Who here hunts with an 'AR'

06-02-2002, 08:51

I know I do for most game Deer on down.

I am left handed, and right eye dom. I shoot right handed, and find that a scoped AR (Bushmaster) works nicely.

What's your opinion on using these AR type rifles for hunting.

WalterGA · 06-02-2002, 11:39

I have a couple of friends who hunt deer with AR's. One of 'em is a Marine Patrol Officer in an adjoining State. They seem to do o.k., but they are good marksmen and don't try any long shots. Deer around here don't get very big..not much over 275# or so.

bbauman · 06-02-2002, 13:46

Yes for coyotes and other varmits. For deer I go with something a bit bigger.

44 Dan · 06-02-2002, 16:24

I use my AR-10A2 on just about everything from rodents to coyotes.

We're still waiting/hoping on getting a Deer or Elk tag. Who knows maybe this year we'll get lucky.

Later, 44 Dan

trapfan · 06-02-2002, 20:55

I have used my AR15 for everything from Russian wild boar to Ground Hogs. Took a 326lb Wild Boar with Winchester 64gr. Power Points. It took two head shots but he went down. Have harvested many Michigan Whitetail Deer too. I am very fond of the .223/5.56 round and have used it for years. My Dad put 27 years in at Cadillac Gage where Eugene Stoner made the Stoner63 weapons system. Stoner was the father of the AR15/M16 style weapon system so at a young age I got to see what the .223/5.56 round will do.

**DJ Niner** · 06-03-2002, 17:57

Varmints and fur-bearing critters (fox and coyote). Moving targets are good practice for...moving targets!;f

sarge · 06-04-2002, 08:25

My son and I use them for coyotes and fox, nothing larger.

USMCsilver · 06-27-2002, 11:26

From beavers to squirrells to hogs to tweetie birds, yep!

***glockster96*** · 06-27-2002, 11:32

I don't know if you can call it hunting, but I shoot prairie dogs with my ARs.

06-27-2002, 14:56

Glockster.

Yes. Those count.

Thanks for the input all. I just got my Armalite AR-10/A4.
Green, with a 20"bbl, and removable sights.

I shot it the other day. Just like the Bushmaster XM15E2S...Right on the money.

saigonsmuggler · 06-29-2002, 14:50

Yep count me in too! Used a Bushmaster AR (55-gr softpoints) a few years back on some mule deers (around 180 lbs). Lung shots are awesome - only ran about 150 yards.

Esox357 · 06-30-2002, 14:14

Not yet, but plan on using it for my varmiting needs. I will use it primarily for coyote and crow and if luck would have it a bobcat. Esox357

IPSC-1 · 07-03-2002, 09:06

Quote:

Originally posted by saigonsmuggler
Yep count me in too! Used a Bushmaster AR (55-gr softpoints) a few years back on some mule deers (around 180 lbs). Lung shots are awesome - only ran about 150 yards.

Only ran 150yds?!!! What the hell kind of hunter are you?
Use enough gun! Guys like you p*ss me off. Blood pressure going up...

vettman1 · 07-03-2002, 10:16

So what do you think about people who hunt with a bow? I've seen them track animals for hours before they find it dead or even still wounded and have to finish it off with another arrow or a knife. An AR can put down deer if hit well, but sometimes it doesn't go well and even with larger caliber rifles they run. Not meaning to flame, just stating the facts.

IPSC-1 · 07-03-2002, 10:31

OK, I'm an avid deer hunter and I respect these animals immensely. I grew up hunting deer in Northern Maine (where they are known for being large and very resilient.)
The smallest rifle caliber I've ever hunted whitetail with is a .270 Win. however, I prefer a .30 cal bullet. I've also used 44 mag in a revolver, primarily from a tree stand.
In the 19 whitetail I've shot, I have never had to track one. They have always been lying on the ground in the same spot they were standing when I broke the shot. Luck? I don't think so. This is the direct result of using the correct tool (read: caliber) combined with shot placement.
.223 is a varmint caliber. Its not suited for whitetail.
Part of being a good hunter/sportsman is using the correct tool. Making a clean kill should be paramount, and 223 does not lend itself to clean quick kills. Anyone who uses a .223 for whitetail {IMO} is an irresponsible hunter who is not giving the animal the respect it deserves. {Flame suit on}

Edited to add: This thread isn't about bow hunting. Start a new thread if you want to change the subject.

saigonsmuggler · 07-03-2002, 11:37

Quote:

Originally posted by IPSC-1
OK, I'm an avid deer hunter and I respect these animals immensely. I grew up hunting deer in Northern Maine (where they are known for being large and very resilient.)
The smallest rifle caliber I've ever hunted whitetail with is a .270 Win. however, I prefer a .30 cal bullet. I've also used 44 mag in a revolver, primarily from a tree stand.
In the 19 whitetail I've shot, I have never had to track one. They have always been lying on the ground in the same spot they were standing when I broke the shot. Luck? I don't think so. This is the direct result of using the correct tool (read: caliber) combined with shot placement.
.223 is a varmint caliber. Its not suited for whitetail.
Part of being a good hunter/sportsman is using the correct tool. Making a clean kill should be paramount, and 223 does not lend itself to clean quick kills. Anyone who uses a .223 for whitetail {IMO} is an irresponsible hunter who is not giving the animal the respect it deserves. {Flame suit on}

Edited to add: This thread isn't about bow hunting. Start a new thread if you want to change the subject.

19 deers falling on the same spots? Yeah uh huh... right...

I have used and seen deers taking solid lung shots with .308 and .30-06 and ran for more than 100 yards before collapsing. Actually upon dressing, I have noticed that .223 tends to pulverizes the lungs more than .308. And when they dropped, they are as dead as door nails.

Unless you have solid hits in the spine, heart the deer is probably gonna run a good distance.

trapfan · 07-03-2002, 14:33

I have seen way too many {Outdoorsmen} at the range who say you have to have -- cal. or a slug to kill a deer. I have then seen the same guy not hold a group in a 10 inch paper plate at 50 yards and then say "I am ready for the deer woods now". Most think if you use a 3 and a half inch slug if you hit deer any place they will go down but that is not true. Poor shot placement with a .50 cal BMG is still poor shot placement. I would rather hit the deer with a well placed shot with a .223/5.56 then a poor shot with a super magnum. The trick to harvesting deer with the .223 is SHOT PLACEMENT. Do not pull the switch untill you are sure you have a killing shot. The .223/5.56 will do a great job with proper bullet and good shot placement.

IPSC-1 · 07-08-2002, 06:52

Quote:

Originally posted by saigonsmuggler

19 deers falling on the same spots? Yeah uh huh... right...

I have used and seen deers taking solid lung shots with .308 and .30-06 and ran for more than 100 yards before collapsing. Actually upon dressing, I have noticed that .223 tends to pulverizes the lungs more than .308. And when they dropped, they are as dead as door nails.

Unless you have solid hits in the spine, heart the deer is probably gonna run a good distance.

You find it hard to believe that I've made 19 clean, one shot kills on whitetail (from a treestand)? Its not suprising this seems impossible to you.
You must be one of the guys using a varmint caliber to shoot whitetail...and it shows.
You know those full size deer targets with the "kill zone" printed on it? Thats where I shoot. Suprising as it may sound, they are always laying on the ground dead as a doornail. Never had one run and I don't intend to.

saigonsmuggler · 07-16-2002, 10:41

Actually I might make an argument that for deer size animals, .223 is very effective. When using HPs or softpoints, the 55 to 62-grain bullet usually would not exit the deer, thus dumping all of its energy into the target.

You would most likely have exit wounds if you use .308, .30-06 on deers in broadside shots.

07-17-2002, 00:25

You cant miss fast enough to win (or to survive) If you hunt responsibly you need to be on target.

I go to our local "Sight in Days" at the range, and watch guys sight in the 300 ultra-mag and say it's for deer. Then they go shoot the "Running Buck". This is a Mule Deer target that moves away from you from about 100yards to 130, yards at an angle full speed it is realistic of shots taken in the field here(Not too many tree stands around too much brush.).

It has been my experience that many folks do well on the sand bags, and miss on the moving target. It is fantastic reality based training. Ok. It is also a lot of fun. I find that I can hit right were I aim with my AR. while some of the guys with bigger bore guns do not fare as well.

In Western Oregon(RAIN FOREST)shots are usualy under 200 yards.

For those ranges the 64 grn JSP Winchester Power Point Plus works like a charm.

Happy Safe Hunting All.

paynter2 · 07-18-2002, 15:45

saigonsmuggler:

"Actually I might make an argument that for deer size animals, .223 is very effective. When using HPs or softpoints, the 55 to 62-grain bullet usually would not exit the deer, thus dumping all of its energy into the target.

You would most likely have exit wounds if you use .308, .30-06 on deers in broadside shots."

That's why I went to a 6mm REM. My 30-06 bullits were exiting the beast.

badbilly429 · 07-18-2002, 15:55

i have killed about 6 white tails, with one shot. i take out the shoulder, and ususally get the heart and lungs with it, with 30.06 165 gr ballistic tips. ive shot 2 others 1 that ran 10 yards, and another that ran about 50.

walterga, i want to go hunting over by you, 275 # whitetails ?
thats a whola lotta deer! and a whole lotta jerky!

WalterGA · 07-18-2002, 16:41

"walterga, i want to go hunting over by you, 275 # whitetails ?"

I don't hunt deer, but we do have some pretty large deer hereabouts. Lots of row crops and good cover for deer. Killing a deer doesn't require a great deal of skill, at the ranges at which most deer are killed. If deer hunting were very difficult, those 8-yr-old girls, shooting SKS's couldn't kill them so easily.

A .223 has much more energy than many handgun rounds that people use for deer hunting.

I do believe that 19 non-running deer, shot from a stand is doable. Also believe that the same results would have been had with a good .243.

paynter2 · 07-19-2002, 14:17

I think 19 downed deer from a stand is doable too. I think weather a deer goes down right away or not depends on shot placement - more than calibre.

Personally, given a choice, I don't shoot for the shoulder - I don't like to 'blow up' the animal like that. I'll shoot right behind the elbow - right in the lungs. No meat damage and the animal will go down 8 out of 10 times. The other 2 times it may run a few yards.

yah - blowing up the shoulder will put them down. But, it's not the .270, 308, or 30-06 thats doing it - it's bullit energy hitting all that bone mass and the animal forced to absorb all that energy
that counts.

BKD in Texas · 07-20-2002, 18:10

IPSC-1. I'm calling BS on this.

In what exact part of their anatomy did you shoot these 19 deer? Unless they were all neck or head shots, I simply don't believe you.

I've killed 35 to 40 deer myself and seen a few more shot by others. Unless you get a CNS hit, a deer shot even through the heart or both lungs, is going to run a bit, much more often than not. Occasionally they will drop in their tracks with a heart/lung hit, but only occasionally. If you shoot 19 deer in the heart/lung area in a row, I would bet my next monthly paycheck over 50% of them would run some distance. Probably more like 75% would. They won't go far with a good hit, but they will run...

So, care to clarify your shot placement?

Take Care,
BKD