintlocks.
TC

[54 Gallager]

I have a .58 Zouave That I really enjoy shooting but my Gallagher carbine in .54 is my keeper.  It has fine rifling (it reminds me of Marlin's "Micro Groove" rifling)and in one competition shoot I was able to hit chicken eggs at 50 yards with it so it is a shooter.

[Hanshi]

The idea is that in case I miss and the deer charges, I can stop him with a butt stroke.   


My passion is longrifles but there's just something about this particular rifle...

I shoot it from time to time but it has not gone into the woods in a long time.  It is a lot of fun to shoot, however.  Too heavy to tote around in the bush; although works great when one is sitting down.  But I can't walk very far, anyway.

[pastorb]

Hey fellas, new guy here on the forum, but been shooting muzzleloaders for 30+ years.  My go to deer rifle and general all around shooter is an original 1861 Colt Special musket. I use the standard load of 60 gr. of 3Fg powder behind a 510 grain minie, it goes about 1030 fps over the chrono.  There is no guessing as to whether it hit or not, a loud smack on deer flesh followed by a deer being driven sideways and down. Deadly at any range I can hit them using open sights. The trajectory is very curved as you might imagine, but accurate predictable hits on a paper plate targets can be made to 250 yards (no i don't shoot at game that far!). At 100 yards POI is 8" high, dead on at 145, 22" low at 200 and 4' low at 250.

[Hanshi]

  Welcome to camp, pastorB.  The main thing I like about my 1841 is that it is so darn well made.  Genuine walnut stock and the trigger and lock are super crisp.  I shoot nothing but prb and it hits with authority. 

[Fredredcj]

One of my coworkers is building a double percusion and has it almost done. He made a mold a few weeks ago for a 510 grain and gave me a few. I dont have a military musket but I ran them through my  58 and wow with 100 gr 2f my hawken really came to life.  I can only imagine how hard that would  smack a deer.

[Dogshirt]

Does my P17 Enfield 30-06 count? 

[flintboomer]

I hunt elk more than I do deer and there is an old post about nearly losing my hunting privileges over a friend's use of the 60 grain charge and a minie ball load. He shot the bull elk 4 times, never got more than about 4 inches of penetration at 25-50 yds, the elk got off the property onto an anti hunting neighbor's property and then died.

I have a zouave and an 1858 Enfield replica and I would hunt with them if I needed to but only with a patched ball and heavier charge.  The sights are not designed for hunting ranges and my eyes are getting old.