Pros and cons of the AR-15 platform for deer hunting

[Kachok]

Nothing wrong with the AR platform, just avoid the 223 caliber for hunting deer, it is not legal in many states for good reason. 6.8SPC is a far better choice IMHO seen 223s used before and I am NOT impressed.

 

[hatt]

6.8 and 6.5 ammo isn't going anywhere. The 6.8 is probably chambered in more guns than many of the old not so popular rounds ever were, yet still get produced despite not having a gun chambered in them in 20+ years. And you can make 6.5 brass from 7.62x39 brass.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Nothing wrong with the AR platform, just avoid the 223 caliber for hunting deer, it is not legal in many states for good reason. 6.8SPC is a far better choice IMHO seen 223s used before and I am NOT impressed.

That's your opinion and you're certainly entitled to it. However many including myself would disagree.

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[Eb1]

The only con I can see is if it is not legal in your state to shoot .223, or use magazines over 5 shots.

I have no problems using a .223 to kill a whitetail, and I know the platform is offered in other flavors. I will say this though. If you are using open sights "A2" sights, and the deer is closer than 50 yards. Aim higher than you where you want it to hit. I shot low on a deer one time using open sights because of the height of the sights on the AR platform at close range.

 

[devildog4329]

I have used an AR in .223 to hunt whitetail in MD. It works just fine. I took a 160lbs doe and it was a clean and ethical kill.

Just check you local laws regarding magazine size and calibre.

 

[Sergeant Sabre]

The 5.56mm and .223 rounds don't get the credit they deserve. A bonded soft point in either will be just fine for deer.

 

[Jason_W]

The .223 is legal in Maine, but northeastern deer can get big. From our DIFW:

"Maine is home to one of the largest of the 30 recognized subspecies of white-tailed deer. After attaining maturity at age five, our bucks can reach record live weights of nearly 400 lbs. Most adult bucks, however will normally range from 200 to 300 lbs live weight, and will stand 36 to 40" at the shoulder. Does are considerably smaller; they normally weigh 120 to 175 lbs live weight. Newborn fawns begin life at 4 to 10 lbs, but grow to approximately 85 lbs live weight in their first 6 months of life."

I'm sure the .223 can be made to work, but it seems like there are better options available, especially since a textbook broadside shot cannot be counted on.

The .30 Remington AR and .450 Bushmaster cartridges are interesting, but will they stick around?

A little research shows that numerous manufacturers have started producing 6.5 grendel ammo.

 

[ugaarguy]

If you're in thick woods most of the time, and don't need flat trajectory you might want to look at .300 AAC Blackout. It essentially gives you .30-30 Win / 7.62x39 ballistics out of a cartridge designed for the AR, and will feed reliably in standard 5.56 AR magazines. AAC is part of Cerberus' Freedom Group, which is why brother company Remington is cranking out ammo. This also means .30 Remington AR is probably in trouble. With Cerberus / Freedom Group / Big Green backing it I don't think 6.8 SPC is going anywhere either.

 

[gotigers]

If i used .223, I would just step up to some heavy hollow points or soft tips, specifically made for large game.

For me it doesn't make sense. I have a Rem 7400 30-06 that is much lighter, has more energy and longer range.

If the AR was my only platform, i would.

 

[d2wing]

That's funny, my 30-06 7400 is much heavier than my AR. I do agree that it is a better long range hunting weapon though. The 30-06 has the advantage of being able to penetrate to the vitals from nearly any angle. Both have killed big deer but you have to be more selective with the .223. I can attest
that a .223 with soft point ammo will kill a 200+ pound deer quickly with a shot to the heart lung area.
The 6.8 may give you more confidence and is more available than most AR alternatives. The other tactical rifles are to heavy for stalking and quick shots imho.

 

[brnmuenchow]

AR-10.
I would go for a 7.62 or 6.8 SPC as well, not a .223 REM.

 

[desidog]

My 7.62x39 AR's have knocked over CT and MA deer without a problem...and plinking ammo is MUCH cheaper than those fancy new chamberings.

 

[Eb1]

Black Hills 55 grain soft points from a 20" AR-15 work just fine. Here is a link of recovered bullets from whitetail kills. The far left is a 55 grain Soft Point. It broke both shoulders, and destroyed everything. EVERYTHING! Bullets in order from right to left are (55 grain Black Hills .223 SP, .25-06 Win Silver Tip, 150 grain Win PP, .32 H&R Magnum XTP)

 

[leeroy71]

What about .500 beowoulf? Seen one drop a black bear, at gunlast.com, like a stone. Nah, thats "overkill". My great-uncle took dozens of deer (some real monsters) with a .222 rem. neck shots mostly.

 

[Gordon]

I am getting a 6.8 SPC Noveske 16" Rogue Hunter upper in the next couple weeks. With a 2.5-10x Nightforce we will see how it does for a November Mule Deer hunt.

 

[mortablunt]

Pros:

It's really light
You can customize it
You have an excuse to get dolled up with your camo and a tactical rifle
The sights are really good.

Cons:

5.56 is a not a good deer round.
You look mall ninja.
AR's are rather pricey.
There are reliability issues.
Not as sturdy as a wood and steel gun.
Some prudes don't think it sporting.

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

^^^^ Took my main point. You look like a massive tool using one to hunt...but they are getting more prevalent in spite of it all.

 

[R.W.Dale]

^^^^ Took my main point. You look like a massive tool using one to hunt...but they are getting more prevalent in spite of it all.

Silly me. And all this time I thought hunting was about getting into the outdoors and possibly enjoying the satisfaction of taking some meat the way God intended.

I didn't know it was a gun n gear fashion show with the main goal of fitting in with your fudd buddies.

HUNTING! Its like golf with firearms

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[68wj]

Pros:
CAN be a reliable, lightweight, comfortable to shoot, customizable rifle in a myriad of chamberings. I choose 6.8 SPC for hunting and .223 for range play.

Many good companies making them.

Cons:
CAN be an unreliable, heavy, awkward to shoot rifle.

Insecure Fudds will turn up their noses at you.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Insecure Fudds will turn up their noses at you.

This is a pro in my book.


Especially when they're butt shooting and blowing Bambi to pieces with their tasco equipped remchester sevummag at 30 yds and I'm taking deer at close to 300 with a 7.62x39 ar



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[Panzercat]

An AR hmmm? Aside from the fact they have no class?
As somebody here once said, ARs are the legos of firearms and that's their biggest strength. Beyond that, I don't see much merit in them.

Sounds like you're trying to talk yourself into one more than out of one

 

[suzukisam]

wow.. I didn't know so many people have runways and fashion shows where they hunt... do you guys buy $400 haircuts right before you leave, so you look good when your photographer takes your picture...

the only tools I see in the woods are the guys with 300RUMs that can't shoot 200 yrds with what is the equivalent of an RPG and I'm threading the needle at 300-400 with my little old AR in that meager little 243win..you know that youth cartridge thats only for beginners...

 

[Panzercat]

wow.. I didn't know so many people have runways and fashion shows where they hunt... do you guys buy $400 haircuts right before you leave, so you look good when your photographer takes your picture...

Oh, I didn't say class was expensive or required to hunt, just that they don't have any.

 

[suzukisam]

Oh my rig is very classy...maybe not "classic", but very classy!

For classic I've got lever guns, and six shooters, oh and bolts, or even a muzzle loader.... but ARs have more fun

 

[ugaarguy]

Aside from the fact they have no class?

Compared to a traditional British fox hunt no form of hunting in the US has any class. So let's stay away from that one.

Insecure Fudds will turn up their noses at you.

That's a problem for the Fudd, not for the hunter using an AR.

5.56 is a not a good deer round.

Other posts in this thread have disproven that. If you still don't trust 5.56 you can get an AR in other calibers.

You look mall ninja.

In your Fudd world maybe, but that's your problem, not mine.

AR's are rather pricey.

They're less expensive than most other US made, semi-auto, centerfire rifles.

There are reliability issues.

They reliability issues come up when you run a casual use AR hard. Hunting won't strain even a low end AR. Good try though.

Not as sturdy as a wood and steel gun.

You better tell that to every western military in the world. Even the Russians have switched to synthetic stocks on their AKMs.

Some prudes don't think it sporting.

That's the prude's problem - not a problem with the gun, nor the hunter using it.