AR pistol chambered in .223 for brush hunting

[Hog huntin Harry]

I imagine an AR pistol chambered in .223 or .300 blk would be pretty handy for wild swine in the brush, what do ya'll think ?
Also just for fun, here's a poll.

Edit: I have no idea why I put this in General Gun Discussions. Mods, if ya'll want to move this thread to Hunting, please do.

 

[jmr40]

Either will work. I'd rather have 223 than 300 BO. I've killed a deer with 223. It was just as dead as the ones I've killed with 30-06 and it didn't run as far as some. But I have better choices so I don't use it as a rule. I used to think I needed a bunch of guns to cover a bunch of situations. Anymore I just use a bolt gun in 308 for everything. Maybe not the same bolt gun. I do have one with a shorter 18" barrel and a low powered scope for the really thick stuff.

I've hunted deer, mostly in thick brush for over 40 years. The secret is a very accurate rifle with a laser flat trajectory to 100 yards and good low light optics to be able to see tiny openings in brush and put the bullet through it. The traditional lever guns, and cartridges for them aren't accurate enough, nor do they shoot flat enough even at close range to thread shots through those openings. There is no such thing as brush busting bullets and rapid fire repeat shots are far less important than 1st shot precision. Even at close range.

And I don't think there is anything magical about 308. Just about anything 26 caliber or larger will get it done. It comes down to how much recoil you want to deal with.

 

[Mr. Mosin]

In my humble opinion... no. Spire tipped bullet will deflect more than a bullet with a wide, flat nose. Meplat, I believe it's called. The trick with any lever "brush gun" is being able to accurately judge distance *precisely*, especially for something like a .45-70 Gov't that rainbows. You got one shot, don't waste it with a cartridge made to shoot coyote sized varmints (looking at you .223 Remington), or a cartridge made to be suppressed from an MK18 sized "rifle" (looking at you .300 AAC). Stick with tradition- it works, has for years, and will continue to do so.

 

[jmorris]

Lots of stuff on that list better than a .223 pistol for deer and I have a 10.5” SBR myself, just don’t use it for deer hunting.

 

[Robert]

At those ranges in those conditions I'd borrow my friends 9.3x74R double rifle. If he wasn't shooting it... It's made by Chapuis Arms of France and rather inexpensive, for a double rifle.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

To answer your thread title query and not your expanded OP or super expanded poll, .223 AR pistol is not a good idea for hogs.

Yes, it can work. The question really isn't one of IF it can work. .22 subonic will work as will .17 hmr. The question is whether or not it is actually a good choice and the answer is that it is not.

As I have to keep explaining to new hunters who are having troubles with dropping hogs with their .223 AR15 carbines and rifles, when you reduce the size and/or energy of a caliber, the need for precision in your shooting increases. So while the caliber isn't near the top of the list for good choices, then stepping it down for use in a pistol makes it an even less ideal choice.

Since you talking about brush hunting, I am going to assume here that you mean hunting on the ground in fairly thick vegetation with short range shooting. Things can happen quite quickly in such situations. So let me ask you this. Are you really precise under pressure and with very little time?

 

[SharpDog]

I picked the Ruger mini-30 mainly because of ammo cost. 2nd choice would have been the .300 AAC, third would be the '94 would not go down to .223 unless I needed to.

 

[Armored farmer]

Thats right in the sweet spot for a '94 or 336.

As an old bird hunter/target shooter, the 870 ith rifle sights isn't a bad choice either

 

[Mr. Mosin]

I agree with @Armored farmer. .30-30 or hot .44 Magnum lever gun, even a .357 lever; before a souped up .22 Magnum.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I've killed a deer with 223. It was just as dead as the ones I've killed with 30-06 and it didn't run as far as some. But I have better choices so I don't use it as a rule. ...,

I've hunted deer, mostly in thick brush for over 40 years. The secret is a very accurate rifle with a laser flat trajectory to 100 yards and good low light optics to be able to see tiny openings in brush and put the bullet through it. The traditional lever guns, and cartridges for them aren't accurate enough, nor do they shoot flat enough even at close range to thread shots through those openings. There is no such thing as brush busting bullets and rapid fire repeat shots are far less important than 1st shot precision. Even at close range.

I agree, except, I'm not certain how the OP is going to hunt.

For deer, it's correct that one wants a very straight shooting round if going after them in heavy brush, and make that first shot count. I too have hunted deer in heavy brush for decades, using a 225 lead round ball from a flintlock, and because of that trajectory, I'm more limited and I need a clear shot...no "threading of the needle" for that type of bullet. I think that most of the platforms in the post will work for a clear, single shot, and humanely harvest the deer, but going into a dense brush situation, the flat trajectory is a must.

Hogs might different..., So I opted for the 7.62x39mm rifle because of the hogs.

BUT...., If I was the OP, I'd get an upper for that round for my AR-15 instead of a Ruger Mini-30, especially if I was going to use an AR-15 based "pistol".

IF the OP is simply going to hunt a single hog around a bait pile, or maybe a pair, then again most of those choices work fine, but IF he's going out to eliminate a bunch of hogs, planning on keeping a big one for eatin'..., then he's going to need a semi-auto. Since he's also considering a very short barrel, the 7.62x39mm is (imho) better than the .223 Remington due to bullet weight since shot placement will be a bit more "iffy" on all but the first hog when the shooting starts. A heavier recoil spring and heavier buffer and the recoil won't be a factor

Besides it's more fun if you have uppers for you AR in different cartridges

LD

 

[Random 8]

If I had the choice of the AR in .300 BO or .223, rather than both in the same column, I would choose .300 BLK over the Mini-thirty. As the .223 is still on the table, I went with Mini-thirty.

Edit. Now if you can find one of the classic Ruger .44 magnum semi autos and ammo that it cycles reliably, I'd think that would be about perfect. Handguns have never been my "thing" for hunting big game, although I have bagged a couple deer with a .41 blackhawk. I much prefer a carbine for thick cover. It's hard to beat with a 2x minimum 30mm compact optic with a heavy duplex or 3P4 reticle.

 

[Berserker]

The things that pop into a guys head while sitting in a deer blind.

I'd probably get yelled at if I gave my opinion on this for a brush gun.

 

[BreechFace]

Short range brush gun out of a short barrel it is always a better idea to go larger on the caliber, they hit better velocities and energies when hindered by a short barrel.

10-60 yards hard to argue with the 30-30 if it’s a trapper 16”.

My closer range out west here AR is a 16” 450 Bushmaster. Good out to 250 yards.

 

[Bfh_auto]

In brush. It's more about a quick stop. Bigger & heavier rule.
While you have several good options. I would use a 180 WFN or jhp in 357 loaded to 1800- 2000 fps.
If you're stuck on an AR pistol. Run 300 BO with a bullet that will expand.

 

[earlthegoat2]

It is freakishly easy to find a suitable AR upper for your needs....it can even be a pistol variant if it must be. 450 BM, 458 Socom, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, and on and on. There is not a very good reason to use the 223 in this instance.