[Devin556]

Does anyone hunt deer with their AR? If so what is the best gr/type bullet to use?

[jeepejeep]

Yes but I use a 450 Bushmaster upper. I feel the 223 is too light for consistent, humane kills. A lot of folks disagree so I'm sure you'll get info on loads they use.

[AsSeenOnTV]

I don't choose to use a 223 for hunting dear. But up here the Inuit will hunt polar bears with 223's.
If you use it, choose a soft tip bullet that can expand. And many states require a magazine that holds 5 rounds or less.

[c3shooter]

Check the games laws in YOUR state. Here in VA the .223/ 5.56 is not legal for deer.

IF you use it, as the man just said, do NOT use FMJ- get some good expanding bullet loads.

[racer_x]

55 grain hornady v-max or z-max. Not that i hunt deer with a 223 or would. i use the brush gun 30-30 with 150 or 170 power points in my rossi or 150 silver tips in my marlin

[dog2000tj]

Originally Posted by Devin556

Does anyone hunt deer with their AR? If so what is the best gr/type bullet to use?

I built my AR458SOCOM for just that ... hunting ... anything

[Txhillbilly]

While the 223 isn't the best caliber choice for deer,but under 250 yards with good shot placement,it will drop them easily. I've put down many over the years with a 223 caliber rifle with one shot.
I use the Sierra 65gr Gameking,and Speer 70gr Semi Spitzer.

Hornady also makes a 70gr GMX bullet,Barnes has a 70gr Triple Shock X,and Swift has a 75gr Bonded Spitzer.I haven't ever tried these 3 bullets,but if they shoot well out of your rifle,they should work good also.
You would need a 1-8 or 1-9 twist too stabilize these bullets.

Like Dog say's-That's why we have 458 SOCOM's.As long as it's in the range of the 458,it's going to get hit with a big chunk of lead and hit the ground. DEAD!

[tacticalfun]

I hunt with my ar.

[96banshee]

I just bought mine for hunting whatever. I live in Louisiana and it is legal here so long as you have a 5 round clip. You need to keep in mind that the only thing that matters is shot placement. Deer are killed day in and day out all through season with bows and they have absolutely no "knockdown" power or expansion. I do agree with finding a round other than FMJ that expands well. I shot a crow earlier in the week with a FMJ under one wing through and back out the opposite side. I thought I missed since he started flying away- 40 yards later he falls dead out of the sky as if he had been shot mid flight with a shotgun. Crazy! Anyway, find a good round that expands pretty well. I plan to do the same. Probably Hornady for myself.

[AsSeenOnTV]

Originally Posted by 96banshee

I just bought mine for hunting whatever. I live in Louisiana and it is legal here so long as you have a 5 round clip. You need to keep in mind that the only thing that matters is shot placement. Deer are killed day in and day out all through season with bows and they have absolutely no "knockdown" power or expansion. I do agree with finding a round other than FMJ that expands well. .......... Anyway, find a good round that expands pretty well. I plan to do the same. Probably Hornady for myself.

I kinda have to disagree with your bullet vs arrow comparison. Arrows tipped with razor sharp broadheads kill by cutting major blood vessels, both arteries and veins. This causes massive blood loss, reduced blood pressure, and loss of oxygen to the brain. This process is known as hemorrhagic shock.
Bullets kill by high energy impact that crushes both bone and tissue. They often immobilize animals by breaking major bones, and shocking the complete neural system.

Im studying to be a wildlife veterinarian up here in Alaska, and I have saved animals that have been shot by small caliber guns that didn't have enough energy to break heavy boned, thick skinned animals.
We humans are thin skinned and most 223 bullets are made for humans, not animals with thick hides, etc.
Sure, a 223 will kill deer and big game animals, but bullet placement is a priority, where a larger caliber can do it more easily.