Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Picking AR-15 Caliber

I am looking to buy or build an AR for hunting deer, coyotes, maybe even bear. I normally just bow hunt and this will be my first AR I live in Virginia so 5.56 is not legal for hunting here. I am current looking at 25-45 Sharpes, 350 Legend, or a AR 10 in a .243. Honestly I don't need an AR for hunting but if I am going to spend the money on a new rifle I want it to be something that the whole family will enjoy shooting and I feel an AR is the best way to go. Any and all information and suggestions are greatly appreciated and thanks in advance for taking the time to read and respond to a new member.

6.5 grendel. Low recoil, available ammo, accurate and plenty for deer to 300-400 yards.

And fits into a standard AR.

For HUNTING in an AR15 platform, as much as the Grendel can do past 300, (IME) the 6.8 is better on game inside 300, with comparable bullet weights, and especially in more hunting-friendly packages/barrel lengths. I’ve just seen more emphatic performance on deer and hogs with the 6.8 than the 6.5. The velocity quotient on it inside 300 seems to matter more than the lower velocity/high BC in the 6.5, until you get past where I’d be shooting game with either. However, the 30 HAMR might be better, since you’re throwing bear in there, but a 6.8/Barnes combo would probably be fine, as well. If you want more, the AR10 is the way to go, but they’re just heavy and unwieldy to me in the woods. Stalking fields, it doesn’t matter. Just my opinions.

Tag
This will be an interesting thread

I like the idea the whole family will enjoy in the original post
Hank

I went with the .450 Bushmaster to comply with Ohio deer hunting laws, and will change uppers as needed for other game. AR should be a good choice for a variety of game and a variety of shooters with the adjustable buttstock.

I think a 1-7 or 1-8 .223/5.56 and a 6.5 Grendel will cover the bases quite nicely for anywhere. Unless you live in Ohio or other straight-case state that is.

In Ohio, where I was raised and spent a good portion of my life, a lever action 357 magnum solved most deer hunting problems that required a straight walled case.

I think the Legend is Winchester’s attempt at a 357 mag in an at platform.

The 7.62x39 is another viable choice.

There is plenty of budget friendly ammo for range fun. Decent hunting ammo is also out there, or you can roll your own.

I've handloaded the 155gr Hornady ELD'M to 2140 fps in a 16" barrel. That probably beats the 30-30 at 200 yards, given the .440 BC. It delivers over 1000 ft-lbs at 300 yards.

Do you reload?

What's your budget?

I agree with David Walter... the 6.5 Grendel would be my choice (and is) for a versatile choice... you never know when that lifetime but shows up at 400+ yards... 😜

If I’m worried about the animal of a lifetime past 300 as even remotely possible, I ain’t carrying a Grendel, either. Just sayin. Inside 300, I’ll take a 110gr accubond at 2600-2700, all day long. If I hunted much in western/more open country, and I had to use an AR15, maybe I’d walk out the door with a Grendel more often. For mixed country with more thick cover than open, performance past 300 is rarely an AR requirement.

+1

^^^This^^^

I do have the ability to reload, and budget is topped out at $700 so I was thinking of doing a build on a Aero Precision lower.

Originally I was leaning more towards the 25-45 sharps because I think it would be a bit cheaper to reload. Anybody have any experience reloading this round?

Again, if you want an AR15 w/a 22”+ tube for eking out all the range possible, then the 6.5 is better. If you want a handier, lighter, shorter AR15 for hitting harder when hunting to 300, then the 6.8 is better. The 6.5 has some more efficient bullets, but the 6.8 is more efficient at launching its bullets. The closer you get to 400, the better the 6.5 can look. The further under 400 you get, the better the 6.8 gets.....especially when barrel length gets thrown in.

I do not, but use something close, a 6x45mm. Basically it's a 5.56 blown out to .243. It's the least I can perturb the standard 5.56 case and still be legal to hunt here in Colorado. It likes the 90gr NBT's and NAB with IMR-8208. It's a Blackhole barrel, which is now Columbia river arms.

The general idea that for game, there is any noticeable difference at normal ranges between the Grendel and the 6.8 is pretty wild IMHO. There really is none IMHO.

One can add the x39 into that mix too.

Pick the bullet that floats your boat and shoot.

Agreed. My AR is a .223/5.56 but I have shot my hog killing partner's 6.5G and it is a superior weapon. Still has low enough recoil to be effective for pulling multiple shots on multiple targets. Several targets are a fairly common occurrence with pigs.

How many times do you think you'll need to chime in about the 6.8 before anyone believes the hype? Better try a couple more at least...

The truth is, inside a few hundred yards the Grendel and 6.8 are more alike than different, enough that any difference comes down to bullet choice. Of course lots of the 6.8 fanboys still fall back on comparing the effect of 6.8 hunting bullets to 6.5 match bullets. Reality is either one does the job fine and shot placement is far more important than which of those cartridges are in the gun.