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?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I547 using Tapatalk

[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?

[CAMPMEAT]

I saw my first 30-06 in an AR yesterday at the Big R in Colville. $1995 if I remember right. I couldn't read the brand, but I think it said, Norco or Norinco or Nemo. Don't know what it was.............

[Special T]

Of those calibers listed which ones are based on "common" cased brass just necked up or down?

Camp meat, If i was going to go big i think i'd have to purchase the AR in 300 win mag...

[CAMPMEAT]

Of those calibers listed which ones are based on "common" cased brass just necked up or down?

Camp meat, If i was going to go big i think i'd have to purchase the AR in 300 win mag...

Me too..............!! But I don't have $5000 laying around.

[Special T]

If i could drop $2k on an 06 AR I could find a way to drop $5k! 

[CAMPMEAT]

If i could drop $2k on an 06 AR I could find a way to drop $5k! 

I'm retired.....

[Special T]

I'm not, but guessing that $2or 5K is currently out of each of our reach...

[dontgetcrabs]

Of those calibers listed which ones are based on "common" cased brass just necked up or down?

All of the ones I've listed, except the Grendel, are 100% compatible with 5.56 bolts and mags.

[Biggerhammer]

The grendel requires a Grendel bolt.

All the 6.8 based cartridges require a 6.8 bolt.

The grendel and 6.8 based cartridge can be run through a 17.00 ASC magazine that fits any standard AR lower and are readily available pretty much anywhere. I purchase mine through Rainier Arms.

[Blacklab]

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.

 
Lilja Barrels   

My first ar build 6.5 AA Grendel

[CAMPMEAT]

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.

 
Lilja Barrels   

My first ar build 6.5 AA Grendel

That's very purty.......

[AWS]

I'm surprised there isn't more interest in the 25 WSSM in an AR-15.  25-06 ballistics in an AR-15 sounds like a great big game/predator rig.

[Blacklab]

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.

 
Lilja Barrels   

My first ar build 6.5 AA Grendel

That's very purty.......

Thank you.

[Atroxus]

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.

Of those options are any suitable for for killing an elk? If so, which are the most readily available as factory ammo, or reloading components?

[Blacklab]

100% 6.5 Grendel  Then again I'm bias 

[jay.sharkbait]

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.

Of those options are any suitable for for killing an elk? If so, which are the most readily available as factory ammo, or reloading components?

6.5 grendel,6.5x6.8 and 6.8 SPC just to start with

[luvmystang67]

I just built myself a 6.5 Grendel.  The 123 grain SST loads are back from Hornady recently for under $1 per round.  There have been a slew of barrels with short chambers (at least relative to the factory loads) so try to make sure any one you get for grendel has the right throat length.

A quick word on new bolts... its like a $40-60 swap on your BCG.  Really NOT a big deal at all.  I would not let a bolt swap make or break your build.  Swapping a bolt out is approximately 1000x easier than installing a new barrel.  The mags are just an afterthought.  For grendel specifically, when I hold the "grendel" mags I have up next to my aluminum 5.56 mags they are IDENTICAL.  The 5.56 mags have the same size and shape follower on the ones I got as well... I haven't tried my grendel rounds in the 5.56 mags yet, but I anticipate they'll work just fine in the particular ones that I have.

+1 for the grendel, its a sweet round.

[GLShooter]

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.

 
Lilja Barrels   

My first ar build 6.5 AA Grendel

Lilja doesn't chamber many of those. You forgot one of the best in the 243LBC.

The 6X45 and 25X45 use same 223  mags and bolt. They need just a barrel

The others take barrel,  bolt and magazines.

All are available from BHW. I own and shoot all but the 25X45.  I designed the 25X6.8 and helped on the 6X6.8 and the 6.5X6.8 as built by BHW. Heads up the 6.8  variants out run the same bore size Grendel/LBC choices thanks to the higher operating pressures.

Greg

[6.8mmARHunter]

For the 6.8mm SPC II, you'll need a different bolt, barrel, and magazines.

No one would swap barrels and bolts back and forth to shoot one cal (example 5.56mm) vs. another (example 6.8mm SPC II), they would just build a complete second upper. Then, you just swap out the whole upper (takes less then 60 seconds) and you're shooting something different.

The 6.8mm SPC II and the 6.5 Grendel seem to be about the most common of the list that Bighammer posted. You'd probably be good with either.

Here are the forums for both:

http://68forums.com/forums/

http://www.65grendel.com/forum/

Good luck. Let us know what you decide. Post pictures of the rifle...



sam

[webbspinner]

I recently got a 6.8 spc in a RRA mid length specifically for hunting deer on the wetside.  Impressed by the accuracy and its fun to shoot, I have some 115 fusion and 120 sst and 110 vmax, shoots all real well.  quite a few options for loads and of course loading your own.  think I prefer my 338 for elk but with the right range and right shot I am certain it would drop a elk.  They get great reviews on hogs, deer and even bear.  will be picking up a 5.56 soon so I can shoot more and become more familiar with the platform but very happy so far.

[Heredoggydoggy]

I recently got a 6.8 spc in a RRA mid length specifically for hunting deer on the wetside.  Impressed by the accuracy and its fun to shoot, I have some 115 fusion and 120 sst and 110 vmax, shoots all real well.  quite a few options for loads and of course loading your own.  think I prefer my 338 for elk but with the right range and right shot I am certain it would drop a elk.  They get great reviews on hogs, deer and even bear.  will be picking up a 5.56 soon so I can shoot more and become more familiar with the platform but very happy so far.

You will find that there is very little difference in the recoil of your 6.8 and the 5.56.  I have both, and like them.  I recently built an AR in 6mmX6.8 SPC, and it's a screamer!  Plus, it's still legal for deer hunting--(6mm=.243cal.) 

[crazysccrmd]

I have a BHW 25x6.8 and it is essentially a semiauto 250 Savage. I get 75s at 3250, 87s at 3100 and 100s at 2900 out of an 18" barrel.

[CAMPMEAT]

www.model1sales.com