ARs for Varmints--Pros and Cons

[onelastshot]

We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. - Ben Franklin

The man had it right. Even if you're genuinely a hunter and only like bolt action rifles, this is not the time to engage in little internecine squabbling.

I could not agree more. Considering the current emotionally charged anti-gun environment, the biggest fools are those who claim to be pro-gun while at the same time attack other gun owners who happen to enjoy shooting "other" types of firearms. Many in the younger generation appear to enjoy the AR platforms over other rifles. What is important is the simple fact that younger people and women are embracing the sport at a time when we need as many new members of the sport as possible, speaking as one voice.

I have not used an AR to hunt ground squirrels. That being said, I just purchased my first and after doing some fine tuning, look forward to trying it out.

 

[mac86951]

AR's are for people who like to do a lot of shooting but NOT very much hitting their target. AK's are even worse. Get a single shot. 1 shot 1 hit!
JM

Between this and the responses from the old Assault Weapons Ban in California, I find this a very informative forum. More so since I am now shooting my AR in F-class MR at 600Y, and scoring 380s.

I see the AR as an EXCELLENT varmint rifle, where a 20-rnd or 10-rnd will help sit lower in the dirt, and we've got lots of off the bench mods now. The one trouble I'd forsee, is getting a 1:10/1:12 twist barrel for the lighter weight bullets, as I feel .223 is the best cartridge to use, though hard to find brass now. Most ARs are being sold with the 1:7 to 1:9 twists for heavy bullets.

Lots of makers have custom chambers/wildcat cartridges for the AR, but the .223 is by far the easiest to tune and get running good quickly.

Personally, I'll use a bolt gun for Varmint hunting, I just see too much temptation to fill a mag. That is my PP however, and the AR platform is very customizable for whatever the shooters needs are.

-Mac

Lets see what new posts we'll get with the pending new assault weapons ban.

 

[IMMORTAL]

I'm new to the forum but I can tell you that my AR is one of the most accurate rifles I have ever shot. I have a Sabre Defence 204 Ruger upper mated to a RRA lower with the 2 stage trigger. Topped it off with a Bushnell 4200 6-24x50 w/ mildot. I have taken ground hogs well past 400 yards with it. Going to Wyoming in June for some pdog carnage and you can bet your a$$ this rifle is going with me. Here is a pic of it along with a target when I was doing load development.

http://s1185.beta.photobucket.com/user/1up5down/media/huntingpictures175.jpg.html?sort=3&o=31

My best group is about 1/2". The first shot in the 27.4gr. load was my cold bore shot. Take that one out and the group shrinks to 3/8".

http://i1185.photobucket.com/albums/z356/1up5down/huntingpictures245_zps1fe7bf57.jpg

Dave

 

[K9I449]

Here my 2cents worth. I work for the GOV, with a bumch of young KIDS, I've been here 24years. They have no idea what it take to make a rifle shoot. I cussed this BLACK GUNS, bring them on, I'll shot me old single shot COOPER 21 17Remington all day long for lunch or anything else you care to loose. NO TAKERS of course.

WELL, last Aug, I came across a Rockriver Arms that was a good buy, I beat the guy up some. Had not been shot very much. His ad said "DAD brought this, don't know why. Now he wants to sell it."

Has a 16" barrel and shoot like under 1/2 with Nosler BT Varmint and H322 at 125yrd. I put a 3lb Timmeny trigger, 2stage triggers, NO THANK YOU>

I can't believe how well it shoot. Killed a jack in AZ at 205yrds DRT. Several head shot on PD, too.

I still a a bolt gun person, but I have respect for some of the BLACK GUNS.

 

[mac86951]

I'll go ahead and toss this onto the AR for Varmint fire. Don't like a .223? Try a .204, 20 Pratical, 6.5 Grendel, 6mmAR, or on and on. Can't argue with a rifle that allows you to keep so many rifles ready and zeroed ready to install on a single grip/trigger with two pins. Better than switch barrel, switch upper keeps all chambering and sighting with the upper.

-Mac

 

[xpilot]

Never was able to get a double on coyotes although I had a number of opportunities. As soon as you work the bolt, the afterburners light up. First trip out with an AR I got a double. It is effective. That said, I prefer a small walkabout for calling. Handier and I don't care for the action recycling sounds/feeling. The coyotes don't seem to hear it though. Just getting old I guess.

 

[Joe O]

Build one to suit you,in the caliber that stands out on the praries,The 204r,However other 20 cals work better in the AR platform ie 20TAC,20 Practical(best).A good brass catcher is a must,espescially being mobile in a buggy.
Another upper in a tactical setup for home defence or war would take care of most situations.

 

[Denmeade]

The AR system is very simple and easy to modify, tons of aftermarket parts, easy to tune, and the semi-auto function helps when your out in the field hunting, bolt action is fun but if you miss a squirrel then there off and the time to take to reload a round you could put off 3-4 rounds.
Also if you don't like chasing the brass you could always put a brass catcher on the upper receiver to catch the brass for you.
Also if you don't like the length you could always change the barrel to a smaller one or longer one and buy the heat guard to match the length.


Pros:
Easy to fix
Easy to modify
Tons of aftermarket parts
Semi Auto
.223 round gives you plenty of energy to make long distance shots.

Cons:
Price

I really cant think of any other con, but to buy a stock AR your looking at $800-$1500.

But it really is a very nice system to work and it comes in many other calibers as well I have seen .22, .17, .223, .278, and .308
but the 223 is probably the best overall in variety for hunting and target shooting.

 

[Gr8ful]

I just bought my 1st AR a RRA Coyote w/20" barrel. They guarantee 3/4" MOA & most I've talked to that own one claim 1/2" or less.

 

[Valar]

Build one to suit you,in the caliber that stands out on the praries,The 204r,However other 20 cals work better in the AR platform ie 20TAC,20 Practical(best).A good brass catcher is a must,espescially being mobile in a buggy.
Another upper in a tactical setup for home defence or war would take care of most situations.

Joe O bring that twenty prac. to Northern Illinois sometime. I will show you what a fast twist 204 can do! and If I run out of bullets on a dog town I can go to the store and hunt a day or two more!

 

[JG26_Irish]

AR for varmints? Sure, it will work fine. I took my home built HBAR with me on a prairie dog hunt one year and would not take it back for that. The shots were too far out for those tiny little suckers. It just wasted a lot of ammo. My AR would shoot sub MOA when using good varmint ammo and has printed about 1/2" 100 yd groups under ideal conditions from a bench. But my bolt action 223 is printing 1/4" or better under same conditions. Put the AR out on the prairie in wind, shooting off of hood of truck or a folding bench at dogs which were 300 yds out and more and it was tough going. The fact that I did not bring a brass catcher did not help. After one afternoon of trying I put the AR away and went back to the bolt action. It was just more fun. Can it be done, Yes. Is it better? Not in my opinion for PD's.

Now, using the AR for coyotes, bobcats or other predators is a good choice in my opinion. Why? At least in my area, I cannot just drive up and start shooting those more elusive varmints. I have to hike, set up and hide, call, shoot, move, etc. The heavy bbl bolt gun with the 8x32 tgt dot scope that works so well on prairie dogs is too heavy, in the eastern woods and the scope is terrible for spotting elusive game due to the higher magnification and thin cross hairs. Here my AR15 carbine with bullet drop compensation fixed power scope is perfect for the larger tgts and closer shots 300yds and less usually. Light handy and easy to get on tgt. While the fact that it will hold more rounds is nice, I have found that with yotes, if you miss the first shot, there won't be many 2nd or 3rd shots. But it is comforting to know that if a horde of zombies show up, you will be better prepared.

Irish

 

[Joe O]

A AR built for Prarie Dogs is great in a target rich environment. A 20 cal ,1/4 MOA would be my choice W /6-25 scope and fine reticle.The CON is catching brass.I consider an AR, #1 as a Yote gun 223 or lager cal w a 3-9 scope.

 

[hawgm]

I pioneered shooting the AR in competition some 40 years ago, and still love it today..have many other rifles, but about 6 diferrent variants of the AR. I agree with all that has been said..especially about the followup shot ability.

I shot a 285 lb. Fallow buck last weekend with an AR, loaded with Barnes 62 gr. trippleshock bullets (mercy kill..he had been fighting during the rut)..went down in 10 feet with a shoulder shot. This bullet will make a Goliath out of the mousegun.

My favorite, tho, is the Barnes Varmint Grenade bullet for critters and coyotes...36 grain, but because of the construction, the bullet is long enough to seat in the .223 case perfectly for magazine feeding. Very explosive....

 

[Orddy]

I live in a very high population of pasture poodles. I shoot them on a regular basis and have used just about anything and everything that goes bang to kill the lil buggers. My favorite gun is and will be an AR15. I use 3 AR's for the most part. A standard 24" match barreled 223 with a Magpul CRS stock, either an Armalite or Burris PEPR scope mount. My other 2 AR's that i use are of similar build but in 223WSSM and 243WSSM calibers. I have shot poodles out too as far as 1000yds accurately with the 243WSSM. I use the RCBS RASS shoot bench which for the money is the best one i've found on the market. Currently i have 3 of them. I occasionally will guide poodle shoots and provide all the equipment, including guns. I have had 0 problems with any of my equipment or guns. That's why i use what i use, because of it's reliability and functionality. I still will occasionally break out one of my bolt guns just to do something different and i enjoy shooting them also but, my first pick will and still is the AR platform. Happy shooting guys.

 

[azplumber]

I shoot both, ARs and Bolt guns when hunting pdogs in Az. You cant beat the follow up with the AR when you do miss, but I really enjoy my bolt 22-250 for getting out there. My longest shot to date is 673 yrds. I got an AR in 204Ruger this year and it is a blast to shoot. All in all its hard to choose a favorite because they all have work so well. if I had to pick one it would be my Savage mod12 in 22-250.

 

[searcher]

I have used my benchrest rifles as varmint rifles with great success. Super accuracy, mild recoil due to heavy weight, simply wonderful. After building my first "dedicated ground squirrel" .223 A/R build (Heavy-wall receiver, Krieger 26" Varmatch barrel w/brake, Jewel trigger, PRS stock) and setting it up to shoot off my benchrest rifle rest, I came to quickly realize that the very slight accuracy gain of the bolt guns is flushed down the toilet in terms of kills made by the A/R that wold not have been made by the bolt gun - the followup shot. Any squirrel or prarie dog hunter knows that at long distance with any weather moving, you are going to miss a lot. I can aim on a squirrel a friend is shooting at, wait till he fires and if he misses, I can shoot, miss, and shoot again with mental hold changes to result in a hit before my partner can reload and get back on target. I don't know how many times I have shot at squirrels and hit them on the third and sometimes fourth shot as they are running for the hole. A heavy gun, with top-end barrel and trigger, tuned to load, with a brake, shot off a rest (not bi-pod) enables you to just follow the squirrel as you lay down fire, never losing sight picture and seeing all hits and misses. Some may say that is just "spraying ammo" and not relying on marksmanship. In my book, I go to kill squirrels and if I can shoot all of the 1,000 rounds I take, I know I had a good time. Ironically, the percentage of hits is higher with the A/R due to the ability to get off the faster second shot when shooting out past 300-400 yards when the wind is constantly changing, mirage changes, etc. I'd go for the .223 shooting 40 grns out to 400, then to 50 grns past that. The little pills fly all over - but the fast second shot is what does it. I also use a .20 Practical which is a dream. I have tried my 6.5 Grendel. Even with a heavy barrel and brake, despite good accuracy, I think it is a poor choice due to recoil.

 

[constructor]

I can't say we're shooting Pdogs at 1000 yards but the 270AR is pushing 130gr Bergers to 2750+ out of a 20" barrel 120SSTs to almost 2900fps and hammering hogs. They start testing the .257 version next week. We're expecting 100gr bullets to break 3000fps. The 6BRX and 6.5BRX are 2 of the flattest shooting ARs out there and working great on pdogs and yotes.
Going slow and letting them cool is the key...helps to have a few rifles laying around to swap out.

 

[joshb]

Almost every gun has it's limitations. That's why I'm trying to buy as many as I can. I never take just one. It's nice to have the right tool for the job.

 

[cdparker]

Joshb-That was a point made by Rick-0-Shey's friend Hipshot Percussion.
"Buzzards, I hate Buzzards"

 

[Big Bore]

I really like my AR's in 204r and 17 Remington and also 5.7x28 on pd's.
I have no issues hitting them out to 500 yards with the 204r.