The AR is a proven hunting option. While many felt it was underpowered and out of place for years, it has become one of the most popular hunting options because of its versatility and multi-use capabilities.

With the availability of a wide selection of upper receivers, you can custom tailor the AR platform to hunting large game with little more than a headspace gauge and a conversion kit. 

The question remains however – for a rifle that at times was not seen as a perfect fit for hunting, is the AR the right choice for going after very large game? Sure, it’s one thing to take deer from 100lbs to 350 lbs., but is the AR the optimal choice for hunting anything bigger?

Maybe it’s better stated: is it the right choice for you, and what are the parameters of a large game-capable AR build? This article will discuss those parameters and aims to help you decide if it makes sense. 

Did you bring enough gun?

An AR is a gun that isn’t based on a monolithic platform – it’s held together basically by two pins and there is inevitably some play between the two receiver groups.

It’s not necessarily designed for accuracy or long-range precision – even if it doesn’t suffer any major shortcomings with regards to accuracy or precision as a result of not being purpose-built for it. There are also a wide variety of riflescopes designed specifically for hunting with built in holdovers and ranging for the perfect first shot.

With that in mind – it’s not a platform made to handle extremely large cartridges that are capable of taking the largest game animals in the world. But it is also no slouch.

With the “inert” lower receiver setup and a design that focuses recoil forces and pressure into suitable areas of the firearm, you can basically put any cartridge on top of that lower receiver, if you can figure out how to make it fire.

Some time back you could find bolt action upper receivers (mostly received as a novelty) with huge cartridges at the center of the build. 

Even today, you can find very capable rounds like the .300 Winchester Magnum mated to the AR lower. A .300 Winchester Magnum is capable of reliably taking 95%+ of all game types (including dangerous game), in North America under certain conditions.

This article isn’t about a single one-off build, though, it’s more about what the AR can do in a mainstream capacity when it comes to large game targets in North America. Is it enough gun? 

The AR has come a long way in the last 15 years – you can pretty much mount whatever you want on top of a lower receiver

The AR is no longer tied exclusively to the .223 Remington and 5.56×45 (which by the way ARE NOT the same cartridge – you should only fire the .223 out of a.223 or a 5.56 marked barrel or a barrel capable of firing the .223; you SHOULD NOT fire a 5.56 cartridge out of a .223 marked barrel). In this market, you can get more than a dozen, now mainstream loads in an upper receiver build. 

In the case of the premise of this article – below are some compelling options for large game that still fall into the mainstream category and seem reasonable for game animals up to 750 lbs. (and even beyond under certain conditions).

While that size may seem large, it is not a comprehensive indicator that any large game can be taken with the AR platform. One could argue that any cartridge could kill any animal with the right shot placement – but that’s why we don’t judge the dispatching capabilities of a cartridge, or a firearm based on perfect conditions and placement – no one is going to get a perfect shot very often.

Is the cartridge able to comprehensively and cleanly dispatch an animal you intend to target with it? No matter how fast or how close you are to the target, a 55 grain bullet (like used in some mainstream loads for the .223) is not a reasonable bullet to use while hunting a 1,000 lbs. animal. 

6.5 Grendel

A very compelling option for the hunter that wants to shoot big game up to 600 lbs and up to 600 yards. Which seems like a very robust sweet spot. Sub MOA accuracy to 550+ yards and capable of putting significant payload on target at distance with the projectiles ranging from 90 grains to 139 grains, generally.

The option to have such an accurate load shooting out of a 16” or 18” or 20” barrel makes it a nice option to have. 

It shouldn’t be confused with the 6.5 Creedmoor. It’s built for intermediate ranges and slightly beyond, where the Creedmoor is really built for longer ranges. The cartridge is shorter than the Creedmoor.

You can get more out of a shorter barrel when you are comparing apples to apples between the cartridges in the case of the 6.5 Grendel. It’s a lot of bang for your buck if you don’t need 850+ yard capabilities.

.224 Valkyrie

A wind-cutting and highly performant round that offers exceptional retained velocity on target – albeit with a smaller grain weight than some of the options here. Offerings include a 60 grain, 75 grain and 90 grain variant.

The higher velocity on point of impact and the extreme value of the projectile/round comparatively to the 5.56/.223 means that better terminal ballistics will provide better results in the field on bigger game. You could expect to take animals at up to 650 yards; up to about 400 lbs., reasonably. 

A 5.56x45mm or a .223 Remington could be expected to perform on targets to 350 lbs. out to 350 yards or so, reasonably. Again, these are not the far reaches of the extreme parameters, but rather the realistic field performance under a variety of different conditions, if the shooter is experienced and understands the way the round and the firearm behave together. 

6.8SPC

The 6.8SPC, like the 6.5 Grendel was made for military purposes and made to shine in a terminal channel that focuses on intermediate energy at intermediate ranges. It compares favorably to the .308 in that regard, under certain conditions. This, with a smaller overall length and a small caliber bullet. 

Nevertheless, you can still get fantastic ballistic results with grain weights from 80 grains to 120 grains. It is a fantastic round for ranges up to 450 yards and for targets up to 600 lbs. These are sweet spot numbers, not extreme capabilities. 

.300 BLK

A versatile round for deer sized game, the round offers some incredible suppression capabilities in a subsonic load. However, this load is only really suitable out to about 175 yards before you have to factor in some heavy drop considerations. 

Interestingly, though, the full powered supersonic round offers much more capability, pushing it out to 75%+ of the operating terminal range of the .308 Winchester (approximately).

This makes it capable of dispatching 500lb+ game at 450yards or thereabouts. 

.300 HAM’r

Another tack driver, the .300 HAM’r is a viable cartridge for intermediate game and the lower end of the larger game spectrum. It has a very broad range from coyotes, to hogs, to deer, to elk, goats and rams.

It’s probably at the extreme end of performance when stalking something bigger than a medium sized Elk. The round is certainly capable of 1 MOA accuracy to 650 yards and probably capable of taking 550+ lb. game targets, consistently. 

More loads should be coming to the market soon enough and with the favorable comparisons to the 7.62×39 and the .300BLK in supersonic configuration, this is a viable round for moderate and large game targets. 

.350 Legend

The only real drawback to the .350 Legend is the range, comparative to other options on this list. As a standalone option, the range isn’t a factor – as the cartridge was developed to achieve different tasks than the cartridges we have listed above.

The .350 Legend is an interesting option more in the vein of a .30-30, where you can squeeze excellent ballistics out of a shorter cartridge, with a hefty projectile that makes it very performant in a brush-heavy environment. 

You can expect to get excellent capabilities on target out to 225-250 yards and to take game targets of more than 700 lbs. Under normal considerations and can expect great dense brush environment performance. 

The stubbies (.458 SOCOM, .450 Bushmaster & .50 Beowulf)

Along the same lines as the .45-70 GOVT, but out of a 16” barrel, and channeling some of the concepts of the .350 Legend. 

These are doorbusters in the Law Enforcement communities, perfect for shooting through cover. In that same way, they are performant in heavy brush areas as well. 

If you could stalk the largest animals in North America to 125 yards or thereabouts, you should be confident in these rounds being able to dispatch the largest dangerous game on the continent. A 1000 lbs target is reasonable at that range.

Probably the sweet spot for the cartridges is about 50-125 yards and 800-1k lb. targets. 

The Mainstream 308 pattern AR platform options

Again, there are many calibers you can “bolt onto” an AR, especially when you add the extra robust nature of the larger .308 platform variant, but the most mainstream options offer compelling choices for those who want to take a larger range of big game with more confidence and better on-target ballistics – given certain parameters.

Some of the smaller cartridges above compete favorably with the two options listed below, but they do not have the same powder behind the shot to begin with, which can add a lot of value with certain ranges, game types and conditions. 

6.5 Creedmoor

The fact that the 6.5 Creedmoor requires the larger AR308/AR10 platform doesn’t take much away from the extreme capabilities of the cartridge. 

The 6.5 Creedmoor is purpose-built to drive tacks. Up to and including ranges of 1,000 yards. That’s extreme range for a cartridge that utilizes the two part core build of the AR platform. It is also utilizing a significant amount of powder behind a decently sized projectile (e.g. 120 grains, and 143 grains). 

The combination of this extreme precision and the intermediate projectile heft means the 6.5 Creedmoor is capable of dispatching larger game easily. Certainly, a game target up to 750 lbs under realistic conditions is a potential target that could be reasoned. Because of the amount of retained velocity and ultimately, the retained energy as a result, at point of impact, this is a significant option for further targets. 

Would it be a no-brainer on 1k lbs. moose or a grizzly? Not necessarily, but for a wide range of big game, including ram and goats (notoriously tough targets) on distant rocky hillsides, the 6.5 Creedmoor is a realistic long-range option. 

.308 Winchester

The .308 is by no means obsolete – that is a proven fact. But there is a bit of pressure on the round when compared to some of the innovative cartridges developed over the past decade that compete very favorably in certain conditions or for certain tasks.

The availability of cartridges and specific variability of the hunting loads for the .308 Winchester makes it a cartridge that won’t be obsolete for a very long time. 

You can find loads that shoot a 55 grain projectile and some that fire a projectile of more than 200 grains. Given the powder capacity of the case and the wide availability of components, this is still a legitimate hunting round even if it acts more like a “Jack of all trades” rather than a specialty cartridge relative to market competitors. 

What are your state and local jurisdiction regulations regarding minimum caliber and platform for hunting of game?

You must understand your local and state regulations with regards to minimum calibers and “appropriate” calibers or cartridges for the game targets you seek.

Some of these may not be suitable for game in your jurisdiction based on the letter of the law. There is no excuse not to know these regulations – please protect yourself by understanding the specifics in your area.

Are you all squared away on the regulatory aspects?

• What are the kill zones on the animal?
• What is the effective range of the load you are bringing?
• What does the terrain look like and will it impact your shots?
• Do you need glass on your gun?
• Are there some esoteric cartridge or bullet limitations you need to be aware of?
• Are you familiar with the traffic and locations of what is behind your point of aim?

Having said all that – the AR is a fantastic moderate and big game gun, depending on the specific hunt and the specific buildout

In all fairness, the AR platform is most well suited to small and intermediate game targets, with the capability of being built as a longer range, larger game type of rifle. Parts, components and sets including full rifles and upper receiver conversions can make the AR into a special kind of rifle for hunting game of all types. 

It’s about the most perfect option if you desire a multi-use firearm, or need to be able to move up and down the game target spectrum throughout the seasons without having to outfit several different firearms.  

Last minute considerations

• Knowing the distance can be helpful – but knowing the drops in elevation and the terrain can be even more helpful as in certain calibers, the AR may not be suitable for certain shots or game at certain distances, or when wind directions are changing or drifts are coming from multiple places
• The .223/5.56 is not super effective in heavy brush or woodlands where a shot needs to be taken through dense foliage
• The maximum range for a large animal on the smaller caliber builds should be determined before your hunt, and you should decline a shot that isn’t likely to be a lethal one. This could mean limiting a shot to 150 yards in some cases for a .223, a cartridge that normally could be well suited far beyond that and even past double that distance. This may be due to wind conditions, brush conditions, drop of bullet or makeup of the load. Generally, this is an effective cartridge in mainstream hunting loads to 225-250 yards, but most shots would be reconsidered past 250 yards unless conditions dictate an obvious terminal shot.
• Velocity can be a massive equalizer. If you have a short range shot on a bigger animal, and can get a legitimate breadbasket or other terminal shot, the elevated velocity can have a dramatic positive impact on the terminal ballistics in a real-world way.
• Don’t go cheap on ammunition on a hunt for big game with small caliber rifles – buy premium ammunition matched closely to your target. 
• Don’t do unrealistic things like hunt moose with a .223 at 350 yards just because the regulations don’t specifically tell you that you cannot. That’s not the type of thing that makes sense. It is poor sportsman behavior, and is detrimental to the view of AR hunting, and especially to the wildlife conservation and protection concepts. 
• Yes, somewhere there is a story of just about every animal being killed with a .22LR regardless of size or aggressiveness, but that doesn’t mean it makes sense to do so when you don’t have to. Do your best to exercise exceptional judgment during a hunt.
• Consider the build of the firearm you are bringing. If you are shooting a 7.5” barrel and trying to harvest a large buck at 225 yards, it’s not a good fit for the situation. 

The idea that the AR was once seen as a slightly anemic rifle in the hunting world, and largely relegated to the target range in many hunter’s minds, seems absurd at this point. But with the proliferation of the parts and components and upper receiver conversion kits and a healthy dose of AR-centric ballistic innovation (thanks to the market popularity of this modular powerhouse), this is the rifle of choice for many hunters now. 

If you pay close enough attention to how you outfit your AR rifle, you can build it to do just about anything in the field against any target, up to and including some dangerous big game animals in North America – certainly it is more than capable of use on 90%+ of the game spectrum in North America. 

The AR-15; a limitless weapon designed to be the ultimate survival tool. This weapon has endless ways you can configure it so that it best fits you and your style of competition or hunting. Today we will be looking at the best way to set it up for hog hunting during the nighttime.

Hogs are wild animals, and as such, they are exceptionally good at camouflage. This is especially true during the night. Having a quality thermal scope or night vision apparatus to use when hunting. Scopes, especially thermal ones, are some of the most popular things marketed towards hunters.

With so many options, it can be difficult to decide where to start. What should you look for in a scope when preparing to hog hunting?

Do you need accessories?

If you use more modern thermal scopes that are on the market, you may need to have an addition accessory, such as a colored light, attached to your weapon. The color of the light you add to your weapon can have a tremendous effect on how the hogs react to you.

Red and green lights typically do not create a reaction in hogs and are the best ones to use when you are hunting in predictable places such as at the watering hole or around feeders. If you want to avoid having to mount a light on your AR-15, you can put automatic or remote-controlled lights on the hog feeders or around where you know you will be frequenting during your hunt.

If you do choose to mount a light to your weapon, you will want to be sure you have a handguard to allow for mounting accessories. There are many options for handguards on the market.

What Is the Price of Entry?

Price is not always indicative of what you will receive in a product. With thermal optics, however, you get what you pay for. Quality thermal optics can assist you in hunting from upwards of 400 yards or more away.

This is a fantastic tool to have while hunting at night, as you will be able to sneak up on hogs more easily and you can be sure you are a safe distance away in the case of a stampede or something similar. A quality thermal scope can also help you hunt the hogs when they begin to run.

A downside to using thermal scopes at a distance is that they can play tricks on your eyes. From far away, a pile of large rocks can look eerily like a heard of hogs.

There are ways to ensure you are looking at the right thing and are not trying to hunt something that is not there, but it is an issue you need to be aware of in your hunting endeavors.

What Are the Types of Night Vision?

The best way to figure out what you prefer is to try out many different tools before purchasing your own or deciding on what you want to use the most. Many prefer to use traditional night vision, the kind that you automatically think of when you hear the words “night vision.”

It is a great military technology that has been made available to civilians and using it can help you see why it is so widely used. Traditional night vision uses infrared technology and a variety of combinations of lasers and illuminators. These can become just as pricey as thermal optics with light accessories, but you have the advantages of knowing the traditional night vision works (thank you to our military!), and you can purchase them from several manufacturers for a price in the $3,000 range.

The best part of traditional night vision is that you can mount these goggles to your AR-15 or to a helmet. Having them on a helmet gives you the added benefit of being able to travel around whilst looking for hogs.

How Heavy Is the Set Up?

As with any accessory you put on your weapon, you will want to be keeping in mind how heavy the attachment is. If you are planning to stay in one place while hunting, weight may not matter as much as it would if you are going to be moving around in search of your prey.

Keep this in mind as you modify your AR-15 to meet any standards you have for your new hog hunting hobby.

If you are looking to get involved in hog hunting and are worried about needing to purchase extras for your AR-15 to do its magic, do not fear. The same things that make the AR-15 a great home defense or three-gun competition rifle make it a great hog hunting gun, as well.

The qualities that make this weapon an excellent choice for a myriad of uses include that it is light, accurate, and easy to move from target to target. If you are looking to begin hog hunting or have noticed a few hog “friends” in your back yard that need some taming, look no further than your gun closet. All you need is a new optic to get you started.

In the world of optics, there are many options to choose from. It can quickly become overwhelming trying to figure out what works best for you. Testing out the night vision optics in store or having a friend who will let you test out theirs is the best way to get your foot in the door before making the commitment and purchasing one.

Whether you choose to go with a newer scope or the more traditional night vision, you will want to be sure to choose a night vision that works well for you. It will help you find your prey, capture them, and bring home the bacon, pork tenderloin, and other things you may enjoy from your hog hunt.

If it looks overwhelming at first, do not worry too much. Keeping in mind your price range, the type of night vision you prefer, and the weight of the accessory will help get you farther than you expect in choosing your scope.