Thread: Why do people frown at using military rifles for hunting?

Originally Posted by gimp

Also everyone is very against these things, until you let them have a go with one. Then it's "Oh man, this is cooool"

Have hunted with: Shorty SKS, M305, Saiga, and two AR15's. I'd roll AR's almost exclusively now. They leave all other semi's for dead IMHO. The thing I like about hunting with them the most, aside from inherent accuracy, a reliable platform and pretty much perfect ergonomics is how they carry with a good two point sling. Your shoulders take all the weight and if you using a carbine you can cinch it close to your body when bashing through bush, leaving both hands free to get through and climb shit. I guess you could do the same with an AK. M305's/M14's are surprisingly handy in their stock form. Once you add a scope they become heavy unbalanced and cumbersome. A red dot or irons is the way to go if you buy one with bush hunting in mind. They are popular with a lot of hunters in Canada. Just gotta hope it doesn't blow up.

I love Semi's, Ive recently as of january been a convert to them and I being a former diehard bolt gun lover can appreciate both as such, I can appreciate a semi for many reasons and despite what others may say or try to lead us believe semi's are perfectly safe,have a genuine place within the hunting community and are great fun...

I would entirely recommend those of you who don't like semi's to contact your nearest service rifle association and go down and have a play on day...... I love my Rock River arms Predator pursuit AR-15 and will keep it for as long as its legal to do so!

in saying that I won't ever sell my sako 75..... with semi's becoming cheaper and cheaper a AR-15 at under $2k has finally become a reality!

i think the ar style gun is the top selling gun in nz at the moment,seems everyone wants,is getting one

Originally Posted by mumabear

i think the ar style gun is the top selling gun in nz at the moment,seems everyone wants,is getting one

I highly doubt that, but no doubt they will become more and more popular if the price keeps dropping and we can hold off the new arms bill for a while yet. I think a lot of the negativity surrounding military type guns is slowly leaving the NZ shooting community. Think about it. Semi's with free standing grips have been available on A cat for what two years now? And I'm still yet to witness the sky falling. Anybody who thinks AR's etc are dangerous weapons are morons

I don't care what guns people have or use. But one thing worth considering is that black guns are mostly .223 which is a marginal deer calibre if not placed right. The temptation to use an AR's fire power at a running deer must be great (it would be for me too probably), and sadly this might mean multiple non killing shots into a deer with its dander up. Those ones can travel a long way and suffer terribly.

So use what you want, but treat every shot like its your only one. That's what I think.

But hell, I bet they are fun to use on targets and mucking around.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I don't care what guns people have or use. But one thing worth considering is that black guns are mostly .223 which is a marginal deer calibre if not placed right. The temptation to use an AR's fire power at a running deer must be great (it would be for me too probably), and sadly this might mean multiple non killing shots into a deer with its dander up. Those ones can travel a long way and suffer terribly.

So use what you want, but treat every shot like its your only one. That's what I think.

But hell, I bet they are fun to use on targets and mucking around.

If you mean a ar-15 then yes marginal, if you mean a ar-10(308) where one can simply change it to a 7-08,243,260 by pushing 2 push pins then thats one dead deer! a ar-15 on fallow and sika is completely ethical and I'm happy to shoot deer of that size, on reds however thats where I draw the line on the 223 and thats when mr Sako comes out and asserts his authority

The AR15 platform is so practical. Imagine if you could take your stock off your howa, chuck it on your tikka, take the trigger from your savage and slap it in your sako. Or say you lose your bolt from your Tikka and simply be able to replace it with one from your stevens. That is the practicality of the AR15. Everything is built to a single spec. You can mix and match brands. You can change gun purpose as simply as pushing out 2 pins and chucking on a different upper. Ergonomics are preferable too - give me a pistol grip over a standard stock any day.

Originally Posted by Digit

The AR15 platform is so practical. Imagine if you could take your stock off your howa, chuck it on your tikka, take the trigger from your savage and slap it in your sako. Or say you lose your bolt from your Tikka and simply be able to replace it with one from your stevens. That is the practicality of the AR15. Everything is built to a single spec. You can mix and match brands. You can change gun purpose as simply as pushing out 2 pins and chucking on a different upper. Ergonomics are preferable too - give me a pistol grip over a standard stock any day.

Best thing I've heard all day!

couldn't agree more.... I will be purchasing a sks as a bush rifle and NOT from gunshitty, is it possible to scout mount a scope on em?

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

Best thing I've heard all day!

couldn't agree more.... I will be purchasing a sks as a bush rifle and NOT from gunshitty, is it possible to scout mount a scope on em?

Mount a red dot sight on the rear sight base, or leave it stock. My opinion.

^ Ew

Have you shot an AR or Sks?

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

Have you shot an AR or Sks?

He probably isn't packing the shits with them. Just chill

I've shot both.

Na - I think he was correct in the 'Ew' comment regarding SKS