Do you hunt with an AR(15-10 whatever)?

With a 7 mag, I don't need follow up shots.

 

Yes, .223 for doe culls and varmints, and just got a 6.5 Grendel upper for deer hunting.

 

I voted no, but I'm considering using my 16" bushmaster AR15 for a lot of the reasons Tirod pointed out. The area I hunt for buck season is pretty dense forest. I've shot a couple deer at ranges less than 50 yards, and my 270 with a 4.5-14x scope is not the best tool for the conditions. Plus, most of the bucks I shoot are small to medium for mulies.

I've got some 65 grain sierra game kings that shoot fast and accurate with CFE223 powder. If I were to try hunting with an MSR, this is the combo I'd try first.

On the other hand, a 30-30 lever action with iron sites has a certain appeal, and it's a proven tool for harvesting deer at shorter ranges.

 

Why can't we just call it a semi-auto rifle? Why "modern sporting rifle"? That name to me sounds extremely broad... a Savage Axis is to me pretty modern, and is also a sporting rifle.

But to answer the original question, I don't hunt with AR because it is big medicine on a little critter. ALL I HUNT IS SQUIRRELS!!! !

 

I needed the 'both' option, also. What I really needed was the 'everything option'. If it's in season I'm huntin' it. Air rifle, bow, rim fire, muzzle loader, shotgun, rifle (bolt action, pump, single, auto to include AR-10/15). No spear yet, and my wrist rocket is broke

 

I haven't yet but I won't say I never will.

 

Once you get accustomed to having delicious venison/rabbit/elk/speed goat/hog, etc. in your freezer, your conscience should cut you some slack.

 

My Bison Armory AR15 in 6.8, drops the pigs.... DRT

(Dead Right There)

 

Yes, I have successfully deployed an AR-15 in .223 on two separate deer hunts, harvesting one whitetail buck (5x5) and one mule deer buck (6x5)

 

Because that's the fairly "neutral" alternative to "assault rifle" popular nomenclature has come up with in order to describe the AR-15 family. While you may picture the term including other sorts of firearms, the shooting press has effectively limited its definition to semi-auto firearms, typically of the AR-15 family.

 

This might be a bit off topic in an AR thread so I'll keep this short:

The numbers are in tens of thousands. It's a non-native species, introduced to Finland in 1934 by five deer (subspecies Dacotensis and Borealis; big-bodied northern whitetail common in MN, ND, SD, WY, WI, MI, MT etc.) donated by Finnish-American hunting enthusiasts from Minnesota, and a few more in 1948, to broaden the gene pool after WWII. The population has been very sustainable for hunting for over 50 years now and while many farmers regard it as a pest, it has become #1 big game species for hunters in southern and southwestern Finland. AFAIK this is the only major population of whitetail outside North/Central/South America.

And I love it.

 

why do most people automatically assume it's .223, even when used for deer?

I hunt deer with an AR in .358 WSSM. I used my Varminter for varmints.

 

Semi's are not legal in PA so I don't have a choice. If they were I'd get a 6.5 or 6.8 upper in a heartbeat!

Laphroaig

 

Varmints only with my AR15 carbine so far. The .223 V-Max rounds left nothing to be desired for woodchucks. Michigan has a rule against .223 for deer too, so once my Harley is bought this spring I'll be finishing my 6.8SPC II build. After that, an 18-inch rifle length .223 Wylde for woodchucks and coyotes.

 

Fear.

 

I have no problem hunting with ar15's and ar-10's and do so regularly. The handle well, are reliable with fast follow up capability if you need it. I prefer 18-20" barrels, and a simple web sling. Mine are all scoped with forward offset so you can bring the rifle in close, NCH style. I think they are a great option for hunters and hope that our country continues to allow their use.

 

I've successfully hunted deer with a 9mm AR15 carbine and a 6.5 grendel AR15 rifle setup. I've also hunted elk the 6.5 but I never saw an elk to test it on. my 223 AR15 carbine has also been used successfully on deer, but not by me.

my brother has an AR10 carbine in 243 win, but after holding that thing with a scope and a full mag the thing weighs a full 3 pounds more than my heaviest rifle in my collection which I'm pretty sure is my M1 Garand.

 

I voted YES , but I didn't take it out this year , but got a 6 pointer with it last year , AR15 in 25WSSM , this year I used 3 bolt guns and a single shot 45LC

 

I needed a "both" option. I use an AR15 in 6.8 and a DPMS AR10.

 

Wrong. Legal unless you're in the southern shotgun zone.

 

more people would be ar-10 hunters if there were more 18-20" light versions of the platform such as the MP10. It can be done.

 

redneck383; all centerfire .22cals are leagle in the rifle zone and have been for many many years!

 

AR' s in 223 became legal here a few years ago. At the time I was recovering from shoulder surgery and wanted a soft recoil semi auto. I had 2 30-06 SA's and an tried several AK's. A Saiga wasn't too bad. But I used AR's in the Army and knew they were lighter and better balanced than an AK, and were vastly superior in range, accuracy and effectiveness. I wasn't disappointed. First deer with the AR was a 13 pt. 250 lb. Buck one shot made mush of his lungs and heart and brown was down. I think a bolt action is better to maneuver with on stands and in brush and levers are great for stalking in thick stuff. But an AR is good too for my use.

 

I use my AR-15 with a 7.62X39 Upper and a 40mm Red Dot type sight. Works well, handles well, and follow up shots are there, if needed.
I do wish I could find 10 round magazines for this rifle/cartridge combination - the 30 round banana magazines send the wrong message.

 

That's kinda funny. I'd me more concerned with it making the gun less maneuverable in brush.

That brings up another reason I haven't used my AR for hunting yet: In Oregon we can only use 5-round magazines for big game, which always seem to cost more that 30 round mags