The slots in the flat-top receiver give hunters a lot of latitude when mounting a scope, and the vented free-float tube helps dissipate heat.

These criticisms aside, I think the R-25 is a big step toward making the AR platform a better (or at least more popular) big game hunting rifle, and my experience in Texas indicates that when it comes to the actual shooting part, it certainly can hold its own with most any production rifle, regardless of type. And in some regards I'd say it's actually superior.

On the last evening, our big game tags filled, Danny, Derrek Sigler and I sat in a box blind overlooking a bait pile. Sure enough, at last light a group of wild boars scampered in. Derrek and I picked out two medium-size pigs, and on a count of three we let fly. Pandemonium ensued, but Danny quickly realized one of the pigs was only wounded as it began to scamper into the darkness.

"Get that pig!" he urged, and I swung onto the wounded hog and delivered two quick shots that stopped it. I doubt I could've done that so easily with anything but an AR.

While chasing this black Hawaiian ram, the author found the R-25 to be on the heavy side. Still, it proved a deadly hunting rifle -- quick shooting at short range and accurate enough for long range work.