AR Sponsor
Posted: 11/17/2014 1:00:02 AM EDT
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Ive got an AR in 5.56, but lately have been considering building an upper and eventually complete rifle in another caliber. I'm interested in a 9mm pistol build with a sig brace that I could use as a range toy and also have it as a decent CQB gun for my home defense and could suppress it later if I chose. Also interested in 6.5 grendel due to the high bc bullets and high energy retention. I think it would make a great all around rifle for any game species in Alabama and be able to stretch my range shooting out. Then there is 458 SOCOM which would be a hard hitting round that could be used in defensive situations as well as taking game 200 yards and less. then there are the Russian rounds 7.62x39 and 5.45 that would be cheaper to shoot. Of course I could just hog 308 but I don't really want to have to build a complete rifle right now.
I'm not real interested in 300 BLK because I don't think one in 16 or 14.5 makes much sense and I don't see the advantages in the round over some of the other options unless shooting suppressed. This would be my first build and from what I can tell building one looks essentially the same as another. What are the opinions? |
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I've been there. I think you should consider 300bLK if you decide to go the pistol route. Otherwise I'd go with 6.5G. It makes the most sense to me because it's not as niche. I can already hear the 300BLK club screaming that you can shoot a mile with it but realistically it's a 200 yard gun. The 6.5g does short and long range well because of the velocity paired with the BC. I've killed deer and hogs from 20-300 yds and have been extremely satisfied by the results. The ammo selection and industry support is also getting better and when the steel cased ammo becomes more widely available it will be inexpensive to plink with. I still think it shines for the reloader.
The 6.8 is also a fine cartridge in my opinion but of course I lean to the 6.5 for the reasons I've named. The .458 is flippin' sweet but to me it's more of a niche caliber than any of the others. It excels at one thing. Big holes at close range. But man it'd be fun to have. To sum up. I'd go with 6.5G or comparable for your first variant because of the versatility and add other niche calibers as you can. |
| If you build a pistol you will have to get the lower first to be able to use an upper with <16" barrel, this is assuming your other AR isn't an SBR. I have a suppressed 300 blk SBR that is so much fun to shoot, if you are considering suppressing or making an SBR, this round is perfect. I thought about building a 6.8 or 6.5, but ultimately decided they aren't enough of an improvement over 556 to justify having one, I would rather have a 308 AR instead. |
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What is your shooting distance? Do you have a place to shoot past 500 yds? What do you normally hunt? I have considered the 300WTF, but with only a few bullets that actually expand at subsonic velocities, I'd rather shoot something that can actually do what it was designed to do rather than a .30 pencil pusher. I don't shoot 5.56 so most of the "advantages are gone. I might pick one up if a commercially produced expanding bullet is made. Right now my list consists of a 10.5" 7.62x39, as I already have $.30-$.60 a round ammo that will expand and put animals down. it will probably be purchased this year. After that is a 45ACP or 6.5 Grendel. As I don't have a place for 500 yd+ shooting, I don't see a reason to pick up a 6.5G now. 6.5G will/would be 18-20". The 45 ACP sparked my interest as a short range always subsonic killer. Since it's a pistol round, most if not all expanding loads will actually expand at the speeds used. and the 45ACP will be whatever barrel length is best for using up most of the powder of the .45ACP. I haven't decided fully as I don't know how far out the ballistics would work on pigs or deer.
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I'll tell you that for me, the 6.5 Grendel has really grown on me in ways that I never thought it would. I was originally only interested in it for a lightweight Sniper System for international competitions that involve a lot of moving over distance with full kit on, where heavy guns just don't really help you out much at all unless you're in the prone, and we have been moving away from shooting a lot of prone in most of the matches I participate in.
I wanted an 18" lightweight system that could buck the wind well, that had the comfortable AR15 handling. Because of demand, I was only able to get a 16" barrel/bolt combo and that was on an email notification list back in 2009. Things have changed a lot since then, and there are a lot more barrel/bolt choices now. What ended up happening is that my 5.56 carbines seem not so fun anymore, at least past 200yds. If I'm doing anything rifle related, I always take my 6.5 Grendel, and might bring the others. I now have more of them than I ever thought I would, and it's a really strong strain of BRD if you catch it. It will become the AR15 that you compare all your others by, and replaced .308 for my uses entirely. |
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Quoted:
What is your shooting distance? Do you have a place to shoot past 500 yds?What do you normally hunt? I have considered the 300WTF, but with only a few bullets that actually expand at subsonic velocities, I'd rather shoot something that can actually do what it was designed to do rather than a .30 pencil pusher. I don't shoot 5.56 so most of the "advantages are gone. I might pick one up if a commercially produced expanding bullet is made. Right now my list consists of a 10.5" 7.62x39, as I already have $.30-$.60 a round ammo that will expand and put animals down. it will probably be purchased this year. After that is a 45ACP or 6.5 Grendel. As I don't have a place for 500 yd+ shooting, I don't see a reason to pick up a 6.5G now. 6.5G will/would be 18-20". The 45 ACP sparked my interest as a short range always subsonic killer. Since it's a pistol round, most if not all expanding loads will actually expand at the speeds used. and the 45ACP will be whatever barrel length is best for using up most of the powder of the .45ACP. I haven't decided fully as I don't know how far out the ballistics would work on pigs or deer. Right now it would be 200 yards but I'm working on access to 800 or so. The hunting would be whitetail deer and hogs. I don't currently reload but eventually. 45 acp sounds great but more expensive than 9mm. But 45 is a legal hunting round. I agree 300 BLK is a good sbr suppressed round but I don't plan on a suppressor anytime soon. Although maybe I should. Also I'm thinking 18 inch 6.5 |
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