Got the ok to get myself a new Christmas Present, which means a new gun in my house. I've been wanting on AR/Semi auto rifle for a while so I've assumed I'd be getting an AR15 (S&W or Bushmaster price range) for a while, but while perusing comments here and there, Im starting to debate getting an AR10 instead.
Purpose for this rifle are/would be something synthetic that I wont be upset about banging around the inside of a UTV while hauling butt through a muddy lease, hog hunting, maybe take a deer with it (have a couple of other rifles for this primary purpose - but if opportunities arise...) varmint hunting (no concern about fur quality after shot) and general shenanigans.
Primary thoughts though are something rough and tumble I can play with on a lease and hog hunt with plus something new. Looking to spend between $500 - $800 to give you a general idea of quality of either rifle I'd get.
Ive seen plenty of comments about being able to take hogs with a .223, but followed by "perfect shot placement" and the same rule applying to taking a hog with a 22 with that same placement. Not that I intend to take any "gambled" shots at a living animal, but I'd prefer not to have to hit a dime at 150 yards if I can get a little more leeway with an AR10.
Anyone have personal experience and/or advise as to whether or not an AR10 would be better served for this purpose than an AR15 or vice versa?

I would recommend the 308, followed by 6.8 if you decide to go with the AR15 platform instead of the AR10.

Put the money towards a quality barrel and trigger. You could stay within your budget if you build your own, but your going to have to spend 2-300 more if you want those quality components on one you purchase.

With a good sling that you don't go cheap on the weight of the AR10 is very manageable for spot and stalk.

You will shoot a good number of hogs that you will never recover with the 223. I have all 3 so I'm speaking from experience.

AR-10 is HEAVY. If you haven't handled one I'd strongly urge you to do so before making a purchase.

If you're having second thoughts about using a 223 (and it sounds like you are) I'd go with a 6.8SPC or a 6.5 Grendel. Both are on the AR-15 platform and don't have the weight of the AR-10. Best of both worlds.

Thanks - this is exactly the kind of reply I was looking for. Pretty consistent with what I've read from other posts/comments as well, especially the last statement re .223.

I honestly have never had a problem with downing a pig with an 223...or deer for that matter. I know the internet says it's not supposed to work. But simply speaking from my real world experience, its not been an issue.

The ar15 platform is lighter, comparatively less expensive, and cheaper to shoot.

The ar10 platform is heavier, comparatively more expensive more expensive, and more expensive to shoot...but you def get more range and knockdown.

I was just in the same boat trying to decide ar15 vs ar10. I went with a 556 ar15 and saved the higher caliber for a bolt gun.

Thanks - Im getting the same feedback from friends as well.

Have you thought about the 7.62x39 AR style. Probably don't have the greater distance past 200 yd. as the 6.8 or 6.5 if that was needed. Kind of cheap ammo though. 124 grn. Bullets 30 cal. Just a thought.

Forgot to mention I'm shooting 62 grain fusion out of a 16 inch barrel with a 1/8 twist. Works great.

In a lot of the 7.62x39 rifles there have been feeding problems with certain magazines. Not sure if that is still a factor or not. Didn't those rifles require radiused magazines instead of straight ones because of the tapered cases?

A 6.8 with a 16" barrel is short, light, and maneuverable and should easily take a deer or hog out to 250 yd shooting a heavier bullet.

Sounds like you want the AR15, it is going to be lighter and more compact than the AR10. I didn’t like the .223 so I went with a 300 Blackout and love it. It’s my 0-150 yard gun for running around the lease and tears up hogs and I’m sure deer. Once you get your lower built you can switch out uppers and have different calibers ready to go. Do a little research and look at the Blackout and the 6.5 Grebdel

I shot a friends 16" DPMS AR10 recently - I liked it.

Short, fast handling, lots of energy downrange, cheap ammo. About a 2 lb. penalty over my S&W MP15 Sport - same overall length. It cost him $800. new, without sights. I just may have to get one.......

If weight is an issue up your budget a few hundred and get a G2Recon. Otherwise buy a complete blem upper and lower from PSA and call it a day.

Funny you say that- that's exactly what my buddy sent me.

Here is my experience. I shoot a 223 - 300blk - 308 all in AR platforms. I mainly hunt from and ranger while driving around. All are fun to shoot!

My 223 is my all purpose gun. Cheap ammo and light recoil. Red dot sights. Have killed many rabbits, coyotes, coons, and few pigs. The reason for just a few pigs is because when you see pigs driving around, they rarely are standing still. I agree with shot placement but when you catch pigs running thru brush, after the first shot will be more rapid firing. I have seen numerous pigs hit multiple times with 223 rounds and they not go down. They might die eventually but doubt you will find them before the buzzards do. We have caught many groups in an open field and only a few go down with 223s. I wouldn't shoot a deer with it mainly because of the scope but have shot many deer with a 222 and shot placement.

My 300blk is more of my blind gun but road hunt with it also. 3x9 scope. Just more selective in shooting. Ammo is a bit more expensive so rabbit hunting is minimal. Limited range but I have dropped numerous hogs with this round out to 150yrds on a run. Have killed one deer with this gun and was not a good experience solely because of the bullet type.

308 is my favorite pig gun. Thermal scope. Ammo is expensive but worth it. Heavy gun but don't notice it much when shooting. The soft point rounds are devastating. Complete destruction. Never had a pig run further than 10-15 yards even with a ham shot. Wouldn't doubt shooting a deer. However, I've blown close to $100 in ammo shooting rabbits. Lol. It was a blast though.

You should be able to buy/build a 223 or 300 within that price range but an AR 10 will cost a bit more.

My next build will be AR-7.62. Cheap ammo and good all purpose round. Should be very comparable to the 308 but it won't hurt you pocket every time you pull the trigger. My BIL just built one for about $600.

I hope this helps.

It absolutely does. Thanks for the info. I'm starting to like the idea of starting with an AR15, then getting
A new upper or two down the road so it can best suit the sport. I've got a handful of rifles (30-30 and 270) so this would be a fun change of pace.

X2

An AR-10 is NOT a "run around" gun. Especially if you are running with a full magazine. If you are going to keep it in your UTV and not go walking through the woods, a 10 would be fine. But if you intend to get out an d be on your feet, a 10 is gonna weight you down.

Don't forget the .300 Blackout, .458 SOCOM, and .50 Beowulf cartridges that are also available in the 15 platform.

Its a no brainer. The AR15 is the best run around do it all gun for sure. It is the modern sporting rifle in every way. The AR10 is the original AR and a fine weapon but it is a big heavy brute compared to its smaller more refined cousin.

223 sucks unless you are hunting [censored] sapiens but 6.8 or 6.5 Grendel or even 762X39 would be the best choices for your AR for your situation.

If you like to shoot over 200 yards a lot then go with the Grendel if you stay under 200 always then the 6.8 is the way to go. If you want the cheapest ammo on the planet to go shooting 1000's of rounds at the range then the AK bullet is your ticket. Hornady SST's in all 3 calibers are devastating on hogs and deer.

If you're hunting deer or hogs or elk or other large game, get the .308. If the primary purpose is to carry, plink, and shoot varmints, the .223 is fine. I have both the ar15 and ar10. I've never been impressed with the 223's performance on game, especially when compared to a legitimate .30 cal cartridge.

If going with the .308 modern sporting rifle, not all of them weigh the same. Depending on the configuration, the weight between otherwise similar firearms can vary by up to 3+ pounds. That is substantial. I believe the M&P 10 and the DPMS Gen 2 are among some of the lighter modes. I owned a Sig 716 Patrol that was like carrying an anchor. Of course, I you can afford a SCAR 17, that is probably the obvious choice.

458 socom, 450 Bushmaster, 50 Beowulf. Any of those will take anything inside your 150 yard range and no worries about fur requirements. And IF you have to track it, it's not going far. I will warn you that you will need hearing protection if you aren't suppressing them. Otherwise, go with the 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC mentioned earlier.

Keep in mind on the AR15 and 300blk, the only difference is the barrel. If you have a AR15, you can go online and purchase a 300blk upper (about $300-400) and have 2 calibers to shoot. Essentially get 2 AR platforms for around $800-$1000 total.

I bought my 300 upper from www.redxarms.com and have been very happy with it. Paid $365 delivered to my door. Bought the lower at a pawn shop for $300.

Cheap steel 7.62x39, .223, and 6.5 Grendel are all about the same. If that's the route you want to go.

Personally, all 5 (not a ton I know) deer I've shot with .223 have died quickly with good wounds.(not to hijack the thread. ). I will probably get a 6.5 Grendel, because the owner who lets me hunt thinks a 7mm wealtherby is minimum for Texas game and I reload.

AR10....i was hell bent on getting one. Then i went to see them. No thanks. To heavy, bulky..

I have both and recommend starting with an AR15 in 5.56. You'll learn the platform and functionality without messing around with extra weight of an AR10 and figuring out the nuances of AR15 variants (300, 7.62x39, 6.5, 458, etc). Once you've determined a need for a bigger caliber then you can look at the AR10 and AR15 variants.