Should I Buy A Hunting Rifle?

[GunSmoke]

My neighbor is taking me hunting in a couple weeks. Going to Eastern WA for Mule Deer. Lots of walking he says. The only gun I have to hunt with is a 16" ar10 in 308. It's pretty heavy. Should I roll with that for my first time or buy a designated bolt gun for hunting? What's a good starting rifle?
Thanks in advance for the advice

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[bionic knees]

if you can hit what you shoot at take it.

 

[GunSmoke]

if you can hit what you shoot at take it.

I guess the familiarity aspect is in my favor

 

[JRuby]

To me and this is just my opinion you don't have time to become familiar with a new rifle in two weeks. I would simply get a five round clip for the ar10 and lug that around. 308 is an excellent cartridge to hunt deer with. Normally around the middle of June I start getting ready for hunting as by then in Oregon i know what my hunts will be. Use what you have for now and if you enjoy hunting plan to buy a dedicated hunting rifle. Since it will be your first hunting rifle buy it in a cartridge that you can use on deer and elk. My recommendation is 30-06 others would suggest other cartridges. This is just my recomendation.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

A hunting rifle is simply a rifle you use to hunt with ...be it a flintlock or a AR10.
Both are rifles...both can be used for hunting.

With that said....
Most of my hunting has been more of hiking with a gun...
So I prefer a firearm that I can carry all day and still make hits with , when I am :
Tired...
Hungry...
Wet....
Cold....
As well as :
In poor light
And usually without a rest or support....

Some rifles lend themselves to this type of shooting more than others.

Since you only have 2 weeks before the hunt , I'd suggest that you use the rifle you have...
And if you like the idea of hunting...maybe start looking for a rifle that suits how and where you are going to hunt , when you get back from your trip.
Andy

 

[oremike]

Hunt with what you have, and then after that, the correct number of guns is just one more.

 

[CountryGent]

Since you only have 2 weeks before the hunt , I'd suggest that you use the rifle you have...
And if you like the idea of hunting...maybe start looking for a rifle that suits how and where you are going to hunt , when you get back from your trip.

^ This.

 

[titsonritz]

Lots of walking he says. The only gun I have to hunt with is a 16" ar10 in 308. It's pretty heavy.

Make sure you have a good sling.

 

[Labradorian]

Use the AR. if you you get skunked and totally hate it, your only souvenir is an expired tag.

 

[Certaindeaf]

My neighbor is taking me hunting in a couple weeks. Going to Eastern WA for Mule Deer. Lots of walking he says. The only gun I have to hunt with is a 16" ar10 in 308. It's pretty heavy. Should I roll with that for my first time or buy a designated bolt gun for hunting? What's a good starting rifle?
Thanks in advance for the advice

Sportsmans is selling Savage bolt guns with a usable scope on it for $300 right now so do that.
Get it in .308.

 

[DirectDrive]

Use the AR10.
You have two weeks to :
Get a good, comfortable sling.
Get a 5 or 10 round mag. (I don't see a mag capacity limit for WA in the regs)
Get some bona fide hunting ammo.
Get sighted in with your hunting ammo.

I'd get crackin' right now !

Edit:
If your hunting partner is using a Rhino, get a Rhino and learn how to use it !

 

[dangerranger60]

I have not been on very many hunts where the gun made a big difference in bringing home dinner. Learning to hunt is a learning curve. your first couple hunts you need to learn alot! Your AR will not hold you back! I have shot a few deer, none of them over 100 yds, most of them at less than 50 yards! There are places you will need a specialized rifle, like Great Plains states, or shooting over flat fields. But that is probably not going to be the case where you are going. Good Luck!

 

[titsonritz]

Use the AR. if you you get skunked and totally hate it, your only souvenir is an expired tag.

Assuming you don't have a heart attack.

 

[GunSmoke]

Use the AR10.
You have two weeks to :
Get a good, comfortable sling.
Get a 5 round mag to be legal.
Get some bona fide hunting ammo.
Get sighted in with your hunting ammo.

I'd get crackin' right now !

Edit:
If your hunting partner is using a Rhino, get a Rhino and learn how to use it !

I thought there was no round limit for rifles. Or is there?

 

[DirectDrive]

I thought there was no round limit for rifles. Or is there?

I thought about that and checked.
I don't see a mag capacity limit for WA. (edited my post)
It must be OR has a 5 round limit.

 

[CountryGent]

I thought about that and checked.
I don't see a mag capacity limit for WA. (edited my post)
It must be OR has a 5 round limit.

The last I checked, there is a 5-round limit on semi-automatics in Oregon. No idea in the Evergreen State.

 

[Labradorian]

The last I checked, there is a 5-round limit on semi-automatics in Oregon. No idea in the Evergreen State.

*Standard mags are legal. (someone slap me if I'm wrong...)

*They are standard capacity mags, not high, cause I keep my mags out of my weed. Personally, I despise the term.

 

[TM-Salem]

What you need is a lever gun for your first hunt. I will trade you one of mine for that AR10

 

[GunSmoke]

What you need is a lever gun for your first hunt. I will trade you one of mine for that AR10

I actually do really want a lever action some day

 

[Nosferatu]

As much as I believe the AR10 is the last thing I'd want to lug around with me while waking around looking for an ungulate to whack, but it's a bit late to be arming up for a trip. Use what you have for now. If you get into it, then shop for a purpose suited weapon.

Your focus right now should be on ammo. Whatever you do, don't use that milsurp Yugoslavian 147 grain 7.62x51 you got 13 years ago in a sling pack at bimart. Look for something with a good bullet designed for the purpose. Try a couple different loads if you can and see what works best in your gun.

You'd be better off buying a Safeway gift card than new gun right now. Only one offers a guarantee of meat in the freezer.