What Caliber AR15 for New England Whitetail

[Boghog1]

So thinking about retiring the Winchester 94 in 30-30 and moving to a modern sporting rifle for deer. I'm leaning towards 350 Legend, but there are other cartridges that are appropriate for the new England woods, 6.5 Grendel, 450 Bushmaster, 458 Socom, are there others I should look at? Has anyone else switched to a MSR. An AR10 would have more that enough but I don't know it is needed.

ETA
Not for this year obviously

 

[Beretta92FS]

Also consider 6.8 SPC.

 

[Lennypeters]

There is always 300 BLK.

 

[bob6180]

50 BMG is the only solution.

 

[ChevyGuy91]

I like 300blk, but I'm unlike to see past 150 yards in most of my hunting trips.

I used a Green Mountain Rifle Barrel Co barrel to keep it local. It shoots lights out with Barns 110 black tips and is real light even with a can on it.

GM-M27 16" 300 BLACKOUT

 

[Mark from ?]

So thinking about retiring the Winchester 94 in 30-30 and moving to a modern sporting rifle for deer. I'm leaning towards 350 Legend, but there are other cartridges that are appropriate for the new England woods, 6.5 Grendel, 450 Bushmaster, 458 Socom, are there others I should look at? Has anyone else switched to a MSR. An AR10 would have more that enough but I don't know it is needed.

ETA
Not for this year obviously

Id go 350L or 300BLK. Unless your looking at bears too. Ammo cheaper and more available.

 

[slap shot]

I built a 450BM but I only took it out once. Way heavier than the .30-.30 Winchester, with the optic. I just don’t wanna beat up the old beauty.

But if there’s a nice buck hiding behind a school, well.

 

[Lefty38-55]

7.62x39mm with good softpoint ‘non-bulk’ ammo. The inherent accuracy of that cartridge shines in the AR platform. Unfortunately the heavier 154-grn loads right now are unobtanium, but I’ve had outstanding accuracy with the PMC Bronze 123grn SPs.

 

[Fixxah]

How heavy are you looking to go? Lighter rifle with heavy pills is easier on still hunting stalks. From a stand the weight makes little difference but it felt like I was carrying an anchor after a few hours.

 

[Woodsloafer]

350 Legend, no question given availability/price of ammo and uppers.

 

[Blackmore]

Also consider 6.8 SPC.

Good call

 

[Palladin]

6.8 or 300blk

Pretty sure you need 5 round mags as well

 

[Uzi2]

What you use should be dependent on how long of a shot can be reasonably had in the area that you hunt. If you can't see more than a hundred yards because of the density of the vegetation, there's no advantage to using anything exotic of larger caliber or power.
A 30-30 is pretty much the best "brush gun" you can use. Even a 12ga or 20ga using slugs will get the job done.

 

[Boghog1]

What you use should be dependent on how log of a shot can be reasonably had in the area that you hunt. If you can't see more than a hundred yards because of the density of the vegetation, there's no advantage to using anything exotic of larger caliber or power.
A 30-30 is pretty much the best "brush gun" you can use. Even a 12ga or 20ga using slugs will get the job done.

I use my 20ga NEF single shot for shotgun only areas, the 30-30 is my rifle but I really think it's too nice to beat up hunting. max realistic distance I am going to see is 200 yards. I generally still hunt/stalk.

 

[Uzi2]

I use my 20ga NEF single shot for shotgun only areas, the 30-30 is my rifle but I really think it's too nice to beat up hunting. max realistic distance I am going to see is 200 yards. I generally still hunt/stalk.

If your 30-30 is such a pristine prize, then leave it in the safe. Go buy a beater that you won't regret getting wet or dropping.......there's lots of them out there and for reasonable money. They're still a great rifle for short to medium range white tail hunting.

 

[Mark from ?]

If your 30-30 is such a pristine prize, then leave it in the safe. Go buy a beater that you won't regret getting wet or dropping.......there's lots of them out there and for reasonable money. They're still a great rifle for short to medium range white tail hunting.

This.....shit...a new Marlin is 800 bucks....not that crazy really when you figure for inflation. I found a used one barely used for even less.

Buy that and leave the old one in the safe. That AR isn't gonna carry like a 30-30 lever.

 

[pupchow]

In cold weather, an AR with a metal handguard can act like a massive heat sink - it sucks the heat right out of my hands. I've got another with a plastic handguard and ACE buttstock with foam cover, and it's a lot easier to deal with in freezing temps. Still, not as warm as wood.

 

[Woodsloafer]

This.....shit...a new Marlin is 800 bucks....not that crazy really when you figure for inflation. I found a used one barely used for even less.

Buy that and leave the old one in the safe. That AR isn't gonna carry like a 30-30 lever.

Nothing carries like a nice lever action. ARs are awkward rifles when it comes to hunting, IMO.

 

[whacko]

7.62x39mm with good softpoint ‘non-bulk’ ammo. The inherent accuracy of that cartridge shines in the AR platform. Unfortunately the heavier 154-grn loads right now are unobtanium, but I’ve had outstanding accuracy with the PMC Bronze 123grn SPs.

I've never heard the words "7.62x39" and "inherent accuracy" ever used in the same sentence.

 

[AJK129]

I've never heard the words "7.62x39" and "inherent accuracy" ever used in the same sentence.

My friend who hunts with 7.62x39 has more deer with his car than his rifle

 

[whacko]

My friend who hunts with 7.62x39 has more deer with his car than his rifle

From my research the length of the projo is too short for good stabilization......so it's inherently not accurate

 

[Mark from ?]

Nothing carries like a nice lever action. ARs are awkward rifles when it comes to hunting, IMO.

This....#1 in awkward is a crossbow, #2 an AR platform rifle....with a cold metal handguard....no thanks.

I'd take the 30-30 with a peep all day long for short range NE deer hunting.

 

[Lefty38-55]

I've never heard the words "7.62x39" and "inherent accuracy" ever used in the same sentence.

Guess some don’t realize it was the basis for the PPC class of cartridges that Dr. Lou Palmisano wild-catted and popularized, but I digress ...

Ahhh, arise all ye keyboard cowboys who have never fired any ‘good’ -39mm soft-point ammo, e.g., Lapua, Sako, even PMC, etc., out of a better rifle platform than the ubiquitous AK.

Lesson for you … shoot more … type less, LOL!

Even the various ‘mini-Mauser’ bolt actions in the -39mm, e.g., CZ, Zastava, Chsrles Daly, etc., show the potential. Again … for those lacking reading and comprehension abilities … we are NOT talking ‘bulk’ ammo here.

MOA? Yup, that or at worst darn close to it … still good enough for deer hunting.

 

[whacko]

Guess some don’t realize it was the basis for the PPC class of cartridges that Dr. Lou Palmisano wild-catted and popularized, but I digress ...

Ahhh, arise all ye keyboard cowboys who have never fired any ‘good’ -39mm soft-point ammo, e.g., Lapua, Sako, even PMC, etc., out of a better rifle platform than the ubiquitous AK.

Lesson for you … shoot more … type less, LOL!

Even the various ‘mini-Mauser’ bolt actions in the -39mm, e.g., CZ, Zastava, Chsrles Daly, etc., show the potential. Again … for those lacking reading and comprehension abilities … we are NOT talking ‘bulk’ ammo here.

MOA? Yup, that or at worst darn close to it … still good enough for deer hunting.

Definition of inherent....."usual characteristic or attribute"

Fwiw.....you said "inherent accuracy" not me......inherent to me based on the actual definion means standard ammo has the usual characteristic of accuracy.....7.62x39 does not have that usual characteristic. You literally responded saying....well....you gotta buy the high end ammo and a high end rifle to get accuracy.
That's not my understanding of the definition of inherent there Mr super sniper....your statement means it's literally is the opposite of inherent.

Lesson for you....vocabulary more....type less.

 

[grey]

A 30-30 is pretty much the best "brush gun" you can use. Even a 12ga or 20ga using slugs will get the job done.

Ahem, .35 rem

 

[Sparkey]

Ahem, .35 rem

32 win special

 

[DW357]

Ahem 44 magnum. 16" barrel

 

[ChevyGuy91]

Ahem 44 magnum. 16" barrel
View attachment 936301

That's a weird looking AR15.

 

[peterk123]

Lever action 45-70. No good reason these days to use 45-70 except for the fact that it is so super cool.

 

[LakeTrout]

300 blackout would be my choice. 110 Tac TX or VMax