Deer hunting with an AR-15

[imhntn]

This is something new too.




Used to be, case length had to be 1.5" to be legal. Anyone know when they changed this??? I haven't taught a class in a little over a year now, and it wasn't changed in the regs then.

I thought they changed it when they began to allow the .45 acp but I could be wrong. Seems like a couple years ago.

 

[dennishoddy]

I thought they changed it when they began to allow the .45 acp but I could be wrong. Seems like a couple years ago.

posting from my phone, so can't quote.

centerfire handguns min length is 1 1/4".
semiauto handguns, anything over.40, 100gr. min.
I know both are centerfires, and it makes no sence why my 1911 is legal, and my .45acp revolver is not.
Just another law that needs to be revisited.

 

[DrTurkenstein]

Someone please explain to me why an AR in .223 can only have a 5 round magazine. I understand that a .22 centerfire magazine can only hold 7 rounds but a .22 and a .223 are not the same caliber, unless I'm missing something. Isn't a .22 .003 smaller in than a .223? And if my logic is correct then using a 20 or 30 round magazine is perfectly legal. I'm not trying to dispute anything, I really don't know. Am I showing my ignorance on this?

 

[dennishoddy]

First to clear up something.
the max mag size is 7 rounds, as stated in the regs. Not 5 like has been stated.
I know where your concern is coming from about the .22 centerfire reg. I don't have an answer.

 

[Hoss]

Instead of buying a five round mag I put a wood block in a 20 round mag. The block was long enough to only allow the mag to hold 5 rounds. It is pretty much the same thing as putting a plug in a shotgun.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I think they eliminated the case length requirement, IIRC, to allow .22 hornet and .218 bee. However, get luck getting a 55 grainer to shoot well in a 1 in 14" hornet - it may or may not.

 

[ewheeley]

Someone please explain to me why an AR in .223 can only have a 5 round magazine. I understand that a .22 centerfire magazine can only hold 7 rounds but a .22 and a .223 are not the same caliber, unless I'm missing something. Isn't a .22 .003 smaller in than a .223? And if my logic is correct then using a 20 or 30 round magazine is perfectly legal. I'm not trying to dispute anything, I really don't know. Am I showing my ignorance on this?

.22LR and a .223/5.56mm are the same bullet diameter, different cartridge sizes.

 

[ElkStalkR]

Nosler makes a partition bullet in .22 cal too.

IMO, this is the only responsible way to shoot big game with a .22 caliber rifle. USE THE PROPER BULLET!!! 55 grain HP's are a fantastic way to wound deer, especially large body bucks. YES, you can easily kill them with it, IF you place your shot BEHIND the shoulder, but you need a PERFECT shot, no room for error. As we all know, occasionally even a perfect presentation can turn into an oops, and a 55 grain HP increases the chance of an oops. I have seen this happen on more than one occasion with a .22-250 and a .223 In both circumstances a partitioned or copper bullet would have got the job done, but not a hollow point.

Another note, why can I slap a 20 round mag in my AR-10 and go hunting but cannot do the same with an AR-15? Makes no sense to me.

 

[JimmyC]

All the deer in my profile pic were shot with my AR15 in a .223 and were one shot kills. The furthest one traveled after being shot was about 40 yards.

I wanted a little more power than a 55gr so I found some 77gr black hills ammo. And they performed very well but all shots were in the vitals. One shot on a big buck was a frontal shot that took out his heart and he only ended up running about 30 yards.

I have no doubt that the .223 is fully capable of killing deer, but it is a little on the small size. I wanted a larger caliber to also hunt hogs with so I built another AR15 this year in a 6.8 SPC. I hear that it is a perfect hog and deer round inside of 300 yards. I'll let you know as soon as I get to take it out.

I also don't understand why I can have an unlimited size magazine in my 6.8 but my 5.56/.223 is only allowed 7. Unless of course they are talking about .22 magnums and not .223?? Granted I usually only load up 5 at a time anyway, but it seems a little strange. Time to call the wildlife department and ask them what's going on...

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

All the deer in my profile pic were shot with my AR15 in a .223 and were one shot kills

*Which* 55 grain bullet(s) were used, Jimmy? .mil ball ammo or what? Thanks. All vitals shots? Or some neck/head shots? Or what? I think you are saying that all were vitals on the 77 grain BH, but what about the 55s - same?