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Varmint Hunting With The AR-15 Type Rifle - Part I |
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Currently I am testing both the Bushmaster AR-15 rifle with these secondary sights and the new Smith & Wesson M&P 15 model that makes use of an aperture sight of their own design. Despite the fact that you need to use raised scope bases (blocks) and even extra high Weaver rail block extensions for added height, the dual scope and iron sight option is quite workable on an AR-15 coyote calling rifle.
Controls
Not all AR-15s are created equal when it comes to their controls. By controls I mean the safety latch, magazine release, cartridge assist plunger, operating handle, grip surface, or bolt release system. While most of the operating systems are similar, differences can be found. For example, the new Smith & Wesson M&P 15 has done away with the cartridge assist plunger on some models. However, my current M&P 15 has those full military-style cartridge assist controls, and is all military in terms of other basic function equipment on the rifle’s receiver. This rifle uses the machined indent on the bolt face when the assist control is not present to assist in closing the bolt if, for some reason, there is a hang-up with a round chambering. I have used this new system with little difficulty, but I much prefer the first line assist plunger-type control on the right side of the receiver’s face.
This rifle is set up for long-range varmint hunting, with heavy barrel, flat top sight bases system, and full stock.
When talking with a representative of yet another manufacturer of AR-15s, I was informed that doing away with all assist controls would be a good idea because the AR-15 has advanced to a point that it is trouble-free regarding basic function. Remember the old footage of our soldiers in Vietnam with the bottle of bug dope in their helmet bands? Well, it was for a good reason. No, not bugs, but to dump into the action of the M-16 quickly during combat if the “black gun” started to run slow or jam up completely.
During the course of the 2007 spring varmint hunting season I got the chance to hunt with three different manufacturers of AR-15 shooting systems. During each of those hunts the last thing I found to be a problem was failure of the firearm to function. That said, I have interviewed combat vets from the first war in Iraq, and Vietnam, and found that one feature that some of them disliked was the number of sharp edged areas that could hang up on a uniform or battle dress. If you think this does not apply to sporting uses, I had just that confrontation with the AR-15 a short time prior to writing this review. I quickly tried to draw down on a rattlesnake that was within striking range of my leg. A loop on a jacket pocket zipper got hung up in the rifle’s bolt return latch, and when I fired a string of 5.56mm (223 Rem.) rounds, my chest went unwillingly with the barrel alignment against the buzz worm, because the scope was of no use at all. Not the end of the world you might say, but noteworthy. On the positive side of that encounter, the 20-round magazine supplying fresh bullets to the chamber was a welcome feature. However, the rattler didn’t like it very much.
One factor regarding the AR-15 rifles is the nice access to controls by most average hand sizes. Using the new Hogue grips found on several brands of AR-15s today, I have not had any difficulty getting to my safety latch, magazine release, or other working controls. For the most part, the AR-15 is well-designed and very user friendly in terms of fit over a wide range of body sizes and arm lengths. Those telescoping buttstocks help, however, when you’re someplace in the middle of a standard fixed stock configuration. I recommend going with a telescoping buttstock if you have the option when ordering a new AR-15 type rifle.
Barrel Length: - How Much is Enough?
For the most part the barrel length associated with the AR-15 can best be maintained at between 18 and 20 inches. Rate of bore twist is better served at a faster rate when heavy bullets are used, but at the same time I have observed a 1:9" twist rate stabilize a very broad range of 224 caliber bullets. While short barrels, such as the 16" length, are a nice carry length, I believe slower powders can cause some reduced velocities. At the time of this review the military is studying this barrel length factor as it applies to the short M4 carbine and other short M-16 weapons systems. The ultra short barrel (less than 16 inches) definitely leaves a shooter with failing grades in the velocity department, and varmint hunters need speed in their rifles, especially when the cartridge starts off a bit slow in the first place (55-grain 223 Remington).
Varmint rifles in the AR-15 style offered by several manufacturers seem to favor long barrels. Because accuracy has been greatly improved in the ARs in recent years, I can find no fault with this thinking. For example, DPMS and their Panther Mark 12 223 Remington makes use of a six groove, 1:8" twist, 18" barrel. This rifle is close to, or right on, a coyote rifle I would design myself.
Bushmaster, an old name in the business of AR-15s, is now offering a Predator series of rifles that make use of a 20" fluted barrel and a 1:8" twist rate. Again, this rifle with some modifications is a great candidate as a deadly coyote calling configuration. I am impressed enough with this rifle to have a special model built with all of my requirements added into the design mix for work on coyotes here in western South Dakota and in Nevada.
My personal test rifle will have the advanced tactical fore-end with Weaver rails, telescoping stock, added flip sights, flattop rail, and coyote tan digital camo pattern applied. As to its ability to get the job done in 223 Remington, ... well, that’s another story down the line.
AR-15 Problems Surfaced
During the early years of the original Colt Firearms* AR-15’s development, being the time frame around the military M-16, some dark days loomed ahead of this black rifle’s design. In Vietnam some guys had a rough go of it with this rifle and Colt Firearms Company* had to get in gear and fix many start-up problems that surfaced in the jungles and swamps of southeast Asia. In talking with a V.H.A. member who was a chopper pilot in those days, he freely acknowledged that the best he could do was get his hands on a working 1911 45 Government semiauto handgun. As a Marine flyboy, what he knew of the M-16 was not all that wonderful, according to field reports during the early years of the war. I have to say that, being around at about the same time period, I too took issue with the little black guns compared with the standard M-14 of the day. Word was spreading fast regarding the lack of dependability this rifle showed in the field. “Jamomatic” was one nickname, and the gun was not trusted by more than a few GIs and Marines.
However, in terms of this rifle’s life line, all bad things came to an end, and today the AR-15/M-16 used by both civilian and military alike tends to be a refined and very solid tool in the hands of capable riflemen. Even models with gas pistons that have evolved from the AK-47 are starting to surface (Bushmaster). This says the development design of the basic rifle is far from over. Unless a totally new system is in the offing, and this could well be the case, the AR-15/M-16 could be around for a very long time to come.
With a concerted effort to gain as much information about the AR-15 type rifles as possible, a number of problems surfaced that are not generally discussed or encountered by shooters who simply load and go with carry handle general utility type AR-15s on the shooting range.
The first problem I found was that when developing a good sighting system by using the Weaver-style flattop rail system you can run into a situation that was discovered only after spending a considerable amount of time with the gun systems out in the fields. For the most part when using flip sights at the rear receiver of the rail I found that these sights seemed to get in the way of the rear bell housing on most types of scope sights. About the only way to overcome this problem was to turn to those extended high scope bases and rings (and at times that solution didn’t help all that much) or use a completely different sighting system altogether.
Here is where electronic red dot sights mounted in a short housing tend to work well in terms of properly functioning with the rifle’s controls. These systems, like the Zanders RS 32 F/M series or the previously mentioned military Trijicon ACOG, don’t get in the way at all. However, such sighting systems don’t afford the pinpoint accuracy required of a varmint hunter trying to pick off a long-range coyote that is pacing a ridge line and won’t come in to the call. When zeroing the Zanders F/M system with the small red dot at 100 yards, I found that the dot covered a full 8" bull downrange. What that says is the system is great for close-in quick target acquisition, but forget the needle-threading long shots.
When shooting and charging the rifle, I cut my right hand several times when trying to quickly get to my charging handle under a scope’s rear bell housing. This problem really needs to be addressed in all AR-15 type firearms. One outfit that will sell a special extended charging attachment just for scope-sighted ARs is Badger Ordnance. When hunting with S&W as well as Bushmaster during the winter of 2007, I found that, as sent from the factory, these rifles all had very high tactical-type mounts that moved the scope sight well up and off the receiver. This system needs to be offered as standard equipment on all flattop receivers that have been set up for scope sight mounting.
A quick fix here that no AR-15 manufacturer wants to hear about is a turn toward the Ruger Mini-14 as a replacement rifle with a side mounted M1-style charging handle, and a real appetite for anything headstamped 223 Rem. Remember, the Ruger Mini-14 is an offshoot of the M-14 in 7.62 NATO. Many a USMC ground pounder has a soft place in his heart for that rifle and action to this day.
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