[awachwhiteboy]

I wanting to get my lower receiver bought soon as I don't trust obama to not reinact a ban on AW. I dont know how long till I could possibly finish this they're freaking expensive to build! My question is I want to build a 5.56 ar. Anyone ever hunt with this cartridge ? I know its small but its centerfire which makes it legal for hunting. I don't like to see anything suffer, this rifle would be mostly for sport. I dont have the funds to build two different rifles so that is out of the question. It would be a scoped rifle 10rd (cali) mag. what do you think ?

If not, then I would go .308 or maybe the 6.8 although its probably pricey to shoot. either way these are more expensive to shoot

[5-90]

You can hunt with 5.56x45, but shot placement becomes critical.

The good thing about the AR lower? You can put a whole plethora of calbres onto it - simply by switching the upper assembly (and without having to go through an FFL!)

If you're going to primarily hunt with the thing, get your upper in 7.62x39 first, then the 5.56x45. For short ranges, the .50 Beowulf and .458 SOCOM are both good - but ammo gets spendy (surprisingly easy to handle with both of those rounds as well!)

I believe uppers can be had in .50AE as well.

Ballistics with the 7.62x39 are going to be comparable to the Ruger Mini-30, so no surprises there (although the AR uppers prefer brass-cased ammo over steel-cased.) Ballistics with the large calibres (.50AE, .50 Beo, .458 SOCOM, et al) are going to resemble rainbows, which is why I said "short range" - 125-150 yards becomes "extreme" range for accuracy - but the rounds weren't designed for long-range accuracy anyhow (you can shoot 1000 yards accurately with an AR - I've done it - but don't expect the bullet to have useful energy left at that point. I have never expected it to be useful past about 300y on any standing target - man or beast. If I expect longer ranges, I'll pull out a .308 or .30-06 instead - .308 can be effective up to 800y or so, .30-06 out to 1400 or so. Beyond that, get yourself a .50BMG - effective to 3500y or so, but spendy.)

Pistol ammo, in general, is comparable in cost to rifle ammo. 7.62x39 is on par, more or less, with 5.56x45/.223 - at least it's not an "exotic" or "new" round (the 7.62 Russian has been around since the late 1940's.)

Try Googling "AR Uppers" or "AR calibers" and see what all you can get - you'd be surprised some of the calibres you can put on top of the thing. The common thread? They're all 2.25" OAL or less. Here's a (probably partial) unofficial list - http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=406519

[kairo]

Any reason you don't wanna just pick up a cheap .308 / .270 / .30-06 (or whatever) bolt action deer rifle and leave the AR for defense duty?
I'm not sure I'd take my .223 AR deer hunting. I'd prefer a bit more knock down and wind bucking power of a slightly larger caliber.

[tooofast]

most states don't let you hunt anything over coyote size game with 223 and for good reason in my opinion. You need a caliber with sufficient energy to deliver a clean kill in less than perfect conditions and 223 on any reasonable size game just does not cut it.. again just my opinion.

Can i as what the attraction is with using 223?

Dave

[awachwhiteboy]

Sure the attraction with building a 223 ar is thats typically what caliber the ar comes in. I wanted to build the carbine model with collapsible stock for looks and my wife can still shoot it comfortably.

I guess I may lean toward the 7.62x39 round for hunting, its still a realativly cheap round to fire for fun.

Kairo you make a good point about the wind bucking power of the 223, none. I'd hate to misplace a shot because of the wind.

[Indy]

Wyoming says no to .22 caliber and big game hunting. I really think it's primarily because some yahoo would be out there with a 22 mag more than anything else. Personally I think the .223 is more than adequate for most deer sized game assuming proper bullet selection. I'd like to give it a shot to at least check wound channel and bullet performance.

FWIW, none of my hunting buddies understand why I dissect every animal instead of just dressing it and getting back in the truck. But I like science, and ballistics. Combining them is all kinds of fun

[5-90]

Originally Posted by Indy

Wyoming says no to .22 caliber and big game hunting. I really think it's primarily because some yahoo would be out there with a 22 mag more than anything else. Personally I think the .223 is more than adequate for most deer sized game assuming proper bullet selection. I'd like to give it a shot to at least check wound channel and bullet performance.

FWIW, none of my hunting buddies understand why I dissect every animal instead of just dressing it and getting back in the truck. But I like science, and ballistics. Combining them is all kinds of fun

Read up on the work of Martin Fackler - pretty much the father of modern terminal ballistic study (an M.D., I believe.) You'll find his work rather illuminating.

And I have taken deer-sized game with .223 and other .22 centrefire rounds - but you'll have to work at very short ranges and make sure of your bullet placement (I follow the advice my uncle gave me, and handed down from generation to generation - "Git as close as ya can, laddie, and then git ten yards closer." I've rarely taken a shot at game at a range greater than forty paced yards after the shot was taken. I can count on the fingers of one nose how many times it's failed me - if I'm not dead certain of the shot when I'm about to break the scear, I slack the trigger and look for the next one. I'd rather have no meat that day than waste energy and time tracking blood spoor. I can do it - I just prefer not to.)

Much of the regulations we're saddled with stem from people who simply did not know what they were about, and proceeded to place unreasonable expectations on inadequate equipment. Yes, you can take medium game with a .22 centrefire. I've taken boar with a .222 before - it's doable. But you'd better be damned sure of your bullet placement, or you're going to have plenty of problems!

[RightyMarksman]

Op- One thing you may check can you hunt with an AR in your state ? Are there any Restrictions on the Number of Rounds you might be limited to ? I don't think you do but being California it would not suprise me.

Yes you can use the .223 for Deer, in addition to shot placement bullet choice is another thing to look at.
I would recomend staying away from anything that promotes rapid/explosive expansion (Balistic tips, V-Max and such) and stray towards something that will expand but retain bullet weight such as a Cor-Lokt or Nosler patritions. I use my Ar-15 here in Texas all the time for Hog hunting if im hunting from a stand I load up Match BTHP's and ear hole them, if im out in the field I run some cheap pointed soft points like Remington Cor-lokt's and just hit them wherever I can.

Another thing to look at, run the 7.62x39mm Upper and you wont have any problems.

[ScotZ]

I am certain that a deer can be taken with a .223 AR. Would I do it ? NO! Too many variables have to be just right to have a good chance to drop a deer with a .223 . In the interest of a good clean kill. I would opt for a larger caliber.



As was mentioned before ,make sure magazine capacity isnt an issue in your state.


Good luck and Good hunting

[awachwhiteboy]

Thanks you guys, Just FYI someone had meantioned how many cartridges we can have while hunting and I believe its 3+1 its been scarry long since I've been hunting

[89jeepwrangler]

Too me hunting with a Ar 15 is not hunting thats my opion. i would go with the 308 you can hunt deer elk and what ever. but its all about shot place meant.

[mgramann]

Unless you are a very good shot AND experienced deer hunter, I would not hunt with .223. If you meet both of these requirements, ammunition is key. You can't hunt with any .223/5.56 ammo as most is designed for rapid expansion, which will not work well for deer sized game as it will not penetrate to vitals. Winchester makes a 64 grain round that is designed for deer. Other companies make even heavier 223 rounds. I would go no lighter than 64 grain.

[Rezneck]

.223 vs Deer always brings on a debate.

IMHO, it boils down to this. If you have to ask, you probably shouldn't try it.

[yjJeff]

.223, can of tannerite and a deer is a different story.....

[Sabotage]

a .223 with expands and shatters inside when it hits,so if u plan on eating and part of what u shot,watch for the lead