AR-15 for Deer Hunting???

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Mr. T

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My daughter just passed her hunter's safety course recently and she is fairly small in stature. We've been out to the gun range in the past and she has shot my AR-15 and really likes shooting it. She is very accurate to 100 yards and she is confident in how to use it. I've done some research of ammunition for the AR and I have come up with the best round I can find; at 100 yards it will produce 1200 ft. pounds of energy...which I think would do a decent job at killing a Whitetail. I am wondering what people's thoughts are on allowing my daughter to use the AR for deer hunting this year. Oh, she has shot a youth model 20 gauge I have and doesn't care for the recoil; my thought is accuracy is the key...especially for a new hunter. Please share your thoughts on this dilema.:)
 
Guess we're talking 223 here? I think it will do fine with good shot placement. Just make sure your state doesn't have a minimum cal requirement. Most places it's .243 or .270.
 
Assuming its legal where you are, I have taken many deer with a 223. A couple from a mini 14, a few from an ar15, and a bunch from a handy little rem bolt.

Just like any other rifle or handgun, hit them where it counts and it will do just fine. Be mindful to pick a good bullet and load. I handload the heavier partitions and they do really well. I get around 2725ish fps. Could go a bit faster, but accuracy starts to go. Killed a bunch of deer with this load out to around 125 yards.
I would suggest keeping the shots fairly close range.
 
First thing is to check the rules in your state game regs. Some allow the .22 center fire...some don't. If its a go, then bullet choice is the deciding factor. Find a tough one that will get to the vitals. Then its practice, practice, practice. Think about getting her a range finder and shooting targets at odd ranges. Hits are confidence builders!

HAVE FUN!

Mark
There, you see...Redbullitt posted the same thoughts I had...but he has real experience. This is a great forum!
 
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I live in Wisconsin and the .223 is legal. The round I have selected is a 69 grain hollow point that I think should do pretty well. The energy out to 100 yards is just under 1200 ft lbs. My AR has the collapsible stock (6 position) and it seems to fit my daughter comfortably and she is very accurate with it. I appreciate the input guys...I'm thinking that I will probably have her use it at this point. All of my magazines are 30 rounders; I may go get a 10 or 20 rounder so it's a little easier handling for her. Thanks again for the input.:)
 
I feel that one can ethically take a deer at a reasonable range with a good heavy .223.
 
Thanks mc223. My AR is a 16" M4gery. The last thing I want is my daughter's first hunting experience to be disappointing because she wounds a deer and it gets away or is slowly and inefficiently killed. That can have a lasting effect on a kid...I know, because my first kill when I was 12 was anything but efficient. What kind of energy are you getting out of the Fusion rounds?
 
Dear chris in va - I think the current Governor will work on the concealed carry issue rather soon. Hopefully we won't be like Illinois and Kaliforniastan too much longer.
 
I really didnt study the Fusion beyond a glance at the website. I was going to load up some 60g Hornady for last year, but due to work and other uncontrollables, didnt get it done. On my way home from work I stopped at a gas, liquor, guns, and ammo store. It was the only 223 they had, and the price was better than the Remington stuff at the Walmart.
I filled Both my regular tags an 2 bonus tags. Longest shot just under 90 yds and the short was 15. The shortest shot deer ran the furthest. About 20 yds and just piled up. The long shot dropped like his legs disappeared.
I recovered the bullets from all 4 generally laying next to the hide on the other side. Perfect little mushrooms. All 4 were clean to the heart with substantially large portions of the heart gone. The bottoms of the lungs were mush.

Good luck to you and yours.



o
 
Thanks a lot mc223; that makes me feel a lot better about letting her use it. I will look into the Fusion rounds. Right now I have some 69 grain hollow points that are the Sierra Match King BTHP's. I will definitely check out he Fusion rounds though. Thanks again!
 
Just make sure your state doesn't have a minimum cal requirement. Most places it's .243 or .270.
Click to expand...
Some states actually require a .27o or bigger for deer? I knew some states didn't allow .22 centerfires, but was unaware of any that mandated a .270 caliber bullet or better....
 
I have an AR-15 that shoots the AK-47 round - 7.62X39 - using Hollow Points or Soft Points would make this an ideal deer rifle.
The 30 round clips might be wrong so a spacer in clip to restrict maximum loading count may be required.
My son got his first deer with this round in a Mini-30 - the round is similar in power to the 30-30, so it has enough power to do the job.
The 7.62X39 upper is an easy install on any AR-15.

Mr T. - if you're anywhere near the Twin Cities and have a place to shoot - contact me if you want to shoot it.
 
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If you need more stopping power, a 7.62x39 upper will do the job. The AK round is very slightly more powerful than .30-30, probably the most successful deer cartridge in history. That will also satisfy the caliber requirements for those states that have them.
 
I think you'll do just fine.

Check into Barnes TSX bullets for the .223; I have used them in my 30-06 and they are complete overkill on all the deer I have hit with them. Mainly broadside shots, but also quartering shots. I haven't recovered a single bullet, but have recovered every single deer; typically not farther than 30 yards. (One went about 200; it was quartering towards me when I shot it, I conciously avoided demolishing the front & rear legs, and hit it in the liver.)

They are leading me towards a smaller caliber for deer; as I don't like the recoil one bit on my 30-06. I've used Barnes TSX for 4 years now, and won't use anything else.

I was actually going to try some in my AR-15 as well!
 
With quality expanding ammo the 223 will kill any deer on the planet at reasonable ranges. I know they are not legal everywhere, but they WILL get the job done.

I have several AR's. Like em lot, but they woudn't be my 1st choice for a hunting rifle, but that wouldn't stop me from using it if that is what I had and I wanted ot go hunting. I say go for it.
 
Sorry about stacking on- but I'm also a firm believer that the 223 will be totally sufficient for harvesting deer. I've taken deer with a 357 mag, and even though it has a larger diameter, it has much less power than the 223 load you describe.
 
I see energy numbers quoted a few times here so I have to say this. If energy figures are important to you, be sure that you are doing apples to apples. If you are using a 16" barreled M4gery, you are not getting the same figures as ammunition clocked out of a 22" barreled rifle.

This is not a condemnation of .223 for deer, but a note regarding often misinterpreted ballistics data.
 
The round I have selected is a 69 grain hollow point that I think should do pretty well.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how the match king will perform as a hunting round, and all in all, I feel that a hollow point in .223 could expand too quickly and not get the necessary penetration.

The Barnes TSX is a great hunting round in .223, but you should also consider some soft points

As for the .223 as a hunting rifle, yes it will kill a deer just fine if you use the right ammunition
 
If using .223 I would not recommend a soft point or match bullet. I would definately suggest that you go with a Barnes bullet. In a .223 you want something that will penetrate pretty far. The Barnes will penetrate better than a soft point.
 
The Barnes is better than a soft point, but a soft point will penetrate better than a hollow point, as those are designed more for varmint applications.

The Barnes is a hard bullet to beat when it comes to taking deer

If you are a math type of guy here is my statement as an inequality ;)
hollow point < soft point < Barnes
 
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