Anybody have any experience or thoughts on hunting with an AR-10 in .308?

I am more than halfway done putting together an AR-10 in .308. I have focused on low to very low weight, mid tier to premium level components.

I dont have a bolt action rifle and not much interest in owning one. Wanting to use the rifle for hunting Deer and hog in Texas, and occasional Elk hunts in Grizz country in Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska. The added mag capacity and fast follow up shots is appealing to me should I run into a pissed off Brown Bear.

Anyway appreciate the feedback!

Even at its lightest, an AR10 is pretty heavy to hike around with.

Magazine capacity for hunting big game in Wyoming is five rounds.

Crow Valley said:

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Magazine capacity for hunting big game in Wyoming is five rounds.

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And Alaska?

BCStalk said:

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Even at its lightest, an AR10 is pretty heavy to hike around with.

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Rifle weight before glass and full mag will be around 6 pounds.

I have a Sig 716 DMR with glass and a Surge 762 suppressor, it feels like it weighs 15 pounds.

AgRN16 said:

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Crow Valley said:

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Magazine capacity for hunting big game in Wyoming is five rounds.

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And Alaska?

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No idea on Alaska but have hunted Wyoming a lot and magazine capacity is usually second things wardens check. Don't blame you about being prepared for bear; I had a buddy that had a grizzly follow him down off the mountain in the dark one night snapping its teeth. I don't want to hear snapping teeth in the dark let alone daylight!

Lots of medium to big game has been taken with the .308 cartridge all over the world.
It's all about proper shot placement anyway.

Sounds like you have your mind made up and were just looking for people to give you confirmation, so you do you.

But… if you keep hunting/shooting your firearm views will mature and you'll realize the value to a bolt rifle.

Also if you think you're gonna do a 20 round mag dump into a charging brown bear with a 6 lb ar10, we'll RIP.

meggy09 said:

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Sounds like you have your mind made up and were just looking for people to give you confirmation, so you do you.

But… if you keep hunting/shooting your firearm views will mature and you'll realize the value to a bolt rifle.

Also if you think you're gonna do a 20 round mag dump into a charging brown bear with a 6 lb ar10, we'll RIP.

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Lol, have you ever shot a Ruger SFAR in 308? It weighs a little more than 6 pounds and is very managable with not much more recoil than an AR15. I think you should not just pull crap out your Ace bud.

I hunt with an AR-10 .308. Have taken two white tail, one antelope and two hogs. It is heavy though. That said I don't hike it around much and I'd rather have the semi for SHF than bolt gun. Granted there's no rule that says you can't have both.

If I were humping over mountains chasing elk is definitely get a lighter bolt gun.

I deer hunt with my DPMS LR 308. I prefer it over a bolt gun actually. I shoot my AR15 at pigs year round so I remain super comfortable with the AR platform without having to spend some time on the bench. When using my LR 308, I'm not in a rush to re-chamber another round from a bolt gun so I tend to shoot better as well.

Do it.

But better go ahead and get a BAR in 338 Winchester too.

Nothing wrong with an AR10 for BG hunting, except that I've found bolt actions to be much more comfortable to carry around all day. ARs have too many protuberances and sharp corners compared to a sleek bolt action stock. With a bolt action, you can carry the rifle at your side cradled in 1 hand at the balance point usually just in front of the magazine. With an AR, the protruding mag at the balance point prevents you from doing that. When slung, an AR has lots of sharp corners that dig into you when carried around for long durations. Additionally, if light weight is the goal, no matter how light you build an AR10, you can shave another pound off the rifle with a bolt action.

Thaddeus Beauregard said:

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Nothing wrong with an AR10 for BG hunting, except that I've found bolt actions to be much more comfortable to carry around all day. ARs have too many protuberances and sharp corners compared to a sleek bolt action stock. With a bolt action, you can carry the rifle at your side cradled in 1 hand at the balance point usually just in front of the magazine. With an AR, the protruding mag at the balance point prevents you from doing that. When slung, an AR has lots of sharp corners that dig into you when carried around for long durations. Additionally, if light weight is the goal, no matter how light you build an AR10, you can shave another pound off the rifle with a bolt action.

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Yep. Ounces are pounds on a week long back country hunt at elevation climbing up and down mountains. My mountain gun comes in at like 6 lbs 8 oz. loaded with a few rounds of .308 with scope and mounts on it. It's 4 lbs 13 oz. unloaded with no glass. And the only reason I didn't go lighter was for my shoulder (and wallet).

A 6.5 pound AR is going to be over 8, maybe up to 8.5 with scope, mounts, and 5 rounds.

But the OP wasn't looking for any real feedback based on his responses.

A pack mounted gun carrier like the kifaru gun bearer will go a long way towards negating all the annoying bumps on an AR. I still prefer carrying a bolt gun even with the gun bearer, my AR pistol grip can hit me in the thigh when I do a big step up or go over deadfall.

A semi would be good if concerned about grizzly or brown bear.

Crow Valley said:

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Magazine capacity for hunting big game in Wyoming is five rounds.

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Are you sure that's right? I've been living and hunting in Wyoming for nearly 20 years and have never heard this and I just checked a copy of Wyoming's Big Game Guide. I didn't find anything there. I've hunted with my Marlin Guide gun a bunch of times and it holds 6+1. I don't think that's illegal is it?

I wouldn't go with the AR10 for hunting out West. As mentioned the weight and protuberances will be a hindrance. That one chance where you'll need the half second advantage of a semi auto over a bolt probably won't ever come. You need the accuracy of a good bolt on the long shots you may well be up against out West. Plus they carry a lot better.

McInnis said:

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Crow Valley said:

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Magazine capacity for hunting big game in Wyoming is five rounds.

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Are you sure that's right? I've been living and hunting in Wyoming for nearly 20 years and have never heard this and I just checked a copy of Wyoming's Big Game Guide. I didn't find anything there. I've hunted with my Marlin Guide gun a bunch of times and it holds 6+1. I don't think that's illegal is it?

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For some reason I recall Montana used to be 5 (no idea on Wyoming) but it was changed a few years back? Might be off my rocker, but that is rattling around inside my head for some reason. I know there are states where you still can't use a semi-auto at all..

Either way, imagining someone walking around in the mountains with a 20-30 round mag is pretty funny. Not just carrying the extra weight, but the first time they have to go prone to try to get a quick shot off using their backpack as a rest would be good to watch.

There is a reason why God made bolt guns.

The only thing I would recommend you use that with are deer and pigs.

I've got a AR-10 .308 with a 20 mag clip, suppressor and thermal scope on it that I use just that for. Works great with a Tripod and sling but really couldn't imagine using it for much else.

In the mountains? Not only a no for me but a hell no. If you already got this built just get a bolt action too.

McInnis said:

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Crow Valley said:

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Magazine capacity for hunting big game in Wyoming is five rounds.

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Are you sure that's right? I've been living and hunting in Wyoming for nearly 20 years and have never heard this and I just checked a copy of Wyoming's Big Game Guide. I didn't find anything there. I've hunted with my Marlin Guide gun a bunch of times and it holds 6+1. I don't think that's illegal is it?

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Yep, I've looked it up twice now and everything says five rounds max. I'm just not smart enough to cross reference the info. Small game and non-migratory birds I believe allow more.

Have had a FNAR as a truck/ hunting gun for 20 plus years. Mainly for hogs with cheaper 7.62x51 rounds but will load it with 180 grain.308s for deer season.
Lots of firepower and it's very accurate even with an older leupold scope. Easy to keep several loaded mags in the soft tactical case pockets. One with hunting rounds in season.

Which part of the regulations show this? I cannot find a 5 round max for big game.

And for non-migratory game birds I see a limit of 3 rounds.

I deer and predator hunt with my ar10 6creedmoor usually sitting in a blind or riding around on a side by side. but if I was to go out west hunting I would get me a much lighter weight bolt action.

I don't care if there is or not a 5 round limit. The thought of hauling a 20-round mag of full of .308s to an already heavy firearm and climbing up and down high mountains just so I can take fast follow up shots has rookie mistake written all over it.

Alaska, Wyoming, Texas…whew man. .308??? Elk, Brown Bear, etc…. Yet you don't even own a bolt rifle??????

Crow Valley said:

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McInnis said:

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Crow Valley said:

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Magazine capacity for hunting big game in Wyoming is five rounds.

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Are you sure that's right? I've been living and hunting in Wyoming for nearly 20 years and have never heard this and I just checked a copy of Wyoming's Big Game Guide. I didn't find anything there. I've hunted with my Marlin Guide gun a bunch of times and it holds 6+1. I don't think that's illegal is it?

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Yep, I've looked it up twice now and everything says five rounds max. I'm just not smart enough to cross reference the info. Small game and non-migratory birds I believe allow more.

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Did you find that in Wyoming's Big Game brochure? You don't need to cross reference anything, just tell me the page number. I looked through the section where it discusses limitations on calibers, optics, etc. and can't find anything on magazine restrictions.

I'm truly not wanting to argue about this, just need to make sure I have the facts. I don't want to hunt with an AR-10 but what you said would make my Guide Gun illegal.

Edit: iI just found an article from thegunzone.com.Is this what you saw?

https://thegunzone.com/is-there-magazine-restrictions-for-hunting-in-wyoming/

It has a link to Wyoming's Big Game Brochure but if you open the link it just talks about G&F reducing the number of paper copies it publishes, nothing about a magazine limit. I don't think thegunzone article is right. I see game wardens checking fishing licenses around here often. Next time I see one I'll ask about this.

AR-10 Pistol as my ranch/pig gun. Barely any difference stalking around with it vs an AR-15. The place is cedar lousy, so I've never had time to unload a full mag, but it's the right choice if you want semi-auto .308, which I did because I had trouble dropping running pigs with .223.

Bolt gun: 1 shot for 1 kill
AR: follow up shots for follow up kills

McInnis said:

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Crow Valley said:

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McInnis said:

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Crow Valley said:

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Magazine capacity for hunting big game in Wyoming is five rounds.

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Are you sure that's right? I've been living and hunting in Wyoming for nearly 20 years and have never heard this and I just checked a copy of Wyoming's Big Game Guide. I didn't find anything there. I've hunted with my Marlin Guide gun a bunch of times and it holds 6+1. I don't think that's illegal is it?

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Yep, I've looked it up twice now and everything says five rounds max. I'm just not smart enough to cross reference the info. Small game and non-migratory birds I believe allow more.

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Did you find that in Wyoming's Big Game brochure? You don't need to cross reference anything, just tell me the page number. I looked through the section where it discusses limitations on calibers, optics, etc. and can't find anything on magazine restrictions.

I'm truly not wanting to argue about this, just need to make sure I have the facts. I don't want to hunt with an AR-10 but what you said would make my Guide Gun illegal.

Edit: iI just found an article from thegunzone.com.Is this what you saw?

https://thegunzone.com/is-there-magazine-restrictions-for-hunting-in-wyoming/

It has a link to Wyoming's Big Game Brochure but if you open the link it just talks about G&F reducing the number of paper copies it publishes, nothing about a magazine limit. I don't think thegunzone article is right. I see game wardens checking fishing licenses around here often. Next time I see one I'll ask about this.


Yes, you are correct. Saw capacity limits on several sights stating five round limits but just talked to Cheyenne game and fish and they said no limit. My humble apology so yes you can head to the Wyoming mountains with a 30-round clip.

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The OP is one of the reasons the "Ignore User" function exists on this website. Insufferable on other forums.

He was just looking for confirmation, found none, and got upset at people.

What if you had to carry a M1 Garand or M14 all day?

Bunch of lightweights.

GentrysMillTX10 said:

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I deer hunt with my DPMS LR 308. I prefer it over a bolt gun actually. I shoot my AR15 at pigs year round so I remain super comfortable with the AR platform without having to spend some time on the bench. When using my LR 308, I'm not in a rush to re-chamber another round from a bolt gun so I tend to shoot better as well.

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Dodger02 is either willfully ignorant or illiterate. Either way he is a blind hater and doesn't know his way around a firearm, it seems.

Sure. That is probably true.

Me and my suppressed .308 AR10 built by Eye Guy and used to take 5 deer each season and countless pigs and coyotes over the last 5 years know nothing.

It's a rifle perfect for a stand. Walk a half-mile in. Sit. Walk a half-mile out. It's not a rifle that has any business being carried at altitude all day with a full 10-20 round magazine. 97% of posters on this board will likely agree.

That's a job better suited for my .308 mountain rifle that weighs about 6# loaded which is what I carried in Colorado for a week. If you're worried about bears, bring spray, a 10mm 1911 or G20, or any number of big bore revolvers - I'd go with a .41 or .44 mag.

But that's just me. What do I know.

dodger02 said:

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Sure. That is probably true.

Me and my suppressed .308 AR10 built by Eye Guy and used to take 5 deer each season and countless pigs and coyotes over the last 5 years know nothing.

It's a rifle perfect for a stand. Walk a half-mile in. Sit. Walk a half-mile out. It's not a rifle that has any business being carried at altitude all day with a full 10-20 round magazine. 97% of posters on this board will likely agree.

That's a job better suited for my .308 mountain rifle that weighs about 6# loaded which is what I carried in Colorado for a week. If you're worried about bears, bring spray, a 10mm 1911 or G20, or any number of big bore revolvers - I'd go with a .41 or .44 mag.

But that's just me. What do I know.

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Yes. The 308 AR you just described is built for a stand. You built it that way (actually you had someone else build it for you; I am building mine).

The beautiful thing about the AR platform is it is HIGHLY customizable, and FAR more versatile than any bolt action can ever be. I am asking for the opinions of any people who have hunted with them in the backcountry or mountain hunting. Sounds like you haven't. So not sure why you are hating.

Gunny456 said:

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What if you had to carry a M1 Garand or M14 all day?

Bunch of lightweights.

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Indeed I am. And I don't carry a 25-lb pig around with belt fed ammo either. And every one of them would tell you that they'd have preferred the lighter rifle given the other **** they had to lug around!