Anyone Using Black Rifles For Deer?

[chucker34]

I saw the Star Tribune article yesterday where one of their Outdoors writers wrote about them and noticed a few articles now in my Outdoor Life and F&S after Jim Zumbo's snafu got him run out of Dodge.

I don't want to make this a debate so let's not make it one. I'm just wondering if many people use them and what the advantages are. The magazines make it look like hunters are switching over by the droves.

I don't usually gun hunt and I'm not planning on buying one (too expensive for this cheap guy), but wanted to hear if people are using them.

One other quick question, I noticed in the Strib article, it says some of the clips can hold 30 rounds, are you allowed that much for deer hunting at any one time or is there a limit like waterfowl hunting where you have to put a plug in?

[Cooter]

If I had all sorts of money I would get say a Panther Arms AR type rifle in .260 Rem and hunt deer with it, could double as a yote gun. Would also be fun just to get the crew together and shoot paper/cans.

[lcornice]

I hunted with a guy who had a DPMS in .243 this year. Interesting rifle but it was over 10 pounds with the scope. I'd probably go with a .260 as well but man, I wouldn't want to carry that hunk of metal around all day.

[swedishpimple]

I am considering the AR-10 (.308) for deer and plinking. I think if the .223 was legal in MN we would see many more "black guns" in the woods. On the DPMS Arms website they have links to all kinds of guns and optics.

I like the .308 due to the availabilty of FMJ surplus ammo and inexpensive expanding ammo for deer.

If the Rem. 6.8MM SPC ever makes it to military service like some hope, that could be a sweet little round for deer and plinking.

[brassman]

My coworker used his dpms .223 over in wisconsin this year. I think If you have a realtively short walk to your stand and you felt comfortable with it then I would say go ahead. I would use one in .308 or .260 if they were lighter. For now thought I'll take my 6.5 lb bolt over a 10lb semi any day. I have alo heard that DPMS' new .308 long ranger is almost if not as accurate as a bolt. but then again its like 11lbs. Some of my stands are a half mile in the woods and I really don't feel like lugging that much metal around.

[Whoaru99]

I'd give it a try if I had one in .243 or .308 instead of .223.

While it's not quite a "black rifle" as I take it you mean, but I have used my SKS quite successfully.

Oooohhhh how I wish I'd not sold that HK91 years ago...

[Cooter]

Are even the .223 ARs heavy? Why all the weight? You'd think they'd be light....how heavy are the standard mil issue M-16's?

[picksbigwagon]

If I ever start deer hunting up north (i.e. rifle zone) I will get a 25wssm upper for my AR. If I was to do it all over though, I would definately have gone with the AR-10 in .308, just for the ability to use it deer hunting.

[mr_mojo_risin]

I used an AR10 for this years deer season.

I used to use a Mossberg 835 with a slug barrel. then a couple years ago, i bought some land by palisade. i figured i should get a rifle.

I picked the AR10 as i am very comfortable with the design as i shoot the AR15 competitively in OTC (over the course) shooting matches. so i am very used to the sights and everything.

the thing i learned is that with the rear aperture site, i can't see thru the site until a bit after legal shooting hours in the morning and i lose the site picture about 10-15 minutes after sundown.

i really liked it. i didn't use a sling this year, but the built in carry handle really came in handy. i used a 4 round hunting mag with it.

i think next year i will get a flat top upper and put a scope on it. i normally hate scopes, but maybe its time.

Cooter-you can get lightweight AR15's, IMO i think stock AR's aren't that heavy. now my comp AR is pretty heavy. i have a heavy barrel with lead in the buttstock. it's a heavy gun by design.

my friends that i hunted with were, "i can't wait to hear you fire that gun" or "if you see a herd of deer, you can flip to full auto and mow them down." LOLOL i kept on telling them it wasn't full auto and i only had 4 rounds in it AND it only sounds like a .308.