Can A .223/5.56 Caliber Rifle Handle All Your Needs?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Can A .223/5.56 Caliber Rifle Handle All Your Needs? (Page 1 of 2)

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:32:48 PM EDT

Can a 5.56/.223 rifle, handle all of hunting and self defense needs? What bullets do you choose for hunting and self defense?

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:34:07 PM EDT

[#1]

Mk262 for both.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:34:21 PM EDT

[#2]

Technically it can, as I've never hunted anything bigger than white tail. That being said, I still really want an AR-10

ETA: Barnes TSX for hunting, M193 for HD

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:35:07 PM EDT

[#3]

No.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:38:19 PM EDT

[#4]

If I had to choose one rifle and one pistol, it'd be an AR15 and a .22lr pistol.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:40:31 PM EDT

[#5]

If you don't hunt anything bigger than deer then it definitely can handle everything

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:41:40 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
No.

View Quote

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:42:37 PM EDT

[#7]

I won't hunt deer with a .223, so no.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:43:55 PM EDT

[#8]

Does just fine on people..........so yes.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:44:18 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
If you don't hunt anything bigger than deer then it definitely can handle everything

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Some hiker in Alaska smoked a grizzly bear with his ak74. I know different caliber but still. I don't think there's anything on earth that can with stand a mag dump.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:44:39 PM EDT

[#10]

It would for me as I don't really hunt much, but I would like something with a bit more punch for deer and larger. I could get by with it but I would have to be very particular about my shots and at what range to shoot as well.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:45:24 PM EDT

[#11]

Depends if I run into a T-Rex or not.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:45:25 PM EDT

[#12]

Nope.

It's adequate for blacktail deer, but we have much larger critters here and some of them have big scary teeth and claws.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:47:34 PM EDT

[#13]

MK318 worked great on the two hogs and one doe I got this year also use it for my HD load.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:47:55 PM EDT

[#14]

Yes and no, yes an AR can kill an elk, but no, it would not be the most humane way of hunting elk.

Let alone the legal issues of the caliber.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:51:51 PM EDT

[#15]

There's no way I'd carry a .223 while zebra hunting.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:55:18 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:
There's no way I'd carry a .223 while zebra hunting.

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9.3x62 is a great round for Zebra.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:56:30 PM EDT

[#17]

a .22Lr can handle those needs in a pinch. 556 is good for white tail and meth head in your house, but If it is me verses the world I am packing a rimfire. If what I can carry is all I will get I am packing a 10/22. The ability to pack 500 rounds loaded in mags in a small space, and another 3K lose in a dump pouch trumps 556.

I want to be able to shoot squirrels and rabbits and birds and not ruin them. Plus 22 is a lot quieter.

If I had to survive with a rifle, my primary interests would be being able to pack a lot of ammo, and its utility to gather food.

Posted: 1/1/2016 7:58:01 PM EDT

[#18]

Never tried to shoot an elk with a .223.

Uh... wouldn't be real happy if that was my only choice either.

Mule Deer... eh, maybe

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:00:00 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
If I had to choose one rifle and one pistol, it'd be an AR15 and a .22lr pistol.

View Quote

for me, it would be my 22LR pistol and my AR-10 in 308. both have cans and having both with full power match ammo and also subsonic ammo covers 4 distinct situations VERY well.

of course that depends on what is meant by "two guns" if we stretch it a bit, and I carry a backpack,
I'll take my 22LR pistol and my AR-15 with a 6.8 UPPER, a 300 BLK upper and a 223 upper, and my cans.
then I'm even better set and my ammo scrounging ability goes up.

heh. I had to laugh after I wrote that. how much could my scrounging ability POSSIBLY go up if I'm looking for 6.8 or 300 BLK ?
maybe the first scenario is still the best scenario :-D

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:01:23 PM EDT

[#20]

Probably but I like variety

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:03:22 PM EDT

[#21]

75gr hornady and 77smk are really all I shoot.

The main reason I have a 5.56 is availability and cost of parts,ammo, etc. I have other calibers that fit other roles better but in a SHTF scenario I'm grabbing the 5.56 and g17

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:37:52 PM EDT

[#22]

On the show Alaska the last frontier, I think that's what it's called. The folks that live in the town on the river. I forget the name. It sucks to get old....Anyway that ole guy shot a bull moose with a Colt SP1 55gr. to the head @ what looked like about 50yrds. same guy shot 3 wolves with AR 1 one the run @ about 100yrds. So with proper shot placement, I'd shoot anything up to a whitetail deer or wild hog so my answer is YES with 45-77grain ammo a lot can be taken down.....turkey too jerky and anything in between.....

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:39:08 PM EDT

[#23]

it could.......But why would I want it too???????

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:39:47 PM EDT

[#24]

62 gr Fusion

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:43:54 PM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:

62 gr Fusion

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I used some 62gr Fusion MSR (16" bbl) on a doe this year. The damage was amazing.

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:45:09 PM EDT

[#26]

Quote History

Quoted:
Never tried to shoot an elk with a .223.

Uh... wouldn't be real happy if that was my only choice either.

Mule Deer... eh, maybe

View Quote

I smoked a muley at 380 with black hills 68gr, he took a few steps and dropped.I know that's a miniscule sample, and always, shot placement was key. I doubt I would have pushed that shot much further, just based on my own ability with that rifle at the time,

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:46:05 PM EDT

[#27]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yes and no, yes an AR can kill an elk, but no, it would not be the most humane way of hunting elk.

Let alone the legal issues of the caliber.

View Quote

Legal issues? Maybe in some states. 223 is legal here for hunting

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:51:27 PM EDT

[#28]

Quote History

Quoted:
a .22Lr can handle those needs in a pinch. 556 is good for white tail and meth head in your house, but If it is me verses the world I am packing a rimfire. If what I can carry is all I will get I am packing a 10/22. The ability to pack 500 rounds loaded in mags in a small space, and another 3K lose in a dump pouch trumps 556.

I want to be able to shoot squirrels and rabbits and birds and not ruin them. Plus 22 is a lot quieter.

If I had to survive with a rifle, my primary interests would be being able to pack a lot of ammo, and its utility to gather food.

View Quote

A small, light, mag-fed .22lr with a can is probably the king of survival options for a zombie movie

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:53:40 PM EDT

[#29]

5.56 beats the ever living fuck out of obsidian tipped spears and arrows eight days a week, and all of our ancestors quite successfully used those for tens of thousands of years.

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:54:42 PM EDT

[#30]

CO's hunting regs don't allow for .233/5.56 to be used for deer, elk, antelope etc. I use a 30-06 with 185 grain swift a frames. I just ordered a CZ 550 full stock in 6.5x55 and am really excited to try it. Think I'll start with 140 grain and see how it does. I don't care much for the recoil on my 30-06 so I'm hoping the 6.5x55 can become my do all rifle.

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:54:57 PM EDT

[#31]

Quote History

Quoted:
Technically it can, as I've never hunted anything bigger than white tail. That being said, I still really want an AR-10

ETA: Barnes TSX for hunting, M193 for HD

View Quote

I have a few buddies who hunt with 60gp NP for moose and caribou, I taken 2 black bears with 60gr NP out of my single shot rifle, both neck spin shots.

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:55:48 PM EDT

[#32]

Quote History

Quoted:
If you don't hunt anything bigger than deer then it definitely can handle everything

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My dove, quail and waterfowl hunting disagrees.

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:57:05 PM EDT

[#33]

I live in Florida so yes, it would kill anything here....except maybe someone high on flakka.

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:58:18 PM EDT

[#34]

Around here, yeah. Nothing in OH .223 can't handle. Problem is that it's not legal to use on deer...or turkeys/migratory birds.

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:59:16 PM EDT

[#35]

I don't hunt, only needs are target, defense, maybe shtf. If I needed to hunt out necessity I'd try for deer, and smaller game if necessary.

Posted: 1/1/2016 8:59:35 PM EDT

[#36]

Yes. My preferred ammo choice is shot placement.

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:00:34 PM EDT

[#37]

If I was starving, sure.

If I were concerned about humane kills, no.

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:00:35 PM EDT

[#38]

I really just turn money into noise, so yeah, I'd say it works.

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:02:04 PM EDT

[#39]

Quote History

Quoted:
Never tried to shoot an elk with a .223.

Uh... wouldn't be real happy if that was my only choice either.

Mule Deer... eh, maybe

View Quote

It will probably work on mulies unless/until the game warden catches you. That's the moment when it won't be enough gun for the job.

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:04:27 PM EDT

[#40]

Sure it will but I don't depend solely on it to do so.

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:06:42 PM EDT

[#41]

Quote History

Quoted:

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
No.

+1 my closest neighbor is a black bear sooo...

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:09:24 PM EDT

[#42]

In a pinch, yes...but I really don't want to deer hunt with nothing more than a 62-75gr bullet.

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:09:42 PM EDT

[#43]

Quote History

Quoted:

a .22Lr can handle those needs in a pinch. 556 is good for white tail and meth head in your house, but If it is me verses the world I am packing a rimfire. If what I can carry is all I will get I am packing a 10/22. The ability to pack 500 rounds loaded in mags in a small space, and another 3K lose in a dump pouch trumps 556.

I want to be able to shoot squirrels and rabbits and birds and not ruin them. Plus 22 is a lot quieter.

If I had to survive with a rifle, my primary interests would be being able to pack a lot of ammo, and its utility to gather food.

View Quote

I agree

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:10:28 PM EDT

[#44]

I have to use a shotgun to deer hunt where I do most of my hunting. Also I like hunting birds too.

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:10:32 PM EDT

[#45]

Quote History

Quoted:
On the show Alaska the last frontier, I think that's what it's called. The folks that live in the town on the river. I forget the name. It sucks to get old....Anyway that ole guy shot a bull moose with a Colt SP1 55gr. to the head @ what looked like about 50yrds. same guy shot 3 wolves with AR 1 one the run @ about 100yrds. So with proper shot placement, I'd shoot anything up to a whitetail deer or wild hog so my answer is YES with 45-77grain ammo a lot can be taken down.....turkey too jerky and anything in between.....

View Quote

Idc what that guy is capable of doing to a moose with a 223 but I would not choose an AR-15 for that job. I would prefer a pump action loaded with kick ass slugs.

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:12:35 PM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:

5.56 beats the ever living fuck out of obsidian tipped spears and arrows eight days a week, and all of our ancestors quite successfully used those for tens of thousands of years.

View Quote

QFT

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:13:19 PM EDT

[#47]

No. It's illegal to hunt big game in Colorado with .22.

Also I like shooting other calibers.

Posted: 1/1/2016 9:13:34 PM EDT

[#48]

Elk are taken regularly here in Idaho with a Mini-14. But they are on horseback and get quite close to the animals. Also sks with those 100gr. hollow points.