Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Which Caliber AR-15 for Deer and Black Bear?

For deer, the regular .223/5.56 cartridge is fine and it also is fine for smaller pigs or head shots on larger ones. For body shots on big pigs, and especially for bear of any size, I would want something with a larger bullet, preferably at least 6.5 mm.

Be sure you shoot little pigs with your 556. Rio7

Whack them and stack them huh Rio? ha ha.. What bullet you running?

These little old pigs were all killed with junky old 40 and 55gr bullets, not monos either. Give me 77TMKs and I’ll rule the world. Everyone else can have my share of legends and bushmasters and whatever other cool name cartridges, I’ll keep slaying stuff with the 223.

BSA 1917, What bullet you running??

Usually 52-55 gr, sp or what ever?

I have some good 77 GR. but i'm saving them for something special. Rio7

Yes little pigs

TWR,
It appears we share the same taste in buttstocks.
I took mine out, but, what are those skinny, twist out tubes for ?

Storage?

Skittles?


I keep a small bottle of oil (machine gunners lube) in one and cr123 batteries in the other.

B5 makes the same stock but without the tubes called the bravo stock I think.

I figured, but I don't need batteries, and I keep a bottle in my grip.
Just wondered what you used yours for.

Pigs are pretty easy to kill. Nice looking rifle.

can't see why a guy would need more then 77gr tmk

I can't pick most pigs up by myself, they are to heavy, that's one of the reasons for the winch on the back of my Jeep. Rio7

We used them to carry extra batteries for the EOTechs and Aimpoints.

From what my buddy is doing with his, I'd say it's a .35 Rem in an AR15. That isn't a horrible thing by any means.

2600 with a 180 Speer Hot Core is quite potent!

His load for hunting is shooting them at 2540 for best accuracy.

Id agree with all of the above. Personally I chose the 6MM ARC in my state last year. Had to have a barrel spun up for a CZ 527 & re-barrel. Though with the Ops choices Id likely go with the 6.5 grendel. I have hunted for the previous 5 years prior to last year with 6.5 Grendel. Ammo can be had at very reasonable prices for the 6.5 Grendel. Availability has clouded the choices in recent years since current administration & Covid.


So my answer would be inside of 100 yards all can be good options.

Jump out to 200 yards I may prefer the 6.5 Grendel.

Believe it or not If we jump the distance out to 300 & perhaps 400 yards, Ill prefer a longer barreled bolt action 6mm ARC. My last years deer was a large bodied mature 4.5 year old buck taken at just over 250 yards. One shot with the 6mm ARC through the high shoulder passed right through & turned out his lights like in an instant following touching the trigger. Shot placement was key here.