What is your favorite deer load in the M&P 15?

[Stan O]

Deer with AR

Would not shoot a deer with a 5.56/.223 unless I really needed the meat and it was the only thing available.

 

[15Krounds]

Again, thanks for everyone's input. I really like the idea of getting a 6.8 SPC upper for the M&P 15 however, I don't think I want to drop the $$$ just now.

I just sighted in my Savage .270 bolt rifle with the Barnes TTSX and was very please to create a half inch group. I'll be using that rifle again this year and will sit with the scope dialed back to 3x. If there is one that is further out I can always dial her up.

 

[A.O.]

Not from personal experience and I did make pains to note this was a personal opinion. Most hunting magazines shy away from a .223 for deer hunting. Some even from a .243. Me personally, since I usually hunt in the woods, a .30-30 lever action with iron sights works just fine and PA doesn't allow semi-autos for deer hunting. It has to be a pump, lever, bolt or single shot rifle.

I've never taken a semi auto to hunt with, heck I rarely take a rifle even..handguns baby, hand guns!!

 

[dullh]

Be aware: In some states it's illegal to use anything less than .24 caliber to hunt deer.

You may be "the man" when it comes to correct shot placement with a small bullet on an animal that size, but most shooters are not...and if it doesn't go thru-and-thru, well, good look tracking that deer...and the wasted game that goes along with the thing dying a slow, miserable death...

Don't even bother telling me you can reliably make head/neck shots on deer at ridiculous distances with an AR, either...because I know that's a load of poo, too...

 

[A.O.]

A larger caliber WILL NOT over ride lack of ability to make proper shot placement!! Never ever!!

 

[Little Creek]

I have killed about 30 deer with handguns (357, 44, 7-30, 454, etc) and rifles (270, 308, 243). A couple of weeks ago I shot my first deer with a 5.56. It was a 132# doe (good size mature doe for middle GA) standing broadside at about 100 yards. I used a Nosler 64gr Bonded Solid Base (See Nosler Personal Defense ammo) bullet. The shot was just behind the shoulder. The deer ran about 40 yards after being shot. One shot - one kill does not a study make, but I have seen deer shot with bigger calibers run further after being shot. Yes I was careful to make a good shot. The bullet went in one side and out the other. It expanded but did not fragment. It was a good day. If all I had was a 5.56, then I would buy some proper ammo and go deer hunting. BTW, I have since shot another doe with my M&P 10.

 

[AGoyette]

I hope to hunt with my AR this year. I have enjoyed quite a few conversations with the Dept. of Conservation gentleman who is charge of our county. He too hunts with a .223 and he recommended a 64 grain soft point bullet. I ended up buying a box of Federal Fusion 62 grain bullets to hunt with.
Some of us don't have the extra $ to buy another gun. I look at hunting deer as a way to put some meat in the freezer inexpensively. If I totally get into hunting, then I might look at getting another gun.
As always, be safe. Get a good sight picture and be aware of your surroundings and what is beyond your sight picture. Good luck.

 

[boomshakalaka]

I will be hunting with my AR for the first time this year and I will be using the Remington 62gr Hog Hammers with the Barnes TSX bullet. Hope to find out Saturday morning.

 

[Chew]

Any luck?


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[15Krounds]

Unfortunately my whole hunting party was skunked this year. I hunt in northern Wisconsin. We've had a couple of pretty tough winters, evidence of wolves in the area and piles of insincere hunters tromping around two hours after sun up. Also, it seems that the rut was pretty much done by opening morning. All the shooting we heard was pretty far to the southwest of us. Guess I'll be ordering a half a pig from the butcher.

 

[jaymoore]

Shot a good sized deer a few weeks back with yet another AR. This time a standing shot at a lasered 166 yards. Didn't leadit enough and center punched the LH femur with a 55gr Sierra out of a 1-12" twist 16" barreled Colt. Grenaded the femur but the bullet still went forward of the diaphragm where it cut a major artery. Long distance for these parts and poor shot placement, but that deer didn't go another 20 yards before plopping down. Roughly seven years and many deer into this .223 experiment and I am way more than satisfied. "Astounded" has morphed into "content" and fully confident in the caliber selection.

 

[rock_castle]

Some people need to think before they post. Jeez.

 

[rufuswd]

First off let me say congratulations to Mr. P the younger and to Dad. Well done. How dare anyone belittle this young man in any way. As far as .223 being enough gun for deer IMO its not. So I don't hunt with mine. I've taken deer with 22lr,.243,30/06,.308,.270,.300 win mag and bow. Once with a .410 with #7 1/2 shot on a bet. (very dumb) Never lost one. It was said many times on this post -PICK YOUR SHOT. BTW My son was 8 when he got his first deer. A black tail doe about 100 pounds with a 20 gauge shotgun. That ought to stir 'em up.

 

[Mr. P]

First off let me say congratulations to Mr. P the younger and to Dad. Well done. How dare anyone belittle this young man in any way. As far as .223 being enough gun for deer IMO its not. So I don't hunt with mine. I've taken deer with 22lr,.243,30/06,.308,.270,.300 win mag and bow. Once with a .410 with #7 1/2 shot on a bet. (very dumb) Never lost one. It was said many times on this post -PICK YOUR SHOT. BTW My son was 8 when he got his first deer. A black tail doe about 100 pounds with a 20 gauge shotgun. That ought to stir 'em up.

getting ready to try again -- the boy is a little bigger now and he'll use the 30-30 (he's looking for a trophy, this time), but my daughter (18) is going this time, so she'll use the 223 (she'll be looking for her first deer -- I'll just be 'along for the ride')-- we are not big hunters, my work gets in the way a lot -- but we are hoping to put some meat in the freezer Saturday,

my friend invited us to come up to his property in the middle of Alabama and "kill a deer" -- he didn't say anything about hunting (I'm pretty sure he knows where they are at) -- hope a couple of big ones come by, I will let you know how it turns out...

back on topic --- we'll be going with the Federal Fusion 62 grain in M&P 15

 

[MichiganScott]

I've taken deer with 22lr

Doubt this is on the list of approved calibers for deer, but I'd bet that you are not the only poster on this forum to kill a deer with a rimfire. It just shows the importance of choosing your shots and good bullet placement.