While your average AR-15 chambered in 5.56mm/.223 is NOT legal, you can legally use an AR Rifle as long as it is chambered in a straight wall caliber. The straight-wall caliber can be as small as a .357 and as large as .50 caliber. The .350 legend is included in the legal calibers according to the ODNR.
>>> See a full list of legal cartridges here
Most Common Straight Wall Calibers for AR Rifles
The most common calibers you will people use in AR-style rifles in Ohio are .350 Legend and .450 Bushmaster. Ammunition for these calibers is easier to find now since they have become so popular.
The Benefit to Hunting With an AR Style Rifle
The bottom line, your shot placement is what matters when hunting no matter the weapon. There are some advantages to hunting with an AR platform compared to a bold action or single shot.
The first advantage is that an AR rifle is semi-automatic. If a follow-up shot is needed, you can be fast to pull the trigger to make an ethical kill instead of having to eject a casing and reload. See the below video. I needed a follow-up shot.
The second advantage to an AR platform is that you customize them more than your typical bolt action or single shot. There are so many accessories to add to your AR. Just to name a few: front grips, slings, lights, iron sights..etc
A third advantage is that you can get an AR that is short in length. This makes them more maneuverable than a long-barrel rifle, especially in a blind or thick cover.
A fourth advantage is that you can easily change the upper on your AR to a different caliber. You don’t need to be a gunsmith to do this either. Swapping an upper takes less than 30 seconds.
The AR magazines will hold many more rounds than your average bolt gun. In Ohio, you can only carry 3 rounds in your gun so be mindful of that law. You can be criminally charged if you are carrying more than 3 rounds so do not fill up your 20-30 round magazines and head to the woods.
Which Straight Wall Calibers Can I Find an AR Rifle Chambered In?
The most common straight wall calibers for AR Rifles are .350 legend and .450 Bushmaster. You can also find them chambered in .50 Beowulf and 45-70 although these are not common.
.350 Legend
The .350 is popular because of the low recoil compared to a .450 Bushmaster. With a muzzle velocity of 2200 fps, the Hornady Whitetail 170gr SP round only drops 19.4″ at 300 yards with a zero of 200yards. Pricewise, these are cheaper to shoot than the .450 Bushmaster. These will cost you about $1.45 each time you pull the trigger.
.450 Bushmaster
The .450 is a beast of a round and hits hard. With a muzzle velocity of 2200 fps, the Hornady Black 250gr FTX round only drops 19.3″ at 300 yards with a zero of 200 yards. It has very similar ballistics as the .350, but the payload is an additional 80gr of lead hitting your target. Pricewise, you’re looking at around $2.15 every time you pull the trigger.
