Empty AR15 receiver...What upper should I buy or build for a 300 yard deer AR?

[264MHC]

This is my setup at the moment. I just built one "premium" lower with all high quality parts that is shared by two uppers. One is a 16" Faxon barreled upper with a 1-6x24 Trijicon Credo in 6.5 Grendel. Primary loads are 123 ELDM at 2390, and 107 TMK at 2520. I did just recently send in form 1 paperwork and ordered a McGowan 12.7" barrel for this one to make it more compact suppressed.
My other upper is a 20" .243 LBC barrel by Black Hole Weaponry. 2.5-15x42 Trijicon Credo. Primary loads are 95 HVLD at 2830, 108 Elite Hunter at 2640, and 87 HVLD at 2920. All of these loads provide the velocity and energy to easily kill whitetail out to 500, but my longest with this gun was 220 with the 87gr load. Mature Doe DRT.

 

[diamonddave2]

My AR15 6.8 SPC shoots sub half MOA groups at 100 yards with both 110 grain Barnes TTSX and Hornady 110 tipped Boat tail with Alliant 10x max loads. At 300 it'll group around 2". I've taken it woods elk hunting, but never have had a shot. I call it my 270 short. I have the upper mounted on a Patriot Arms polymer lower with a rise armament trigger. It's an 18" barrel with a brake. I have killed a hog with my AR10 308, but is a much heavier rig. Also, very accurate.

 

[bluejay75]

View attachment 252366
6.5G 20" 5R barrel 123gr SST over 8208XBR. This is my "meat stick" one and done! I have taken 30+ Axis & Whitetail at 50-300yds. 12 or so hogs at same distances. I have never recovered a bullet, I have never needed a follow up. Is is a tad heavy though.

What scope is that? 1 inch or 30mm tube?

 

[mercerbear]

6.5 Grendel is your best option.

I would do a 22" barrel for your purposes.

 

[meinidaho]

Greetings Gents,

While its the off season for big game hunting, I intend to either buy or have built an AR15 upper that will reliably take deer out to 300 yards. Zeroed for max point blank range and hold over for those last few yards.

Share your experiences if you have such a rig built and share your longest kill. Show your rig to if you dont mind. Will give me some ideas.

Bluejay

I built 6.8 SPC for myself and my two sons back when it was easier to get components for them than the 6.5 Grendel. We have killed many deer with them at ranges of 50 to 150 yards with no problems. My current favorite is a 16" AR15Performance that is very light and handy. Fortunately I had the foresight to purchase extra components so we will continue to use them.

 

[levers4life]

What scope is that? 1 inch or 30mm tube?

It's a VX-III Leupold 1" Tube

 

[bluejay75]

6.5 Grendel is your best option.

I would do a 22" barrel for your purposes.

Post a link with the 22 inch barrel you're suggesting.

 

[Soulrack]

6.8 SPC II

 

[Orange Dust]

6.8 spc ii. grab you a barrel from ar15performance.com.

85gr-120 gr projectiles. lots of great projectiles to choose from for hunting.

Agreed. But only with one of their barrels. They are special...

 

[snox801]

View attachment 252366
6.5G 20" 5R barrel 123gr SST over 8208XBR. This is my "meat stick" one and done! I have taken 30+ Axis & Whitetail at 50-300yds. 12 or so hogs at same distances. I have never recovered a bullet, I have never needed a follow up. Is is a tad heavy though.

They are some small deer then if you haven't recovered a bullet. I gave up on 120 class in my grendel. Only get 50 percent pass through with them. And once reaching 300 yards they leave very little blood.

 

[Flintlock shooter]

260 REM

 

[Sid Post]

I have a 6.5G and a 6.8SPC and the often overlooked or criticized 300 Black Out.

For a dedicated hunting AR-15, I'd be all over a 375 Socom from Tromix for a semi-mainstream option. However, right now I'm thinking about a 6x45 (6mm .223) or a 257 Ocelot which is a blown-out quarter-bore .223 case if you handload.

The 30HRT is another good option that puts a world of hurt on a 300BO, 7.62x40WT, 300 H'AMR which each have some strengths but, the 30cal 6.8SPC case is a tough act to beat in this class.

 

[longtubeman]

Have a 24" ar 15 grendle, with 100 ttsx Barnes I get over 3000 fps with cci 450 primers and cfe 223 power. Also run 127 lrx barns at 2650 , same power and primer. Get 3/8 group at 100 yards

 

[snox801]

Boy not doubting you but I have a feeling you are very over pressured even with that barrel. That's amazing speed.