Posted on 11/18/2017 6:57:29 AM PST by Simon Green
AR-15s have long been a symbol of the tactical world, but black rifles are slowly creeping their way past military and law enforcement applications and into the world of hunting. Touting more caliber options, efficiency and modularity, the versatile platform is transforming the way hunters down prey, but what’s causing hunters to ditch traditional rifle set-ups in favor of modern sporting rifles?
The biggest benefit to the AR, or modern sporting rifle, platform has always been its modularity. Unlike traditional bolt-action setups, gun owners can easily swap between an almost endless sea of uppers and lowers. This ability to trade in and out parts allows hunters to fine-tune their hunting platform to desired specifications.
This modularity is especially useful for hunters who routinely stalk various kinds of prey, utilizing an array of calibers to do it. While the most common chambering on the MSR lineup is undoubtedly .223/5.56, an increase in popular cartridges like .300 Blackout and 6.5 Creedmoor have pushed parts manufacturers to offer more uppers and barrels outside the 5.56 realm. This caliber modularity advantage elevated the AR-15s popularity in the hunting world, making it a viable contender against bolt-action.
Mark Grimsley, a hunter out of Kansas and owner of the Fit’n Fire YouTube channel told Guns.com in an interview that the AR-15’s vast array of caliber options is one of many reasons he chose an AR setup for hunts.
“One rifle can be easily converted in to several different variants that will allow you to choose the right caliber for your hunt,” Grimsley said. “Going coyote hunting on Monday, use your .223/5.56 upper. Going whitetail hunting Tuesday, switch to the .300 Blackout. Going Elk hunting on Wednesday, change your upper again to a 6.5 Grendel. All of those upper receivers can be used with the same type of lower which gives greater flexibility for the hunter and the AR platform.”
Grimsley, an 11-year U.S. Army veteran, also pointed to the AR-15s widespread familiarity as a reason some hunters, especially those coming from military and law enforcement backgrounds, are choosing modular sporting rifles.
“One of the main reasons that I started using an AR style rifle to hunt with was because it was so familiar to me,” Grimsley said. “I have been around the AR platform for about two decades now, between my father’s influence and my military time, and I have become extremely comfortable with its feedback, loading/unloading, placement of the safety, and remedial actions to clear malfunctions should there ever be any.”
Aside from modularity, hunters say the AR-15 offers a level of versatility unparalleled in the bolt-action universe. MSRs easy disassembly and reassembly procedure in addition to the advent of the collapsible stock grants hunters the ability to hike in several miles on foot with the gun carried stealthily and safely in a backpack. Hunters traipsing through fields in unrestricted states are also afforded the luxury of 30 round magazines which increase the number of shots a hunter can fire in a given time period while decreasing follow-up shot time. This can often mean the difference between taking a trophy and going home empty handed.
“I believe in one well-placed shot,” coyote hunter Greg Sodergren told Time Magazine of the AR-15. “(But) if you’ve got multiple animals or you miss, you’ve got a quick follow-up shot.”
In addition, the speed in which the AR cycles its bolt as compared to the manual cycling of a bolt-action means more potential shots on target or multiple shots effortlessly carried out on multiple targets.
“A semi-auto changed my life,” Eric Mayer, who runs AR15hunter.com, told Time Magazine. “I’m able to make the (shot) because I don’t have to run the bolt (and) lose the target in my scope.”
Despite its advantages, the AR-15 has had its swath of bad press, earning it a bad boy reputation among its fellow rifle peers.
“I feel that the AR has previously received a bad rap as far as it being used as a hunting rifle,” Grimsley said. “Because of its military inception, it has been seen as an under powered, military application rifle only. Not until recently, with the popularity of the newer rounds have people started to consider it as a viable option for hunting applications.”
Regardless of its reputation, loyalists to the MSR point to its efficiency as the number one reason ARs are enjoying such success on the shoulders of hunters.
“It’s the most capable tool for the job at this time,” Mayer said. “Bar none. Period. It is.”
“Wonder if a low tech bolt action is more reliable than a semiauto. Especially, in adverse environments. When accuracy and reliability are important, I’d choose a bolt action. Or a revolver, too. Same idea.”
I like Ruger single shots or bolts for one shot/one kill situations. For groups of coyotes or feral hogs then a semi auto.
Carry in a pocket a few rifle rounds. A .223, a .30-06 and maybe a .300 win Mag. Ask them to pick out the AR round.
They'll point to the .50 BMG round on the table and say "You won't catch me in a trick question! It's that one!"
Ah NOW I see it but the lack of copy and proof editors shows itself once again. Thank you.
“A .223, a .30-06 and maybe a .300 win Mag. Ask them to pick out the AR round.”
Did that with my lib brother. .233, .308, and 7.62 x 54R. He grabbed the Russian round and told me it would tear a deer in half. The guy has never fired a gun in his life.
L
“...the Garand was a fair-weather rifle, excellent on the practice range but far from good enough for the Marines when the going got tough.***
I remember reading of bolt action armed Marines in the Pacific, following new replacements armed with a Garand. When asked why the vet marine was following the new replacement so close, the Marine stated that if the replacement was hit, HE was going to grab the Garand and toss the bolt action!
Dad carried one across Europe.
Yep, hunters need that 30 round magazine/clip for “quick follow up shots”. Sometimes it takes 5 or 6 rounds to make sure a rabbit is _really_ down.
"Modern Sporting Rifle".
A marketing term, really, thought up by those who advocate for the AR platform as a hunting rifle. Fine by me, honestly. It makes a lot of sense, although it does limit one's choice of cartridges to those that can be accommodated by the AR action, which may or may not be a problem. (In which case, the obvious upgrade would be to an AR-10 platform.)
Have fun, guys, just please don't throw those old bolt guns in the trash. I'll take them if you don't want them.
“MSR” defined in post 28, with opinion. Meant to post to the whole thread.
Whenever I confront some subject that I know nothing about, I admit it. First to myself, and then openly. It’s an opportunity to learn something, to me.
Liberals seem to be incapable of doing this, especially where firearms are concerned. I could live with simply ignoring such people, but when they sneer at me for my ‘lack of intellect and appreciation of nuance’, it irritates me.
It’s like being lectured by the slowest kid in the class, who everybody else is running rings around.
Yup. Firearms have specialized functions.
No not 47s, but AK-103s ... its the Deer-Russian connection thing - for when you want to reach out an touch someone many times ...
I’m happy to have conversations about “gun control” with people. I’ll usually listen politely and when they’re done I reply:
“I’ll never willingly surrender my guns. You’ll have to kill me to get them. Your move, Skippy.”
L
My sister’s 1st husband had to turn in his M14 for a M16. After too many jams, he re-requisitioned himself his orig M14.
My life once depended on a “piece of crap” M16.
The damn thing jammed on the 2nd round and I had to duck and scramble to repair the jam while under enemy fire. This happened a whole 2 weeks after they took our highly reliable M14s from us and replaced them with the M16s.
Excuse me if I have no love or respect for the M16 or its civilian version the AR15.
I’d do the same.
Why the heck would I spend over $1000 for a hunting rifle ?
Yep, Simon Green. When they come back with ‘nothing left of the deer’, you know they haven’t got a clue about the subject. Better to leave them in their ignorance. You’ll never change their minds.
“No, they misspelled Mrs. They were talking about a lineup of other peoples’ wives.”
Laz, you just taught us a lot about yourself!
;^)
Depends on how adverse the environment is. Bolt-actions are actually more prone to moisture intruding into the firing pin channel and freezing than other designs. Sarco and other militaria vendors used to sell canvas action covers for rifles, mostly WWI-vintage stuff.
In general, any firearm that has proven to be reliable on the battlefield is adequately reliable for hunting.
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