AWLAZS Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 (edited) I want to deer hunt with an AR-15. What should I chamber it in? I live in the north east a 200 yard shot would be a long one. I am currently dragging around a Winchester model 70 in 30-06 around. It weighs a ton. Edited November 23, 2014 by AWLAZS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 223 with a solid copper or gilding metal projectile, something like the Hornady GMX loads would be perfect. If 200yds is your max distance you won't need anything more than that. Add in a low powered scope, decent marksmanship, stir well and that's your recipe for success. And this is based on personal experience, no armchair commando talk here. If you believe you could run into some longer shots and still wanna stick with the ar15 platform, 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC would be next. I won't open any ballistics argument worm cans here though, that's been done plenty elsewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWLAZS Posted November 23, 2014 Author Share Posted November 23, 2014 (edited) I thought about just using the 223 but want something a little heavier. I have read a bunch of the 6.5 is better then the 6.8 .300 threads. Edited November 23, 2014 by AWLAZS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 I like the 6.5 better, but that's an opinion formulated around longer range steel ringing, for responsible game shooting ranges I would consider the 6.8 and 6.5 too close to call. I like to think of the 300 BO as a modern 30-30 with the same limitations. Perfectly useful inside of 250yds, after that not so good. If your interested in playing the wildcat game the skies the limit on what you can do, and Black Hole Weaponry has a pretty good selection of barrels in oddball ar15 wildcat chamberings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWLAZS Posted November 23, 2014 Author Share Posted November 23, 2014 I am not interested in reloading for the gun. I can but the store bought stuff is good enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 It suddenly occurred to me that I remember reading in the FAQ's or somewhere about this being a competition based forum and hunting threads being frowned upon, I could be wrong though.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted November 23, 2014 Share Posted November 23, 2014 (edited) But if I did want an AR for only this one purpose http://m.shopalexanderarms.com/product.cgi?group=35297&product=37078 would be it with the addition of a CMC trigger and a fixed stock. Edited November 23, 2014 by TonytheTiger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legacy Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 (edited) I bought a 16" 300blk barrel just for hunting. With my prismatic on top it rings steel all day from 200yds and in. I wouldn't mind dragging it through the woods its super light. I also just finished a 20" 6.5 Grendel. I haven't had a chance to shoot it yet but it has really good ballistics for the size of the cartridge and i would rather use it for anything larger than a white tail. 300blackout is nice because you just need a new barrel. 6.5Grendel & 6.8 SPC require barrel/bolt/mags. Edited November 24, 2014 by legacy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Religious Shooter Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 For a deer rifle with 1) 200 yards max and 2) using factory loads I would chamber it in 6.8 SPC II, 300 Blackout, 7.62x39, 6.5 Grendel or 5.56 (in that order). If you want to save weight... I wouldn't recommend an AR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B45C22 Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Don't put too much stock in all those comments about the BO not being a long range caliber. I have shot mine out to 600 with a 6.5x scope, and I'm sure we have all seen the Travis Haley video of him making hits at 750meters with nothing but a dot. Anything can be a long range caliber with proper dope and practice. I hunt deer with a blackout. It's plenty for deer. I would also be fine with 6.8. I am ignorant of hunting projectiles for the 6.5 but I'm sure they have to be out there. Build one, shoot it, and be merry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 It suddenly occurred to me that I remember reading in the FAQ's or somewhere about this being a competition based forum and hunting threads being frowned upon, I could be wrong though.... You are not wrong. The mods are asleep at the switch. Intent This Forum is for firearm, technique, and conceptual discussions pertaining to training and competition. (And various unrelated topics.) While the occasional defensive shooting post is not prohibited, in general, defensive shooting discussions or debates are discouraged. And please, no hunting or "killing animals" (of any kind) threads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Sierpina Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Randy, If you aren't looking to shoot a lot of what ever caliber you choose, I'd look at the 6.8 first, .300 Black Out second, 6.5 Grendel third. I put the Grendel third only because factory ammo may be scarce and what is available may not have the best bullet for hunting. If you plan on loading your own ammo, I'd probably go with the Grendel first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AWLAZS Posted November 24, 2014 Author Share Posted November 24, 2014 It suddenly occurred to me that I remember reading in the FAQ's or somewhere about this being a competition based forum and hunting threads being frowned upon, I could be wrong though.... You are not wrong. The mods are asleep at the switch. Intent This Forum is for firearm, technique, and conceptual discussions pertaining to training and competition. (And various unrelated topics.) While the occasional defensive shooting post is not prohibited, in general, defensive shooting discussions or debates are discouraged. And please, no hunting or "killing animals" (of any kind) threads. Guess I messed that one up. Sorry about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 B45C22: I've rang steel out to 550yds with 5.45 and a Vortex Sparc. A hunting cartridge does not that make. Bullets fly a long ways past their effective range, just because they can get out there doesn't make it a good idea to hunt with them. If your talking about hunting paper or steel, by all means push the limits of your chosen cartridge and have fun, I know I have with 22lr out to 300yds and 223 out to 900 and all sorts of non optimal things like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan 45 Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 I've been pleased in the performance of the 300blk on the deer I've taken with it. They were under 100, but the 150g bullets don't slow down much out to 200. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtaylor996 Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Did I hear somewhere that some states have a minimum 7mm projectile requirement for hunting? If you live in one of those, I think 300BLK is your best bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan 45 Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Wow, that would be strange. I've heard of some minimums at 6mm (.243), but to rule out the .270 would be sacraligious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhodie Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 One of my buddies has used a 223 AR for hunting whitetail a pretty good bit. He was very impressed with the performance of 55gr and 62gr soft points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Like Sarge said, this is one of those things we can't talk about on here...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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