So here is my predicament. I have an AR10 in 6.5 Creedmoor that shoots great, but is a bit of a beast. I built it primarily for target shooting, but used it for pigs in TX. With scope it is just under 14.5lbs. It is a great shooter and does well suppressed, but the weight is a big strike against the AR10. Normally I would not have a problem carrying a heavy rifle around (I do it with my Ruger Precision in 6.5 CM), but there is more to the story.
The weight is made worse as I am going to be purchasing a dedicated thermal scope. While I have a PVS14 for navigation, I cannot afford a thermal scope and a thermal scanner. This means I would need to use my rifle scope (somthing in the range of 2x) for scanning. It would be a task to offhand a 14lb AR10 for scanning. Strike 2 for the AR10. While I have thought about putting the AR10 on a diet, AR10's just by their very nature are heavy. Even a slim and trim AR10 would be harder to scan offhanded with than an AR15.
Also I have a fair amount of money tied up in my AR10. I am in the process of consolidating my gear and guns and selling some stuff off. I already have a distance rifle in my Ruger Precision 6.5CM, and could dedicate a big chunk of money toward my thermal fund if I sell my AR10.
So this leads me to considering a dedicated AR15 with thermal to take the place of my AR10 which would receive the thermal. I know the AR10 has more energy and terminal ballistics for hogs, but 6.8SPC, 6.5Grendel, and 243LBC all seem to have plenty of that for even large hogs inside 300 yards. This seems to be about the limit for shooting under thermal (or at least the thermal I can afford). If I need to shoot further in the daylight, I could just pull out my Ruger Precision. Would you ditch the AR10?
Also if I were to do this, I am leaning toward the 243LBC in a 20in lighter profile barrel. At one point I had a 243lbc, and 95gr Sierra TMK's would ring steel quite well at 600. Do you think the 243LBC is adequate for hogs inside 300? The flatter shooting would help with errors in range estimation under thermal too. I would also be open to 6x6.8.
Thanks for any input you have.
The weight is made worse as I am going to be purchasing a dedicated thermal scope. While I have a PVS14 for navigation, I cannot afford a thermal scope and a thermal scanner. This means I would need to use my rifle scope (somthing in the range of 2x) for scanning. It would be a task to offhand a 14lb AR10 for scanning. Strike 2 for the AR10. While I have thought about putting the AR10 on a diet, AR10's just by their very nature are heavy. Even a slim and trim AR10 would be harder to scan offhanded with than an AR15.
Also I have a fair amount of money tied up in my AR10. I am in the process of consolidating my gear and guns and selling some stuff off. I already have a distance rifle in my Ruger Precision 6.5CM, and could dedicate a big chunk of money toward my thermal fund if I sell my AR10.
So this leads me to considering a dedicated AR15 with thermal to take the place of my AR10 which would receive the thermal. I know the AR10 has more energy and terminal ballistics for hogs, but 6.8SPC, 6.5Grendel, and 243LBC all seem to have plenty of that for even large hogs inside 300 yards. This seems to be about the limit for shooting under thermal (or at least the thermal I can afford). If I need to shoot further in the daylight, I could just pull out my Ruger Precision. Would you ditch the AR10?
Also if I were to do this, I am leaning toward the 243LBC in a 20in lighter profile barrel. At one point I had a 243lbc, and 95gr Sierra TMK's would ring steel quite well at 600. Do you think the 243LBC is adequate for hogs inside 300? The flatter shooting would help with errors in range estimation under thermal too. I would also be open to 6x6.8.
Thanks for any input you have.
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