I have a bullbarreled flattop dpms in .223 and it's my go to gun for yotes. Yotes,groundhogs,and playing is the ONLY things it's going to be used for with 55 gr softpoints. The other evening it all came together and I was able to shoot 3 yotes out of a pack! I NEVER could have gotten that many if not for that AR or rifle similar to it. As to deer and defense,I prefer a bigger cartridge as I don't trust a groundhog rifle for battle/deer hunting.