I’ve never thought of my AR as a sporting rifle.
You might if you were shooting herds of wild pigs.
Please see post 18.
Until about 18 months ago, I never owned an AR of any caliber. One day I discovered the platform can support a huge variety of calibers other than 5.56x45 NATO (aka .223). But the fact that .223 is so widespread, I decided to build one.
Mine looks like a hunting rifle and is heavy. That is because that is what I built it for. It has a heavy 18” 1:8 rifling 5.56x45mm NATO barrel without a bunch of machining on the barrel taper. It does not have a carrying handle. I built a maple stock for it, it is a natural blond color. smile. It does not have a bird cage on the barrel.
Now the important thing about it, is how I load for it. I shoot semi Spitzer 70 gr SP bullets (not the normal 55gr FMJ). And the charge I use is a bit more than normal.
So, it is certainly a hunting rifle. It will easily kill a white tail deer, or wild hog. (it is legal to hunt deer in Texas with .223)
It is one of a kind, that suits me.
Most people don’t know that there are 2 30 caliber cartridges that can operate on the AR15 platform. 7.62x39 (as in AK) and 300 Blackout. All that is needed to change is a new upper assembly, 2 pins hold it in place.
Am I in love with the AR15, no. I really prefer 30 caliber or larger. For many reason.
ARs are Anti-Tyrant rifles.