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

[bobcat]

Okay, again, I can pick the ideal bullet for the job in a more powerful cartridge like a 30/06, just like you can with your AR.

Velocity and weight of bullet is still all I need to know in order to judge the effectiveness of a particular cartridge.

Ya but we aren't talking about the 06', we are talking about the lethality of AR platform cartridges.  Focus man

What I'm trying to explain here is that I don't need to have experience shooting elk at 600 yards with an AR in order to have an opinion on this topic. Anyone with a knowledge of hunting and ballistics can figure it out.

[Karl Blanchard]

Okay, again, I can pick the ideal bullet for the job in a more powerful cartridge like a 30/06, just like you can with your AR.

Velocity and weight of bullet is still all I need to know in order to judge the effectiveness of a particular cartridge.

Ya but we aren't talking about the 06', we are talking about the lethality of AR platform cartridges.  Focus man

What I'm trying to explain here is that I don't need to have experience shooting elk at 600 yards with an AR in order to have an opinion on this topic. Anyone with a knowledge of hunting and ballistics can figure it out.

well if you don't have experience then how do you know how the bullet will perform?  Because you read it on a website?  Do you also think the velocity printed on the box is accurate to your rifle too?

[bobcat]

Maybe I should also say I'm only going by what I was told in this thread- that one guy was getting 2,400 fps with a 120 grain bullet. And I then stated that I felt that was inadequate for shooting elk at 500 to 600 yards. Several people then disagreed with that and later told me that I couldn't possibly have that opinion because I have not killed an elk at 600 yards with an AR15.

[Karl Blanchard]

Do you know what a 130 gr VLD does at the velocity it would be traveling when it hit the target at 500y?

[bobcat]

Okay, again, I can pick the ideal bullet for the job in a more powerful cartridge like a 30/06, just like you can with your AR.

Velocity and weight of bullet is still all I need to know in order to judge the effectiveness of a particular cartridge.

Ya but we aren't talking about the 06', we are talking about the lethality of AR platform cartridges.  Focus man

What I'm trying to explain here is that I don't need to have experience shooting elk at 600 yards with an AR in order to have an opinion on this topic. Anyone with a knowledge of hunting and ballistics can figure it out.

well if you don't have experience then how do you know how the bullet will perform?  Because you read it on a website?  Do you also think the velocity printed on the box is accurate to your rifle too?

I give up. You don't get it and probably never will. 

Wait... didn't you say you have never killed am elk with a rifle? Well guess what, I have.

It must be nice being you and knowing everything.

[Karl Blanchard]

I have been right in the middle of literally dozens and dozens of rifle killed elk.  I've spotted em, ranged em, gutted, quartered, skinned, dragged, etc.  I've seen em shot with .243's on up the line, stuffed with all sorts of different bullets. 

[bobcat]

How many were shot at more than 400 yards with an AR15?

[Karl Blanchard]

What you fail to realize and probably never will is that you match your optics and your bullet to the task at hand.  If all I had was  6.5 G, I'd stuff a VLD in it, I'd figure out my dopes, and if a stinky elk gave me a shot I was comfortable with I would let freedom ring and not hesitate for a second.  The bullet would do it's job, and the elk would die.

[Karl Blanchard]

How many were shot at more than 400 yards with an AR15?

Absolutely zero but some were shot from a lot farther than that with a bullet traveling at similar velocities so I very much know how a bullet will perform at similar conditions.

[bobcat]

How many were shot at more than 400 yards with an AR15?

Absolutely zero but some were shot from a lot farther than that with a bullet traveling at similar velocities so I very much know how a bullet will perform at similar conditions.

Okay, there we have it. You actually don't have any experience with this topic. Not any more than I do. But I get my velocities off the box- yeah right. And I get all my information from the Internet. And I haven't hunted for 36 years in this state. I know so much less than you because, I don't know, I guess because I don't hunt with an AR and I don't shoot big game further than 400 yards.

[Karl Blanchard]

How many were shot at more than 400 yards with an AR15?

Absolutely zero but some were shot from a lot farther than that with a bullet traveling at similar velocities so I very much know how a bullet will perform at similar conditions.

Okay, there we have it. You actually don't have any experience with this topic. Not any more than I do. But I get my velocities off the box- yeah right. And I get all my information from the Internet. And I haven't hunted for 36 years in this state. I know so much less than you because, I don't know, I guess because I don't hunt with an AR and I don't shoot big game further than 400 yards.

  riddle me this batman.  What is the difference between a berger vld traveling at 1600 fps @ 500 yards and a 130 gr berger vld traveling 1600 fps @ 1000 yards? 

[Karl Blanchard]

Because once again, head stamps don't kill animals bullets do

[bobcat]

Because once again, head stamps don't kill animals bullets do

That's what I've been saying all along but was told I couldn't have an opinion because I haven't hunted elk with an AR15!

[Karl Blanchard]

Because once again, head stamps don't kill animals bullets do

That's what I've been saying all along but was told I couldn't have an opinion because I haven't hunted elk with an AR15!

You didn't answer my riddle

[Karl Blanchard]

I'd like an answer please because it speaks to the validity of my personal experience with bullets and flesh.  Which you stated that I had none in your previous comment.