The simple answer is yes, AR-10s and similar firearms can be very practical and effective hunting rifles. In fact, they’re among some of the most popular models in the U.S. for hunting medium game.
Like AR-15s, though, AR-10s come in many shapes and sizes, and more importantly, many different calibers. With so many options, it can be hard to know which is best for your hunting needs. Below, we’ll review some of the most popular calibers and take a look at how they perform at harvesting game.
Understanding the AR-10 Rifle
While many think of the AR-10 as a scaled-up AR-15, it’s actually the opposite; the AR-15 is an AR-10 that was scaled down to better serve the .223 Remington/5.56 NATO round. The AR-10 is the older design, albeit not by much.
True AR-10s are actually a rather small category. Technically, only rifles made by Armalite can factually be called AR-10s, since they own the moniker. But, these days nearly every AR-pattern rifle in a full-power rifle cartridge tends to be colloquially referred to as an AR-10. More accurate terms include AR-308 or simple large-frame AR, but neither of these has really caught on to the same degree.
Additionally, while AR-10s share many similarities and even some parts with the AR-15, they’re not quite the same. AR-10s do not benefit from the same degree of standardization as the AR-15, so certain components from one manufacturer may not fit in the rifle of another. A full breakdown of parts compatibility is available in our article on Are AR-10 and AR-15 Parts Interchangeable?
This is also particularly important when deciding to build vs buy your AR-10. AR-15s are often touted for their simplicity in assembly and the ease of matching parts, but AR-10s can be more challenging, so building is only recommended for the seasoned armorer. For the rest of us, a preassembled and factory-tested rifle backed by a solid warranty is well worth the money.
Popular AR-10 manufacturers include Ruger, Diamondback, Sons of Liberty Gunworks, and Sig Sauer.
Exploring AR-10 Calibers
AR-10s come in a myriad of different calibers, from the relatively short-range 8.6 Blackout to barrel burners like 6mm Creedmoor. For the purposes of hunting, though, there are a few calibers that stand out above the rest.
.308 Winchester
.308 Winchester is the old classic of the group. It’s the original caliber the AR-10 was designed for—or similar, at least, since technically the AR-10 was designed for 7.62x51mm— and one of the most popular rounds of all time for deer hunting.
Its biggest draw is always going to be its ubiquity; you can walk into any firearm or hunting supply store in the country and find at least a few boxes of .308 on the shelf, and often a lot more. There is a huge variety of loads available for it, many of them purpose-built for hunting. And of course, selecting .308 as your cartridge will make finding a rifle a breeze since nearly every AR-10 on the market is offered with .308 Winchester as an option.
Ballistically, though, .308 is a tad unimpressive compared to the current market. It’s fully capable of bringing down whitetail within hunting ranges, of course, but it’s not really the best at anything. It’s not the flattest shooting or the softest recoiling, but it will get the job done, and never leave you searching from store to store for the last box of in-stock ammo.
For an affordable hunting AR-10 in .308, the Diamondback DB10 is a popular choice. Hunters looking for something more premium or for more sophisticated features would be well-served by a Sig Sauer 716i Tread.
6.5 Creedmoor
6.5 Creedmoor may be a younger cartridge than .308 Winchester, but it is rapidly growing to rival the latter in popularity. It’s prized primarily for its ballistics but comes with other secondary benefits as well, such as reduced recoil, which can be particularly important for semi-automatic rifles like AR-10s.
The 6.5 Creedmoor utilizes a smaller projectile than .308 Winchester but with a higher sectional density, ballistic coefficient, and muzzle velocity. We won’t get into the physics of it here, but the main takeaway is that this combo of characteristics allows it to reach farther targets with less drop and wind drift than the .308 Winchester would have under the same conditions.
This makes it a perfect cartridge for long-range precision shooting, which is its primary application. However, it makes a very effective hunting cartridge as well and is fully capable of bringing down medium game like whitetail deer at any ethical hunting range.
While not quite as commonplace as .308, neither is 6.5 Creedmoor difficult to find. But, while its bullet selection does rival that of .308 Winchester, most commercially available loads are geared more toward target shooting than hunting. Hunting loads are available though, and common enough that most users won’t have trouble finding at least one or two at their local gun or sporting goods store.
Ruger makes a very popular 6.5 Creedmoor AR-10 in the SFAR, which is an excellent option for users who prefer not to break the bank on a new rifle. Other options include the Sons of Liberty Gun Works MK10, which offers advanced features like an integrated ARCA rail and ambidextrous controls.
Choosing the Right Hunting Cartridge
For most users, an AR-10 chambered in .308 Winchester or 6.5 Creedmoor is going to be ideal. While other less common cartridges have their benefits, the value of slightly improved ballistics is typically marginal for hunting, as the average shot on a whitetail deer takes place from less than a few hundred yards.
The increased cost, difficulty of finding parts and ammunition, and limited load selection of less common calibers all make them an overall less convenient choice for a hunting rifle.
Between 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester, the decision is largely a matter of preference. .308 Winchester brings with it quite a few decades of tradition and a truly unparalleled level of market support. But, 6.5 Creedmoor does offer lower recoil and superior ballistics. While the latter does tend to be slightly more expensive than the former in both rifles and ammunition, the gap is closing year by year, and the difference has shrunk to be negligible for most buyers.
One primary factor in choosing between .308 Winchester vs. 6.5 Creedmoor for your next hunting rifle is the range at which you most frequently hunt. If you often find yourself hunting in densely forested areas and taking shots at 80 yards or less, then the superior ballistics of 6.5 Creedmoor will have no value for you, and you might as well save a few dollars with a .308.
If, on the other hand, you hunt open fields and want to be able to maximize your effective range, a 6.5 Creedmoor can help do that at a marginal increase in cost.
Ultimately, there is no wrong choice between the two.
AR-10 vs. AR-15: Which is Better for Deer Hunting?
If all you’re really after is a semi-automatic hunting rifle, there’s no reason to limit yourself exclusively to the AR-10. While AR-15s are often thought of as a bit too anemic to serve as hunting rifles, that’s not really the case. There are a number of good reasons to choose an AR-15 vs an AR-10.
The bias tends to come from the fact that most user’s experience with the AR-15 is in .223/5.56 rifles, which, while certainly capable of killing a whitetail, are still a suboptimal choice for a dedicated deer rifle. In fact, some states prohibit such small cartridges for deer hunting.
However, while .223 Remington may be the most common chambering for AR-15s, it’s far from the only one. Cartridges like 6.5 Grendel offer much greater muzzle and terminal energy and are entirely sufficient for taking down medium-sized game. Deer hunting rifle calibers like .350 Legend are even designed specifically for the purpose.
Compared to AR-10s, AR-15s are lighter and often shorter. They are limited to less powerful cartridges, but for medium game like whitetail, those rounds are fully capable. If you plan on chasing larger game as well, such as elk, then the more powerful rounds made available by the AR-10 may be required.
Conclusion
An AR-10 can make a perfectly suitable hunting rifle. While bolt-action rifles may be more popular and traditional, semi-automatic rifles the AR-10 are rapidly becoming more and more common in America’s fields and forests.
The AR-10 is available in a wide array of calibers, but for most hunting purposes, common rounds like .308 Winchester or 6.5 Creedmoor are perfectly sufficient. 6.5 Creedmoor offers slightly improved ballistic performance and recoil, but will typically incur a higher cost as well.
In the end, either cartridge will serve you well on your next hunt. Once you’ve made your choice, be sure to check out our AR-10 Rifle Scope Guide for the best optics for your rifle.
