Posted: 11/4/2025 9:28:51 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Scotts556][Edited]
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I am slowly gathering the bits and pieces to get back into longer distance shooting. The one thing i cant seem to come up with a solid decision on is caliber. I'm sticking with a small frame AR, trying to keep it decently priced with mid ranged parts. But with some of these newer calibers out there, I'm just stuck in analysis paralysis. So here is the options..... Rifle will be a 16 inch suppressed rifle. 3-18 optic. should be a handy package. .223 obviously the cheapest, most common option out there, but not the best, and factory match ammo is not common on the shelf where i live. 22 ARC, I feel like its the middle ground. Hot rod little round, but uses lower cost 22 cal bullets. Decent on the shelf ammo options.  my current pick. 6 ARC, I feel is the best, but component costs are the highest, but the best performance. Let the discussion begin. ~Scotts556 Edited for clarity. |
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If you don't have a 5.56, then 5.56. That's the one you need for if the S hits the H, and I and T is coming around the corner. That's one everybody has, ammo is cheap comparatively, and easy to find so long as there's some structure left and supplies. If you have to get into a fight, and you win, chances are, that guy is going to give you another 5.56 with 5.56 or .223 ammo. You can stack it deep and stock it cheap. Once you get enough of that in your stash, then you can look at other options. I still like the 6.5G, but I like the 6.8 spec II, and if you handload, the advantage goes to the 6.8 spec II out to the distances you're likely to shoot using an actual usable length barrel. My 16" shoot 110gr at @2725fps, or 90gr TNTs or Gold Dots at @2975fps, 85gr TTX at 3,050fps, 115gr SMK at 2600-2650fps without any specially modified mags, just loading them to mag length. They will even out around 450-550 yards depending on load, but you're likely not going to take shots that far off. I still believe those are the two most capable rounds that give you at least 25rds in a mag, that feeds reliably consistently. Everything out since those two have either lost by a tad bit or beat them by a tad bit. Not enough to matter. But, if you've got a hankering for one of the ARC calibers, go for it, there's really no wrong answer unless you haven't asked the important question, and that is, what is it for? What will you be doing with the rifle. However, if I only had one, it would be, and it is, 5.56. I only have one , and the barrel and bolt for the 16" 6.8 spec II came in today. This isn't my first rodeo with it though. I was loading for it and shooting it back in late 2008/early 2009. I helped the guys over on 68 forums build and test ammo for few different manufacturers back then. I have around 800rds still, so 6.8 spec II was an easy choice for me. You just have to look at your intentions with the rifle and find a caliber that meets your needs. No answer is a bad answer unless you don't know what you want it to do. |
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The 223 is fantastic in a bolt gun. In an AR, true long range bullets are single feed only. The problem with the 22 ARC, 6 ARC, and the Grendel is broken bolts and extractors. If you’re shooting 600 and in, go 223. Out to 800, it gets closer in my experience. If you’re truly going long range, I prefer the 22 ARC. I don’t use a 6 ARC. I already had numerous Grendels. |
| I’ve got 5.56 and 6 ARC SPRs. The 5.56 is cheaper to shoot, a little less recoil, and totally doable out to 600+ assuming the wind isn’t too bad. But, if you already have a 5.56 Recce/GPR/whatever with an LPVO, there’s a good amount of crossover. If so, I’d definitely do the 6 ARC. Takes the 600-1000 or so range quite nicely. 22 ARC I’d really only consider as a hunting cartridge where you want a flat trajectory, like thermal hunting coyotes. Otherwise, 5.56 is just fine closer in, and 6 ARC beats it further away. Just my .02. |
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Gas guns are gas guns. They will never be as accurate as a bolt gun. That being said? If you dont have a 223 semi? Get a 223 semi. The cheapness to shoot, even at 500-600 with the right ammo, is too hard to ignore. And when we hit a situation where its SHTF, 223 will be far easier to obtain that anything else. Of the 2 remaining calibers? 22 ARC. Cheaper bullets for blasting, and you can shoot the 80+ grain stuff quite well at ranges beyond 500 yards. |
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I supposed i need to add some clarity to my post, I was thinking faster then I was typing. I'm just looking around at getting back into some longer distance shooting, and overall shooting more then i have been in general, and hopefully some PRS gas gun stuff. Ill be completely honest i don't take much if any stock in owning things or making firearms purchases for "SHTF", if that's your thing more power to you but not my thing. If we truly have a fundamental failure law and order I have bigger problems then how much and what caliber ammo I have at the house. I like shooting guns, I like shooting cool guns, I really like accurate guns, and niche calibers are cool. And don't take this the wrong way, I appreciate the input so far. Sometimes i just do not do a good job of writing down what i was thinking. Also, I guess to express my end state for this rifle, its needs to be cool, shoot decent groups, reach out and make steel make noise, and be cool. ~Scotts556 |
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Originally Posted By Kaldor: Gas guns are gas guns. They will never be as accurate as a bolt gun. That being said? If you dont have a 223 semi? Get a 223 semi. The cheapness to shoot, even at 500-600 with the right ammo, is too hard to ignore. And when we hit a situation where its SHTF, 223 will be far easier to obtain that anything else. Of the 2 remaining calibers? 22 ARC. Cheaper bullets for blasting, and you can shoot the 80+ grain stuff quite well at ranges beyond 500 yards. |
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What are you actually doing with the rifle? There's a reason 223 is by far the most popular choice. You mention component cost so that sounds like you reload. The 22's are a bit cheaper but unless you shoot a ton premium bullets are fairly close to each other in 6mm and 22. I never really worry about what's on the shelf because I order almost everything I shoot. No question the bigger cases give you a bit more juice you just have to decide if they are worth the cost to you. |
BikerNut:
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Normal people like motorcycles. Real people like motorcycles.
People who don't like motorcycles are just... weird.
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Originally Posted By Kaldor: Gas guns are gas guns. They will never be as accurate as a bolt gun. My 6 Grendel will hang with bolt guns. It is just as accurate as my bolt guns, but much harder to shoot well than a bolt gun. If I am lazy, accuracy will suffer. Kreiger barrel, VLTOR monolithic upper, S&B 4-16, TBAC Ultra 7, Lapua brass, 105 Berger hybrids, H4895. 600 yards when new and 600 yards after 1,000 rounds.   
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Unless you’re going with a 20+” barrel, I’d skip the 22ARC. The performance gains show up more with longer barrels. I haven’t had time to really load for my 22ARC, but the factory ammo has been meh. The velocity has been slower than my 224valk factory ammo, with comparable barrel length and projectile weight. A 6arc sounds like what you need unless you just want “cool and different”. If that’s your thing, the 22ARC should fit the bill. I say this having 3 224valk’s, 5 6arcs and the lone 22ARC. You also must live in an oddity; I can’t imagine 22ARC match ammo being more available than 223, but I also order most of my ammo because LGS have limited selection and typically +15% markups. |
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Lots of opinions above. I have 0 experience with 22arc. I have a lot of experience with 223 and 6Arc out to and beyond 1,000. If you are defining “longer range” as 600 and in an accurate 223 will teach you more than any of them. If you are shooting beyond 600, or just want to crush everyone else shooting gas guns, 6Arc. Quality bullets for hand loads and great factory options make 1,000 easy with the arc. |
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Originally Posted By Hoser: My 6 Grendel will hang with bolt guns. It is just as accurate as my bolt guns, but much harder to shoot well than a bolt gun. If I am lazy, accuracy will suffer. Kreiger barrel, VLTOR monolithic upper, S&B 4-16, TBAC Ultra 7, Lapua brass, 105 Berger hybrids, H4895. 600 yards when new and 600 yards after 1,000 rounds. https://i.imgur.com/JLvJKsg.jpg https://i.imgur.com/QAV1TGm.jpg https://i.imgur.com/OHpE5Vi.jpg  Ive got one of those! Aero upper and lower, McGowan 8 twist 26" barrel, National Match trigger, Starline brass, H4895 and 8208 XBR. Bullets are a mixed bag, 95 and 107 SMKs, and 105 Bergers mostly. Its a good shooting rifle, and I dont shoot it nearly as much as I should. It hovers right around .625 5 shot groups with the Bergers, and just slightly worse with the much less expensive SMKs. 75gr Speer TNTs are potent coyote medicine as well. I agree, a well shot, and thats the hard part, AR is really quite accurate. I will openly admit, I dont spend enough time behind the platform anymore to shoot it as well as I did 5-6 years ago. Ive not so much moved on from ARs, but I get alot more enjoyment from a bolt gun. For the average shooter that trying to shoot small groups? A good bolt gun is the easy button. |
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Originally Posted By Scotts556: Bolt gun is coming one day in the future, i just dont have 6-7K to throw at one. 22 Arc is leading the pack with performance for cost in my minds eyes. They hang pretty well. My buddy has one with a 20" Proof on it. Has zero issues out to a 1000 with 85 gr Bergers. Probably would work just fine for a PRS gas gun. Might be a little touch and go in a 15mph wind at times. |
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Originally Posted By Scotts556: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/213948/IMG_2297-3655292.jpg well scored a deal on a 20 inch Roscoe 6 arc barrel, still need a gas tube, muzzle device and a optic for it, we'll see how this goes! Superlative Arms has never let me down. Lots of good muzzle devices out there. Look for something that is self timing. ACE, APA, Area 419, etc. |
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Originally Posted By Kaldor: Superlative Arms has never let me down. Lots of good muzzle devices out there. Look for something that is self timing. ACE, APA, Area 419, etc. |
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SFAR is small frame AR15 sized (and width), and is 6.5 CM. 6.5 Creedmoor is same price to shoot as those other two semi-exotics (cheaper, actually), way better round; and will kill stuff far away. Blowing away those 3 options. Just say'n :) Otherwise, if only in those 3, the other answers are all pretty great. Anything out to 600 yards and 223 is actually a remarkably good round. Once you get past that, go 6 ARC. As to .22, I just say no to anything .22 caliber trying to past .223; which again - is actually a damned great little round; but if you are going that much bigger and heavier, just get a bigger bullet. |
