Semi Autos

For predator hunting, I would like to see restrictions lifted except during any deer or turkey seasons, to utilize AR type platforms. I would oppose the use for deer as I believe that would cause a lot of poor, rapid shots in woods and fields, but if you are after a yote in february and want to take advantage of one of the deadly AR variations, or other semi auto, I say go to it. I'd even agree to say, a ten round clip max if they are available.

Woodchucks come to mind also... I may have killed a few of those with semi autos already haha

Whats an AR H3 ? You talking about the H3 buffer? Or did you mean A3 configuration?

ORIGINAL: pghmarty

I have used my AR H3 Elite and an HK PSG-1 in PA
Drill 2 holes through clip just below the ramp
Put a long rivet in each hole now you have a single shot auto ejecting rifle
Expect some harassment but it is legal.
These guns are too nice not to kill a few hogs with or snipe a yote 

Yep all for it.  Long overdue for small game and predators.  I even support them for big game with a 5 round mag restriction.
 
But, as with many things in Pa, we are about 20-30 years behind other states when it comes to these things.  Kinda like Sunday hunting. 

Hunt south WV has laws permitting semi's. I've hunted there and It was a bit scary.

I have hunted WV and really never heard anything down there shot wise that I haven't heard here in PA.  I see more levers and pumps down there than anything, although some do carry the semis.  I don't see many bolts down and have received some funny looks for carrying "one of them there fancy bolt guns" 
 
Like mentioned above, guys working a pump or lever can throw lead at about the same rate as a semi can.  I really would have no problem with semis being legal for big game statewide here in PA.
 
 
 
 

Well I guess my opinion is based on the fact that people can already hunt with auto sluggers in Allegheny Co here.  I see just as many nitwits firing off from the hip with the pumps than I do with the autos.  I personally wouldn't hunt with one, but to me it wouldn't change things all that much.

We hunted closer to Elkins when we were there.  There was lots of public land, lots of hunters, and lots of deer.  I did see a few nice bucks at the check points, but all of the bucks I saw firsthand killed off the WMAs were runts and the locals made a big deal about 12" 6 points.  I have taken some doe down there and I have to laugh when I look at the pics of the last doe(adult) I killed down there, it was honestly 50-60# dressed soaking wet....lol

ORIGINAL: Outdoor Adventures
 I don't see any reason for using an auto loader here in Pa and could care less about them being legal for game other than predators.

 
Predators and small game should be a no brainer as far as I am concerned.  As legitimate sporting arms, semis should be legal for all species and seasons.  No reason that we can use semi shotguns for rabbits statewide and deer in Allegheny County but can't use a semi .22 or .270 for squirrels and deer elswhere.
 
As hunters and gun owners, it is in our best interest to fully support everyone's right to choose which sporting arm to use in the field. 

Yea it all depends, Pa has some tiny deer as well especially up north.DPMS why do you like an Autoloader over a manual action rifle for big or small game ?

ORIGINAL: countryfisher

I have some family just over cheat mountain but have never hunted in WV, figure they give you more tags there because two average WV deer equal one average sized PA farmland deer haha

   No matter where I hunt Deer I use some kind of single shot . Just a personal preference- Muzzel speaks for itself and for rifle  I use a Ruger #1.
  Small game- use a pump gun-rarely have more than 2 in it.
Here in Ct I get really upset hearing bangbangbang during Deer season- aint no way in gods creation those second two shots are going anywhere close- just a point and pray after #1. Hear it in other states too.
Ya cant legislate common sense and there are way too many guys who spray and pray. Guess Deer make some people nuts.
Not talking bout the straight hunter who aims and shoots more than once- those shots are spaced, but the Bangbangbang is all too common.
  Typical case of -- Yeeee Haaaaa--and the responsible guy gets boned
    BTW- I'd be a bit careful simply  altering a clip- lots of the laws refer to a guns "capability"--not sure how that would go in a court having only altered the clip cause the gun is still capable of more.  Maybee its no different than a plug in the shotgun limiting shells but I'd sure find out first. I'd want a legal opinion too not just asking a lot of L/E till ya find one who agrees with you. There may be lots of opinions out there but the only one that will matter is in court.

I also agree on your second paragraph and below post.

ORIGINAL: retired guy

   No matter where I hunt Deer I use some kind of single shot . Just a personal preference- Muzzel speaks for itself and for rifle  I use a Ruger #1.
Small game- use a pump gun-rarely have more than 2 in it.
Here in Ct I get really upset hearing bangbangbang during Deer season- aint no way in gods creation those second two shots are going anywhere close- just a point and pray after #1. Hear it in other states too.
Ya cant legislate common sense and there are way too many guys who spray and pray. Guess Deer make some people nuts.
Not talking bout the straight hunter who aims and shoots more than once- those shots are spaced, but the Bangbangbang is all too common.
Typical case of -- Yeeee Haaaaa--and the responsible guy gets boned
   BTW- I'd be a bit careful simply  altering a clip- lots of the laws refer to a guns "capability"--not sure how that would go in a court having only altered the clip cause the gun is still capable of more.  Maybee its no different than a plug in the shotgun limiting shells but I'd sure find out first. I'd want a legal opinion too not just asking a lot of L/E till ya find one who agrees with you. There may be lots of opinions out there but the only one that will matter is in court.

ORIGINAL: dpms

ORIGINAL: Outdoor Adventures

The upper receivers available for an AR platform are very limited to caliber choice.

There are dozens now I believe from .223 through 300WSM.  450 Bushmaster and 50 Beowolf.  Big bore thumpers that can take anything.  I would probably opt for 7MM-08.  DPMS offers that caliber in their uppers.

I could only come up with LESS than ONE dozen.. Uppers only and many won't accept the lower receiver so now you talking about replacing both. Many mag wells won't accept the rounds from big bores. Not very economical to replace both to hunt with.



.17 .204 .223 .243 .260
ArmaLite N N Y Y
LP Y
Bushmaster N N Y N N
Colt N N Y N N
DPMS N Y Y Y Y
L&G Weaponry N N Y N N
Smith & Wesson M&P N N Y N N
Olympic Arms Y
LN N Y Y
SSM N
Remington N Y Y Y N
Rock River N N Y N N
Spikes Tactical N N Y N N
Stag Arms N N Y N N
Wilson Combat N N Y N N



.30 Rem AR 7mm-08 .308 .338 Federal .450 Bush master .458 Socom
ArmaLite N Fall 2010 Y N N N
Bushmaster N N N N Y N
Colt N N N N N N
DPMS Y N Y Y N N
L&G Weaponry N Y N N N Y
Smith & Wesson M&P N N N N N N
Olympic Arms N N N N N N
Remington Y Y Y N N N
Rock River N N Y N N Y
Spikes Tactical N N N N N N
Stag Arms N N N N N N
Wilson Combat N N N N N N

Basically someone can take "any AR15 lower" and be able to swap uppers to handle everything from small game to dangerous game with todays offerings.

No, Like I said earlier, Many lowers will not except the larger mags into their mag well so a lower has to be purchased to accept the uppers larger caliber. This gets to be pricey.

ORIGINAL: Outdoor Adventures

Yea it all depends, Pa has some tiny deer as well especially up north.DPMS why do you like an Autoloader over a manual action rifle for big or small game ?

ORIGINAL: countryfisher

I have some family just over cheat mountain but have never hunted in WV, figure they give you more tags there because two average WV deer equal one average sized PA farmland deer haha

 
Not sure about the AR-type rifles, but Browning makes (made) and autoloader.  Since it was gas operated, there was a reduced recoil sensation.  That could be a plus for a smaller size person that wishes to use a little larger caliber without increasing the recoil.

ORIGINAL: Outdoor Adventures

Yes but a factory "managed recoil" load would produce the same results.

 

Presuming that they are available in the caliber that you want, which they may not be, while that may be true on the recoil end, the result on the terminal end may not be what is desired.
 
As an example, I ended up on an elk hunt with a gentleman that was about 130 pounds if he was soaking wet.  He was shooting a Browning auto in 300 Winchester with a relatively heavy bullet.  The autoloader permitted him to do that.

Now here is the data for a 300 win standard 150 factory load.

http://www.remington.com/comparison.aspx