help build my AR

[rustydog32]

I am building something in 223 and need some help from the experts,
I want something that will kill hogs so I am going with a heavy bullet. shots will not be over 200 yards and all hunting will be done at night. I have a 4-16x50 nikon monarch x scope to top it off. The rifle must be light but I want a barrel long enough to get the most efficiency out of it. Of course I would love to go with something really short but then I lose all of my energy and accuracy. So what is the appropriate barrel length and also twist rate to stabilize the heavier bullets.Most like I will shoot 75 grain hornady superformance out of the gun. I will have the occassional shot at a coyote fox and bobcat. what are your suggestions as far as bullets go as to not mess the hide up.

as you can tell I am needing a very versatile rifle and I don't have the option of carrying to because most hunts will be far from the truck and I am a opportunist I will see more hogs than anything but if I get lucky and see some predators I would love to save the hide.

 

[Jhnmdahl]

Re: help build my AR

Under 200 yards you should be fine with even a 16" barrel, but I might go 20" just to get a little extra zip on the heavier bullets and reduce the chance of muzzle flash. Twist rate - anything around one in eight inches should be fine, and one in seven inches should be OK as well.

Depending on your budget, how about something like a Rainier Match 18" 1 in 8" with a Wylde chamber for $250?
http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=3075

John

 

[rustydog32]

Re: help build my AR

thank your for the information. I know I could get buy with a 16" as far as under 200 yards goes but I know I would lose velocity therefore losing penetration. just wandering as far as barrel length goes which one would produce the best muzzle velocity. I would like to keep the build under $1000 I am hoping to get a really good quality rifle for this as it will be something I will most likely hang on to

 

[B.Bates]

Re: help build my AR

Rusty

Here is my AR that i use for similar hunting

18in WOA spr barrel

mine is a hammer with 75g TAP ammo

however if hunting pigs i might try and build something with more killing power, ive had to track a few a long ways, was using 62g barnes

 

[rustydog32]

Re: help build my AR

I thought about something with more power but then I thought well in the past ten years I have shot 4 or 5 pigs a year and all but one have been head shots and the one that wasnt was running at about 300 yards which I wouldn't take that shot at night anyway.

 

[midSCarolina]

Re: help build my AR

I really like the JP Enterprises PSC-11 w/ the 18" medium contour. Since you will not be going out past 200m there is no real need for a 20". Hell, you could probably get away with a 16" or a 14.5" at those distances. The PSC-11 comes with a 1:8 twist ratio which will push 77gr just fine and will also keep the velocity up slightly higher than a 1:7. JP's are built really well with precision in mind. I am more into cqb type shooting and am really on this forum to learn, not reply, but I have done a pretty significant amount of hog hunting with my 14.5" and it has dropped them fine (I believe my longest hog kill was at about 280yards). You also might want to think about suppressing your rifle and using subsonic ammunition since those things will often travel in groups (I don't personally but I have had friends do this with really good results). Here is just the standard website pic of the JP PSC-11... its beautiful and extremely functional. (Might want to go with a Magpul UBR if you are going to be resting the rifle to hunt)

 

[rustydog32]

Re: help build my AR

thanks for the info I have also considered 6.8spc but then my budget goes to hell. It will have to be light and mobile I just ordered the scope last night I went with a leupold 2-12x42 VX-6 with the firedot reticle

 

[rustydog32]

Re: help build my AR

by the way I would love to suppress it but I don't want to have to purchase a class 3