AR hunters

jpmulk

WKR
Joined
Nov 12, 2021
Messages
379
Anyone hunt big game with an AR?

If so,
What caliber?
What optic?
And what is the weight?

Thanks for sharing.
 

Pokerface

FNG
Joined
Jul 9, 2023
Messages
66
6.8SPC , Old Bushnell 3200 3-9 scope, it has a heavy barrel on it and have not weighed it , but probably close to 8 or 9 pound range . Sweet Whitetail rifle... Joe
 
Joined
Oct 14, 2023
Messages
1,538
Location
Houston (adjacent) TX
Carried them for years for deer/pigs/varmints. Standard 223 with a 3-9 type optic usually. Not sure on weight.

Now I hunt with a 6.5Grendel if I hunt with an ar. It has a 1-8 on it currently and have no issues with it but will be swapping a 2-10 on it for a bit more zoom.
 

MThuntr

WKR
Joined
Apr 10, 2015
Messages
1,096
Location
SW MT
6.5 Grendel 123 SST Athlon Ares 2.5-15. weight unknown but lighter than my Rem700. I don't know if I want to shoot anything bigger than a deer or antelope with it but have killed whitetail out to 300 yards.

I have some test loads with the 95gr Maker Bullets for a spot I hunt that requires non-lead. So far I think the faster 95 bullet will have a similar drop to the heavier bullet. Looks like 300-350 will have the minimum velocity for expansion.
 
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SloppyJ

WKR
Joined
Feb 24, 2023
Messages
1,788
I've been using my 300blk for my son this year on the youth hunts. It's worked okay. He's only 6 so being able to mitigate the recoil with a tripod and a suppressor helps. Shooting 110 vmaxes with 20gr of lil gun. They've worked just okay as well. I'll feel better when he can step it up to a .243.
 
Joined
Jul 30, 2015
Messages
6,359
Location
Lenexa, KS
I have a 6.5 Grendel/123gr SST with a 20" midweight Lilja barrel that we are using for my boy for Kansas whitetails. It is accurate and very soft recoil which I prioritize for him. I have a rather large 6-24 optic on it because I built it to drop bomb on coyotes from far away...like a spot/stalk coyote rifle. It's probably heavy. I don't like AR's for my own big game hunting but it's what I have for the boy. Probably need to get him a bolt 243 or something like that.
 
Joined
Feb 7, 2017
Messages
1,127
Location
NC
I’ve killed a bunch of whitetails with a 6.8spc I built. Very friendly set up for new shooters as well as there is very little recoil. Barrel is a little heavier than I should have done
 
Joined
Jul 30, 2015
Messages
6,359
Location
Lenexa, KS
Pics are fun.

a60e58731beb5a424ab48ca8201179d7.jpg
 

5811

WKR
Joined
Jan 25, 2023
Messages
629
Ar15
16" 223
Swfa 6x
7 lbs 11 oz minus suppressor, 8 lbs 14 oz with.
Took my first whitetail with 223 this year. Works as advertised.

Ar15
458 socom
Vortex spitfire 3x
Heavy/unknown

Ruger sfar
16" 308
Swfa 3-9
8 lbs 5 oz minus can, 9 lbs 3 oz with.
 

Mt4+4

FNG
Joined
Aug 11, 2023
Messages
22
Location
Ohio
I've been using an ar15 in 450 bushmaster the last several years for whitetails. I built the gun myself and i've never weighed it, currently its wearing a leupold 3 - 9 . I enjoy hunting with it and i'd say my only complaint would be when its down below freezing that aluminium forend sure gets cold.
 
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