AR hunting - The Firearms Forum

sorral · 05-13-2007, 10:32 AM

I am about to put together a DPMS ar15 kit. I will use it for plinking and If I can get a law enforcement job, use it for that. But I was wondering, is an AR15 in .223 good for hunting anything other than terrorists?

polishshooter · 05-13-2007, 10:44 AM

FYI, he .223 started it's life as a varmint round, and many AR type rifles are marketed for that too...

With the right bullet and placement, it might be OK up to medium sized game, even if a larger round would be better....IF the state allowed SA rifles, and in that small of a caliber...

I know a guy who uses (or USED to anyway, 20+ years ago...) a Bolt Action .223 to hunt deer in PA, with SOME success according to him, but the couple of times I hunted with him he never got one so I couldn't tell you how it worked...

And my wife used to hunt deer in PA with her Grandfather and I with his .222 Turkey rifle, with some supposedly "stiff" handloads he worked up, but mainly because it was the only rifle he had she liked and could shoot well, but we BOTH thanked our lucky stars every season she hunted that she never actually SHOT it at anything....

pickenup · 05-13-2007, 11:03 AM

While it may work fine, a .223 is not legal to hunt big game with in this state. Nothing smaller than a .24 is allowed. Might want to check your local laws.

Gene Seward · 05-18-2008, 06:47 AM

I have hunted and killed deer with the Ar-15 in .223. This was years ago with hollow points. Now I hunt deer with DPX and Partition in 55 gr.. I love the expansion of the DPX. Basically it is shot placement as with anything you hunt whether it be two or four legged.

Dutchman · 06-06-2008, 11:55 PM

From what I understand it's minimal even for terrorists let alone game animals.

colt · 02-15-2009, 06:01 PM

If you can't kill a terrorist with a .223 you need to aim for the head.

Jimdo · 06-02-2009, 05:15 PM

It's a very popular varmint caliber and used quite often for anything up to a Whitetail Deer. (Tough, I wouldn't use it for Deer personally)
Lots 'o guys use it for varmint hunting here in IL.

USMCSpeedy · 06-02-2009, 09:17 PM

Minnesota just relaxed their restrictions on deer hunting last year to include the .223. I know a few people that used them sucsessfully. Although shot placement and a good expanding bullet are key to bringing one down with one shot. I used my 25-06 last year but I'm considering my AR for this year.

FTK87 · 06-02-2009, 10:20 PM

.223 is fine for deer as long as you use almost anything besides FMJ. If shooting a fawn or doe, go ahead and aim for the head to be safe

miestro_jerry · 06-04-2009, 12:21 AM

I have a Colt AR15 HBAR NM, it is one of the best ground hog and coyote rifles I ever had. Much better than the Triple Deuce.

Jerry

zfk55 · 06-04-2009, 10:04 AM

We live in the middle of where everyone who can, comes to hunt. Tell any one of us you're going hunting anything larger than a coyote with a .223 and you'll hear... "Uhh. Yeah. So..... How's the wife and kids".

A well placed shot from a 22LR will bring down a Whitetail or Mule deer. Nobody around here is going to count on that to happen with any regularity.
Why would you roll the dice on losing a wounded deer in the woods? There are calibers for varmints, deer, elk, moose, bear and even humans. Use the most efficient caliber. If all you have is a .223 for deer, then wait until you can afford the right rifle/caliber.
IMNSHO, of course.

Latigo

carver · 06-04-2009, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sorral

I am about to put together a DPMS ar15 kit. I will use it for plinking and If I can get a law enforcement job, use it for that. But I was wondering, is an AR15 in .223 good for hunting anything other than terrorists?

Don't know where you live, but the .223 is illegal in some states, OK in others. In LA you can take deer with anything .22 cal. centerfire, or larger. My dad dicided to try his luck with the .22 Hornet, he managed to kill two deer with no problems, then on the third try he found out why the smaller cal. .22 rounds don't perform well on deer! Personally, I would stick to varmet hunting with this caliber. Just because it will kill a deer sized animal, if shot placement is spot on, doesn't mean you gotta try it.

Bobitis · 06-04-2009, 06:32 PM

They're illegal in Washington for big game (as opposed to varmints).
On the other hand, I can shoot an elk in the butt with a 30.06 and it's apparantly ok?

.243s are legal, so I guess 2 hundreths of an inch makes all the difference in the world.

zfk55 · 06-04-2009, 06:58 PM

Do a quick ballistics check and see what else is different besides two thousandths.

Latigo

05-13-2007, 10:32 AM	#1
sorral V.I.P. Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 153	AR hunting I am about to put together a DPMS ar15 kit. I will use it for plinking and If I can get a law enforcement job, use it for that. But I was wondering, is an AR15 in .223 good for hunting anything other than terrorists? -->

05-13-2007, 10:44 AM	#2
polishshooter Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Indiana Contributor Posts: 7,863	Re: AR hunting FYI, he .223 started it's life as a varmint round, and many AR type rifles are marketed for that too... With the right bullet and placement, it might be OK up to medium sized game, even if a larger round would be better....IF the state allowed SA rifles, and in that small of a caliber... I know a guy who uses (or USED to anyway, 20+ years ago...) a Bolt Action .223 to hunt deer in PA, with SOME success according to him, but the couple of times I hunted with him he never got one so I couldn't tell you how it worked... And my wife used to hunt deer in PA with her Grandfather and I with his .222 Turkey rifle, with some supposedly "stiff" handloads he worked up, but mainly because it was the only rifle he had she liked and could shoot well, but we BOTH thanked our lucky stars every season she hunted that she never actually SHOT it at anything.... __________________ The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living. Last edited by polishshooter; 05-13-2007 at 10:45 AM..

05-13-2007, 11:03 AM	#3
pickenup Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains Posts: 6,838	Re: AR hunting While it may work fine, a .223 is not legal to hunt big game with in this state. Nothing smaller than a .24 is allowed. Might want to check your local laws. __________________ The gene pool needs chlorine

05-18-2008, 06:47 AM	#4
Gene Seward V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Batesville, Arkansas Posts: 477	Re: AR hunting I have hunted and killed deer with the Ar-15 in .223. This was years ago with hollow points. Now I hunt deer with DPX and Partition in 55 gr.. I love the expansion of the DPX. Basically it is shot placement as with anything you hunt whether it be two or four legged.

06-06-2008, 11:55 PM	#5
Dutchman Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ozarks Posts: 26	Re: AR hunting From what I understand it's minimal even for terrorists let alone game animals.

02-15-2009, 06:01 PM	#6
colt V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ky. Posts: 147	Re: AR hunting If you can't kill a terrorist with a .223 you need to aim for the head.

06-02-2009, 05:15 PM	#7
Jimdo V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: So. IL. Posts: 51	Re: AR hunting It's a very popular varmint caliber and used quite often for anything up to a Whitetail Deer. (Tough, I wouldn't use it for Deer personally) Lots 'o guys use it for varmint hunting here in IL.

06-02-2009, 09:17 PM	#8
USMCSpeedy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 627	Re: AR hunting Minnesota just relaxed their restrictions on deer hunting last year to include the .223. I know a few people that used them sucsessfully. Although shot placement and a good expanding bullet are key to bringing one down with one shot. I used my 25-06 last year but I'm considering my AR for this year. __________________ If all else fails, VOTE FROM THE ROOFTOPS Trying to reform a liberal is like trying to pick up a turd from the clean end. What this country needs is more family trees that will produce more lumber and fewer nuts!

06-02-2009, 10:20 PM	#9
FTK87 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Chouteau, Oklahoma Posts: 481	Re: AR hunting .223 is fine for deer as long as you use almost anything besides FMJ. If shooting a fawn or doe, go ahead and aim for the head to be safe

06-04-2009, 12:21 AM	#10
miestro_jerry Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Somerton (BFE), Ohio Posts: 7	Re: AR hunting I have a Colt AR15 HBAR NM, it is one of the best ground hog and coyote rifles I ever had. Much better than the Triple Deuce. Jerry __________________ I am a well organized Militia of One NRA Benefactor Life Member

06-04-2009, 10:04 AM	#11
zfk55 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lost Prairie Montana Posts: 237	Re: AR hunting We live in the middle of where everyone who can, comes to hunt. Tell any one of us you're going hunting anything larger than a coyote with a .223 and you'll hear... "Uhh. Yeah. So..... How's the wife and kids". A well placed shot from a 22LR will bring down a Whitetail or Mule deer. Nobody around here is going to count on that to happen with any regularity. Why would you roll the dice on losing a wounded deer in the woods? There are calibers for varmints, deer, elk, moose, bear and even humans. Use the most efficient caliber. If all you have is a .223 for deer, then wait until you can afford the right rifle/caliber. IMNSHO, of course. Latigo __________________ Latigo A Montanan and an actual American with a real American Birth Certificate.

06-04-2009, 06:32 PM	#13
Bobitis Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 6,612	Re: AR hunting They're illegal in Washington for big game (as opposed to varmints). On the other hand, I can shoot an elk in the butt with a 30.06 and it's apparantly ok? .243s are legal, so I guess 2 hundreths of an inch makes all the difference in the world. __________________ ^.^ A point in every direction is the same as having no point at all Last edited by Bobitis; 06-04-2009 at 06:35 PM..

06-04-2009, 06:58 PM	#14
zfk55 V.I.P. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lost Prairie Montana Posts: 237	Re: AR hunting Do a quick ballistics check and see what else is different besides two thousandths. Latigo __________________ Latigo A Montanan and an actual American with a real American Birth Certificate.