Deer hunting with AR platform

[OK Bowhunter]

So this is my problem I plan on building an AR15 (Lower on order) to use for deer and coyote hunting, but would like a better round, something like a 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel. I know that there is alot of different cal that will work, but there are also alot of conflecting claims made that the 6.5 is bad for this reason or the 6.8 is on its way out. I know that you can, in theory, kill a deer with a 5.56 with a well placed shot, but I would perfer something that will have a little more knockdown power.

I have been doing a lot of research and need to help. What should I look at in making a decission?

I do not plan on making or even attempting making any shots over 300 yrds, but would like something with the capability to do much more (for target practice). I have started reloading, so the selection will need to be able to be reloaded with easy to find components. Next I plan on buying a complete upper, unless I can find all the parts and tools to build one for the same price range give or take a few hundred.

Sorry if this has been aked before, but looking at other sites I have been getting biased opinions.

thanks

 

[J E Custom]

So this is my problem I plan on building an AR15 (Lower on order) to use for deer and coyote hunting, but would like a better round, something like a 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel. I know that there is alot of different cal that will work, but there are also alot of conflecting claims made that the 6.5 is bad for this reason or the 6.8 is on its way out. I know that you can, in theory, kill a deer with a 5.56 with a well placed shot, but I would perfer something that will have a little more knockdown power.

I have been doing a lot of research and need to help. What should I look at in making a decission?

I do not plan on making or even attempting making any shots over 300 yrds, but would like something with the capability to do much more (for target practice). I have started reloading, so the selection will need to be able to be reloaded with easy to find components. Next I plan on buying a complete upper, unless I can find all the parts and tools to build one for the same price range give or take a few hundred.

Sorry if this has been aked before, but looking at other sites I have been getting biased opinions.

thanks

The 223 although capable of killing deer would not be recomended for this use. it is good
for some varmints.

If you look at midway they have many different calibers of uppers to chose from and this
might help you decide.

I agree with the choice not to go with a 6,5 SPC because it is not that much better than the
223 (It is more like the 7.62 x39).

Don't know much about the grendel, so I would recomend something like the 223 WSSM
or the 243 WSSM the 25 WSSM might be a good choice if you were mostly hunting deer
size game.

The complete uppers would be the way to go because you get the bolt and even the mags
in some cases.

You can buy a good lower for less than $350.00. Or buy a complete AR 15 in 223/5.56 and
have a very inexpensive rifle to practice with and hunt varmints with and when you go big
game hunting switch the upper to something larger.

I have this system and with one lower I can choose between the 223, A Tack 15 crossbow,
and a 450 bushmaster (For hogs and deer). all with the same lower and custom trigger.

Just something to think about.

J E CUSTOM

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I disagree in side 300 yards the 5.56 is more than ok for deer. Sure your not going to get bang flop, but dead is dead!

I think the 6.8 spc is a great choice for what you want. Of even the 6.5 grendal or 264 LBC. There is also the 30rem ar you should look at and google 30AAC blackout read that.

Look at SSK industries they have alot of custom options as well.

I have a LMT MRP CQB I can change from 5.56,204 ruger, and 6.8 spc in about 2 min by swaping barrels. That might be something to consider for you as well.

 

[liltank]

Do you have the Lower yet? If not, then an AR10 in 308 will kill all your targets to what ever range you choose. Very capable to 300yrds for Elk and smaller at that range.

Tank

 

[J E Custom]

I disagree in side 300 yards the 5.56 is more than ok for deer. Sure your not going to get bang flop, but dead is dead!

I think the 6.8 spc is a great choice for what you want. Of even the 6.5 grendal or 264 LBC. There is also the 30rem ar you should look at and google 30AAC blackout read that.

Look at SSK industries they have alot of custom options as well.

I have a LMT MRP CQB I can change from 5.56,204 ruger, and 6.8 spc in about 2 min by swaping barrels. That might be something to consider for you as well.

Sorry, But I have to disagree with all of your choices just as you disagreed with mine.

If you want to spend all of your time tracking then it's ok . Or make all of your shots Neck shots
so they will fall where they were shot.

I happen to like the 223 but like all cartriges it has it's place and big game is not it. In any case,
I would not recomend any thing lighter than a 22/250 for deer with a clear conscious.

The reason I recomended the WSSMs was they are the most available and very powerful in
an AR platform and can be used at extended ranges.

Of all the cartriges I could find these are the energies listed=
204 Ruger=1357 ft/lbs
223 Rem =1282 ft/lbs
223WSSM= 1810 ft/lbs
243 WSSM=2258 ft/lbs
25 WSSM =2347 ft/lbs
6.5 Grendel=1875 ft/lbs
6.8 SPC =1588 ft/lbs
The next ones are short range (300 yards max).
458 Socom = 335 grain @ 1800 ft/sec for 2405 ft/lbs of energy.
450 Bushmaster = 250 grain @ 2200 ft/sec for 2686 ft/lbs of energy.
50 Beowulf =334 grain @ 1900 ft/sec for 2678 ft/lbs of energy.

The "recomended" impact energy for one shot kills on deer is 1000 ft/lbs of energy, so if you
subscribe to these energies some of the cartriges have less than a 100 yard effective range.

So you be the judge as to what you will be willing to live with.

J E CUSTOM

 

[liltank]

Sorry, But I have to disagree with all of your choices just as you disagreed with mine.

If you want to spend all of your time tracking then it's ok . Or make all of your shots Neck shots
so they will fall where they were shot.

I happen to like the 223 but like all cartriges it has it's place and big game is not it. In any case,
I would not recomend any thing lighter than a 22/250 for deer with a clear conscious.

The reason I recomended the WSSMs was they are the most available and very powerful in
an AR platform and can be used at extended ranges.

Of all the cartriges I could find these are the energies listed=
204 Ruger=1357 ft/lbs
223 Rem =1282 ft/lbs
223WSSM= 1810 ft/lbs
243 WSSM=2258 ft/lbs
25 WSSM =2347 ft/lbs
6.5 Grendel=1875 ft/lbs
6.8 SPC =1588 ft/lbs
The next ones are short range (300 yards max).
458 Socom = 335 grain @ 1800 ft/sec for 12405 ft/lbs of energy.
450 Bushmaster = 250 grain @ 2200 ft/sec for 2686 ft/lbs of energy.
50 Beowulf =334 grain @ 1900 ft/sec for 2678 ft/lbs of energy.

The "recomended" impact energy for one shot kills on deer is 1000 ft/lbs of energy, so if you
subscribe to these energies some of the cartriges have less than a 100 yard effective range.

So you be the judge as to what you will be willing to live with.

J E CUSTOM

Well from that list, I would go with the 458 SOCOM. Class can we say "Artillery?"

Tank

 

[bigngreen]

There was a good article a while back that might interest you. http://www.longrangehunting.com/articles/6mm-turbo-40-ackley-ar-15-review-1.php

 

[partisan1911]

I was just looking at the .204 ruger vs .223 energies you listed above. I wonder what bullet weights those represent? I shoot 39gr out of my .204 and 77gr out of my ar-15. According to that I get more energy out of my .204 and should be using that on wolves?

 

[RMulhern]

Semi-autos SUCK!

Get a bolt gun!!

 

[J E Custom]

Well from that list, I would go with the 458 SOCOM. Class can we say "Artillery?"

Tank

Sorry, I had a typo the energy is 2405 ft/lbs not 12405. glad you caught it.

Thanks.

J E CUSTOM

 

[J E Custom]

I was just looking at the .204 ruger vs .223 energies you listed above. I wonder what bullet weights those represent? I shoot 39gr out of my .204 and 77gr out of my ar-15. According to that I get more energy out of my .204 and should be using that on wolves?

The 204 Ruger was a 40 grain V Max @ 3900 ft/sec.

The 223 rem was a 55 grain V Max @ 3240 ft/sec.

Both loads are the most popular and about optumum bullet weight/energy listed .

There are loads that may be faster but they will not have the energy of these loads
because the bullet weight will be less.

I was surprised at the 204 myself.

The main reason that I posted all of the calibers that are usable in the AR platform is to
show the potential of the AR with the right barrel/upper on it.

The Beowulf is the most powerful of the AR uppers ,But I chose the 450 because of the
bullets,brass and it was a close second in energy to the Beowulf and had less drop at
300 yards.

J E CUSTOM

 

[cavtrooper94]

Any of us that have been around know that a 22 LR put in the right place will take **** near anything, but that doesn't make it a good idea. The AR platform can be great for deer sized game but the appropriate cartridge needs to be utilized. If I were to build one I would use the 243 WSSM or even a 223 WSSM with a fast twist for a heavy bullet. I've seen the 6.8 and 6.5 Grendel work well also. If you were willing to get adventurous a 6.5 WSSM would be awesome.

 

[partisan1911]

I have a bolt gun, actually I have quite a few bolt guns.

Last year I shot a fox with my.204 at about 20 yards. I managed to pass through the ribs without hitting bone and ended up tracking it for about 200yards. That was a pain in the butt through the deep snow. I didn't have time to get a decent second shot with my bolt rifle. I have started using an ar-15 for a quicker follow up shot but I don't think the 77gr sierra match kings will work on a wolf size animal so I am going to try something in the flavor around 60+gr in a vtip or ballistic tip style bullet. In the past I have used .30 caliber rifles but they did a little more damage than I wanted. Wolves are a little smaller than deer but they are tough critters.

With my sucky ar-15 I can shoot a pie plate at 600yds consistently in calm wind. On a mildly windy day I can hit a pepsi can at 300yds on at least the second shot if not the first.

 

[Miller Outdoors]

I think the 6.5 Grendel will fit your application nicely.

I'd also consider going the AR-10 route in .308 to be ideal also.