New to the AR platform. . .other rounds compatible with the .308 chambering?

[atomicjoe23]

I'm in the market for a new rifle and I'm looking for something that is versatile. . .seems like nothing is more versatile than the AR platform. . .the ability to change calibers by simply changing the upper reciever/barrel assembly and maintain zero is a huge advantage.

I've already got a varmint gun (.22-250 Weatherby Vanguard) so I'm looking at the .308 chambering for my first go as this should be adequate for anything that I can't shoot with the .22-250.

What I would like to know is what other cartridges are there based off of the .308 that I would be able to use by either getting different barrels or barrel/upper reciever assemblies?

I'm pretty sure the .338 Federal is an option, but I'm not sure about the other chamberings out there for the AR. . .i.e. 6.5 Creedmore, 6.8mm Rem SPC, etc.

The .338 would take me up to something suitable for anything larger than a deer that I didn't feel the .308 was up for, and I've just heard some amazing things about the 6.5 and 6.8. I'd probably end up using this thing for everything other than predators (excluding lion and bear since the .22-250 isn't legal for them) and varmints. . .deer, elk, boar, etc.

Thanks!

[demontang]

Well u would need to get an AR 10 to use the 308 family. DPMS has a few cals out from 243 to 338fed. If you where thinking ar15 then you have a lot of cals too .204-358wssm. The AR10 is a heavy gun an there are a lot of cals that fit the ar15 that will out run the 308 family or match them in a lighter smaller frame plus u can get a .223 upper and get use to handling and shooting for a fraction of the price. Olympic armes has a 30ossm they are working on that almost matchs 300win mag velocity when loaded up.

[carpsniperg2]

  well put. also check out Remington r-25 they have a 308 243 and 7mm-08 which i am going to get. the 7mm-08 is a 308 necked down to a 284 which is the die of the 7mm. my speer book says that you can take a 308 run it threw the fl sizer and turn it into a 7mm-08 good luck to you in your search but beware the AR-15 or any type of black rifle are very addicting to have you will want more and more

[huntnphool]

I'm looking to pick up the upper to convert to the 5.7X28 since I already have a FN FiveSeven.

[atomicjoe23]

Thanks for all the info guys. . .I've really been struggling between the AR-15 and the AR-10.  The extra weight and the cost of the AR-10 are turn-offs for sure, but the .338 Federal is a plus for being here in WA (or Alaska). . .plus the 15 has so many more calibers available that are very intriguing (any of the 6mm variants are the hot item right now for any sort of long distance shooting and seem to have good ballistics for deer sized game as well. . .plus I could get a .204 upper/barrel assembly for fur!).

Would the .300 WSSM or .358 WSSM be suitable for elk at the ranges I could expect to see them (sorry I haven't checked the ballistics myself yet. . .I'm pretty sure the .300 is, but I've never heard of the .358 before).

I just saw in the premier issue of AR Hunting Guns that the AR30 is good out to at least 300 yards. . .plus there's the .300 Whisper which is also claimed to be good out to at least 300 yards.

The biggest thing here is. . .I already have a .22-250 so my initial chambering won't be in .223/5.56. . .I'll be looking for a caliber suitable for deer, mountain lion and/or black bear (maybe sheep). . .so distance is gonna be important. Like I said earlier I'm really taken on the 6mm variants. . .and the 6.5-284 looks to be like a really great cartridge as does the 6.8mm Rem SPC. I have a lot of research to do for caliber selection (plus all the ammo issues at the moment. . .which seem to be getting better though).

My GF is getting ready to get a .30-06 bolt action though so what I'm thinking is that we'll just "share" the '06 for now and I'll build an AR up one piece/part at a time.

What lowers would you guys suggest. . .I know DPMS has a GREAT reputation and I like everything I've seen about the POF stuff (slightly improved gas operation. . .looks to be top notch quality, but the price is a bit stiff. . .especially for the 10 platform).

Thanks!

[carpsniperg2]

the 300wssm or 358 wssm will do just fine on a elk out to 300 or maybe more still has enough punch to do the job i know a guy who shot one with his 458 socom and its a dany bull check him out here is the link

http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/542769/Meat_down.html#Post542769

i am a huge bushmaster fan i would go bushmaster myself but dpms has good prices shop around and you can save alot building yourself

[satchel3006]

i could be wrong but isn't the .22-250 legal for cougars? i thought .22 centerfires were legal.

[demontang]

The 358wssm is around 100fps over the 358win. I like Olymic arms because they are local an make some of the best barrels for AR's they have pioneered a lot of cals for the AR15 platform and are cheaper then alot of the others. The 300 whisper is made for short range work and not to common. If you go with the ar15 I think theres alot more cals and a lot less money in to the project. Im really looking at getting a 25 or 338wssm upper not sure which yet. The 243 an 25 have factory loads and HSM is going to load the 300ossm but the others u will need dies to resize the 25 brass to what ever cal. Look at Dtech web page he is the one that does alot of Wssm stuff.

[atomicjoe23]

I can't remember about the .22-250 for cougar. . .it might be, I know I can't use it for deer (even though that and the .223 are what a lot of DFW use for culling deer herds in other states).

[atomicjoe23]

Thanks for the suggestions. . .I'll check out Dtech.

There's a .338 WSSM too? I knew about the .338 Federal based on the .308 case, but not a .338 WSSM.

I'll have to check that out too!

[luvtohnt]

I am in the process of building an ar-15 also. I have been doing allot of research on lowers and the general concensus is, if it is mil-spec then no single company is better than another. In order to be mil-spec they all have to be built to exact specifications. I think the brand name has nothing to do with quality of lowers. Now as far as triggers and magazines and some of the more imporant parts I think there are quality issues. Personally I like the quality of Olympic Arms, but they are local to this state so that helps. Plus when I ordered from them I had my package in 2 days. I am at a point now that I am looking for the perfect barrel and so far bushmaster is the only one that carries the barrel I want. So you have to stay open minded because if you get sucked into the brnd name game then you may not be able to find the parts you need.

Brandon

[atomicjoe23]

Thanks luvtohunt. . .I'm less concerned about the brand name and more concerned about quality.  So your input about the MilSpec is a very good point!

I'll have to check out Olympic Arms again. . .and double check on the caliber offerings. I'm really leaning toward the 6.8 SPC at this point.

[carpsniperg2]

I am in the process of building an ar-15 also. I have been doing allot of research on lowers and the general concensus is, if it is mil-spec then no single company is better than another. In order to be mil-spec they all have to be built to exact specifications. I think the brand name has nothing to do with quality of lowers. Now as far as triggers and magazines and some of the more imporant parts I think there are quality issues. Personally I like the quality of Olympic Arms, but they are local to this state so that helps. Plus when I ordered from them I had my package in 2 days. I am at a point now that I am looking for the perfect barrel and so far bushmaster is the only one that carries the barrel I want. So you have to stay open minded because if you get sucked into the brnd name game then you may not be able to find the parts you need.

Brandon

well said for sure. and yes a 22-250 is legal for cougar in washington anything 22 centerfire is legal to hunt them with.

[demontang]

yeah the ar brand is like the chevy dodge ford thing people like different things. Most ARs are mill spec but some are tighter spec then that.