AR for hunting

Trapp · May 18, 2007, 05:31 PM

Deer hunting that is. Anyone have an inside scoop on how much, where, what brand, what caliber, would be good for deer hunting? I am not too interested in the WSSM. I reload, but just not that big of a fan.....

Oh yeah, this is going to be for my 7 yr old. It needs to be mild enough of a caliber to use with my RRA CAR stock. I have heard of them cracking with the 458 socom etc.. With it compressed all of the way it fits him perfectly, and he is surprisingly accurate with it.

That leads me to only needing an upper....I will use my built lower.

I really don't want to get special mags for it either (ie: 6.8spc) but I will if I have to.

zoomie · May 18, 2007, 06:59 PM

.204

or DPMS LR-308.

FirstFreedom · May 18, 2007, 07:10 PM

6.5 Grendel, 120 gr spire soft point bullet. Should be deadly deer medicine.

http://www.65grendel.com/

http://www.alexanderarms.com/grendel.htm

Beyond that, a 64 gr Win powerpoint in .223 would work, though it's pretty marginal in my book..... or any handload with a 62-70 gr soft point expanding bullet. Certainly better choice than .204.

Trapp · May 18, 2007, 07:28 PM

I don't think 204 is legal here... To small for my ethics anyway.

308 won't fit on my lower.

6.5 is mighty interesting. Does it take special mags?

So far that might just be the ticket to my sons first deer!

Time to start researching...

FALshootist · May 19, 2007, 08:31 PM

I'm giving some serious thought to building a 6.8 spc upper as an all around gun. It should be great as a pig and deer gun and alot of fun at the range.

hoytinak · May 20, 2007, 07:40 AM

i'd go with the 6.8 myself

Art Eatman · May 20, 2007, 09:15 AM

You're hunting around Pannymaw City? Generally smallish deer and generally fairly close shots?

Why not load the .223 with 70-grain bullets? If the kid's any sort of shot, even the .223 will ruin Bambi's neck. Teach just where the proper spot for a heart shot is, rather than just "aiming at the brown".

Art

Trapp · May 20, 2007, 01:30 PM

About an hour Northwest of Pannymaw city..

I might try the neck shooting with him.... I was also looking for an excuse to get another upper for my AR though

Art Eatman · May 21, 2007, 07:39 AM

I've hunted some along the Appalach, below Blountstown. As much fun critter-watching as hunting. Never knew what I'd see, easing through that thick stuff. Deer, bear, hogs, bobcat; the occasional gator.

PC was home base for me when I got out of the Army, almost 50 years ago. Sure has changed! As a certified Old Phart, I sorta prefer Appalachicola, nowadays. But I did my share of grinnin' and dancin' at PC Beach, way back when...

Art

Trapp · May 21, 2007, 07:51 AM

I've got a lease near Caryville. One of my spots is going to be set up the way people "hunt" down here.
Food plot, shooting house, feeder...... It should give my son a prime opportunity to kill his first deer.
Not my favorite way to hunt, but I have my climber, bow, and stuff for some real hunting. There are definatly many creatures out here. It is so relaxing to chillout in a stand and watch the squirrels and deer wander around and eat.

john in jax · May 22, 2007, 02:18 PM

Get him a lot of practice. It is all about shot placement, if you can get him consistantly shooting MOA groups in critical areas on deer sized and shaped targets he should be OK with the heavier soft point bullets.

If possible have him practice at different distances and various angles so he knows where to shoot if the deer is quartering towards or away from him.

OBIWAN · May 22, 2007, 03:24 PM

A lot of states mandate 5 rounds max for hunting so you may need a new mag anyway

I would get a 6.8 upper

timothy75 · May 22, 2007, 07:37 PM

I second the 223 with powerpoint win. Unless your hunting large deer it should work fine and remember its a semi auto if it doesnt.

Trapp · May 22, 2007, 08:16 PM

I am not going to even throw the "multiple shot because its a semi auto" theory to my 7 year old. One shot one kill. If you can't do that, don't take the shot.......

cunanse · May 23, 2007, 10:29 PM

Trapp-

I just put up a post with the gun lineup of my next hunt. The AR setup my buddy has there was used last season by a coworker's husband and he had no problem bagging a buck. Of course it was chambered in .308. To hunt deer in .223, you'd have to really know your gun and your game, IMHO. But Utah muleys are a little bigger than Panhandle whitetails. So I'd say go for it, in your case.

geez768 · May 24, 2007, 01:28 AM

the new 450 bushmaster will fit in the 5.56 lower just turnes it into a single stack. would make a great deer gun.

May 18, 2007, 05:31 PM	#1
Trapp Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: KTN Posts: 1,221	AR for hunting Deer hunting that is. Anyone have an inside scoop on how much, where, what brand, what caliber, would be good for deer hunting? I am not too interested in the WSSM. I reload, but just not that big of a fan..... Oh yeah, this is going to be for my 7 yr old. It needs to be mild enough of a caliber to use with my RRA CAR stock. I have heard of them cracking with the 458 socom etc.. With it compressed all of the way it fits him perfectly, and he is surprisingly accurate with it. That leads me to only needing an upper....I will use my built lower. I really don't want to get special mags for it either (ie: 6.8spc) but I will if I have to. __________________ HDR Ban!? It's a shame all of my guns sank with my boat last week... Time to catch up.....like mayonnaise

May 18, 2007, 07:10 PM	#3
FirstFreedom Junior member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,451	Easy 6.5 Grendel, 120 gr spire soft point bullet. Should be deadly deer medicine. http://www.65grendel.com/ http://www.alexanderarms.com/grendel.htm Beyond that, a 64 gr Win powerpoint in .223 would work, though it's pretty marginal in my book..... or any handload with a 62-70 gr soft point expanding bullet. Certainly better choice than .204.

May 18, 2007, 07:28 PM	#4
Trapp Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: KTN Posts: 1,221	I don't think 204 is legal here... To small for my ethics anyway. 308 won't fit on my lower. 6.5 is mighty interesting. Does it take special mags? So far that might just be the ticket to my sons first deer! Time to start researching... __________________ HDR Ban!? It's a shame all of my guns sank with my boat last week... Time to catch up.....like mayonnaise

May 20, 2007, 01:30 PM	#8
Trapp Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: KTN Posts: 1,221	About an hour Northwest of Pannymaw city.. I might try the neck shooting with him.... I was also looking for an excuse to get another upper for my AR though __________________ HDR Ban!? It's a shame all of my guns sank with my boat last week... Time to catch up.....like mayonnaise

May 21, 2007, 07:51 AM	#10
Trapp Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: KTN Posts: 1,221	I've got a lease near Caryville. One of my spots is going to be set up the way people "hunt" down here. Food plot, shooting house, feeder...... It should give my son a prime opportunity to kill his first deer. Not my favorite way to hunt, but I have my climber, bow, and stuff for some real hunting. There are definatly many creatures out here. It is so relaxing to chillout in a stand and watch the squirrels and deer wander around and eat. __________________ HDR Ban!? It's a shame all of my guns sank with my boat last week... Time to catch up.....like mayonnaise

May 18, 2007, 06:59 PM	#2
zoomie Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2006 Location: GA Posts: 1,863	.204 or DPMS LR-308.

May 19, 2007, 08:31 PM	#5
FALshootist Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2002 Posts: 589	I'm giving some serious thought to building a 6.8 spc upper as an all around gun. It should be great as a pig and deer gun and alot of fun at the range.

May 20, 2007, 07:40 AM	#6
hoytinak Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 5,721	i'd go with the 6.8 myself

May 20, 2007, 09:15 AM	#7
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	You're hunting around Pannymaw City? Generally smallish deer and generally fairly close shots? Why not load the .223 with 70-grain bullets? If the kid's any sort of shot, even the .223 will ruin Bambi's neck. Teach just where the proper spot for a heart shot is, rather than just "aiming at the brown". Art

May 21, 2007, 07:39 AM	#9
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	I've hunted some along the Appalach, below Blountstown. As much fun critter-watching as hunting. Never knew what I'd see, easing through that thick stuff. Deer, bear, hogs, bobcat; the occasional gator. PC was home base for me when I got out of the Army, almost 50 years ago. Sure has changed! As a certified Old Phart, I sorta prefer Appalachicola, nowadays. But I did my share of grinnin' and dancin' at PC Beach, way back when... Art

May 22, 2007, 02:18 PM	#11
john in jax Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2005 Posts: 1,177	Get him a lot of practice. It is all about shot placement, if you can get him consistantly shooting MOA groups in critical areas on deer sized and shaped targets he should be OK with the heavier soft point bullets. If possible have him practice at different distances and various angles so he knows where to shoot if the deer is quartering towards or away from him. __________________ America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards. Claire Wolfe

May 22, 2007, 03:24 PM	#12
OBIWAN Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 1999 Location: Colorado Posts: 2,340	A lot of states mandate 5 rounds max for hunting so you may need a new mag anyway I would get a 6.8 upper

May 22, 2007, 07:37 PM	#13
timothy75 Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Nevada Posts: 1,146	I second the 223 with powerpoint win. Unless your hunting large deer it should work fine and remember its a semi auto if it doesnt.

May 22, 2007, 08:16 PM	#14
Trapp Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2004 Location: KTN Posts: 1,221	I am not going to even throw the "multiple shot because its a semi auto" theory to my 7 year old. One shot one kill. If you can't do that, don't take the shot....... __________________ HDR Ban!? It's a shame all of my guns sank with my boat last week... Time to catch up.....like mayonnaise

May 23, 2007, 10:29 PM	#15
cunanse Member Join Date: February 15, 2006 Posts: 37	Trapp- I just put up a post with the gun lineup of my next hunt. The AR setup my buddy has there was used last season by a coworker's husband and he had no problem bagging a buck. Of course it was chambered in .308. To hunt deer in .223, you'd have to really know your gun and your game, IMHO. But Utah muleys are a little bigger than Panhandle whitetails. So I'd say go for it, in your case.

May 24, 2007, 01:28 AM	#16
geez768 Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 169	the new 450 bushmaster will fit in the 5.56 lower just turnes it into a single stack. would make a great deer gun.