Mosin-Nagants in 7.62 x 54R: How good a hunting rifle?

[Eleanors38]

8. I generally follow the advice you gave, as I rarely hunt from a stand...

or prepared blind. I prefer finding a tree & brush to comfortably hide in, or to still hunt, but most ranges afford few opportunities to practice even basic techniques, like prone or off-hand shooting. I usually shoot well, but have had to fire back over my right side when being right-handed, or not better anticipating my shots and squeezing off a round when the deer takes a step. Just need more practice!

This year I got an 8-point buck shooting opposite from a sitting position; he went down within 50 yds. And got a doe poking through brush, also from sitting position. A yr earlier, hunting from the exact locales, I spooked one and missed another!