|
|
|
|
| Author |
|
|
Make My Day
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Northern NY
Posts: 1,305
|
Buying an AR - what caliber & barrel is right for me?
I'm in the market for a new (my first) AR rifle, with an M4 flat top upper.
Primary use will be Whitetail Deer, Large Varmit, and general medium range target shooting. I'm a newbie when it comes to this rifle platform. I'm not interested in the 223. With that ruled out what caliber is right for me? I've been leaning towards the 308, but recently became interested in the .458 socom for the stopping power, and the 100-600 grain flexibility. What other good options am I overlooking? Also what barrel is right for me? I don't think I'll want to spring for a match grade. Is the 20" length right for me? Any recommendations would be appreciated.
__________________
74 911S Targa ROW Building Designer/Business Owner |
||
01-18-2010, 06:23 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,513
|
For east coast game....308 would be the better caliber. But for hunting? I'm an old goat..still prefer bolt action to semi-auto. Inherently more accuracy with a bolt action or even a good single shot, like the Ruger 1.
__________________
"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
||
|
01-18-2010, 06:35 PM
|
|
|
Senior Advisor
|
You can't afford it, bolt action for hunting but if you want semi-auto, I would go with the M-1A, nice .308, heavy but a great platform, 1" MOA out of the box. Have to be Farly fit to lug it around hunting.
__________________
08 Cayenne Turbo |
||
|
01-18-2010, 06:37 PM
|
|
|
Cars & Coffee Killer
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: State of Failure
Posts: 32,246
|
Get the .308.
While .458 Socom might be superior in every way, it's pretty hard to come by and expensive to boot. .308 can be gotten everywhere. .308 is plenty for Whitetail. *** Now, if you want a toy. I understand. 
__________________
Some Porsches long ago...then a wankle... 5 liters of VVT fury now -Chris "There is freedom in risk, just as there is oppression in security." |
||
|
01-18-2010, 06:40 PM
|
|
|
Licensed User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ....down Highway 61
Posts: 6,505
|
Quote:
|
||
|
01-18-2010, 06:41 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,513
|
Quote:
__________________
"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
||
|
01-18-2010, 06:43 PM
|
|
|
|
Somewhere in the Midwest
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: In the barn!
Posts: 12,499
|
Look into 6.8 SPC II. I've heard mixed owner reviews of 308 ARs, re: reliability and not as accurate as they would like. But I think they are getting better and new players coming to market with their own version.
|
||
|
01-18-2010, 06:46 PM
|
|
|
Senior Advisor
|
here is the slippery slope, now you need several differant type of guns depending on what game you are going after, it never ends....
__________________
08 Cayenne Turbo |
||
|
01-18-2010, 06:48 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,513
|
Quote:
__________________
"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
||
|
01-18-2010, 06:54 PM
|
|
|
Make My Day
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Northern NY
Posts: 1,305
|
Yes, slippery. I already have several rifles I hunt with, but am wanting to own an AR, and get the most bang for my buck.
I had overlooked the .243 Winchester. That will now have to be given serious consideration, thanks.
__________________
74 911S Targa ROW Building Designer/Business Owner |
||
|
01-18-2010, 06:56 PM
|
|
|
Make My Day
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Northern NY
Posts: 1,305
|
Anyone have any thoughts on the 7mm-08?
__________________
74 911S Targa ROW Building Designer/Business Owner |
||
|
01-18-2010, 07:53 PM
|
|
|
Licensed User
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ....down Highway 61
Posts: 6,505
|
Yes. I'm not sure if anyone makes an AR in 7mm-08, but this is the probably the first caliber I would choose for a dedicated deer rifle. JMHO, but I'd rather have a .243 Winchester or 7mm-08 in something like a Remington Model 7 than an AR. But, I do know that someone makes an AR in .243.
Last edited by Shuie; 01-18-2010 at 08:01 PM.. |
||
|
01-18-2010, 07:58 PM
|
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Colorado Springs, Co.
Posts: 952
|
+1 pwd72s
Karl 88 Targa |
||
|
01-18-2010, 07:59 PM
|
|
|
Senior Advisor
|
If you only had to pick one, like a universal cartrage, what would it be? I'm thinking .308
__________________
08 Cayenne Turbo |
||
|
01-18-2010, 08:17 PM
|
|
|
Make My Day
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Northern NY
Posts: 1,305
|
Remington's R-25 comes in .243, 7-08, and .308, don't know about others.
I'm sensing that no one here really hunts with an AR-15. Am I wrong to be thinking this would be a versatile weapon good for big game, varmit, and target?
__________________
74 911S Targa ROW Building Designer/Business Owner |
||
|
01-18-2010, 08:29 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 2,695
|
couple of the guys on swiss gun forums hunt with the K31. 7.5x55. straight pull bolt-action. MOA to subMOA. i love mine heh
if yer hunting deer, why would u need a second shot? unless yer in bear country or something.
|
||
|
01-18-2010, 08:43 PM
|
|
|
Senior Advisor
|
remember it was designed to shoot humans (150-200 lbs) not much big game that small but if fun is high on your list they are a hoot to shoot, some what cheap ammo, light to carry, good target out to 500m.
There was a top sniper show on the military channel and some teams had a AR type chambered in a larger caliber that I forgot. That one, with a longer barrel (except the Seals), was good out to 800m Good optics is also a consideration.
__________________
08 Cayenne Turbo |
||
|
01-18-2010, 08:43 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 2,695
|
yer thinking about the stoner sr25? in 7.62x51 basically 308 winchester.
|
||
|
01-18-2010, 08:53 PM
|
|
|
Senior Advisor
|
Yes the sr25, thats a nice one
__________________
08 Cayenne Turbo |
||
|
01-18-2010, 09:06 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Linn County, Oregon
Posts: 48,513
|
Quote:
__________________
"Now, to put a water-cooled engine in the rear and to have a radiator in the front, that's not very intelligent." -Ferry Porsche (PANO, Oct. '73) (I, Paul D. have loved this quote since 1973. It will remain as long as I post here.) |
||
|
01-18-2010, 10:54 PM
|
|
