Rifle for my son

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drjoker
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Re: Rifle for my son

Post by drjoker »

SecedeTX wrote:My wife thinks I have lost my mind.
Just do it. Get your wife roses later. Cook her some tasty venison dishes in your smoker. She'll get over it. I promise.

Don't ask us what your son wants. Ask your son. Maybe he doesn't want an AR. Maybe, gasp, he wants a Mauser or a 30-06. Break out the chili and start a camp fire. Ask him. He'll surprise you. I promise.

P.S. A buddy of mine asked me what AR to get his daughter. I told him not to ask me but her. He did and it turns out she doesn't like ARs at all. She wanted a CZ rifle with shiny walnut stock. Surprised him. She's only shot my CZ once. She's shot various ARs of various calibers that he owns, but he doesn't even own a CZ.
TrackinPat
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Location: Houston, Texas

Re: Rifle for my son

Post by TrackinPat »

SecedeTX wrote:I got an unexpected half day off on Friday and decided to drop by my local firearm shop just to see what was going on. By the end of the day I walked out with 50ish pmags for a great deal for a few of my buddies and myself. While I was there, the guy behind the counter said "We have Precision Aero stripped lowers for $69 bucks, do you want one?" I have more than a few AR rifles, a few complete lowers already built, and really did not NEED another rifle. But then the thought hit me. My 10 year old son, who went to deer camp last year for his first time only has a .22. My thought was, buy a stripped lower and order a build kit for us to build HIS hunting rifle from the ground up....trigger, springs, everything. We can take time to do everything from scratch and build him something to take down his first deer.

My thinking is, if he can build it from scratch, he will know how to use it, clean it, and respect it more than if I just purchased it for him for Christmas.

I do not use an AR platform for deer hunting. My question is, for east Texas, if I build a 5.56 with iron sights for my son to hunt his first deer, is this a good platform for him to use? I hunt with a 30.06 (overkill) or a 30.30 (about right) both bolt action with a scope. I really want him to learn open sights first, and then go to a scope.

I think it will be a good father/son deal, plus have his personal buy-in on HIS rifle. On top of that he will learn his rifle. Am I off point on this? My wife thinks I have lost my mind. She is not against hunting, but she is a bit worried about my son building his own AR. It will live in my safe and only used while a deer camp, mind you.

Beyond that, how would you optimize the 5.56 platform for deer hunting?
That sounds like an absolutely amazing father/son project and I commend you for taking it upon yourself to do such a thing! :mrgreen: :patriot: :txflag:
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blackdog8200
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Re: Rifle for my son

Post by blackdog8200 »

For hunting with the AR in 5.56, I use the 75 Grain TAP by Hornady, The 55 grain TAP load is great too (Which one shoots better in your gun makes the difference)Current availablity will be an issue..... There are some soft point rounds that do just fine out there....all will likely blow up inside the deer at less than 200 yards....

I'll assume since you are wanting to use Iron Sights that this will be 200 yards or less? I like a 4 power for the older eyes but a red dot sight is awesome at these ranges. The build of the gun will determine the ultimate accuracy.

Texas white tails are a thin skinned critter CPX2 and the 5.56 / .223 kills alot of deer and pigs. Even a FMJBT XM193 will cause a dramatic wound cavity and might not exit the deer. It litterally jellies the insides around the heart and lungs. Some will say a bullet should have at least 1000 ftlbs at whatever range you want to hunt and the 556 will be around 600 ftlbs at 200 yards.....But...... bullet placement is always paramount. Head shots are great if you can take them.


The AR platform is very flexible, so one of the other better game round uppers will suit well too.

Cool dad to build an AR with your son!
Harris County
NRA Life Member 1986
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