Assuming proper training and ammunition, they’re perfectly capable for hunting small to medium game such as rabbits, coyotes, tyrants, wild hogs, and whitetail deer.
I don’t think some people know how much damage a pack of wild hogs can cause to crops and farmland in short order. If it wasn’t going to be an AR-15 keeping them off the farm it would be another intermediate or higher caliber semi-automatic rifle that accepts standard magazines. Everyone want’s to laugh at that excuse until the farmer has a bad season and has to sell his land to Bill Gates or Chinese investors, they don’t exactly make large margins.
The magazine capacity is an issue though. The standard 30 round mag is far to large for any realistic hunting purposes (you can also get up to 100 round drum mags). While you can hunt with an AR-15, it’s not the best rifle for the task.
I live in Canada and the government is in the process of banning semi-automatic centre fire rifles capable of holding more than 5 rounds. Given that 3D printers exist, this pretty much bans all rifles with interchangeable mags. I’m a gun owner on a rural property and I think that’s a reasonable compromise. I can still own a decent bolt action hunting rifle and a semi-automatic rim fire rifle with no mag limit.
It does suck for people who’s rifles are getting banned though.
In the late Winter/early spring they start getting a bit braver and start moving further into the cow pastures. That’s when we have to cull the pack to keep them away from the cattle.
They will definitely come after humans if they are hungry enough and their pack is large enough. It’s around that season that they start getting a bit braver because they are hungry coming out of winter and it’s breeding season. Usually they run after the first shot, but sometimes they don’t notice you dropped one and they keep coming until the follow-up shots. It’s not out of the ordinary to bag multiple coyotes in one spot.
Maybe I’ve just never had a pack big enough and hungry enough, but I live out west and I’ve never seen them be aggressive towards humans. Even when they got into my camp once, the second I sat up out of my sleeping bag they scattered.
In the arctic standard bear protection is a five shot bolt action 30.06. You’d load them with three FMJs to scare the bear away and two hollow points in case that didn’t work.
The truth about predators is they aren’t interested in dying for their meals. Prove to them that approaching will be deadly to them and they won’t approach. You don’t have to kill the entire pack, you just have to kill or wound one, or even just blast some rocks in their path.
Honestly external magazines need to just be banned. That way it’s immediately clear a rifle is legal or not. It’s also great for hunting still, and okay for self/collective defense. But not great as a mass casualty producer.
We cleaned about 250 boar out of our farm over a four year period with the same 3-5 shot rifles we hunt deer and moose with. They mill around long enough you can reload. I have an SKS but I don’t bother, I’d rather sneak over a hill and pop half a dozen slowly and cleanly with my .338. And I can do it from far enough away that they don’t really get upset until 3 of them are lying on the ground, kicking.
Actually, are we allowed to shoot coyotes in the city limits? Alligators are mostly chill and will just take off, but coyotes hunt around at night here.
Assuming proper training and ammunition, they’re perfectly capable for hunting small to medium game such as rabbits, coyotes, tyrants, wild hogs, and whitetail deer.
I don’t think some people know how much damage a pack of wild hogs can cause to crops and farmland in short order. If it wasn’t going to be an AR-15 keeping them off the farm it would be another intermediate or higher caliber semi-automatic rifle that accepts standard magazines. Everyone want’s to laugh at that excuse until the farmer has a bad season and has to sell his land to Bill Gates or Chinese investors, they don’t exactly make large margins.
The magazine capacity is an issue though. The standard 30 round mag is far to large for any realistic hunting purposes (you can also get up to 100 round drum mags). While you can hunt with an AR-15, it’s not the best rifle for the task.
I live in Canada and the government is in the process of banning semi-automatic centre fire rifles capable of holding more than 5 rounds. Given that 3D printers exist, this pretty much bans all rifles with interchangeable mags. I’m a gun owner on a rural property and I think that’s a reasonable compromise. I can still own a decent bolt action hunting rifle and a semi-automatic rim fire rifle with no mag limit.
It does suck for people who’s rifles are getting banned though.
You’ve obviously never been surrounded by a pack of coyotes or hogs.
.223 is also an excellent caliber for that size game.
Coyotes? Literally just shout at them. They’re scavengers not fighters.
In the late Winter/early spring they start getting a bit braver and start moving further into the cow pastures. That’s when we have to cull the pack to keep them away from the cattle.
Oh yeah, I thought you meant in regards to humans. I’ve never seen a coyote so much as growl at a human without a cub nearby.
They will definitely come after humans if they are hungry enough and their pack is large enough. It’s around that season that they start getting a bit braver because they are hungry coming out of winter and it’s breeding season. Usually they run after the first shot, but sometimes they don’t notice you dropped one and they keep coming until the follow-up shots. It’s not out of the ordinary to bag multiple coyotes in one spot.
Maybe I’ve just never had a pack big enough and hungry enough, but I live out west and I’ve never seen them be aggressive towards humans. Even when they got into my camp once, the second I sat up out of my sleeping bag they scattered.
Wait til you get those fucking murder hogs up there.
5 rounds for a pack of dogs or pigs??? Ok buddy 🙄
In the arctic standard bear protection is a five shot bolt action 30.06. You’d load them with three FMJs to scare the bear away and two hollow points in case that didn’t work.
The truth about predators is they aren’t interested in dying for their meals. Prove to them that approaching will be deadly to them and they won’t approach. You don’t have to kill the entire pack, you just have to kill or wound one, or even just blast some rocks in their path.
Honestly external magazines need to just be banned. That way it’s immediately clear a rifle is legal or not. It’s also great for hunting still, and okay for self/collective defense. But not great as a mass casualty producer.
We cleaned about 250 boar out of our farm over a four year period with the same 3-5 shot rifles we hunt deer and moose with. They mill around long enough you can reload. I have an SKS but I don’t bother, I’d rather sneak over a hill and pop half a dozen slowly and cleanly with my .338. And I can do it from far enough away that they don’t really get upset until 3 of them are lying on the ground, kicking.
You’d really want something bigger for hogs and deer. Never known anyone who hunts deer with .223. You really want one of options in thirty caliber.
While I’m sure someone hunts rabbits with a rifle you’d really use a shotgun or a really small rifle for them.
.223 is a good coyote round though. There are better coyote rounds available and there are better coyote rifles in .223.
I’ve taken deer with 556. Even if I hadn’t, I know people do because all the heavy loads sell out around deer season.
Actually, are we allowed to shoot coyotes in the city limits? Alligators are mostly chill and will just take off, but coyotes hunt around at night here.
There’s nothing like some good tyrant jerky
…rabbits?
Yup. Shot placement is key if you’re looking to feed yourself.
5.56 is a ridiculous waste of money for rabbits and totally excessive. 22 or even a pellet gun would be perfectly adequate and waaaaaay cheaper.
i was under the assumption an ar15 would explode something like a rabbit without useable trace?
Nah, it’s a small round as rifles go. “High powered military rifle” is a complete misnomer.
A small round traveling really fast can do a lot of damage, not a great round for small game - stick to .22 or birdshot.