AR-15 What caliber AR should I buy?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - AR-15 What caliber AR should I buy?

Posted: 11/22/2008 9:48:15 PM EDT

I am new to this site and AR's so new info would be great. I am looking to buy an AR in the near future and am not really sure what caliber I should buy it in. I mainly want the gun for a combination of shooting around for fun, target practice, self defense, not really for home but just in case things pop off in our country and I need it to protect my family. And I might just maybe hunt dear and elk but probably not. I have heard a few bad things about the 5.56mm and am kinda thinking about the 7.62/.308 for the gun instead. They both have very cheap ammo in bulk. Im just not sure if the 5.56 will be enough stopping power if I need to use it. I dont want to waste my money on the 6.5 or the 6.8. I dont really care about shooting past 300 yds with this gun because I plan on getting a rifle especially made for that purpose. Thats why I am thinking about getting the 7.62 because of its knock down power and decent accuracy. Let me know what you guys think.

Posted: 11/22/2008 9:55:50 PM EDT

[#1]

Why would you be wasting your money on a 6.8 or 6.5? I own 3 5.56 and 2 6.8 and I would much rather grab a 6.8 than 5.56. Either will do the job but IMO the 6.8 has more authority than 5.56.

Posted: 11/22/2008 9:57:18 PM EDT

[#2]

5.56 is the way to go.

Plenty of "stopping power".

Light recoil, very fast shot-to-shot times.

Ammo is cheap, great variety, readily available all over the place.

Ammo is small and light, enabling you to carry more, should you need to.

I can see having an AR in a "non-standard" caliber, for special purposes, ONLY if you already have at least one in 5.56.

The 5.56 AR, especially a 16-incher, is one of the greatest "general purpose" long guns in existence, I feel.

Posted: 11/22/2008 11:39:31 PM EDT

[#3]

Welcome Aboard

and +1 to what VinniVidiVici said

Posted: 11/23/2008 12:07:43 AM EDT

[#4]

5.56 hands down if its your only AR. Yep, VinniVidiVici laid it out pretty well, so +2.

And welcome!

Posted: 11/23/2008 1:14:47 PM EDT

[#5]

Why so much on the 5.56? Is the 7.62 or the 6.8 a bad round? What are the average prices for 5.56?

Posted: 11/23/2008 1:57:47 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Why so much on the 5.56? Is the 7.62 or the 6.8 a bad round? What are the average prices for 5.56?

ViniVidivici hit the nail on the head for the reasons he stated. There is inherently nothing wrong with 7.62 or 6.8 chamberings. Just that finding critical parts like bolts and mags for the 7.62 is harder than 5.56 parts and with the 6.8, ammo is expensive and harder to find.

if this is your first AR, get the 5.56 first and then get the other calibers after.

Posted: 11/23/2008 2:03:51 PM EDT

[#7]

Other than the deer hunting you mentioned, I would recommend the 5.56. However, it is too small a caliber for legal deer hunting here in VA, perhaps not in ID.

Posted: 11/23/2008 4:01:53 PM EDT

[#8]

Ok im pretty sure im going to buy the 5.56 first and buy a different caliber upper later. Would you guys recommend a 7.62 or a 6.8 upper? 7.62 has cheaper ammo and its easier to find. Let me know what you guys think.

Posted: 11/23/2008 4:04:55 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:
Ok im pretty sure im going to buy the 5.56 first and buy a different caliber upper later. Would you guys recommend a 7.62 or a 6.8 upper? 7.62 has cheaper ammo and its easier to find. Let me know what you guys think.

You cant slap a 7.62x52 upper on your 5.56 lower.

Just build an AR-10 Armalite should be having a sale soon.

Posted: 11/23/2008 4:10:24 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:

5.56 is the way to go.

Plenty of "stopping power".

Light recoil, very fast shot-to-shot times.

Ammo is cheap, great variety, readily available all over the place.

Ammo is small and light, enabling you to carry more, should you need to.

I can see having an AR in a "non-standard" caliber, for special purposes, ONLY if you already have at least one in 5.56.

The 5.56 AR, especially a 16-incher, is one of the greatest "general purpose" long guns in existence, I feel.

This.

Posted: 11/23/2008 4:10:58 PM EDT

[#11]

imo, 5.56 is the way to go unless you plan on hunting larger game with it.

Posted: 11/23/2008 4:13:44 PM EDT

[#12]

Affirmed he is probably talking 7.62x39. I would do a 6.8 before I did a 7.62x39.

5.56 will be much cheaper to shoot. A lot of AR's won't shoot cheap surplus stuff without a few modifications. Especially in 7.62x39. 6.8 is plenty to take deer and works with a standard lower. I would get a 5.56 upper first. You will end up with more than 1 either way.

Posted: 11/23/2008 4:25:47 PM EDT

[#13]

Quoted:
Why would you be wasting your money on a 6.8 or 6.5? I own 3 5.56 and 2 6.8 and I would much rather grab a 6.8 than 5.56. Either will do the job but IMO the 6.8 has more authority than 5.56.

Same here.

Posted: 11/23/2008 4:59:09 PM EDT

[#14]

I am thinking about buying a Rock River lower reciever and then buying a Model 1 Sales upper in 5.56mm. Would it be better just to buy the gun already built or to buy them seperate?

Posted: 11/23/2008 5:06:20 PM EDT

[#15]

5.56 for the first AR. Add other calibers as you get full blown BRD.

Posted: 11/23/2008 5:48:13 PM EDT

[#16]

Wish I could find some of that cheap 5.56 ammo!

Posted: 11/23/2008 6:09:44 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
5.56 is the way to go.

Plenty of "stopping power".

Light recoil, very fast shot-to-shot times.

Ammo is cheap, great variety, readily available all over the place.

Ammo is small and light, enabling you to carry more, should you need to.

I can see having an AR in a "non-standard" caliber, for special purposes, ONLY if you already have at least one in 5.56.

The 5.56 AR, especially a 16-incher, is one of the greatest "general purpose" long guns in existence, I feel.

+3, buy the 5.56, then when you get down the road diversify your portfolio...

-RH

Posted: 11/23/2008 6:43:24 PM EDT

[#18]

if you're gonna have a AR15, you want at least ur 1st to be 5.56....

then ur 2nd one can be 6.8/6.5/5.45/50bmg

Posted: 11/23/2008 8:19:26 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Ok im pretty sure im going to buy the 5.56 first and buy a different caliber upper later. Would you guys recommend a 7.62 or a 6.8 upper? 7.62 has cheaper ammo and its easier to find. Let me know what you guys think.

I would go for a .450 bushmaster!

Posted: 11/23/2008 8:34:53 PM EDT

[#20]

+1 for .223. I have several, and have owned them for a while. I haven't had the need for anything else although I have been collecting parts for a 9mm conversion forever.

Posted: 11/23/2008 9:20:52 PM EDT

[#21]

5.56!! If you want a 7.62x39, get an ak. The 5.56 ar is IMO the most versitle gun ever. Great from 5 yds to 300+yds. I wouldnt sport hunt anything more than deer with it if its even legal in your state, but in a shtf case, you could take anything from squirrels to elk(prolly wonna aim for the head) for food.

Posted: 11/23/2008 9:51:20 PM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:
Why so much on the 5.56? Is the 7.62 or the 6.8 a bad round? What are the average prices for 5.56?

5.56 is the most readily available. I would only go 6.8 if you already have a 5.56 set up. + if 5.56 is good enough for our troops in combat, it's good enough for you.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - AR-15 What caliber AR should I buy?

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