AR 15 questions & WA restrictions-Gutpile you listening?

[Jesse Jaymes]

Still waiting on my residency to get me legal as I just got up here in October.  I am north of Spokane and most of the habitat is thick forests rather than agriculture, but I am getting set to knock an talk a bit.

I see a decent amount of coyote sign but see VERY few animals up here.  And I am out and about every day.

In my former life in New Mexico, I'd shot literally TONS of coyotes.  I bought an AR15 years ago.  Big, monsterous 1" diameter 20" tubed DPMS.  Had it all "snipered" out.  Was a club, akward to tote and brutal cold on the fingers.  And that was calling in the 20s.  Already seen -4 this week.  So it went down the road post divorce.  Had bills to pay and it was a Safe Queen.

Anyhow, after handling the semi new Remington R-15 with collapsible stock, I am quite smitten.  Think it's about 6.5 lbs or a hair over.  Love the nice, trim barrel profile and no sights on it.

My other AR was very accurate and consistant.  Always fed too.

I see Gutpile has maybe a Bushmaster Predator?  I am inquiring how the accuracy is, as well as the portability?  I really think I want the R-15, and like the camo, however nothing would match if I ever got a different upper.  Was hoping it would be offered in a non-camo version but it isn't.  I;d prefer black and then hose everything down with desert tan and/or Cerakote.

I wanted to know about WAs crazy rules and laws also.  In NM, almost anything is legal.  But here:

Are ARs legal for big game?  I know the minimum caliber for deer is .243 correct?  Would a .260 upper be a viable alternative for a year round truck gun?

Cougars are OK with .224, right?

Magazines-round count limited to 3, 5 or other?  Same question for big game if ARs are OK, limited to 3?

Magazines-need to be empty in the vehicle, lest you be charged for a loaded weapon?  Or OK when NOT Big Game season?

I have several other applicable rifles for coyotes, but I do not want Cabin Fever to set in, and intend on working the elusive Forest Coyotes in the CNF with snowshoes or skis.  The compact R-15 seems a nice, light, fast handling package for winter forays.  I have a great 223 AI twisted 1-8" that is a nice rig, but it's about time for a new treat to myself.  Thoughts?

[littlebuf]

Are ARs legal for big game?  I know the minimum caliber for deer is .243 correct?  Would a .260 upper be a viable alternative for a year round truck gun

yes

Cougars are OK with .224, right?

yes

Magazines-round count limited to 3, 5 or other?  Same question for big game if ARs are OK, limited to 3?

no limit unless bird hunting

Magazines-need to be empty in the vehicle, lest you be charged for a loaded weapon?  Or OK when NOT Big Game season


gun just needs to be unloaded mag is fine



my R-15 is my favorite rifle, i would suggest the 22 inch barrel. its a tack driver. good luck

[Jesse Jaymes]

Damn! Quick reply and all questions answered.  Good to hear.  Any prefered round for your R-15?  I am a big time reloader and never stop tweaking loads, but with an AR, I would like to settle on one load and make a bunch and leave the mags loaded for 2 months or so during winter calling.

Was thinking the 60 gr Vmax would be AWESOME and have enough spunk to anchor a cougar better than a 40 or 50?  But also thinking I will destroy any bobcat I may be lucky enough to bring in.

[DeerHarvester]

RCW 77.15.460 states a loaded firearm is a riffle or shotgun which contains shells or cartridges in the MAGAZINE or chamber, or is a muzzle-loading firearms that is loaded and capped or primed.  

Now if the magazine is not in the firearm then your good to go with it being toped off.  Just wanted to make sure you were on the same page and not talking about have the mag in the gun.   

[littlebuf]

i load a 55 gr v-max with i think 22.5 grains of varget (would have to look at logs to confirm) and my r-15 makes one ragged hole at 200 yards with a 3 shot group from a rest. my best shot with it was 168 yards free hand and all i could see of the yote was ears and eyes, got her right under the chin and out the back of the head. there great rifles especially when you load for um

[Gutpile]

Everything has been answered.

As far as I know the R-15 and R-25's are Bushy's. My Bushy is accurate. Never shot any factory stuff but I have two handloads that do this Consistantly.




Best load I've worked up was sierra 60 grn varminter HP's with 25 grns Benchmark. This has worked very well in 3 AR's with twists of 1:10 and 1:9.

Not sure what it would do to a Bobby.

Right now I'm running 40 grn barnes varminaters (discontinued) and that little fox I shot at 175ish didn't have to much damage. Hope that helps.

PM me any time. Didn't know this thread was here until this morning.

[Gutpile]

I see Gutpile has maybe a Bushmaster Predator?  I am inquiring how the accuracy is, as well as the portability?

It's a Varminter not a Predator. I believe predators are 1:8 while this is 1:9. I've since wrapped it to cool down the glare. Portability? Well, it's not ultra light but it's not heavy. I had another AR that was to heavy and I sold it last year and bought this.

[Jesse Jaymes]

I've handled the R-15 CS several times and it is very handy and portable.  And I did get confused about the Bushys Predator vs Varminter.  I could get the predator and swap the stock out to a CS pretty easy.

But from the prices I've seen, at $1099 the R-15 is a better deal.  Can't believe what the Black Rifles are going for.  I think some have come down since the Obamanation scare.  Headed out the door to the Spokane Gun show now.  I really hope one doesn't follow me home, since I need to wait til the tax man pays me back in February...

Great shooting rig there for sure.  I have never gone for 5 shot groups, but that certainly says something about the rifle.  3 is good enough for me.  Still hard for the 60Vmax, but probably no need.  I get a good deal of Winchester White Box for LEO reasons.  I bought the Hornady bullet puller and can pull the 55FMJs and simply seat a moly'd 55 Vmax ontop and rock on pretty easy.

I just think flat base are easier to get to shoot decent and maybe push a little more FPS out of.  Neither a valid point, but that's how my mind works.  Think anything other than a 40gr something is gonna be hard on a bobby, but honestly have never shot one.  Gonna work on that all winter.

I see much more cougar sign than bobby sign up here.  That's why I was thinking about the 60s.

Hey, Foxpros are legal for both bear and cougar, yes?

[FALFire]

The R-15 is from Bushmaster, the R-25 is the 308 based model from DPMS and all DPMS LR uppers and mags are interchangeable with all R-25 lowers.

A 308 or 260 caliber upper will not fit on an AR15 or R15 lower.

WSSM calibers are available to support the more powerful caliber conversions for the AR15 platform, however most are wildcats and you will need to reload them. More info  is available if requested.

You can get from Bushmaster basically the same rifle as the R-15 in a Predator model version if you prefer black only. http://www.bushmaster.com/catalog_xm15_PCWVMS20FPRED8.asp

[Gutpile]

Hey, Foxpros are legal for both bear and cougar, yes?

Yes..

Watch the gun show. Seems like your new to the area. Not exactly great prices. I hardly even go anymore.

Check White Elephant.

Cougar tracks?? Where? Thats next on my list.

There are A LOT of bobbies up north in turkey country.

[littlebuf]

this has been in the classifieds for a while now. pretty nice set up



http://hunting-washington.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=1164&cat=21