Thoughts on an AR 15 .223 as a varmit gun

[saylean]

I was thinking about getting a varmit gun...when I got to thinking I have an AR 15 .223 that, properly sighted with a decent scope, I would think do the job.

To you vet varmit killers...what do ya think? I would be using it for bobcats, cougs and yotes...

I would like to use my .300 wsm, but seeing the exit wounds it left on the bear and deer... I want something left of the animal.

Also...all of my shots have been under 100 yards..so I am not a 200 -300 yard shooter, not that I dont have the skill...i just usually dont take the shot until closer.

Thoughts?

[actionshooter]

Thats what I use, works for me

[Bscman]

I dont' see anything wrong with it. I contemplated building one as a varmint specific rifle a few years ago....but after shooting a few I can safely say I have no *need* to own one.
I'm a bolty kinda guy.

Done right they can be VERY accurate...under 100yds? No problem.

[actionshooter]

My varmint rig shoots 3/4"- all day long at 100 yards. With an AR its all about the barrel.

[saylean]

Time to hit the range with the gun and see where she zeros in at... thanks all. 

[KillBilly]

An AR in .223 will do the job but here is my opinion for what it is worth. If you decide to buy a different or new rifle, consider getting at least a .243. Why? well because it is legal for almost all other game that can be hunted in Wash. and won't end up sitting in a closet a good deal of the time.
That is the logic I use when purchasing a rifle.

[littletoes]

How 'bout some pics of that 'yoter Black Rifle?

[saylean]

Here ya go...it has a 37 MM launcher attached....of course this comes off when im looking for yotes.

[alecvg]

I disagree with using assult rifle for hunting, it seems like your spending more money to look "cool" in the field, and your using it for the kill, not the hunt. Thats why antihunters think we are out of control, people are running around in the woods with semi auto assult rifles with  30 rd. mags, and yes i know you can only have 4 or 5 rounds in it, but still, i disagree.  Do it with a classic rifle.  Thats just my opinion, you can have yours.

[saylean]

Hey Alec....I actually only use a traditional rifle when i go out (traditional meaning a 30-30 or my .300 wsm..since that is all i gots....and they are sighted in properly). I really just have this rifle to have it...its fun to plink with.....I have been gearing up to make it more "standard" looking. I guess I should have said in my last post...IF I take it out for yotes, the 37mm comes off.

Anywho, just thought I would clarify.

Peace love and chicken grease

[jackelope]

I disagree with using assult rifle for hunting, it seems like your spending more money to look "cool" in the field, and your using it for the kill, not the hunt. Thats why antihunters think we are out of control, people are running around in the woods with semi auto assult rifles with  30 rd. mags, and yes i know you can only have 4 or 5 rounds in it, but still, i disagree.  Do it with a classic rifle.  Thats just my opinion, you can have yours.

that was somebody else's opinion too, at one time, and he got educated as well. buckle up...this may be a long ride.

[mossback91]

sweet coyote gun. They are damn accurate too right?

[saylean]

This would be the yote gun I use nowadays anywho...

[AWS]

Lived with one day and night for 13 months in the 60's, no warm fuzzy's here for them.  To ME they just don't look right in the hands of sportsmen.   I don't preach you asked.   

AWS

[saylean]

Hey AWS...thanks for the input. I wouldnt bring it out like that...I was more thinking about the standard varmit rifles you see...I would make it more traditional looking...I feel the same way you do about the looks of it...although, I dont care if others hunt with em.

Thanks for your service by the way...my pops was in the Corps when you were over there. He was a forward observer.

Cheers~

[Blacklab]

Here's mine there'e also a harris bipodthat go's on it but I haven't taken a pic of it.

[alecvg]

Does the 30 mm acually shoot grenades?

[bucklucky]

I have wanted one for awhile. I think they make good varmit guns! Plus they look cool.

[LongTatLaw]

Ale,

its not a 30mm...which is the grenade launcher that the military uses... that is a 37mm flare launcher he has attached...it does shoot several different types of flares but nothing that will explode.

[LongTatLaw]

PS,

The following pic should illustrate my thoughts on a AR-15 for varmint hunting. I intentionally like a varmint AR-15 as tactical as possible for two reasons.

1. I tend to enjoy accessorizing my guns and theres nothing on the planet with more options than an Ar-15. Its a fun gun and one gun that it makes sense to buy for 1K and then add 2500 in accessories to. IMO

2. I am an active duty soldier. I am Infantry. I will be back in Iraq before anyone on this site kills their 2008 elk. There is no such thing as too much practice shooting when your job is to go into combat. So, the varmints I shoot with my AR are getting me ready for varmints that shoot back

Those aren't reasons for everyone but, I believe any gun collector should have at least one quality assault style weapon!

my 2 cents

heres my thoughts in art!

[saylean]

 

Cant blame you for wanting to practice man...If I was you, in the same situation, I am sure I would be doing the exact same thing.

[ICEMAN]

.... If you decide to buy a different or new rifle, consider getting at least a .243. Why? well because it is legal for almost all other game that can be hunted in Wash. and won't end up sitting in a closet a good deal of the time....

Totally agree, bought a .243 for my occasional varmint duties, and my son can deer hunt with the rifle...

[actionshooter]

 I don't have an AR for the cool factor, Its purley functional. I would put it accuracy up against ANY rifle.

[WildlifeAssassin]

AR-15 is the way to go predator hunting. Battle tested tough, accurate, easily customized to the individual shooter, fast follow up shots, not to mention a fun gun to "sight in". People who discriminate against them based on the look of the gun are missing out on a good time and are helping to contribute to the increasingly rapid theft of our right to bear arms.

[Caseyd]

I prefer the AR 10 and so does my girlfriend 

I dont actually use either for Varment hunting...but they are fun guns.

[Gutpile]

I disagree with using assult rifle for hunting, it seems like your spending more money to look "cool" in the field, and your using it for the kill, not the hunt. Thats why antihunters think we are out of control, people are running around in the woods with semi auto assult rifles with  30 rd. mags, and yes i know you can only have 4 or 5 rounds in it, but still, i disagree.  Do it with a classic rifle.  Thats just my opinion, you can have yours.

Opinions are like *censored*s. Everybody has one and they stink. If you don't like AR's why read an AR thread??

[demontang]

I have hunted coyotes with a bolt gun and I now have an AR and  now the bolt gun only comes out for big game. I can make follow up shoot a lot fast and doubles are alot easier too. I can shoot 11/4 groups out at 200yd. The longest shot so far was 459yd and the coyote was running .

We need to stick together about hunt, if we dont we could lose it all.

[huntnphool]

I'm with Actionshooter on this one, mine drives tacks, even the kids can shoot it accurately. My daughter will be using one for yotes this December.

[FALFire]

I hunt with AR15's and AR10's, this one here is my 6x45 and it's a dog killin' fool. I don't have a problem with whatever people choose to hunt with, but I do have a problem with AR's being called assualt rifles, that is so liberal. These are not assault rifles, they are sporting rifles just like any other firearm that does not meet the full description of "assault rifle".

Don't get caught up in what they look like, they are, however, great hunting rifles and perfect for predators and varmints. I have also taken 4 deer with an AR15 in 243WSSM, that thing really whacks these mulies.

[FishNFool]

I Love the AR's, and have two that I hunt with.(ACOG Scopes and after market triggers)  Have Rem. 700 in a 204 cal. but AR's are my favorite. For me and my boys, we hunt with the AR style and to be honest they are more accurate at the range. Stock ammo.  I'm sure if i reload for the 204 it will come in to a tighter group.  Just Bought my son a 308 AR. for some long distance Yote gun.  Cant wait to break that one in and see how it will shoot. they are both fun and a great tool to get the job done.

[AWS]

So far in this thread we have one AR with a faux grenade launcher, one guy that has his to kill an unamed group of people, one guy profiling like Dillinger with a pair of Thompsons on his hip, a girl just ripping of rounds into the forest, and a guy that is practicing killing things before he goes back to the combat  zone and someone has the audacity to put someone down because they look like assault weapon to them or don't feel they are a true sporting weapon.  Talk about narrrow minded.

AWS

[FALFire]

So far in this thread we have one AR with a faux grenade launcher, one guy that has his to kill an unamed group of people, one guy profiling like Dillinger with a pair of Thompsons on his hip, a girl just ripping of rounds into the forest, and a guy that is practicing killing things before he goes back to the combat  zone and someone has the audacity to put someone down because they look like assault weapon to them or don't feel they are a true sporting weapon.  Talk about narrrow minded.

AWS

I use my firearms, bolt guns and AR's, to hunt predators and big game with. I carried an AR for several years while on patrol and needed to stay as familiar as possible if I ever had to use it on duty.
When others think of AR's as an assualt rifle they likely don't know the true description of such. AR's are rapidly becoming the hottest thing out there for hunting and it's proven by the back order logs that all AR manufactures are facing these days while bolt guns sit in the gun racks collecting dust.
Most are just as accurate as any out of the box bolt gun available to the consumer and switching calibers is a 15 second snap, probably the best part of the AR platform is being able to build it yourself rather than sending the firearm off to a gunsmith for a new barrel or caliber change.

What I find interesting is when we as sportsmen are so narrow minded to call a bolt gun a true sporting rifle and a semi auto rifle, an "assualt weapon". Those kinds of liberal remarks are truely working against everything we as sportsmen are trying to work for.

What about guys that have "sniper" looking rifles built for hunting, are they playing out a dream of being another Carlos Hathcock? Well, I certainly hope not. Why would anyone want a 338 Lapua with a 32" barrel and detachable 20 round mag on a bolt gun just to hunt whitetailed deer? Maybe they just happen to like the way it looks. I happen to like the look, but I wouldn't choose that particular setup for hunting, it's way too heavy and awkward for my style of hunting. But I don't think they are sneaking around in the bushes to whack some poor farmer at 1500 yards.

Call'em what you want, I'm not old school, I like the way the AR's handle. I don't use them to impress anyone and no one should judge a person from a photo placed on a website.  Many sportsmen don't agree with the gangsta' look but I'm sure he was just foolin' around when the photo was taken. Poor choice of photo maybe, but I'll hold judgement on the character of the individual.

Enjoy the sport, it probably won't be around forever, way too many liberals out there.

[AWS]

FALFire

Your one of the few that actually seem sincere and use your AR as a hunting weapon.  What I'm trying to point out is that it seems everyone wants people to think AR's are a sporting weapon but then going and portray them to the public as something else.  The majority of the public don't see you using your AR out in the field, they see footage of Irag , Afganistan, African tribal wars, and gangbanges with millitary style weapons AK's, AR's, etc.  They see the profiling picture and the hard talk and hear full magezines ripping off out in the forest.

I've only seen two guys out coyote hunting with AR's and they were packing more magazines and hardware than my whole squad would carrie on patrol in Vietnam.  They looked like they were going to war.

I also have a problem with the whole semi auto thing whether it be a 742, BAR, 1100 or SBE.  It seems to create and additude of "if I don't get it with the first shot I've got a few more" .

I agree with you on the whole long range thing.

AWS

[300rum]

I have taken my Colt H-bar Target Match out a few times.  I reload for it so I usually put 4 or 5 in a 10 round mag.  I only reload about 50 at a time so no 20 round mags full of Wolf ammunition here!

Those who carry jungle clips out in the woods with their Wolf Ammo are actually pretty mutch an advocate for animal preservation as this probably means that they aren't going to hit anything anyway.

I am confidant with my AR, I hit what I aim at and I like that about a gun, I don't like that it is like carrying a cinder block around though.

[FALFire]

AWS,
I understand completely. The AR I use for coyotes is camoed and blends very well with the camo I wear. I carry it muzzle down on a two point sling slung acrossed my back to prevent any barrel profile while walking from or to a stand. I do this so not to draw attention from others I may encounter along the way. If you were standing facing me from 10 yards you would likely never even know I had an AR with me, it's that concealable in plain view.

I've encountered a few land owners and other hunters that raised an eyebrow when they have seen the AR. I just assure them it's like any other semi auto firearm and not like the ones seen on TV or the type used on battle fields and I assure them it's not full auto. What is really odd is, I have actually recieved a lot of very good comments from many regarding the AR. I have converted several of my new neighbors and hunting buddies over to the AR platform. All of them have been die hard bolt gun guys for years. Once they actually had a chance to shoot mine, the next question was "how much is one of these going to cost me?"

As for me I am very aware of what many think when the see any "military type" looking weapon and can imagine the images that go through their minds, so I try to keep things very low key and just go on about my business. However, once the ranchers see that I whacked a dog or two and they have one less predator to worry about, they never seem to have any questions as to the validity of the AR for a credible predator gun.