by Eric B
Published: March 19th, 2025
I was recently involved in a test of more than ten AR15s for hunting, including a number of brands from both Europe and the USA. To fire guns with free ammo and let others know what you think about them is always great fun, and this occasion was no exception. The testing involved both shooting in an indoor cinema and outdoors. The good thing with the cinema was that due to the low light, it was difficult to see what kind of brand and rifle I was using, to avoid any bias to a particular brand.
The AR-15 @ TFB:
- Spuhr AR15 – The AR15 Made In Sweden
- How Popular is the AR-15 When it Comes to Hunting?
- The Best Cheap AR-15
Ruger, DAR Germany, Grand Power and LWRCI (left to right).
Think before you buy
In some countries, the Government restricts the number of guns you can own, but regardless here’s some general advice from my side. Don’t just buy the cheapest rifle to fill your gun safe. Take care of your hunting rifle collection and choose the right rifle—one that really suits you! Also, keep an open mind that the AR platform might not be the best solution for your specific needs. Bolt-actions can be quite nice as well, and in some hunting parties, the AR-15 might not be as welcome – or at all.
The Grand Power R15 – Freya with 18” barrel. Note the skeletonized magazine well, which is a feature I’d avoid on a rifle that’s to spend a lot of time in the dirt.
A good friend of mine rushed to buy an AR-15 as soon as he could, without seeking better advice (mine, for instance). Now he’s stuck with a rifle that’s extremely front-heavy and has the longest, non-adjustable stock on the market. Did I mention he’s rather short? Modifying his rifle to fit him properly is certainly possible, but it will cost him thousands. He’s in the middle of that process right now, and it’s not going that well. I guess one day, after all his rebuilds, he’ll know his rifle really well and have tons of AR furniture left to sell on the secondhand market.
The German take on an AR-15 for hunting, the Schmeisser Hunter Pro with an 18″ Lothar Walther barrel. This model has Schmeisser’s famous adjustable gas block, which is great to adjust for your ammunition and if you’re going to run it suppressed.
In many countries, especially in Europe, buying and selling firearms requires permits and involves a lot of bureaucracy. Do what you can to expand your budget and invest in something solid—something you will actually use and rely on. A hunting rifle you look forward to shooting. The gun(s) gathering dust in the back of your safe isn’t going to bring you any joy, or not as much joy anyway.
The Diamondback Firearms DB15 Hunter Edition, with an 18” barrel in .223 Rem. A budget-friendly example, which provided good accuracy. I zeroed another one at 310 meters on a 20 cm steel plate, and even with the cheapest ammunition in the store and a so-so optic I got about 80% hit rate which impressed me. With an improved trigger, this rifle would be even better.
A rare sight in the USA, if it even exists. The Hera Arms GmbH, from Germany. What do you think of the design of the lower?
A LWRCI M6IC in .223 Rem. I tried to blind-test the rifles as much as possible, and this was my favorite. No wonder it also cost the most, but the finish and feel were second to none. Also, the Geissele trigger is very good for hunting with its two-stage control.
Shooting in a tunnel to check the accuracy. There’s no wind to mess things up, but firearms with compensators are quite unpleasant to shoot here.
More: https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/ar15s-for-hunting-europe-vs-usa-44819284
Exposing the Big Game 