I want to get a good hunting rifle, i want to get a similar rifle as the m16 but using bigger caliber rounds.?

im in the marines and i love the m16 and a really good shot, i want a hunting rifle like it and where to find itI want to get a good hunting rifle, i want to get a similar rifle as the m16 but using bigger caliber rounds.?
Congratulations! You're one of the first I've seen on this forum that realizes the limitations of the .223 ';poodle shooter';. Happy to see that someone else knows the pop-gun round is for WOUNDING people, not KILLING game.


To answer your question, there are several gun makers that are building Armalite clones in larger calibers than 5.56. Most chamber them in the new 6mm SOCOM, but even that is marginal for game, even if you can find soft-point hunting loads.


I personally would go to Bushmaster, Inc. who, I know for a fact, are turning out an Armalite pattern clone, a close copy of the old AR-10, chambered in 7,62 NATO(.308 Win.) the round used by Marine sniper units, and the old M-60 machine gun. The 7,62 will bring down anything you want, and, with the availability of surplus ammo, you'll be able to recoup some of the coin you'll be shelling out for the price of the rifle, altho I don't think it'll be near the $2500 others mentioned.


Best bet: go to http://www.gunbroker.com and either run a search for AR-15 M-16 rifles, or just browse the modern semi-auto category.


Semper Fi, Mac!I want to get a good hunting rifle, i want to get a similar rifle as the m16 but using bigger caliber rounds.?
The .223 is not a good hunting cartridge. You want something with more knock down power. The .223 in FMJ has penetration power, but it not good for game. Also, most hunting rifles are bolt action or lever action, which are more reliable and easier to aim.





It depends on what you are hunting, but a Marlin 336 lever action 30/30 is a good all around gun for deer and other hunting. You might also try a 30-06 or 7mm.





If you are insistent on a semi-auto, check out the Ruger mini-thirty style rifles. I believe they are .223, but may come in other calibers. They are around $700. Much cheaper than the civilian AR-15 (M-16 version) which is $2000. Go to a local gun shop and browse around or check out www.gunbroker.com for model styles and prices.
Get a Ruger Mini 30. It is 30 Cal. and kicks ***....Nice rifle
Bound's hubby here:





You can purchase an AR15 type rifle in cartridges based on the .308 WInchester family ... and they are referred to as AR-10s.





AR-10 type rifles are manufactuerd by: Armalite, DPMS/Panther Arms, Fulton Armory, Rock River and I think Bushmaster. See links below.





Please keep in mind, while you will be thoroughly familiar with the design and function because of your military experience, you may be limited by state game laws. Some states, such as Pennsylvania, prohibit the use of semi-automatic rifles for hunting.





Good luck!
The M-16 is a fantastic rifle, but you'll eventually want to get a semi auto in a larger caliber. Take a look at the Browning BAR, it comes in a variety of calibers and is really neat to look at.
The ar15 in 223 is good for animals up to the size of small deer, but you need to use a good hunting bullet.





You can also get the ar15 chambered in 17 remington, 20 tactical, 204 ruger, for varmits. For larger game you can use 6mmx45, 6mm PPC, 6.5 grendel, 6.8 spc, 300 whisper, 458 socom, 50 AE, 50 beowulf as well as others.





You can get a 50 BMG single shot upper if you want to hunt elephant. Native americans use the 50 BMG for dispatching a whale after harpooning it.





For hunting, it would be best to get a match grade barrel without a flash suppressor, and equip the rifle with a scope if you are hunting small animals at long range.
also look at the the super shorts. I think there is a 25 with similar ballistics to a 25-06
Accuracysystems.com sells an AR-10 chambered for .300WSM this is great pwr in a small package. I had my Mini-14 done w/a 22'; 1';dia. barrel and damn it's heavy but a tack driver! I kept it @ .223 for varmint.





Ar-10's are usually .308 w/10rd. mag but there are alternatives! Depends on how big of game U want to take down!~ I think thae rebarreled rifles start @ $1200 don't quote me though!
You can get AR types in just about any caliber now, from .22LR to .50BMG, .30'06, .308, 6.8, 7.62X39, 9mm, .50 Beowolf, just about whatever you want for $$$$. They can get pretty pricey though. Look at the ads in Shotgun News or shotgunnews.com


Lauer Custom Weaponry~lauerweaponry.com, Stag Arms~stagarms.com (left handed ARs among others), Sabre Defence Industries~sabredefence.com, wilsoncombat.com $$$$, rguns.net, dsarms.com, atlanticfirearms.com, armalite.com, dpmsinc.com, jtdistributing.com, MAPartsInc.com.


You should be able to get anything you can afford. Myself, I'd rather have an M-14 type.
The AR-10 is a 7.62x51 (.308 Winchester) and the AR-30 is a .338 Lapua. Both will work well hunting.





H
Ideamanbm and Grizzly9 beat me to the answer, but I agree with them 100%. The AR has indeed evolved into an excellent multi-caliber platform. Personally I really like the 6.8SPC conversions that can be attached to any AR15/M16 lower.
Bushmaster makes the best AR-style rifles available to civilians. Go for a Bushmaster in 7.62x51mm. This is a NATO round that is significantly larger and more powerful than the standard 5.56mm.





The 7.62x51 is known to civilians as the ';.308 Winchester';. Many hunting rifles are chambered in .308, and it is very effective for hunting. It is similar in power and ballistics to, say, the 30.06 Springfield round.
The Cobb Arms Multi Caliber Rifle (MCR)





Basic AR-15 parts and stock that has upper receivers for calibers from 9 x 19 mm Parabellum to .338 Lapua Magnum.
If you dont have the $2000 to drop an a AR-15 or AR-10 (the civilian version of the M-16) Then order a kit and build your own and save some $. Also be careful because in some states like the Peoples Republic of California they are considered assult riffle and are illegal.
The AR-10 is essentially an AR-15, a semi-automatic M-16, that accepts an .308 as opposed to the .223 that the AR-15/M-16 fires.





According to the Armalite web site, these rifles cost about $2,126.00
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