AR 15 caliber options

[Special T]

I am thinking of doing an AR buildup but would like to read up on my bullet choices before doing so. I would like to be able to hunt with it.
Can anyone give me a direction or a basic break down of what calibers and what firarm componets would be different?
For example I know that a 300 blackout uses everything but the barrel a .223 does.
It however does not pack the kind of punch/range for hunting say deer sized targets.

Is there a .223 necked up to .243? how would that compare say to the .243wsm?

If you can break it all down for me and others that would be great, OR you could point me to another forum that has already done so. Thx

[JohnVH]

6.5 Grendel 

Barrel, bolt, mag.

[jeffro]

What are you hunting and where?
West side, east side? Deer, elk, bear, coyote.
The possibilities are almost end less.
My choices:
Wet side- http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,150722.0.html
Dry side- Look into the 6.5 grendel or creedmoor, or the 6.8 spc

[dontgetcrabs]

I also vote for the Grendel. The Creedmore won't work on the ar15 platform it requires the ar10. I have a 6mmx45 it shoots up to 87 gr bullets.

[nocklehead]

.308 ? 

[JohnVH]

.308 ? 

That's not an AR15 caliber.

[BULLBLASTER]

There is such tbing as a 223 necked up to 6mm... its called 6x45 or 6-223. There are companies selling the barrels. I would think it could work well as a medium game rou d at reasonable ranges. There is lots of info out there. It wont shoot as fast or as powerful as a wssm.

[Special T]

Perhaps i need to restate the 2 objectives
What are the different caliber options for each senerio.
1 new barrel only
2 new barrel & bolt
3 New Barrel, bolt & mag

I hunt west side so not really too far, however I am mostly thinking a predator gun. Calling coyotes, bobcat, cougar and bear...  I would imagine that if i can kill a cougar i can kill a black tail. The caliber for bear could just be for an "Ideal" shot realitivley close in. I guess what I'm saying is lay it out for me the bare minimum I need and what isn't too hard to get my hands on for ammo and parts. I have acess to a reloading press but really like the Idea of only having to get a non standard barrel. That way if i come acros a great deal on an AR I only need to factor in the cost of the barrel.

[AWS]

When you add bear into the mix, I'd nix anything under one of the 6.5's or 25 WSSM and limit myself to 100gr Partition or heavier.  I own a 6x45 and wouldn't think of taking it for deer on the west side, great coyote rig though..

[dontgetcrabs]

Black hole makes a 25x45mm barrel that could work for you. Just a simple barrel swap and you're up and hunting. There's also a 6.5 Patriot that a few folks have been experimenting with. It also is a necked up 223 so you would only need the barrel.

[Heredoggydoggy]

I have a Black Hole 6mmX6.8 SPC.  Uses everything 6.8 SPC except the barrel, and It's a flat shooting son-of-a gun! I've only shot 58 grain and 87 grain pills so far, but have loaded up some test rounds with heavier bullets, but haven't tried them.  I really like the round, but since I don't hunt deer any more, I think I'll stick with the 58 grain V-max bullets for coyotes. 

[AWS]

IMO nothing you can build on a .378 headed case that will fit a AR-15 mag will have enough UMPH to be a reliable big game (big deer/bear) cartridge.  I'm not an AR guy but have played with the .378 case cartridges for a number of years.  Right now I shoot a 222 Rem, 223, 22-204(222 Rem Mag Improved), 5.6x50mm Mag(222 Rem Mag lengthened 3mm), 6x45(6mm-223), 6mm-204(222 Rem Mag Improved necked to 6mm) and a 25-204(again a 222Rem Mag Improved necked to 257 and a clone of the 257 Kimber).   Only the 25-204 would I consider a big game cartridge and it will only duplicate 250 Savage factory ballistics.  Even the 223AI case has less capacity than my wildcats based on the 204 Ruger case which is an improved 222 Rem Mag.

left to right

6x45, 6mm-204, 25-204

[Special T]

Are there calibers that require different mags bc group and barrel that you could just swap mags and barrels to go "backwards" to 223?

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[Biggerhammer]

6x45
25x45
6.5 Grendel
6.5 LBC
6x6.8 SPC
25x6.8 SPC
6.5x6.8 SPC
6.8 SPC II
6.5 PCC not PPC.


I'm a big fan of the 6.5-Grendel.
Call Blackhole Weaponry they will make you anything you please, twist, contour, gas length, muzzle threading. The sky is the limit all for the same price excluding custom fluting.

[Special T]

So BH will all those combos can you put a 223 clip and barrel on them and shoot the AR?