Like it or not, AR-15 rifles are already legal for deer hunting in the appropriate calibers. I hunted with one for probably the first five years that PCR's were legal.

I've got a rather simple question for you: What non-cosmetic differences are there in these two rifles?


Ruger SR-556


Ruger Ranch Rifle


How about these two?


Ruger SR-22


Ruger 10/22


As for someone showing up in camo to ask a farmer for hunting permission: If I were a farmer, I'd more than likely choose the hunter type over some guy who showed up in a business suit and tie looking like he was lucky to know which end of a rifle to shoulder. Of course, one should show up clean and respectful, but I don't care about their attire selections.

Perhaps if more people would field "black rifles", the general public might realize their legitimate sporting usages and accept them. I'm sure that there are a few guys out there that feel ostracized by their ownership of such firearms, but hopefully they'll overcome that soon enough. AR-15's would excel in the hunting world due to their versatility and modularity. They are more impervious to foul weather than their wooden contemporaries, and simple enough for someone with very minimal training to work on the internal components.