I'm looking for an AR and need some help.I was at a buddies ranch this weekend trying to keep hogs off of their wheat fields. We were shooting his AR-15 (.223) and the big hogs were taking off like they had been shot with a bb gun.
Would you guys a recommend an AR-10 for the .308 caliber to take down hogs? How much of a price increase am I looking at jumping up to this larger caliber? Do you guys have any other recommendations??? I'm looking to spend around $1,500 for the gun (not including accessories).
thanks!

Looks like you have a DPMS budget in the current market. Their .308's aren't bad at all.

308 will do the job nicely.

I'd learn how to shoot.

You are going to be hard pressed to find a AR in 308 in that price range. AR's in 308 are big, bulky, and heavy to be toteing around for long periods of time.

If you already have an AR and want a little more knock down power I'd just buy a 300 Black Out barrel. Replace the barrel, buy ammo and you are good to go. The 300 BLK uses everything the 5.56 does except barrel. You can find a 300BLK barrel for around $200 online. This leaves you a huge chunk of change to buy a ton of 300BLK from ChadTRG42 on this board (best price I've seen and in stock).

Thank me later.

Lol I typed that to begin with, but figured I wouldn't be a dick since he is a new guy.

Very True KRoyal.... THF is friendly though BLUNT sometimes.

The 223 round will take care of pigs very well. You may need to change the type of ammo used. FMJ is not the best for body shots.
A higher priced premium ammo that expands and a scope for doing ear/head shots are much better.

AR 15 platform in 223/5.56, 6.8 SPCII or 300 Blackout & 6.5 Grendel/264LBC will work.

6.8

Who would have ever thought that now from You!

I'll second the recommendation for 300 Blackout. You could put another upper together for less than $450 and just share the BCG.

That's why I types the smiley face. :P

You sure are cute Chris. Glad you knows how to types the smiley face.

ha ha Accurate shooting a good start. Good advice and a .308 will for sure work better.

AR and good heavy bullets a good place to start.

Don't mean to thread jack, but what would make the 308 gun heavier than the 5.56?

The AR10 components are larger than the AR15 to accommodate the the larger 308 round.

I just went to DPMS sight and looked at the AR15 Recon and it is 7.65 pounds. Now same model in 308 is 8.95 pounds. Plus 308 ammo is heavier than 5.56 ammo. It doesn't seem like a lot, but 1.3 pounds might as well be a ton if you are walking for long distances.

Remington r25, at Academy, retails for $1299.99, comes out to $1407 after tax.

As far as weight goes, just the BCG on the r25/lar-10 is HUGE compared to an ar15 BCG.

The 5.56 will do a job on the hogs and has worked for thousands of hog hunters through the years. Not saying the .308 will not do a better job, just that the 5.56 is perfectly capable of stopping hogs. The guy in the chopper kills hundreds of them with one shot kills, all using the 5.56. I have both AR's and the AR10 and the AR10 would be a bugger bear to carry around for even a few hours because of its weight.

Agreed. I post it here a lot, but I'll say it again: bullet design and shot placement are more important than caliber. A properly designed 5.56 will take down a hog the same as a properly designed .308. If you're shooting hogs and they're running away, you need to evaluate your shot placement and ammo choice.

I am new here but I have used a 5.56 with 62gr Barnes Vortex bullets on hogs with excellant results.

I use 55 gr 223 rounds and do a number on hogs. But if you are looking for an AR-10 (308) look around. I was in a gun store in Tyler the other day and he got three DPMS in for $1100.00 After looking I passed on the deal because I wanted a longer barrel.

Now on the 300 Black Out, well it is a good round, but depending on if you are shooting standard or subs it will make a huge difference. I have a 300 Whisper which is the same gun, shoots the same bullets. I killed a 275 pounder not long ago with a sub, but I have killed the same if not bigger with a 223. a BO or Whisper is a good round, but not for distance. A 18 inch or higher AR-10 is the way to go for distance. But with hogs you can walk up to about 20 yards from them and they cannot see you. Keep your movements slow and stay down wind. I walked up on some the other day and killed one with a 45. The biggest thing to do is look at the cost and availability of the rounds you will get and shot placement. A good placement even with a 55 FMJ will kill a large one.

I like POF and YHM

300 blackout all the way

Love my blackout, built it for hunting hogs/deer. Have the 5.56 for target shooting/predator hunting.

Barnes Vortex with triple shock bullets in 223, and shot placement.