Have you wondered how well the AR-15 does with hunting? When compared to a bolt-action or lever-action rifle, an AR-15 is in a different ballpark. I like the idea of slinging my cool-guy AR-15 over my shoulder and heading off for the hunt. But I would also like to be able to set up on some distant hill overlooking a meadow and find a trophy buck in my crosshairs at some astronomical distance.
Such a shot would require a bolt-action rifle and probably someone with much more experience at long-range shooting than me. But hey, when I’m daydreaming, I get to be as cool as I want. A bolt action rifle is the most used hunting rifle in the US, and 30-06 is the most used caliber. But that doesn’t mean an AR-15 is not an effective hunting rifle. According to some sources, the average distance for shooting most game in the US is less than 200 yards.
The Pros of Using an AR-15 for Hunting
The AR-15 is a multifunctional firearm, to say the least. It’s ideal for hunting and target shooting, self-defense, and competitive shooting. It is adaptable enough to accommodate various optics, grips, lights, and just about anything else you want to throw on it. This makes it appealing for hunters who want to customize their rifles while providing decent accuracy out of the box.
While bolt-action guns are more accurate at further distances, an AR-15 is one of the most accurate semi-auto guns on the market. Within 200 yards, even inexperienced shooters can use an AR-15 and low-budget scope to hit their target. AR-15s are lightweight and maneuverable rifles that are easy to shoot. This is one of the things I like most about the AR-15.
For those who want a larger caliber than the standard 5.56 or .223, an AR-10 provides a semi-auto gun in the legendary .308 round. A bipod and scope are all that’s needed to turn it into a long-range rifle that is accurate and has plenty of knock-down.
Cons of Using an AR-15 for Hunting
To the AR-15 fanatic, there are no cons when using the AR-15 for hunting. But there are some things to be aware of if you plan to use one or if you are still in the decision-making process.
An AR-15 can be reliable when cleaned and maintained properly, but it doesn’t compare to a bolt-action rifle. Bolt-action rifles are more reliable because they feed manually. They also tend to have lighter triggers, making them more accurate at long distances. A semi-auto firearm will use some of the energy from the bullet to cycle the gun and load the next round. This means a bolt-action will have more power, even when firing the same bullet.
The last thing to keep in mind is the limitation of calibers for AR-15-style rifles. There are lots of choices for AR-15s including 5.56, .300 blackout, and more, but nothing close to the options you have in bolt-action or even lever-action rifles. State laws may also play a part in the type of gun you are allowed to hunt with so make sure you check into that as well.
The Financial Side of Hunting with an AR-15
Besides the cost of the gun itself, ammo and optics are another big factor to consider when choosing between an AR-15 or some other type of hunting rifle. If you want cheap ammo and a low-budget optic that will still get the job done, an AR-15 is a good choice.
There are lower-end hunting rifles and scopes, but most bolt-action rifles will need a scope that can withstand the recoil of the rifle. An AR-15 doesn’t have as much recoil which allows for cheaper optics to be used on it. Even a red dot can be used for most hunting applications if that’s what you already have. Flip-to-side magnifiers and LPVOs can also be used for both self-defense and hunting. These are good options if you want to use one setup for everything.
What will it be?
If you want to become the American sniper of the hunting world, you will need a bolt-action rifle with a good scope, top-quality ammo, and lots of practice. But if you want to use your AR-15 to hunt with, there’s nothing wrong with that either. They are still impressive rifles, even for hunting.
I know of an old army vet who spotted two deer in a pasture and decided to take them both out. He shot the furthest one while it was standing still and shot the second one while it was running away. He used an AR-15 because he was used to handling an M-16 in the military. I’m sure two consecutive shots could be done with a bolt-action rifle, but it would be much harder than a semi-auto platform. So, which gun you choose to hunt with is up to you.
Bolt-action rifles open you up to a new world of precision long-range shooting. But a lot of people like putting their money into an AR-15 that is customized for them and they don’t want to spend more money on another rifle. If that’s the case, use the AR-15 and have fun. But understand what its limitations are and work within the effective range and knockdown capability of your rifle.
