Best AR-15 Caliber

[ar15gunbuilder]

Among all the calibers used for the AR-15, the 6.5 Grendel is the best in business. The weapon is known to hit hard and performs exceptionally well to 1000 yards. It is the perfect suit for hunting and also ties with the 5.56 as the most versatile round. For instance, let us imagine that you’re going to hunt a deer. At this time, you have to use the 223 Remington, which can load bullets around 55 grains.

 

[sniperdoc]

Welcome!
I'm a 6.5 fan (especially 6.5×55)

 

[Hey...]

I like quiet so to me .300blk is the best.

 

[chili17]

all around, 300black. To me 5.56 is not horribly effective past 300yds anyway if the critters are of any size

 

[timkel]

I'm staying with 5.56

 

[SecondAmend]

I don't have any personal experience, but from all the hype I've read recently, 6mm ARC is the bestest of the best (in center fire). Everything else is passe.

 

[MPA guy]

As for suppressed/subsonics, after having shot the 300 blk for a few years, I switched over to 9x39 last year.

Once I got over the price of the loading dies, and worked up some loads using 270 gr 9.3mm mauser speer soft cor bullets that expand well down into the low 900 fps, I can't really see myself ever going back to blk.

9x39 has better accuracy, range and expansion.

Many here will recognize the 308 heavies on the far left and the deformed tip is typical for sub blk. But the 9x39 on the far right, just flat out outperforms everything I have ever tried for the blk.

Wish KAK would get some 125 and 140's back in stock so I could load up some more supers with them too. They perform very well too.

 

[Deerhurst]

Mm. 9x39. If ammo prices for that go down a little I will build one. I've been wanting a 9x39 krink for a while too.


In the AR I shoot:
22lr. Cheap cheerful fun and rocks with a binary trigger.
5.56x45 because AR.
7.62x39. Been pleasantly surprised. My x39 rifle has never hiccuped in any way and hits 2/3 IPSC steel at 300 yards with a Vortex UH-1 on top. It hits harder than 5.56 and ammo is cheaper if I don't mind steel. Same ammo as my AK47s that I much prefer.
7.62x25mm. You gotta love a little tok AR. 110gr projectiles make for good little subs. I could go up to 220gr if I modify the throat. Probably my favorite caliber in the AR.
5.45x39mm. I love the AK74 for a piston 5.45 upper should be awesome. Minimal recoil, cheaper ammo. Havnt actually shot this one yet. Might become a favorite.

 

[MPA guy]

I had a reply typed out for you deerhurst.

I'm paying $16-$18 per 50 rounds of bullets ranging from 250 gr up to 286 gr for the 9x39 so I don't think that's too bad.

I hadn't bought any heavy 308 pills to load the blk in a while and just looked and midway is showing 220 gr sierra matchkings for $50/100. Basically .50 a pop.

So, I'm loading the 9x39 for half of what I can load 300 blk for. And have better downrange ballistics to boot.

 

[Deerhurst]

I had a reply typed out for you deerhurst.

I'm paying $16-$18 per 50 rounds of bullets ranging from 250 gr up to 286 gr for the 9x39 so I don't think that's too bad.

I hadn't bought any heavy 308 pills to load the blk in a while and just looked and midway is showing 220 gr sierra matchkings for $50/100. Basically .50 a pop.

So, I'm loading the 9x39 for half of what I can load 300 blk for. And have better downrange ballistics to boot.

That's not too bad. If like to see factory ammo in the $16/50 range or I'm just looking at the wrong places.

I like what I see from 9x39. It smokes 300aac!

 

[mattnh]

USGI is going 6.8 - they have done crazy amount of testing
Significant max effective range improvement

 

[A&S Conversions]

USGI is going 6.8 - they have done crazy amount of testing
Significant max effective range improvement

Didn't the Army cool on the 6.8? It certainly makes a bigger hole up close, but didn't have range for long distance just like 5.56.

Scott

 

[SecondAmend]

Didn't the Army cool on the 6.8? It certainly makes a bigger hole up close, but didn't have range for long distance just like 5.56.

Scott

That is my understanding as well. From what I've read, as I indicated above, the 6mm ARC is now the favorite flavor.

 

[mattnh]

www.military.com/daily-news/2020/10/13/army-about-get-improved-next-gen-squad-weapons-testing.html

6.8 seems like a done deal
HUGE small arms contract going to be awarded in 2021 for early 2022 delivery
Sig,Textron,and Genal Dynamics are the final 3 vendors

 

[mattnh]

Story about Army new cal selection to replace both 5.56 and 7.62x51

https://www.google.com/amp/s/nation...hat-we-know-about-armys-new-bullets-68052?amp

 

[A&S Conversions]

I stand corrected. From the article:

"NOTE: the Army-issue 6.8mm will be an entirely new caliber, and will not be the existing 6.8 SPC."

That looks to be a very cool set up. The rounds look to be longer than 7.62X51. That would seem like the concept would be getting away from a medium powered round to full power rifle round. Time will tell.

Scott

 

[sniperdoc]

From what I understand, the new Army cartridge is ballistically close to the 6.5×55
What goes around comes around?
Nothing like a 125 year old idea to solve modern problems!

 

[sniperdoc]

As for suppressed/subsonics, after having shot the 300 blk for a few years, I switched over to 9x39 last year.

Once I got over the price of the loading dies, and worked up some loads using 270 gr 9.3mm mauser speer soft cor bullets that expand well down into the low 900 fps, I can't really see myself ever going back to blk.

9x39 has better accuracy, range and expansion.

Many here will recognize the 308 heavies on the far left and the deformed tip is typical for sub blk. But the 9x39 on the far right, just flat out outperforms everything I have ever tried for the blk.

Wish KAK would get some 125 and 140's back in stock so I could load up some more supers with them too. They perform very well too.

9×39 is a very interesting cartridge; I think the Draco series of pistols would do very well in that caliber.

 

[mattnh]

https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/true-velocitys-new-polymer-cased-ammunition/247607

Polymer cased ammo seems to be in the works
As well... 40% lighter

 

[OldBesty]

DOD already adopted 6mm ARC.

Barrett was awarded contract and is already fulfilling orders for 6mm ARC Rec7 rifles.

I would guess for DMR specific roles, but maybe the 6.8 NGSW prototypes are not really living up to the hype.