AR-15 hunting calibers, what do/have you used?

My hunting AR,(5.56 barrel, but I use .223- 50 grain V-Max hunting round) does a nice job on feral cats and coyotes. Ranges from 100 to 250 yards.
Can't really say how it would work on anything larger. But I would guess less than optimal.

.223; coyote, possum, woodchuck, badger, skunk, mink, feral cat, muskrat, coon and crows.
.450 Bushmaster; deer
6.5 Grendel; deer
I much prefer the Grendel for deer but it is not legal where I hunt except for specific areas and seasons.

I’ve taken game with AR’s chambered in 17 Rem, 20 Practical, 204 Ruger, 223 Rem, 5.56x45mm, 224 Valk, 6-45, 6.5 grendel, 6.8 spc, 7 Valk, 300 whisper/black, 7.62x39mm, 450 bushmaster, and 458 Socom. Deer, pigs, coyotes, prairie dogs, and sundry small game.

Personally, I find the x39 and Blackout to be too far past the optimal point, just as 5.56/223 isn’t far enough.

My latest, yet to draw blood, is a 243LBC. I find the 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC to be nearly optimal in the AR platform. The 25-45 Sharps and 6-45, are a bit on the light side, and the 7 Valk is simply too burdensome to create. The 243LBC is promising to be fantastic, less drop and drift than the 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 spc, but just as effective on deer and smaller game in the field. I have killed game with the same bullets at the same speeds for years out of bolt guns, so I’m looking forward to getting this new gasser on game this fall. The 6mm ARC will replace the wildcat 243LBC when Hornady finally drops its commercial launch.

The 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 SPC are the best options for Midwest hunting out of the AR-15 with factory ammo, with an edge to the 6.5 Grendel.

5.56/223, .300aac, 6.5grendel, .458socom.

tho not used from the ar platform, ill add the 6x47Rem (pretty comperable to the 6x45), and 7.62x39.

Of the lot i think the 6.5Grendel, and 6x47 were/are the best generalists. The 6x47 is better on the low end an not as good on the top, but still functional enough.
The X39 would be a close 3rd, and at under 150yds or so probably better than the 6x47/45 in some ways.

Personally im enamored to the Grendel case, I think the 6mms are better balance with the cases volume, but the 6.5 does well enough.

Varminterror said:

and the 7 Valk is simply too burdensome to create.

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I’ve had AR’s in .458 SOCOM and .358 WSSM. The WSSM was my favorite, but finding cases and then fire forming them was problematic. The WSSM killed a deer at 269 yards.

redneck2 said:

I’ve had AR’s in .458 SOCOM and .358 WSSM. The WSSM was my favorite, but finding cases and then fire forming them was problematic. The WSSM killed a deer at 269 yards.

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oh yeah - I have used 243 and 243wssm too.

Making Valk brass was awful, especially considering how easily it is lost in the field, or damaged by the high operating pressure.

I have ARs in 22LR, 223/556, 300 BO, 30 Remington AR, & 450 Bushmaster.



450 Bushmaster has been my deer rifle for the past three season. I have had a lot of fun reloading for it. My 450 Bushmaster has never seen a round of factory ammo.

Next season I will be using the 30 Remington AR, I think.

My 300 BO pistol with subsonic ammo and a suppressor has been much fun thwacking the up-armored opossums.

My 556 guns only seem to get used for competition.

I just got the 22 LR earlier this year and have only used it for playing around but I am getting the itch to do some squirrel hunting with it.

My main prairie dog rifle is an AR-15 chambered in 204 Ruger with a 26" heavy barrel. I've got AR-15's chambered in 22x6.8 and 22 Nosler for my next prairie dog adventure.

Havent used it yet but I have a 7.62x39 that I'm itching to bring along to deer camp it's got a 1.5-4.5x32 scope. It's a light, short/handy and weather resistant rifle. My new stand spot is overlooking a clearing, distances of 80 yards max. I think 7.62x39 will do the job at that range

Have taken multiple deer, coyote, and bobcat with AR-15's in 7.62x39 and 6.8spc in ranges of 100-175 yds (x39) and 100-250yds (6.8spc). I wouldn't hesitate to take the x39 out to 200 yds for deer and the 6.8 out to 300 yds for the same. There are lots of good AR-15 rounds for medium sized game, not just these two.

6.5 Grendel for deer. 204 Ruger and 223 for varmints. I have a 6mm Turbo which is a modified Grendel case necked down to 6mm that I may try this year.

I'm perfectly content to use 223 with proper bullets in my AR for game as big as deer at reasonable ranges. I've taken 1 deer with it and it was just as dead as the ones I've shot with a 30-06. But my AR will never be my primary hunting rifle. It will work and I have no issues with those who use it, I just prefer my bolt rifles most of the time.

But if I were ever inclined to add another upper and shoot a different cartridge I'd probably go with 6.5 Grendel. I'm also paying attention to what the military is doing. They keep making noise about changing to some type of 6.8mm cartridge. If they were to ever adopt something else I'd have to consider going the same route. But if making that choice today, I'd go 6.5 Grendel.

I have taken several deer, turkeys, and hogs with my AR in the lowly 223 caliber. I use Hornady 75 grain BTHP match.

7.62x39 is pretty deadly IME. And I've dropped a lot of deer and pigs with that round over the years. I also shoot 6.5 Grendel, but so far with a sample size of around 10 animals (3 deer and 7+ pigs) the 7.62x39 seems to drop them faster.

spazzy said:

Havent used it yet but I have a 7.62x39 that I'm itching to bring along to deer camp it's got a 1.5-4.5x32 scope. It's a light, short/handy and weather resistant rifle. My new stand spot is overlooking a clearing, distances of 80 yards max. I think 7.62x39 will do the job at that range

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Last deer I shot with my 7.62x39 was at 152 yards. Perfect double-lung broadside shot. Mature doe went exactly 32 yards and nosedived into the dirt. Textbook entry and exit. It will do the job alright.

Not sure I'd agree with the "obviously" second place of .300 BO, but whatever. I have 6.8 SPC for deer and (hopefully, one day) hogs. The deer dropped immediately to a hand loaded 120 gr Hornady SST at 55 yards with a shot through the throat. That's all the experience I have.

Of the cartridges you mentioned 6.8 SPC II is the best option for hunting for me. I think the 450 Bushmaster has a lot of punch for short range work.
My two 6.8 SPC rifles, one was a factory Armalite 16" chrome lined mid length. The other is an 18" Bison Armory. Both of these rifles fed and functioned perfectly. There are several reasons I prefer the 6.8 SPC II. 6.8 has a relatively straight taper which plays well with the AR straight mags/ mag well. I value the slick and very reliable functioning of this round. I have never read or heard of anyone with function problems in a 6.8 SPC. The 6.8 has a nice strong bolt head with no history of premature lug breaking, and no need for revision. I value knowing that I have the strongest bolt possible, with the least likelihood of breaking. The military tested terminal performance of multiple calibers when developing the 6.8 and settled on .277 as the best combination of size and terminal performance. I have read other experienced hunters who agree that 6.8 SPC is better on game than the 6.5 Grendel and I can quote them. I value having the best terminal performance I can get. That is my take and the truth as I understand it.
Because of the weaker bolt, smaller caliber and somewhat slower muzzle velocity, I would never chose 6.5 Grendel over a 6.8 SPC II for hunting.
Now that being said, I am not an overall fan of any of these which I consider to be pretty low powered for large deer in open country.
I avoid the question altogether by carrying a 270, 270 WSM, 257 Weatherby, or my M&P10 in 308. I like plenty of punch. For short range work, I think I would use my 6.8 or my 20" 5.56 with 65 gr. reloads.
I think it also depends on your uses. I hunt in open country where longer shots and large deer are the norm. So I do not value suppressors or pistol length barrels.
Please save the personal attacks this time, in this Ford vs. Chevy debate.

For a variety of reasons, I do not hunt much game. I'm not against it, I just cannot clean the game and I hate to waste the game. Hence, varmint critters are my main targets. I go to South Dakota for prairie dogs every couple years or so. Also, I limit the variety of critters that infest our hobby horse farm.

Any way, besides my varmint cartridge AR-15's, I have AR-15 chambered in 6.5 Grendel, 6x45, and 6.8 SPC. The 6x45 is a bit anemic compared to 6.5 G and 6.8 SPC and I do not see much difference in performance between 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC. If I hunted deer, I'd be comfortable using either.

I have not done anything with an AR-10 platform. Maybe some day.

mcb said:

450 Bushmaster has been my deer rifle for the past three season. I have had a lot of fun reloading for it. My 450 Bushmaster has never seen a round of factory ammo.

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What bullets and grain are you using for your deer loads? I've been loading up my .450 Bushmaster with the Hornady FTX in 250 and 225 grain varieties, but haven't tried anything else. Nor do I use mine for hunting. I built it as a hiking/camping carbine for defense in the woods so it may be some time before I actually shoot an animal with it. I'd love to try some of my 300 grain cast bullets I have for my Ruger .45 Colt, but am not set up for gas checks and not sure if I want to mess with them and just stick with jacketed bullets for the AR.

300BLK BTHP. It will kill anything out to 300 yards just fine with a 16-20" barrel. But I'd like to keep it at 200 or under for my 10.5"

.223/5.56 with 64 grain PowerPoints.
Coyote
Bobcat
Fox
Hog
Axis deer
The deer and hogs were targets of opportunity. When hunting specifically for them I use a 6.5x55 and 30-30 respectively.

Trey Veston said:

What bullets and grain are you using for your deer loads? I've been loading up my .450 Bushmaster with the Hornady FTX in 250 and 225 grain varieties, but haven't tried anything else. Nor do I use mine for hunting. I built it as a hiking/camping carbine for defense in the woods so it may be some time before I actually shoot an animal with it. I'd love to try some of my 300 grain cast bullets I have for my Ruger .45 Colt, but am not set up for gas checks and not sure if I want to mess with them and just stick with jacketed bullets for the AR.

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I have loaded bullets from 200 gr to 405 gr

Left to Right: Barnes, 200gr XPB, Barnes 275gr TSX, Hornady 240gr XTP/MAG, Hornady 300gr XTP/MAG, Hornady, 225gr FTX, Hornady 250gr FTX, Remington 405gr SP (resized).
But my favorite is the Barnes 275 gr TSX. It's not cheap by any means but the terminal performance has been very good for me.

This TSX went almost the entire length of a 140lb doe, head to tail, and about a foot of dirt were I recovered it. Near perfect expansion and 95% weight retention.

As for 300 gr cast bullets, if they are hard enough they will probably work fine but if they are for 45 Colt they might be too soft. I have not tried any but some of the guys over at 450bushmaster.net forum have been playing with coated heavy for caliber lead in their 450 BM with good results.

I have AR's in 5.56/223 and 6.5 Grendel and while they are not my preferred hunting weapons I have used the 5.56/223 ones to take game. Using them I've killed 3 deer, about 12 hogs, and numerous coyotes with them over the years. Recently I have been using the 62 gr Barnes TTSX but before that it was the 64 grain Winchester Power-Point. The biggest was a 350ish lb hog at ~125 yards. Shot it in the neck, about two inches down and back from the ear, and it dropped like a stone. Longest shot on a deer was a neck shot on an 180ish lb eight point at ~175 yards and again it immediately dropped. I've also used a 223 in a bolt rifle with much the same results.

But if I were building/buying an AR specifically for hunting medium size game I would likely choose 350 Legend, 450 Bushmaster, or 458 SOCOM.

30 Remington AR. I can't figure how this cartridge didn't make more of a splash than it did.