Ethical to shoot past 400 yards at elk w/AR15 based rifle? Yes/No

[jay.sharkbait]

Potshot?  The rifles are dialed, have been shot plenty at those distances in field conditions . The guy pulling the trigger can shoot. Get over it!

Yah, but can it shoot a bugs hole?

[actionshooter]

 I have used an AR15 a time or for hunting big game and was going to offer up my opinion, because these are nothing but opinions.  Then I read through the entire thread and decided that I don't want to play the original posters games....... have fun guys. 

[JDHasty]

Get over what? 

I simply asked a question and responded to some of those who replied with what my thoughts are on the subject.

You impress me as being awfully defensive regarding this topic. 

[Biggerhammer]

Complete "Tack Drivers". 

[Karl Blanchard]

Not trying to stir the pot but it seems like YOU think it is unethical and are seeking validation of that    

Side note, I don't take much stock in the "numbers" in which it takes to "ethically" take down game.  Lots of variables come into play.  Good example, a 140gr berger VLD takes FAR less velocity and energy to reliably expand than say a Barnes Ttsx of the same weight.  So a shot with one bullet may not be wise, where a shot with another bullet may be far more effective.

[JDHasty]

I have an opinion and reserve my right to defend my positions. 

What got me on this topic is that I was following a forum thread in which someone with absolutely no experience hunting big game animals was being advised that an AR15 in 6.5 Grendel was a good option for deer hunting and in giving advice TO A NOVICE HUNTER it was implied that this combination was a good choice for a four-hundred yard plus deer rifle for a novice hunter. 

Personally, I have reservations regarding it being an ethical choice period at those ranges, but wanted to see what a cross section of members on this board think on the subject. 

[Dan-o]

I have an opinion and reserve my right to defend my positions. 

What got me on this topic is that I was following a forum thread in which someone with absolutely no experience hunting big game animals was being advised that an AR15 in 6.5 Grendel was a good option for deer hunting and in giving advice TO A NOVICE HUNTER it was implied that this combination was a good choice for a four-hundred yard plus deer rifle for a novice hunter. 

Personally, I have reservations regarding it being an ethical choice period at those ranges, but wanted to see what a cross section of members on this board think on the subject.

I think I'd rather most people shoot at deer with AR's when they are 500 yards away rather than 50 yards......   None of those deer will suffer any damage.

NOTE:  This does not apply to guys who shoot clover leafs, tack drivers or even bug holes.

[Biggerhammer]

Crunch the numbers on your "Cross section" and let us know how that worked for you.

[Karl Blanchard]

I have no experience with AR hunting platforms but I will say this, deer don't take much to kill.  I've killed over 50 deer in basically every western state and have personally been part of probably 200+ deer and elk harvests, shot with just about every projectile known to man.  That being said, 400 yards I will drop the hammer on a buck with any rifle from a 60gr nosler partition from a .223 (where legal) on up the line of calibers.  The ability to hit your mark with the proper projectile for the job is far more important than caliber being used.  Numbers are cool and all but in the end, that deer isn't gonna know the difference between 800 ft pounds of energy vs. 1500 ft pounds, he's gonna be just as dead.

[Biggerhammer]

Bullets matter far more than head stamps and placement trumps charts.

[Karl Blanchard]

Bullets matter far more than head stamps and placement trumps charts.

  pretty much sums it up right there.

[BULLBLASTER]

Hasty if you want to call a dude out for something he posted in another thread then do it. Don't try and justify anything by talking ethics.

People like you are the exact reason a lot of people on here won't share pics or hunting stories... I used to share all of my hunting stories and pics... Now I just post sometimes because of crap like this... You don't like what a dude does... Deal with it... Let him live his own life like he lets you live yours. 

[JDHasty]

I have an opinion and reserve my right to defend my positions. 

What got me on this topic is that I was following a forum thread in which someone with absolutely no experience hunting big game animals was being advised that an AR15 in 6.5 Grendel was a good option for deer hunting and in giving advice TO A NOVICE HUNTER it was implied that this combination was a good choice for a four-hundred yard plus deer rifle for a novice hunter. 

Personally, I have reservations regarding it being an ethical choice period at those ranges, but wanted to see what a cross section of members on this board think on the subject.

I think I'd rather most people shoot at deer with AR's when they are 500 yards away rather than 50 yards......   None of those deer will suffer any damage.

NOTE:  This does not apply to guys who shoot clover leafs, tack drivers or even bug holes.

I was shooting chucks one Saturday and a bunch of guys showed a mile away who were shooting ARs.   The next day I checked with the rancher to see if it was ok to set up and shoot that talus slope.  He said it was fine with him, but the guys in there yesterday said they shot 27 chucks. 

I heard about 40 shots and almost all came in two, three or five shot bursts.  So let's say they shot AT 15 chucks. 

So of the six single shots I heard lets say they got four chucks.  Out of the five or so two shot bursts I figured they got two more if they were lucky and I didn't figure they got a single one they took three or more shots at and so I said:  let's give it a try anyway. 

We had a heck of a shoot that Sunday and got about nineteen out of twenty five shots taken. 

There are guys who can shoot who show up with ARs, but for the most part I agree with you that most any deer at 500 yards is perfectly safe from the agerage guy who is in the field with an AR.  I have three ARs and they are, all three, very accurate and it would be rather easy for me to hit a deer with one.  Heck I hit prairie dogs with them at 400 yards all the time.  But I do know what you mean. 

[BULLBLASTER]

Bullets matter far more than head stamps and placement trumps charts.

  pretty much sums it up right there.

Any and every day of the week these words are true.

I have seen it typed and also believe it "a dead deer is a dead deer".

[jdb]

I think you might want to reread what Elmer Keith wrote you've got your facts a bit ascew