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Looking for general hunting gun for Florida hogs and deer.

G

GeneKay

Private
Minuteman
Mar 8, 2024
3
0
Florida
Recently moved to central Florida and I'm looking for a lightweight AR for hogs and deer. I have an old Colt Hbar sportster
that weighs a ton. It was fine for the last hog hunt, but it is definitely too heavy to be my go to hunting gun. I also want something with a little more knockdown
power. Currently most shots will be within 150yds, but I hopefully will be gaining access to a nearby ranch and would like to use for coyotes up to 500.
I was originally set on a .308, but that may even be overkill and was looking for a lighter gun with less recoil if my wife or daughter somes along.
Leaning towards 6.5 grendel as having more knockdown power than my .223 and being able to reach out a little further if needed.
Nothing is set in stone and I've been down internet rabbit holes for days while researching. Not looking to start any arguments as I see many are
very defensive of their favorite caliber/gun.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
 
GeneKay said:
Recently moved to central Florida and I'm looking for a lightweight AR for hogs and deer. I have an old Colt Hbar sportster
that weighs a ton. It was fine for the last hog hunt, but it is definitely too heavy to be my go to hunting gun. I also want something with a little more knockdown
power. Currently most shots will be within 150yds, but I hopefully will be gaining access to a nearby ranch and would like to use for coyotes up to 500.
I was originally set on a .308, but that may even be overkill and was looking for a lighter gun with less recoil if my wife or daughter somes along.
Leaning towards 6.5 grendel as having more knockdown power than my .223 and being able to reach out a little further if needed.
Nothing is set in stone and I've been down internet rabbit holes for days while researching. Not looking to start any arguments as I see many are
very defensive of their favorite caliber/gun.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!
Click to expand...
Yes 6.5 Grendel is light recoiling, accurate out to 500 with long barrel life. It falls short of the 6.5 creedmoor ballistics, as I’m sure you’ll hear, but the barrel life is better and it sounds right for your needs. I have one in an AR and it is my fun gun.

The 308 will have good accuracy, more recoil, similar barrel life but factory ammo is more abundant and has more options than the 6.5 G
 
Last edited:
I think the 6.5G is probably the right choice, but the 6ARC is another option. I’m in CF and 223 has been fine for my hog needs if in a gas gun.
 
IMG_1628.jpeg

This is a pic from when I was experimenting with a 12.5" 6.5G upper vs my tried and true 16" 5.56 match rifle.

The 12.5" 6.5 option works well as a do all option. Low recoil. Handy. Decent terminal effects. Confidence on targets out to 800yds.
There's not a lot to complain about.


IMG_2332.jpeg
 
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wvfarrier said:
Why not 6mm ARC? Then you have a lighter rifle that still has some legs to reach out
Click to expand...
That's why I'm posting here. Not entirely sure what caliber would work best. Seems there are many that would suffice. A few articles picked the 6.5G over the ARC when compared. What would the overall difference in weight be between the same parts in a 6.5G vs 6mm ARC? Seems to be slightly more factory loads for the 6.5G as well. Again I'm still up in the air which would be the best. Being my kids shot their boars with my Rem 700 in 30-06, The recoil thing might not be as much an issue as that thing leaves bruises on my old shoulder.
 
Bakwa said:
The 12.5" 6.5 option works well as a do all option. Low recoil. Handy. Decent terminal effects. Confidence on targets out to 800yds.
There's not a lot to complain about.
Click to expand...
Looks great. was thinking 16" barrell, but will go shorter if accuracy won't be affected too much. Around how much does it weigh?
Guessing you build it yourself?
 
No reason a fast twist 5.56 will not do fine for hogs. Use a 77 grain conventional bullet or a solid copper like a Barnes in 63-70 grains and it will do fine. Build a rifle the weight you like.
 
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GeneKay said:
That's why I'm posting here. Not entirely sure what caliber would work best. Seems there are many that would suffice. A few articles picked the 6.5G over the ARC when compared. What would the overall difference in weight be between the same parts in a 6.5G vs 6mm ARC? Seems to be slightly more factory loads for the 6.5G as well. Again I'm still up in the air which would be the best. Being my kids shot their boars with my Rem 700 in 30-06, The recoil thing might not be as much an issue as that thing leaves bruises on my old shoulder.
Click to expand...
I counted all the factory loads for 6.5 Grendel in December, and documented 124 different options, ranging from 85gr to 130gr.

For 6mm ARC, it looks like 29 loads that I could find:

Copper Creek
55gr NBT
58gr V-MAX
75gr V-MAX
80gr Barnes TTSX
80gr Hornady CX
87gr Berger VLD Hunting
87gr V-MAX
90gr CX
90gr Accubond
95gr Berger Classic Hunter
95gr Ballistic Tip
95gr Barnes LRX
95gr Berger VLD Hunting
95gr SST
100gr Horndy Interlock
103gr ELD-X
105gr Berger Hybrid
105gr VLD Hunting
105gr Lapua Scenar
108gr Berger Elite Hunter
108gr ELD-M
109gr Berger LR Hybrid TGT
110gr Hornady A-TIP


Hornady
Hornady 80gr ELD-VT
Hornady 103gr ELD-X
Hornady 105gr BTHP
Hornady 108gr ELD-M

HSM
HSM 75gr V-MAX
HSM 95gr SST
HSM 95gr Berger VLD
 
GeneKay said:
Looks great. was thinking 16" barrell, but will go shorter if accuracy won't be affected too much. Around how much does it weigh?
Guessing you build it yourself?
Click to expand...
Accuracy is not affected. The thing shoots excellent.
IMG_2335.jpeg


It's a FCD upper and HG with Noveske barrel.
I'll weight it this week if I get a chance.
 
I always use a 150 grain soft point, my very own handloads of course. It drops em pretty good...
 
A 12.5" 6.8 or 6.5g would work well, a can on the end would be even better.
 
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A 16" 223 AR with 64gr power point factory ammo

It'll have to be a 13-16" lightweight barrel setup to keep the weight down

If you want to go down the rabbit hole of different calibers and handloading I'd go 6.8SPC or 308, but then with 308 you get the recoil/weight problem again
 
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