I am trying to talk myself into/out of getting an AR-15. I will feel guilty if I don't use it for hunting. I know if I get an AR-10 in .308 I could use it for deer and big game, but I don't know what you can do with a .223. So, my question is, What can you hunt (with a clear conscious) with a .223?
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I am trying to talk myself into/out of getting an AR-15. I will feel guilty if I don't use it for hunting. I know if I get an AR
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You might as well get one. Even if you only shoot it at the range, you'll feel validated in your purchase. They're incredibly fun. As for sporting uses, varmints are what they're best for, but I know several people who use them for hogs. Not for shooting trophy boars, but hog control, mainly shooting 40-100 pound hogs (the best eating size, incidentally). A .223 to the cranium will put that caliber of pork straight down, every time.
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Don't listen to any fool who will tell you to buy something you don't need. That's just dumb advice for anything in life. Save your money for what you know you'll enjoy. Got a girlfriend yet? They have a way of eating up a lot of cash and I found out way too late in life that it really was a much healthier way to spend my money than just hunting and fishing all the time. When you're my age you'll find tilling the fields of romance as a young man will provide a lot more worthwhile memories than thousands of rounds punched through paper at some range. My thoughts, anyway.
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Sourdough Dave- A .243 would be awesome! I could hunt every thing in my area. I think if I do get one that is what I will get. Thanks!
WAM- I didn't think you could hunt deer with it. I was just wondering if anybody had any experience with how big of a critter you could humanely kill with it (was a large hog too big and things like that).
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I use my AR-15 Bushmaster Varminter for hunting prairie dogs out to 500 yards, fox out to 500 yards, coyotes out to 350 yards, antelope out to 300 yards and deer out to 250 yards. It is a 1:9 twist so I am limited to a max of 75g bullets but choose not to shoot the heavier bullets anyway for speed and flat shooting. I shoot varmints with a 50g V-Max and antelope and deer with 55g Combined Technology bullets.
Don't let anyone who has never shot a deer with a good bullet using an AR-15 tell you that they won't kill deer. I've seen wound channels, crushed bone and penetration quite similar to a .308 150g Hornady. I've never had a cripple yet and don't intend to. Obviously if you miss your shot or shoot them in the foot, you can expect bad results just like you would get with a .375 H&H. They are among the worst in thick brush due to their speed and light weight causing deflection. If you hunt in the brush, a .35 Rem or 30-30 will be better. If there is nothing but air between you and the deer, you can expect results quite similar to a .243.
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