Good AR pattern rifle for deer hunting

[Justincase]

I want to build a rifle that I can eventually use for hunting. What do you guys think is a good, or the best caliber to use for deer hunting that I can build myself. I don't want any crazy boutique type of round where everything is crazy expensive and impossible to find. I know there is a lot of personal opinion that comes into play, but that's fine. Thanks for any input.

 

[Yeti]

Anything 308,223 doesnt cut it for deer hunting just a wounding machine.

 

[MilesTeg]

6.5 Grendel or 6.8 special. There's a thread going on these two calibers you should check out.

 

[dsdmmat]

Build an AR10 in 308, 243, 6.5CM

 

[MilesTeg]

Build an AR10 in 308, 243, 6.5CM

I still want an AR 10 in 7mm-08.

 

[Airborneguy]

7.62x39 fits AR-15 and is more than adequate on deer.

 

[joemb]

I've been putting together a .300 Blackout upper for this season.

 

[Jem45472]

6.8 is a great hunting round. If staying under 200 yards, 300-Blackout also works. Personally, a full sized rifle I'd do 6.8. I have a 300blk, but that's in an AR pistol where the blackout shines.

 

[BuellSix8]

JEM is 100% on this. Build a 6.8 SPC II and don't look back. If doing a rifle still with 16"; anything longer is just wasted weight. If doing an AR pistol by adding a lower to your permit then 12.5" is prime! Shoot me a PM if you want to talk seriously about it.

 

[Marine Cpl]

5.56 have taken thousands of deer in one shot. Why build one in a wild cat caliber that's hard and expensive to find?

 

[Justincase]

5.56 have taken thousands of deer in one shot. Why build one in a wild cat caliber that's hard and expensive to find?

I didn't know that. I always heard that 5.56 was a bit anemic for deer. I'll take all the recommendations here and do some research and look into all the pros and cons.

 

[Marine Cpl]

I didn't know that. I always heard that 5.56 was a bit anemic for deer. I'll take all the recommendations here and do some research and look into all the pros and cons.

Google " .233 deer" on Google Images. You'll see many that have posted and proved the naysayers wrong. It's all in the bullet selection. Even thick hogs have been taken with 75gr or 77 gr bullets.

.223 deer - Google Search

.308 AR's can be built too with available cheap ammo at any gun shop.

 

[Acer-m14]

come on its a deer .. 7.62x54R .. get a mosin ... another is .270win .. wish there was a AR in that .. when i won my savage from a drawing it was any cal pick ... i went with 270 .. when hunting time .. its always on the self .. now i reload ... no need to hunt for ammo ..

was just up at my buds house watching some pig hunter .. pigman or something like that on tv .. hunting hogs from helicopter with 308 AR ..
hit a piglet and blew it head off .. it was epic .. ..

 

[BuellSix8]

5.56 have taken thousands of deer in one shot. Why build one in a wild cat caliber that's hard and expensive to find?

At $12.93 a box I'd hardly say that's expensive for a hunting round (XM68GD at Weidmans) and most gun shops carry it (down by me in midhudson valley anyway). Not a "wildcat" considering many manufacturers produce complete rifles and uppers in the caliber (LWRC built and builds a whole platform based on it). Shooting a 90gr golddot at about 3,000 fps is solid. Btw, the 6.8spcII is like a 270rem head on proprietary brass. If building yourself, get an ARP barrel and matching Superbolt. If you want a prebuilt upper, stag is going to start producing them again, can find Lwrc uppers on GunBroker and even PSA makes them (although they are sold out quit all the time).

 

[JohnD13]

If I was going to build one, I'd build a .260 Remington, very capable round.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

Funny. They use 566 to shoot people. In ny moat dear are about people size.

Every deer i ever shot (with any caliber really) with my 556 was DRT. (5.7x28. 300 blackout (worst imo), 45 acp, 30-30, 30-06 = way overkill but i was a kid. .22 mag. )

But hey i get it.....most “hunters” need to blow giant holes in stuff.

6.8 spc, commie x 39, any of the 6.5 calibers for the ar15 chasis would be perfect.

Any ar308 chasis caliber would work. But way overkill. Why would you wanna carry such a heavy rifle anyway.

 

[dsdmmat]

Funny. They use 566 to shoot people. In ny moat dear are about people size.

Every deer i ever shot (with any caliber really) with my 556 was DRT. (5.7x28. 300 blackout (worst imo), 45 acp, 30-30, 30-06 = way overkill but i was a kid. .22 mag. )

But hey i get it.....most “hunters” need to blow giant holes in stuff.

6.8 spc, commie x 39, any of the 6.5 calibers for the ar15 chasis would be perfect.

Any ar308 chasis caliber would work. But way overkill. Why would you wanna carry such a heavy rifle anyway.

Heavy rifles are for manly men.

 

[dsdmmat]

come on its a deer .. 7.62x54R .. get a mosin ... another is .270win .. wish there was a AR in that .. when i won my savage from a drawing it was any cal pick ... i went with 270 .. when hunting time .. its always on the self .. now i reload ... no need to hunt for ammo ..

was just up at my buds house watching some pig hunter .. pigman or something like that on tv .. hunting hogs from helicopter with 308 AR ..
hit a piglet and blew it head off .. it was epic .. ..

Check out Noreen firearms, they have been building ARs in 300 win mag and 30-06 I am sure they could do one in 270 if they don't already.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

Heavy rifles are for manly men.

Yeah, blind manly men that cant hit the vitals and must blow off a leg so they can attempt to track in the dark.

 

[Obiwankabaldi]

Anything 308,223 doesnt cut it for deer hunting just a wounding machine.

Really? You do not think that the .308 is capable of killing deer? I have been using a AR10 for years deer hunting and have taken many deer with it. .308 with soft point bullets does an awesome job and is plenty capable. IMHO.

 

[dsdmmat]

Yeah, blind manly men that cant hit the vitals and must blow off a leg so they can attempt to track in the dark.

Lmao, have a lot of 3legged carcass' in your neck of the woods?

 

[freddy]

Serbu BFG50A.

 

[MoMan]

Anything 308,223 doesnt cut it for deer hunting just a wounding machine.

Sure, if ya can't shoot. Come on, both of those calibers are more than adequate for deer. The .308 has always been a popular choice, and the .223/5.56 has become very popular.

Just sayin'!

 

[1075tech]

Damn near blew the front leg off a doe last year with my 6.5 Grendel. Hide was the only thing holding it on. All the muscle, ribs, shoulder gone. Of course, she was small and I hit her at less than 30 yards with a 123 gr SST. Looked like a grenade went off in her chest cavity.

Have some Federal Fusions I want to try this year.

 

[Yeti]

I would say minimum 150 grain bullets,wounded more than a couple and seen plenty more get away with less grain.I used to use a 270 with 140 grain bullets for less kick,but seen the light and wont use anything smaller than 30/06 150's now.

 

[meketrefe]

Hi,
when you say build what do you mean? you want to chamber it yourself? Do you reload? what is the scope of the work you have in mind?
There are popular wildcats that are easier to reload than other poupular commercial rounds. For example a 6x45 is easier to reload than
a 223 and a lot easier than the 300 whisper / blackout. Some might think cats are boutique but when it comes down to it they are
easier to own and offer amazing capabilities. A lot of people end up reloading anyway to improve results and save.

In terms of the calibers the 5.56 can kill a deer but it is not a deer caliber. As you know the 222 and 223 were adopted for military role
after a varmint / small game rifle. It doesn't mean it cannot be used but there are better choices.

If one wants to use inexpensive 5.56 case, the 6x45 or 6mm TCU are very simple and will give you a huge assortment of bullets.
the 6mm hunting bullet assortment starts where the 22 bore ends. The 6mm variants are the most simple and most powerful calibers one
can get from a 223 case. Put a 223/5.56 on the press, one stroke of the ram with the FL die and presto!, the case is ready.
There is some ammo but it is scarce so prepare to reload.

In the compact version the 6.8 SPC II is a proven white tail and hog meat factory. This is becoming the official AR hunting cartridge w/o getting into
more complex designs. The assortment of 227 bullets for hunting with this caliber is very big. The 6.5LBC / Grendel is another option.

But if you are going to build a carbine why limit yourself to the size constrains of the AR15, AK or compact rounds. There are
308 size options in the same weight range as the smaller ARs.

There are many easy and popular cartridges like the 308W that is a service round with endless options in terms of ammo and actions.

Also the 7mm-08 that is derived the 308W and it does anything the 308 can do and a lot more including better ballistics but is
this really needed that is the other question vs enjoying the benefits of a service round. Both will use also military cheap or free brass
to reload.

Just to give you an idea any of those will provide hyper velocity loads for varmint, light 120-130gr loads for hunting, 120-130gr high pressure
loads that hit like a 270 Winchester or load with heavier 150-180gr bullets to shoot long range or tackle the largest game you can
find in the American continent.

I think before deciding on a caliber or rifle based on personal opinions look at what bullets and loads are the most popular and effective
for this role all around the world and the rest will unfold around that purpose / need.

There are many options, perhaps too many. I would keep it simple.

If you are looking at light for caliber options like the 7.62x39 or the 300 whisper / blackout then consider reloading and the 6x45 or 6mm TCU or
simple stick to the 5.56. But if you think you must have a 30 caliber in a compact action then a quality 7.62x39 is a better option because
it will give more performance and it has the case capacity to be reloaded to produce more power, wounding and reach.

 

[meketrefe]

I built the 35 gunner not to just hunt deer but to Drop the deer where it stands.
A 16" AR barrel will deliver almost the same punch at 300 yards as the 7.62x39 at the muzzle and even more than the rather anemic blackout.
The 30 caliber bore doesn't make sense in the AR15 ballistically talking. Same problem with the 338 bore.
Once you get to the 35 and 375 other alternatives start to show up.

 

[freddy]

Build yourself a AR308 from a 80% lower and HAVE NO SERIAL NUMBER WHATSOEVER stamped on the rifle.

 

[Doc8404]

A 308 like this
F/S - Aero Precision AR308

 

[Bushmaster]

Neck shots with 72grs at like 200yrds with my old pred rifle.