AR or Bolt action for whitetail??? - Page 2

benEzra · September 18, 2016, 11:02 AM

As to rifle choice, *if* price were no object, I'd say get what you will enjoy shooting the most, since a rifle you shoot regularly is one you'll be most proficient with.

From the link posted above, you can use anything in .243 caliber (6mm) or .308 caliber (7.62mm), nothing else.

Quote:

The new legal cartridges include, but are not limited to, the .243 Winchester, .30-30 Winchester, .300 AAC Blackout, and .30-06 Springfield....

Additional cartridges that are legal under HEA 1231 include, but are not limited to, the following:

• 6mm-06
• 6mm BR Remington
• 6mm PPC
• 6mm Remington
• .240 Weatherby
• .243 Winchester
• .243 Winchester Super Short Magnum
• .30 Carbine
• .30 Herrett
• .30 Remington AR
• .30-06 Springfield
• .30-30 Winchester
• .30-40 Krag
• .300 AAC Blackout (.300 Whisper)
• .300 H&H Magnum
• .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum
• .300 Savage
• .300 Weatherby Magnum
• .300 Winchester Magnum
• .300 Winchester Short Magnum
• .300 Remington Ultra Magnum
• .308 Marlin
• .308 Winchester
• 7.62x39mm
• 7.62x54mmR

If you like the AR platform for a good all-around gun, and can afford to spend $1200-$1500 instead of $500ish for a bolt gun, a Remington R25 Gen II in .243 Winchester or .308 Winchester would be a workable choice. (One of those is on my "someday list".) It's basically a DPMS Gen II AR-10 in a molded-in camo pattern.

https://www.remington.com/rifles/mod...model-r-25-gii

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2...on-r25-gen-ii/

If you want to hold off on the expense and just get a bolt gun to start out and see if you enjoy hunting, Savage makes some excellent guns at very reasonable prices; you can get a new Savage 11 bolt-action in .243 or .308 with a Nikon BDC scope for $550, which is half of what you'd pay for a generic AR-10 with scope and a third of what you'd pay for the R25.

http://www.basspro.com/Savage-11/111...1204110500547/

http://savagearms.com/firearms/model/11TROPHYHUNTERXP

You could actually buy that Savage *and* a new-in-box S&W/Ruger/PSA AR-15 for $200-$300 less than an unscoped R25...

Art Eatman · September 18, 2016, 11:39 AM

Where the primary purpose is deer hunting, a bolt-action is as good as anything and better than most. I'd figure to go with the Browning over an AR, for all that I'm on my fifth AR. And the .308 is plenty good, with more "kill power" range than most people can use.

A pause for the COZ · September 18, 2016, 12:07 PM

Why yes by all means. Get a AR 10 for deer hunting. #1 it can do it.
#2 it sets a precedent of having a Black rifle for hunting. #3 If ever you have a need for it other than hunting. You will already have one and wont have to wade through the red tape, Back ground checks and police approvals that will be needed if ever we do need em. just sayin....

kraigwy · September 18, 2016, 01:09 PM

I think for hunting you cant beat a bolt gun.

The Browning fits you the best, by all means that's the gun for you.

If legal I'd recommend the 243, if not then you cant go wrong with the 308.

Mr. Hill · September 18, 2016, 05:10 PM

bolt action in .308 Winchester, that's a perfect combo for a deer rifle.

As far as I know, Indiana produces pretty fair sized deer, or at least they aren't on the small side of deer. My .308 puts them down hard. JMHO.

Edited to add: spend your money smart: buy the less expensive bolt rife and spend as much as you can on a high quality scope. Good glass matters more than capacity or action type IMHO.

September 18, 2016, 12:07 PM	#28
A pause for the COZ Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2012 Location: Braham, Minnesota Posts: 1,314	Why yes by all means. Get a AR 10 for deer hunting. #1 it can do it. #2 it sets a precedent of having a Black rifle for hunting. #3 If ever you have a need for it other than hunting. You will already have one and wont have to wade through the red tape, Back ground checks and police approvals that will be needed if ever we do need em. just sayin.... __________________ NRA life member. US Army veteran, 11 Bravo.

September 18, 2016, 01:09 PM	#29
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I think for hunting you cant beat a bolt gun. The Browning fits you the best, by all means that's the gun for you. If legal I'd recommend the 243, if not then you cant go wrong with the 308. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

September 18, 2016, 05:10 PM	#30
Mr. Hill Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2015 Posts: 384	bolt action in .308 Winchester, that's a perfect combo for a deer rifle. As far as I know, Indiana produces pretty fair sized deer, or at least they aren't on the small side of deer. My .308 puts them down hard. JMHO. Edited to add: spend your money smart: buy the less expensive bolt rife and spend as much as you can on a high quality scope. Good glass matters more than capacity or action type IMHO. Last edited by Mr. Hill; September 18, 2016 at 06:20 PM.

September 18, 2016, 11:39 AM	#27
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Where the primary purpose is deer hunting, a bolt-action is as good as anything and better than most. I'd figure to go with the Browning over an AR, for all that I'm on my fifth AR. And the .308 is plenty good, with more "kill power" range than most people can use.