Wilson Combat Protector Carbine .300 HAM'R 16.25"

Wilson Combat's Protector Carbine in .300 HAM'R is the most capable AR-15 hunting rifle currently manufactured. Bill Wilson engineered .300 HAM'R by necking up .223 Remington to .30 caliber, producing a cartridge that fires 125-grain bullets at 2,550 fps from a 16-inch barrel. Terminal performance on deer and hogs is effectively identical to .308 Winchester inside 300 yards, but the round fits standard AR-15 magazines and uses a standard AR-15 lower.

The Protector Carbine uses a Wilson Combat match-grade stainless steel 16.25-inch barrel with 1:15 twist, threaded 5/8x24 for suppressors. A mid-length gas system runs smooth with both supersonic hunting loads and subsonic suppressed practice ammunition. Wilson's TTU (Tactical Trigger Unit) is a two-stage match trigger breaking crisply at 4 pounds. The rifle ships with a BCMGUNFIGHTER grip, Wilson Combat M-LOK handguard, and Rogers Super-Stoc.

Where this rifle earns its $2,195 price tag is long-term hunting capability. At 300 yards, .300 HAM'R retains 1,140 ft-lbs of energy with Wilson's 125gr HP load, more than .30-30 retains at 200 yards. It is the rare hunting AR-15 that works equally well on coyote, hog, black bear, and deer without cartridge changes, and it does all of that from a standard AR-15 magazine and lower. For hunters who already own an AR-15 lower, a complete Wilson Combat .300 HAM'R upper runs $900-$1,100.