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Hello, my brother is having me build his AR since I built my own, but I am not sure what length barrel length to get for hunting. Since he will be using it a lot for hunting.

Hunting what?

There is a big difference between hunting hogs in brush at a max of 50 yards or ram on a hillside 800yrds away.

I have taken hogs with both a 16" at 200 yards and a 24" at 100". It all depends. What are you hunting? What weight bullet are you shooting?

Anything 20" and up is going to be pretty good with practice. In 3 gun I shoot steel plates at 475 using an 20" barrel without much trouble.

He told me he will be hunting hogs majority of the time. At the end of this month he is going hunting hogs out of a helicopter. Sounds fun to me.

x007x wrote:He told me he will be hunting hogs majority of the time. At the end of this month he is going hunting hogs out of a helicopter. Sounds fun to me.

In tight quarters I would not want anything longer than 16".

jmra wrote:

x007x wrote:He told me he will be hunting hogs majority of the time. At the end of this month he is going hunting hogs out of a helicopter. Sounds fun to me.

In tight quarters I would not want anything longer than 16".

I think trying to kill anything with 5.56/.223 you need as much velocity and the best bullet you can buy/find. Shorter than 20" barrel and I think you lose too much velocity. Especially if you are relying on 55gr FMJ to do the deed. I would say get a 20" barrel and some good heavy Barnes/Hornaday bullets and you should be good to go with aimed shots.

Example of hog hunting with 55gr FMJ, my Dad shot a 150-160lb hog at 150ft in the head and it did not go down quickly. He had to follow it up with a 20ft away shoulder shot and it still flopped around for a while. Point of the story is get some good quality ammo designed for hunting.

My brother is not an amateur hunter, so he knows what he needs for amo wise. Thank you everyone.. It's seems hard to find a 20" barrel. Does anyone have a good recommendation?

Don't quote me on this but I think the helicopter hunts you have to have a left handed AR so the empty rounds are not hitting the pilot.. But i have seen some that provide the weapon for you if you don't have it..


I could be wrong though

x007x wrote:My brother is not an amateur hunter, so he knows what he needs for amo wise. Thank you everyone.. It's seems hard to find a 20" barrel. Does anyone have a good recommendation?

Bravo Company has a 20" in stock.
http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/BCM-20-R ... finder.com

RECIT wrote:

jmra wrote:

x007x wrote:He told me he will be hunting hogs majority of the time. At the end of this month he is going hunting hogs out of a helicopter. Sounds fun to me.

In tight quarters I would not want anything longer than 16".

I think trying to kill anything with 5.56/.223 you need as much velocity and the best bullet you can buy/find. Shorter than 20" barrel and I think you lose too much velocity. Especially if you are relying on 55gr FMJ to do the deed. I would say get a 20" barrel and some good heavy Barnes/Hornaday bullets and you should be good to go with aimed shots.

Example of hog hunting with 55gr FMJ, my Dad shot a 150-160lb hog at 150ft in the head and it did not go down quickly. He had to follow it up with a 20ft away shoulder shot and it still flopped around for a while. Point of the story is get some good quality ammo designed for hunting.

You should never shoot a hog in the head unless the shot is point blank or you're a good enough shot to put it through the ear hole. Hogs skulls are slanted in such a way that most bullets will not penetrate but give them a good concussion.

Shoulder shots are much preferred. That's where the hog's vital organs are, and a shot there will result in death.

WARNING: Graphic
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http://www.texasboars.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=136878" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.texasboars.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=17772" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I came across this barrel too.
http://www.fulton-armory.com/barrelkrie ... ded-1.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

18" SPR build.

I have seen them drop with 1 round from a 10/22 and then take 4 rounds from a 223. I am positive with a proper bullet and shot placement they are done. Don't own an ar. Smallest caliber rifle round a have personally shot a hog with is 243 and it worked well.
On a side note I know someone who went to the 7.62x39 for hogs on his land. He said he Didn't want to use premium ammo in the 223 after several times hogs didn't drop and ran off. 7.62x 39 cheap bear or wolf ammo drops them or they don't get far and collapse According to him every time.

Here is my take on hogs and deer with the 223, AR-15 or bolt platform.

Keep velocity around 2700 to 2800 FPS

Use a 60 gr or greater bullet (Hint Nosler 64 gr bonded bullet)

Keep range less than 200 yds

16" BBL will easily achieve this

Aim straight and have some fun!