Glad to hear it all went well.

I've often heard that some semi-automatics are just a well placed match stick and a bit of chewing gum away from automatichood - not that that's going to be necessary with what you've got there. They surely don't have people shooting with automatics in competitions do they?

Not if you are competing for accuracy. Since Smoker is sighting his AR15 in for 180 meters, I would assume he is competing for accuracy.

I used to compete in a 22LR pistol team and we had a mix of rapid fire, timed fire and free fire. The person with the best of all, won the match. I did quite well with my stock Ruger MKII with iron sights against the guys with lasers and scopes. I was by far the youngest guy on the team by a stretch of at least 20 years, so the older guys had a lot more experience but not such good eyes. LOL

I'd guess since he's sighting for 180 meters, he's sighting so he don't miss the hog!
(My M14 is sighted for around 150 yards... I cannot imagine using the iron sights for much further. I'd switch to the .218 or the .300 for any ranging...) for deer, I use the M30carbine or my trusty .218 yeah it's a little weak for deer, but in the south, they don't grow very large...

I shoot in whats called practical or action shooting. Over on that side of the pond it's IPSC, here it's USPSA and 3Gun Nation. Multiple targets, with physical obstacles, and a running course (I do a fast walk, I'm old and broken).

I have been doing the AR at up to about 275 meters with iron sights, but they've recently changed the rules to allow non-magnified optics in the iron sight category so I'm trying to get used to a red dot. Targets are usually reactive steel plates either 4 or 6" round, so it's not too bad, unless you're old an out of shape and fairly winded by the time you get to the shot :).

Full auto or burst fire will get you disqualified....even if it's a firearm malfunction and not an intentional modification.

Hunting is either a bow or an old 30-06 Springfield....although I have taken a lot of deer with vehicles...

I still have one of those MKII's...stainless with the 10" bull barrel. Accurate beastie.