Which caliber for deer-hunting AR15?

[[Pb]]

My 5.56x45 AR15 has killed two deer so far. It works great for black tails, I can't speak for anything else. The caliber won't limit you if you make good shots.

 

[JTH]

Sorry my bad! You won't be making any 500 yard kills with an SKS. It would be a good brush hunting rifle for South Texas but far from the best choice.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Seems to me that the .25 WSSM is THE ultimate deer/sheep/goat/lope round for the AR15 type. Almost .25-06 performance in that little package - and you just can't find a more perfect deer-zapper than .25-06. Get enough barrel to give you the advantage. At least 20 or 22".

BUT, you might wait to see what Olympic is coming out with - they've got some interesting other caliber ARs on the horizon.

 

[Big_E]

I am building a 6.8 spc on a spikes tactical lower and a RRA upper half. Should work well I don't hunt much right now but I will in the future. Because of availability I chose 6.8 but anything should do. I don't plan on shooting past 200 yards anyway.

 

[LeonCarr]

Olympic is supposed to be coming out with, or has come out with, the .300 Olympic, which is the WSSM case necked up to .30 and compatible with the AR-15 platform. Looks pretty sweet.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[KBintheSLC]

Currently I only reload for my .308, but would reload for either of those for the AR15 if I could only decide on one! Lol.

If you are already set up for .308, why not get an AR chambered in .308? That way you can pretty much hunt any big game, and you don't have to worry about buying any new reloading supplies.

 

[coolhand]

I tend to agree that the 500 yd shot is tough even under good conditions. I also hunt in Texas and 500 shot opportunities are not unusual. I have taken one buck at 500, but I knew the exact range and there was zero wind. (.280 Rem). I was also on a shooting bench and had a Burris scope with the tic marks for long range shooting. That said, I hunt with guys that have the .260 and the .25WSSM. Both are excellent out to 300 and very accurate. I'm sure either of those would drop a Texas whitetail at 500 with no problem, provided you do your part. Good hunting...

 

[jogar80]

If you are already set up for .308, why not get an AR chambered in .308? That way you can pretty much hunt any big game, and you don't have to worry about buying any new reloading supplies.

That would actually be ideal, but an AR10 is out of reach for me right now...

 

[MJR007]

A 120g pill and powder in a 25wssm fills the case very well. A 30wssm would mean lower weight for cal bullets. You gain nothing but highly compressed loads.

 

[R.W.Dale]

A 120g pill and powder in a 25wssm fills the case very well. A 30wssm would mean lower weight for cal bullets. You gain nothing but highly compressed loads.

It's a trade off. As bore increases so does expansion ratio allowing you to use greater quantities of faster more energetic propellants. IE the velocity per unit of bullet mass increases.


This is how 30-06 launches 150g bullets faster or at least as fast as 25/06 can 120g

 

[project88]

have u looked into the alexander arms 6.5 grendel? works with any mil spec ar lower..it is however only offered by like 3 companies for loaded ammunition lee and redding produce reloading dies tho and brass is available from alexander arms, lapua, and i believe hornady is beginning preduction

 

[MJR007]

Krochus, try putting a 150g pill in a wssm that fits in a AR15 mag. with powder... You will run out of room. The shoulder is hard to push back in a wssm. Compressed loads will make things more challenging. No free lunch.

 

[1 LT MPC]

6.5 Grendel with a 120 grain Nosler--tennis ball groups at 600 yards and 1/2 the recoil of a .308. Flat shooter with an outstanding BC--what else do you need? Did I mention that an upper fits well on your AR lower?

 

[drgrenthum]

didnt see anyone mention 300 whisper. You can use the same bullets that you already use for the 308 and you can get a 150g nosler ballistic tip moving at 2116fps at the muzzle with 18.5 grains of h4227. May not pack much of a punch beyond 300 yards ......but worth looking into and doing the math on. Also alot of recipes out there if you want to load subsonic and get a suppressor. Can also use common 223 brasss to form teh whisper brass.......Just a thought

 

[R.W.Dale]

Krochus, try putting a 150g pill in a wssm that fits in a AR15 mag. with powder... You will run out of room. The shoulder is hard to push back in a wssm. Compressed loads will make things more challenging. No free lunch.

I don't know why you think a 150g bullet is out of the question?

The 300OSSM (30wssm) from Olympic advertises a 150g nosler at 3k fps and a 180g pill at 2700 That pretty much equals 30/06 with the same bullet weights