The Best AR15 caliber

[chrisb]

I have and voted for the .223 but am in the process (slowly) of building a 6.8 to hunt with

[KillBilly]

Any calibre other than 5.56mm is only built on an AR frame.

The AR-15 was developed as a lighter, 5.56 mm version of the AR-10

I thought it was the other way around. Didn't see AR-10s until a few years ago, but the AR-15 has been around for more than 50 years.

The AR-15 is based on the 7.62 mm AR-10, designed by Eugene Stoner of the Fairchild ArmaLite Corporation. The AR-15 was developed as a lighter, 5.56 mm version of the AR-10. The "AR" in AR-15 comes from the ArmaLite name. Armelites’ AR-1, AR-5, and some subsequent models were bolt action rifles, the AR-7 a semiautomatic survival rifle and there are shotguns and pistols whose model numbers also include the "AR" prefix.  ArmaLite sold its rights to the AR-10 and AR-15 to Colt in 1959. After a tour by Colt of the Far East, the first sale of AR-15s was made to Malaysia on 30 September 1959 with Colt's manufacture of their first 300 AR-15s in December 1959. Colt marketed the AR-15 rifle to various military services around the world, including the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps. The AR-15 was eventually adopted by the United States military under the designation M16. However, Colt continued to use the AR-15 trademark for its semi-automatic variants (AR-15, AR-15A2) which were marketed to civilian and law-enforcement customers. The original AR-15 was a very lightweight weapon, weighing less than 6 pounds with empty magazine, though later heavy-barrel versions of the civilian AR-15 can weigh upwards of 8.5 lbs.
Today the AR-15 and its variations are manufactured by many companies and have captured the affection of sport shooters and police forces around the world due to their accuracy and modularity
The trademark "AR15" or "AR-15" is registered to Colt Industries, which maintains that the term should only be used to refer to their products. Other AR-15 manufacturers make AR-15 clones marketed under separate designations, although colloquially these are sometimes also referred to by the term AR-15.

[Heredoggydoggy]

Interesting--I never really looked into the history of the AR, even though I own 4-1/2 of them.  Thanks KB.

[BlackRidge]

Thanks for the info Billy, gotta love the history behind it

I chose 6.8spc simply because its an inexpensive round that still allows you to hunt big game in WA state with your AR, BUT if given the option, would have gone with the 6.5 grendel. The ballistics on it are absolutely amazing

Other than that stuff, the .223 seems to be ideal for it IMO

[KillBilly]

In reality, I own 1 AR in 5.56/.223 and my second is a .243 WSSM on an AR platform. The .243 is a caliber I like and I made this choice after Rainshadow killed a nice cougar with his. It is an awesome weapon especially with the AR Gold trigger assy. It pulls at a smooth as butter 1.5 lbs.

[Kowsrule30]

I gotta go with wear my heart is... So the 243 is my choice... My friend has a 308 and is a tack driver as well...

[Todd_ID]

.50 Beowulf by Alexander arms..why....why not.

That's what I said also, so I built one from various parts.  I enjoy shooting the. 223 for plinking and accuracy, but there's a TON of gratification in pulling the trigger on the Beowulf and knowing whatever you are aiming at will explode!

[JohnVH]

6.5 Grendel! 

[thinkingman]

6X45 is my next build.
Great ballistics, great bullet selection, brass is easy to form, run the same bolt, very efficient cartridge.

[MichaelJ]

Some guys been running them in .260 and loving them as well...

Mike

[Heredoggydoggy]

Since this topic started, I have a barrel on order for the .20 LBC in an AR 15 platform.  It's the Grendel cartridge necked down to .20 cal.  Should be a screamer, but talk about the ultimate wildcat.  Info on it is practically non-existant!

[Biggerhammer]

Since this topic started, I have a barrel on order for the .20 LBC in an AR 15 platform.  It's the Grendel cartridge necked down to .20 cal.  Should be a screamer, but talk about the ultimate wildcat.  Info on it is practically non-existant!

Wahooooo! That should PoP some Rockchucks!

[gramps]

I have a 25 DTI on order...hope to have it by hunting season.

[demontang]

Man can I vote for more then one 25wssm with the new lower from Oly is killer I like the 338wssm form dtech too. O if I had them money the toy's I would have