the back story,,,
old school
now days many budget guys are buying moson gnatss----spelling!! 7.62x54.
back in 1975 when i bout a cheap gun for hunting, many mausers were available,
8mmx57 JS, mine cost 80 at a pawn shop.
in power it is a cross between a 30:06 and a 338 mag. bigger bullet, smaller case///
most ammo like remington is 170 gr at 2400 fps, soft point
i got norma mag, from sweeden 165gr at 2695 fps hollow point
in the years ive had it, i sporterised the military stock,
i modified the thumb safety to left hand, low throw,
i turned down the bolt handle,
i had a gun smith drill and tap, and install see through mounts and top it with a 4x scope,
i got an after market sport stock, and a cheek piece ammo holder.
my barrel may have been shot out, as it whistled when you shot it, so
i found a new in cosmolean turkish barrel, 29 inches long, over all length is now 52!
recently i bought a 4-24x52 lighted retical sniper scope, had to modify the bases to raise
it high enough to clear my see through mounts. also a clamp on bi-pod for extra accuracy.
in 35 years my 80 buck gun is now worth about 300, it can reach out and touch what ever.
ive gone deer hunting many times over the years, not always a win.
ive NEVER shot AT a deer, that i didnt eat!!
a friend just bought a 1895 chilean mauser that had been a 7mm, but was remade and rifled for 7.62x51 like yours.
i day dream of wildcatting mine to be 8mmx 338, but i never will get around to that.