Ok i am in a dilemma. I want my new hunting rifle to be a battle rifle either AR platform or M1A (scout) now my problem is I will most likely buy an AR in .223 for plinking and HD, but i want a hunting rifle as well and was wondering should i get the AR and just get the different upper to shoot .308 or should i get the plinker AR and then the M1A. I am leaning towards getting both because well thats more guns. I love the M1A family as a real wood gun just feels better, but i want what is economical as well.
Hunting Rifle Dilemma
- Thread starter PFCLEE11B
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younganddumb
Member
depends on what your hunting?
arthurcw
Member
YaD nailed it. You have to be more specific.
If you want smallish deer and are a very good shot and your state allows it and you are only interested in 100 to 150 yards shots, and you used the right bullets with the right twist *deep breath* then you can even hunt with the .223/5.56.
You want bigger critters and/or more certain/longer shots, then you can use a 6.8/6.5 upper.
You want even bigger critters; then you have the .458 socom or the .50 Beowulf uppers. My friend and I joke about these being “indirect fire” weapons.
You won’t be able to put a “.308 win” (7.62 NATO) upper on an AR-15 lower. Two different animals.
If you are looking to go the cheapest route, you MAY be able to spend less short term with an AR-15 and getting one of the more manly uppers.
But a plain-Jane AR-15 for HD and adding a base model M1A may be on par once you figure in ammo availability and cost.
If you are dead set on a semi-auto for hunting (which I am so I understand), then you are probably booting the most economical choice which is an AR-15 for plinking and social work and a bolt action for hunting. No my style, so I’m willing to spend a bit extra for the shame of hunting with an EBR.
Please see the the last line of my sig for the truth about AR-15's and being "economical"
If you want smallish deer and are a very good shot and your state allows it and you are only interested in 100 to 150 yards shots, and you used the right bullets with the right twist *deep breath* then you can even hunt with the .223/5.56.
You want bigger critters and/or more certain/longer shots, then you can use a 6.8/6.5 upper.
You want even bigger critters; then you have the .458 socom or the .50 Beowulf uppers. My friend and I joke about these being “indirect fire” weapons.
You won’t be able to put a “.308 win” (7.62 NATO) upper on an AR-15 lower. Two different animals.
If you are looking to go the cheapest route, you MAY be able to spend less short term with an AR-15 and getting one of the more manly uppers.
But a plain-Jane AR-15 for HD and adding a base model M1A may be on par once you figure in ammo availability and cost.
If you are dead set on a semi-auto for hunting (which I am so I understand), then you are probably booting the most economical choice which is an AR-15 for plinking and social work and a bolt action for hunting. No my style, so I’m willing to spend a bit extra for the shame of hunting with an EBR.
Please see the the last line of my sig for the truth about AR-15's and being "economical"
skinewmexico
Member
My kids have killed a ton of deer here in Texas with a 223. Soft point ammo, they drop like a rock.
MCgunner
Member
I'd just buy a hunting rifle and leave the AR for the range. A Savage is inexpensive and more effective. I have one in 7mm Remington Magnum and I don't worry much about having enough gun, not in the lower 48. It's 1MOA accurate and didn't set me back all that much. Great trigger, too. It might be a little much for Texas whitetails, but it'll be fine on elk and large hogs. The .223 is just too tiny to make it into my gun cabinet. I hunt mostly with a .308. .223s are for ground hogs.
Deer Hunter
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You didn't tell us where you were located, PFC. That was important information.
You can either go with a larger caliber AR-upper or buy another gun. M1As are expensive, other choices are not so expensive. Give us a price range and decide between the AR upper calibers or a different gun and we can help you.
You can either go with a larger caliber AR-upper or buy another gun. M1As are expensive, other choices are not so expensive. Give us a price range and decide between the AR upper calibers or a different gun and we can help you.
NCsmitty
Member
For the money, a Browning BAR commercial auto is a quality weapon. It's available in a lot of different calibers and would satisfy all your needs. It starts at around $800 new.
NCsmitty
NCsmitty
MCgunner
Member
Got a bud with a BAR in .300 win mag. It shoots off the shelf ammo into 1.5 MOA and would do better with handloads I'm betting. Pretty awesome for an auto and it sure attenuates the recoil, though it's a BIG HEAVY beast. Not really any heavier than a M1A, though, and a lot more gun. Agree with NCsmitty on this one.
If you just have to be militaristic, get a bolt gun and call it a "sniper rifle". Hell, put a mildot scope on it and make it more authentic. I'm surprised the antis haven't jumped on the "ban the sniper rifles" bandwagon yet. Guess I shouldn't give 'em ideas, but I doubt they'll read this thread.
If you just have to be militaristic, get a bolt gun and call it a "sniper rifle". Hell, put a mildot scope on it and make it more authentic. I'm surprised the antis haven't jumped on the "ban the sniper rifles" bandwagon yet. Guess I shouldn't give 'em ideas, but I doubt they'll read this thread.
rangerruck
Member
I would double up on the ar, and get mags that will hold, and ar parts that will interchange, with each other.
22-rimfire
Member
308 is a good general do it all caliber for everything up to elk. It would help if you would be more specific and mention what state you are in.
Your choice on rifle. Plink away if you can afford it.
Your choice on rifle. Plink away if you can afford it.
arthurcw
Member
The problem is that the .223 AR and the .308 AR are two different platforms who's lowers are not interchangeable.
If you want to shoot both .223 and .308, you will need two different guns no mater what.
Now if you are not dead set on .308, you can get AR-15 uppers that will kill Elk all day long and twice on sundays.
cracked butt
Member
An AR-15 will not take a .308 unless its a single shot. You need an AR-10 for the .308. I've heard that some people have done WSSM cartridges in the AR-15, but this is a very expensive custom job. The .450 Bushmaster, .458 Socom, and .50 Beowulf will all have plenty of punch for elk and Bear and will work on the AR-15 platform, but once again are expensive. The 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel would work well for deer sized game.
It would probably be cheaper to buy a good bolt action rifle in a big game cartridge along with a .223 AR-15.
The M1A makes for a rather unpleasant hunting rifle, unless you have one of those air-conditioned deer stands, or you never hunt more than a few yards from your pickup truck. It's one heavy !@#$er.
Neither the AR nor the M1A is particularly economical as a hunting rifle, either.
Bolt guns can be kinda blah, but there are good reasons people hunt with them.
What are you really looking for in a hunting rifle? Or are you really looking for a fun gun that you can take hunting once a year? (Nothing wrong with that, it just changes the criteria quite a bit.)
Neither the AR nor the M1A is particularly economical as a hunting rifle, either.
Bolt guns can be kinda blah, but there are good reasons people hunt with them.
What are you really looking for in a hunting rifle? Or are you really looking for a fun gun that you can take hunting once a year? (Nothing wrong with that, it just changes the criteria quite a bit.)
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Well weight does not bother me that is what slings are for. i know they are not economical but that is not bothering me too much. I want this rifle to be able to be taken with me on a alaska trip i am going on and with me to montana where i work on a ranch all summer, as well as deer hunting in the cold minnesota season.
???
vs.
Alaska? What you hunting?
Montana? What tags you getting? Or are you just going to shoot jackrabbits and coyotes?
I mean, you can take a .22LR with you to Alaska if you want.
Conflicting criteria, and still not much information.
WRT weight, if you're hunting on foot for a long time, in steep terrain, it will matter. Doesn't matter how strong you are. But you CAN lug around an M1A, it's true. I wouldn't choose to, but my .30-06 isn't much lighter. My next hunting rifle sure as hell will be.
vs.
Alaska? What you hunting?
Montana? What tags you getting? Or are you just going to shoot jackrabbits and coyotes?
I mean, you can take a .22LR with you to Alaska if you want.
Conflicting criteria, and still not much information.
WRT weight, if you're hunting on foot for a long time, in steep terrain, it will matter. Doesn't matter how strong you are. But you CAN lug around an M1A, it's true. I wouldn't choose to, but my .30-06 isn't much lighter. My next hunting rifle sure as hell will be.
paintballdude902
Member
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- Jun 30, 2007
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- 2,872
remington makes a good semi auto hunting rifle as do a few others
i love the m1a but the thing weighs around 9-10lbs doesnt it?
i love the m1a but the thing weighs around 9-10lbs doesnt it?
B.D. Turner
Member
I would go with an AR-15 and opt for a used Remington 700 in 06 or .308. With this combo you will have the bases covered no doubt.
R.W.Dale
Member
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned a saigia in 308 yet.
I live in western Montana and used my M1A to take two deer last fall. I have a GI fiberglass stock and don't find the rifle particularly heavy. Mine is a scout length, equipped with a Aimpoint on a forward (Ultimak) rail and I found it just the thing for fast shooting at whitetail on the move.
For an all purpose hunter, I'd definitely take 308 over 223, although 223 does a great job on small deer.
If you opt for an AR, you can add a bigger caliber upper like 6.8 or 6.5 Grendel, but neither would be my first choice for really large game. Even the M1A has issues if you want to shoot heavy bullets. You really need to stay with 175gn or under. Heavy bullets have been known to cause problems.
For an all purpose hunter, I'd definitely take 308 over 223, although 223 does a great job on small deer.
If you opt for an AR, you can add a bigger caliber upper like 6.8 or 6.5 Grendel, but neither would be my first choice for really large game. Even the M1A has issues if you want to shoot heavy bullets. You really need to stay with 175gn or under. Heavy bullets have been known to cause problems.
I'd go with a bolt action in at least .308 and then get an AR15 as well. If you're planning on hunting in Alaska, .308 would be the minimum cartridge I would be willing to go with. A .300 WM might be better. For $500 you can get a good used bolt action, with a scope, that will shoot tighter than a $1500 M1A and you can get it chambered for a more potent cartridge. Take the extra $1000 you have left over and buy a nice AR with it.
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