Sorry for not replying sooner. You guys bring up valid points for the bolt gun. No i've never hunted before, however I have a lot of target practice experience with my 1911, 10/22 and my mossberg 500, but am not an every weekend shooter. I have always bought my ammo local, but will have to check out purchasing it online. As far as the $1000, that is an all in price. Firearm, optic or sights, sling, case and at LEAST 100 rounds of ammo, so I'm not aiming quite as high as it sounds like some of yall thought i was.
AR or Bolt action for whitetail???
- Thread starter nossaw
- Start date
Gunplummer
New member
Not saying you in particular, but there is something called "Buck fever". It is a real affliction. I have seen it. I try to tell the youngsters that virtual reality is nonsense, but they insist it is exactly the same thing. For some reason all that target shooting practice goes out the window if you are doing real hunting. That is what makes it fun.
gunrunner1
New member
I would get the AR because you are getting a complete rifle with another upper for a very good price. People in my neck of the woods don't seem to have any problems killing deer with the .300 Blackout.
Years ago when I deer hunted West Virginia extensively the schools were chosed the opening day of deer gun season. It was like a major happening. Been years so I have no idea if the tradition remains true today but yeah, deer day was the opening day of gun season and the schools were closed as both teachers and students were likely out at first light hunting.
Ron
Buying an AR for all the wonderful things an AR can do that other rifles can't or don't, is one thing, and a perfectly valid reason. Buying an AR simply to have a deer rifle is a waste, in my opinion.
A good bolt action (or lever, or other designs) is not only more than adequate for the job, they are normally lighter, and cheaper. Also you don't have issues with those places that have laws about "assault weapons", and mag capacity limits.
I'm not saying don't get an AR, what I'm saying is that if the ONLY reason you are getting an AR is to deer hunt, there are other, cheaper, alternatives, ones that handle and carry easier in the field, as well.
A good bolt action (or lever, or other designs) is not only more than adequate for the job, they are normally lighter, and cheaper. Also you don't have issues with those places that have laws about "assault weapons", and mag capacity limits.
I'm not saying don't get an AR, what I'm saying is that if the ONLY reason you are getting an AR is to deer hunt, there are other, cheaper, alternatives, ones that handle and carry easier in the field, as well.
As to rifle choice, *if* price were no object, I'd say get what you will enjoy shooting the most, since a rifle you shoot regularly is one you'll be most proficient with.
From the link posted above, you can use anything in .243 caliber (6mm) or .308 caliber (7.62mm), nothing else.
If you like the AR platform for a good all-around gun, and can afford to spend $1200-$1500 instead of $500ish for a bolt gun, a Remington R25 Gen II in .243 Winchester or .308 Winchester would be a workable choice. (One of those is on my "someday list".) It's basically a DPMS Gen II AR-10 in a molded-in camo pattern.
https://www.remington.com/rifles/modern-sporting/model-r-25-gii
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/12/11/remington-r25-gen-ii/
If you want to hold off on the expense and just get a bolt gun to start out and see if you enjoy hunting, Savage makes some excellent guns at very reasonable prices; you can get a new Savage 11 bolt-action in .243 or .308 with a Nikon BDC scope for $550, which is half of what you'd pay for a generic AR-10 with scope and a third of what you'd pay for the R25.
http://www.basspro.com/Savage-11/111-Trophy-Hunter-XP-Rifle-with-Scope-Combo/product/1204110500547/
http://savagearms.com/firearms/model/11TROPHYHUNTERXP
You could actually buy that Savage *and* a new-in-box S&W/Ruger/PSA AR-15 for $200-$300 less than an unscoped R25...
From the link posted above, you can use anything in .243 caliber (6mm) or .308 caliber (7.62mm), nothing else.
If you like the AR platform for a good all-around gun, and can afford to spend $1200-$1500 instead of $500ish for a bolt gun, a Remington R25 Gen II in .243 Winchester or .308 Winchester would be a workable choice. (One of those is on my "someday list".) It's basically a DPMS Gen II AR-10 in a molded-in camo pattern.
https://www.remington.com/rifles/modern-sporting/model-r-25-gii
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2014/12/11/remington-r25-gen-ii/
If you want to hold off on the expense and just get a bolt gun to start out and see if you enjoy hunting, Savage makes some excellent guns at very reasonable prices; you can get a new Savage 11 bolt-action in .243 or .308 with a Nikon BDC scope for $550, which is half of what you'd pay for a generic AR-10 with scope and a third of what you'd pay for the R25.
http://www.basspro.com/Savage-11/111-Trophy-Hunter-XP-Rifle-with-Scope-Combo/product/1204110500547/
http://savagearms.com/firearms/model/11TROPHYHUNTERXP
You could actually buy that Savage *and* a new-in-box S&W/Ruger/PSA AR-15 for $200-$300 less than an unscoped R25...
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Where the primary purpose is deer hunting, a bolt-action is as good as anything and better than most. I'd figure to go with the Browning over an AR, for all that I'm on my fifth AR. And the .308 is plenty good, with more "kill power" range than most people can use.
A pause for the COZ
New member
Why yes by all means. Get a AR 10 for deer hunting. #1 it can do it.
#2 it sets a precedent of having a Black rifle for hunting. #3 If ever you have a need for it other than hunting. You will already have one and wont have to wade through the red tape, Back ground checks and police approvals that will be needed if ever we do need em. just sayin....
#2 it sets a precedent of having a Black rifle for hunting. #3 If ever you have a need for it other than hunting. You will already have one and wont have to wade through the red tape, Back ground checks and police approvals that will be needed if ever we do need em. just sayin....
bolt action in .308 Winchester, that's a perfect combo for a deer rifle.
As far as I know, Indiana produces pretty fair sized deer, or at least they aren't on the small side of deer. My .308 puts them down hard. JMHO.
Edited to add: spend your money smart: buy the less expensive bolt rife and spend as much as you can on a high quality scope. Good glass matters more than capacity or action type IMHO.
As far as I know, Indiana produces pretty fair sized deer, or at least they aren't on the small side of deer. My .308 puts them down hard. JMHO.
Edited to add: spend your money smart: buy the less expensive bolt rife and spend as much as you can on a high quality scope. Good glass matters more than capacity or action type IMHO.
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