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

[eazyrider]

I love my AR and if I start hunting again I would not have a problem using it, even with the "crappy" 223. That being said I still love my bolt actions and would more than likely use my GSR to hunt. But then again I love just about all guns.



This is a great thread, lots of laughs.

 

[ironhead7544]

The AR type rifle is just fine. If you want to hunt deer then I would get an upper for a more powerful round as stated here. Also a 22lr upper is great for practice. The .223 would be OK for deer but use one of the bullets designed specifically for that type of game. I would personally limit the range to 100 yards. A 7.62x39 upper would be good for deer and you will be able to get ammo easily. Lots of other options. Go for it.

 

[SaxonPig]

Cons:

1. Rifles designed for battle are not as desirable for hunting. Hunting and combat are vastly different exercises.

2. The 5.56/223 is underpowered for deer.

3. The 223 is illegal for deer hunting in many states (see above).

Pros:

None.

 

[68wj]

Cons:

1. Rifles designed for battle are not as desirable for hunting. Hunting and combat are vastly different exercises.

2. The 5.56/223 is underpowered for deer.

3. The 223 is illegal for deer hunting in many states (see above).

Pros:

None.

Cartridge has little to do with it. There are plenty of .223 bolt guns and other "traditional" fare.

And to your first statement, yes, there probably won't be a need to fix bayonets. However, the need for an accurate, reliable rifle is common between the two activities.

 

[Hi-Lander]

I grab whatever I feel like carrying that day. I have used 30/30 levers, 30.06 Bolts, .308 bolts, AR's and AK's. I have not had a problem dropping a deer with any of them. Know what you are using and place the shot accordingly.
Lately I have been using my AK with an Aimpoint Micro. I have never had a deer look at me and say-- "damn you shot me with an assault rifle"

 

[sKunkT]

So many say the AR-15 is not a hunting rifle. I just am dumbfounded by that accusation. Here is a rifle platform that has nearly unlimited variations- and anybody with a hammer and screwdriver can build one. That rail on top accepts the same scopes as that bolt action. The mag holds the same calibers as many bolt actions. It is nearly indestructible, weather resistant, and very reliable. I hunt outside. It rains and snows outside. It's dirty outside. The AR can handle these things very well. Most importantly, it sends a projectile downrange at a target. You will never see me look down on anybody for using any type of legal firearm for hunting. I thought we (gun folks and hunting folks) were on the same side.

 

[ILIKE.45acp]

.458 SOCOM as a viable hunting cartridge

Does anyone consider the .458 SOCOM as a viable all around 100 yd. deer/pig rifle caliber in an AR-15 format? Supposedly you don't need a specialized magazine (10 rds fit in a 30 rd magazine, 7 in a 20 rd magazine and 3rds in a 10 rd magazine)
I would be interested in anyone's account with this caliber in an AR-15.

 

[CraigC]

...but the question is which ones will still exist in a decade.

Anything mass produced now will be available for a good 50yrs if all the new guns suddenly went away tomorrow.

The 6.8SPC would be my first choice.

 

[sixgunner455]

.458 SOCOM is basically like shoehorning a .45-70 into your AR. It is a very, very cool concept, and if I ever have the funds to just buy toys like I wish I had, I'll be getting at least one.

Flintknapper uses one to great effect in his anti-pig sniping operations in East Texas.

 

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

First shot may hurt it and IF you can actually get your gun to fire a second round, you might get a dead deer with the second round.

 

[Justin]

1. Rifles designed for battle are not as desirable for hunting. Hunting and combat are vastly different exercises.

Uh, last time I checked, bolt action hunting rifles were pretty much all based on combat rifles of one design or another.

 

[CraigC]

I'm a diehard traditionalist and love blued steel, walnut, leverguns and blackpowder. However, I really don't see anything wrong with the AR as a hunting platform. It just needs a bigger chambering than the .223 for deer, IMHO. Personally, I think it would be cool if the .357 and .44 Automags were resurrected and chambered in an AR upper.

 

[Jason_W]

I wonder if the bolt action rifle met this much resistance from traditionalists immediately after WWI when it's popularity began to increase among American hunters.

 

[Jason_W]

Does anyone consider the .458 SOCOM as a viable all around 100 yd. deer/pig rifle caliber in an AR-15 format? Supposedly you don't need a specialized magazine (10 rds fit in a 30 rd magazine, 7 in a 20 rd magazine and 3rds in a 10 rd magazine)
I would be interested in anyone's account with this caliber in an AR-15.

It's an interesting round, but I actually think the .450 Bushmaster would be more suited to my needs. It shoots a touch flatter than the .458 and in many respects it is the ballistic twin of a modern muzzleloader firing a saboted .45 cal projectile. A 250-300 grain bullet at 2100 or so f/s will put a major hurt on any game I'm likely to hunt.

 

[Stack]

My thoughts are that I love AR platform rifles so I tend to find a way and reason to make them be what I want for a given purpose. This aside, if a caliber becomes extinct a new one will come around that's even better and I'm replacing a barrel, bolt and a magazine. It's not like I now have a rifle that I cant use, I just have a reason to buy a new barrel and try a different caliber. Win, win to me.

 

[suzukisam]

the thing I always liked about the 458 over the 450 or the 50, is the ability to use 458 win mag spitzer projectiles.. the others use strictly pistol bullets as far as I know...

 

[d2wing]

I would disregard the naysayers as not experienced with the cartridge or the platform.
My safe is full of great rifles I have used to take deer. The AR15 is one of the better deer rifles I have used to make one shot kills on large, 200 lb deer. Opinions vary, but facts are it is handy and effective much like my 30-30.

 

[leeroy71]

^Bravo. This the type of advice gun owners should give. In the end the gun u choose should be in the "platform" you think suits your needs. Or, just the one you like. If it is available in the caliber you want and one you feel will do the job, who cares what others think. They can go hunt/shoot with what they want.