308: AR vs bolt

[Glock35]

Everyone brings up weight, but DPMS G2 Hunter is 7.75lb with the 20" barrel. If you knock 4" off it it could end up around 6.63lb

fyi

~accuracy would be fine; unless you're comparing to an ultralight 5.5lb bolt action, the weight delta should be as close as it gets

 

[Robert]

That is dry weight without optics or ammo. Even their 16" guns are coming in t 7.25 pounds which is not all that much better than the 20" gun. And why on earth would I knock 4" off the barrel of my hunting rifle?

I am not against hunting with an AR pattern rifle. In fact I am all for it. Nor m I against hunting with a heavier rifle if that it what you want to do. Heck my elk rifle is a 375H&H that weighs 9-10 pounds. But then as anyone who knows me will tell you, I am different.

OP, go down to the LGS and take a look at each one. See which one fits you best and compare prices on a good bolt gun and a good AR10 style rifle. That alone may make the difference. Don't forget to add in optics to the budget.

 

[Ankeny]

...but am wondering about long distance accuracy.

I suppose that depends on what you consider long distance. Even if you hunt in open country (like I do) an AR platform is kind of cumbersome. I would opt for a bolt gun.

 

[Skylerbone]

One more consideration for hunters is the possibility of a Canadian hunt. I can promise you that AR-10 will not cross the boarder (legally) nor will any semi-auto with a magazine holding more than 5 rounds. A fellow hunter on a moose trip in Alberta had his magazine confiscated and held until he crossed back to the States. The rifle he brought was a Remington 7400 and had he not had an OEM mag with him he would have been out of luck.

Among the calibers in camp at the time, all hunting for moose, .30-06, .300 Win Mag and .300 WSM. .30-06 with a 180 gr. bonded was more than enough to punch a ragged 1" exit hole with a lung shot. If I could pick a caliber, 6.5X55 Swede or .300 WSM would be on the short list but as it was, I already owned the -06.

 

[cougar1717]

Since no one has brought it up yet, the typical sporting bolt gun will have a 24" barrel, while the typical AR-10 would be 16", 18", 20" - unless someone really wants to lug a 24" AR-10 around or shoot it freehand. Velocity loss (and drop) with the shorter barrel lengths could be significant at longer distances.

 

[Ankeny]

I have an AR 15 with a 24 inch barrel. It stays chained to the steering wheel or on a bench. I can't imagine what what kind of a pig an AR 10 would be with a 24 inch tube.

 

[henschman]

My M1A with a 22" barrel only weighed 8.5 lbs. Too bad nobody makes a 22" barrel for a .308 AR in a light weight, battle rifle type profile.

 

[Packy]

Probably OT to you guys. But here goes. Why not a 358 winchester in an AR or bolt either one? The bullet is preexpanded by 0.050" over the .308 and with 0.050 more steel gone from the barrel it is lighter. Use the AR in a moderate 20 inch barrel and go kill something. The variable power scope snobs will turn up their nose but you can use a moderate power, lighter fixed magnification for weight savings. Try a 4X as an experiment. Just some rambling ideas.

 

[MachIVshooter]

Welcome to the forum, Packy.

Having said that, using your first post to push an (obscure) pet cartridge in a thread that is about platform won't be an especially popular choice.

 

[d2wing]

I have hunted with 2 AR-15's. Not the same as a AR-10 but some lessons may apply. They are bulky compared to almost any hunting rifle with parts sticking out that can catch on your clothes or brush, especially extended charging handles if you have an optic, the many parts can rattle, This last hunt I brought an AR and a 7400. The 7400 is much slimmer, about the same weight, doesn't rattle or have parts sticking out and mine is in 30-06. You can get it lots of calibers. That said I have decided my next ideal rifle will be a bolt action in a middle caliber. Nothing wrong about the AR-10 type, I have wanted one for a long time. But I have decided it is not ideal for hunting.

 

[dprice3844444]

you can also look at single shots if your trying to keep weight down for long walk hunts,t/c,knight kp1, nef,and h&r rifles.you can then carry more food.

 

[BP Hunter]

If you shoot bolt action rifles enough, I bet you could cycle the action as fast as you could with a follow up shot with a semi auto rifle. When hunting, working the bolt for the second shot is second nature and you would't even realize that you did.

 

[Packy]

I guess the bolt gun is my choice here. But the 308 rebored to 358 lightens the platform so it really is quite apprapos to the converstion. And thanks for the welcome MachIV.

 

[Lycidas Janwor]

I have an AR style .308 that is supposed to be light. I say "supposed" because it's still heavy. With a good scope and a loaded 20 round mag, forget it, way too heavy (and no, you can't hunt with 20 rounds in the mag., I'm just saying that between the rifle, the scope and a full mag, it's a beast to carry).

Go with the bolt action rifle.

 

[MCMXI]

If you shoot bolt action rifles enough, I bet you could cycle the action as fast as you could with a follow up shot with a semi auto rifle. When hunting, working the bolt for the second shot is second nature and you would't even realize that you did.

It's much easier to retain a sight picture with a semi-auto though. Not many can work a bolt fast and still retain a good sight picture through the scope. That's my experience anyway.

 

[BrianC636]

My M1A with a 22" barrel only weighed 8.5 lbs. Too bad nobody makes a 22" barrel for a .308 AR in a light weight, battle rifle type profile.

Check out black hole weaponry. They make a 22 and 24" barrel with a lightweight profile.

 

[Skylerbone]

It's much easier to retain a sight picture with a semi-auto though. Not many can work a bolt fast and still retain a good sight picture through the scope. That's my experience anyway.

Couldn't agree more! I'm still not voting AR-10 but a 7400 or 7600 might be worth considering for follow up shots.

 

[Big JJ]

You can get a Ruger American compact in .308 and it comes in at 6 lbs.
You make the call, I know what I will carry.

 

[Bobson]

Bolt action, no doubt. Only thing I'd want an AR10 for is... well, nothing.

 

[stubbicatt]

I like my 308s. I'm set up for them and shoot them to my satisfaction. There are other cartridges I might prefer though for many uses.

I guess I am in the minority though, as I don't really care for the AR family of rifles, and so I don't see myself owning one regardless. I have been quite satisfied by my CZ 550 and wouldn't mind another at some point.