thinking of replacing 5.56mm as my go-to cartridge

Status
Not open for further replies.
Why the need to "replace?" Just add something to fill a perceived role. If .223 is too weak I'd go straight to .308.
I started with the .308 then added .223. I considered the .223 more of a "plinking" round that I could afford to shoot more of, and enjoy the reduced weight and recoil. I then "accidentally" got into .243 Win. when I purchased a Mauser I planned to rebarrel to .308. After firing it first I had another caliber added to the stable. I was impressed with the ballistics, accuracy, and mild recoil from a .308 size case. Which brings me to my latest "new" cartridge, the 6x45. It is simply a .223 case necked up for a .243 (6mm) projectile. Since I already reload the other cartridges, it fit right in with the purchase of a barreled upper, and a set of dies. Nothing else required. I plan to build a 6x45 bolt action Savage. I haven't eliminated or replaced any of the calibers, merely added more choices with overlapping use.

Give the 6x45 a look and test drive one if you get the chance.
 
hmm.. thats an interesting idea.. a full size .308 length cartridge and a smaller 5.56 length cartridge that use the same bullets.. since thats the greatest cost in handloaded ammunition, maybe that could translate to additional saving by only having to pile up on one type of bullet for both, since i'd reload for both i dont have to store a bunch of bullets in different sizes.. however, if i were to do this i think id probably go 6.5 grendel and 6.5 creedmoor vs 6x45mm/.243, though logistically speaking .308/.300AAC might make more sense
 
nah, i wont be getting anything in the AR platform.. im comfortable with AKs, might get into the sig 556 rifles or a tavor soon though, and will certainly be getting a VZ58 in the near future.. but im fine with AKs for the time being
 
Defense use - during a time of civil disorder (e.g., after a natural or man-made disaster, civil uprising, etc.) you may be forced to engage bad guys in motor vehicles. 7.62x39mm accomplishes this task easily with the cheapest ammo. 5.56x45mm will cost you more than $1.00/cartridge to reliably bust through automotive windshield glass and sheetmetal.
 
so.. would you guys agree the costs and rarity of 6.5 grendel and 6.8SPC fail to overcome the ballistic advantages they offer as a go-to rifle, including scenarios of disasters?.. keep in mind i'll still have my 5.56mm AK as backup, i wont be converting it or getting rid of it
 
so.. would you guys agree the costs and rarity of 6.5 grendel and 6.8SPC fail to overcome the ballistic advantages they offer as a go-to rifle, including scenarios of disasters?.
No, but I don't wade too deep into the disaster scenario mind games.
 
There is also an astounding (to me) variety of 6mm bullets available. They are less expensive than the 30 cal., and during the shortage I still saw them available.
 
Defense use - during a time of civil disorder (e.g., after a natural or man-made disaster, civil uprising, etc.) you may be forced to engage bad guys in motor vehicles. 7.62x39mm accomplishes this task easily with the cheapest ammo. 5.56x45mm will cost you more than $1.00/cartridge to reliably bust through automotive windshield glass and sheetmetal.
It's cheaper to buy a few hundred barrier rounds to have on hand than new guns, accessories, and mags. Not to mention quality x39 ammo is probably to same price as quality 5.56. Unless planning on using dirt cheap ammo for serious work.
 
so.. would you guys agree the costs and rarity of ...6.8SPC fail to overcome the ballistic advantages they offer as a go-to rifle, including scenarios of disasters?.. keep in mind i'll still have my 5.56mm AK as backup, i wont be converting it or getting rid of it

I've got quite a bit of 6.8SPC II ammo at any given moment. So I'll take the advantages for $100, Alex. Plus I got a mess of other carbines and rifles, for back-up.
 
To me the the 6x45 make a lot of sense. You can get better SD and BC over a Grendel or 6.8 and can use common brass and bullets. Another thought is to rebarrel an AK in 6x39 since you want to stay with that platform. You would need custom dies.
 
Last edited:
Where I live 7.62x39 would do it well.



M
 
Last edited:
Short barrels and suppressors = .300BLK.
Long barrels and range = .308 Ar10's.
Everywhere in between those two = 5.56

Hunting? Just use the AR10. I'm waiting for a good deal on the DPMS .308 GenII or GenII parts to come out. Nothing wrong with a 6.8SPC for more mid range power, but a wonder if .300BLK can do that better as well?
 
I'd go with something that fits in 308 or 7.62x39 mags as opposed to something shorter. It'll give you more flexibility for when you inevitably wish to add yet another cartridge's capability to your quiver (short length fundamentally limits your ammo's aspect ratio, and forces you to go to inefficient round nose bullets sooner as you increase weight or caliber)

TCB
 
nah, i wont be getting anything in the AR platform.. im comfortable with AKs, might get into the sig 556 rifles or a tavor soon though, and will certainly be getting a VZ58 in the near future.. but im fine with AKs for the time being

Save up 400$, get the VZ2008 from PSA, stat. Doctor's orders. Seriously, you will hate AKs afterwards, and possibly even long-stroke actions in general. As a guy who understands gun design choices, you will marvel at every facet of the thing in awe; trust me. The AK and SIG are the same thing in different wrapping; the VZ is special. Just break off one of the legs of Century's goofy trigger spring mod and you'll be happy with everything (D-Technik's are a better semi-conversion in a few ways, but really not enough to justify the cost, especially if you go on to modify the caliber/etc.)

Heck, use the money you save over the SIG or Tavor, and have a 6.5Grendel/etc barrel made up for the VZ (short stroke operation typically being fairly self-regulating, there may be a lot less debugging needed to get it running than you'd think)

TCB
 
Defense use - during a time of civil disorder (e.g., after a natural or man-made disaster, civil uprising, etc.) you may be forced to engage bad guys in motor vehicles. 7.62x39mm accomplishes this task easily with the cheapest ammo. 5.56x45mm will cost you more than $1.00/cartridge to reliably bust through automotive windshield glass and sheetmetal.
Im not saying the good bonded rounds dont work better but we shot up several Iraqi Toyota pickups with M855 and they never failed to penetrate windshields or sheet metal.

OP. For me the boutique rounds dont justify the extra cost of ammo and trouble finding them over the standards. 5.56, 7.62x39, and 5.45x39 are all cheap and easy to find. They all work really well for their intended uses. If you want more power than 308 is a great answer for all the same reasons. Though it is a bit more expensive.
 
I don't know what you're really looking for but IMO everyone should be into 7.62 x 39 to some degree. It's ubiquitous. The stuff is around everywhere in people's garages and attics and basements. I've seen huge stashes of the stuff that my pile look like an ant hill and I've got more than a few rounds of it. I never really started out to have so much. It's just so cheap it seems to follow me home. I'll never live long enough to shoot all I have.

So if you need to borrow some ammo one day you should be able to find some 7.62 x 39 in a lot of places. Not that I expect this but the bad guys almost always carry it with them it seems. Maybe that is changing but I look at what happened in France and I think it certainly hasn't completely changed. I just think it's good to have a weapon that will put the stuff to use if need be.

I have a .223 bolt action and I'll likely be getting an AR before long after years of dragging my feet. The ammo choices are just too good to pass up. That's the other standard we should all be equipped to use. I also have a 30.06 rifle and ammo for that. I've had other calibers but they're gone now except for my rimfire stuff of course. There's reason to keep that around too BTW but the reasons are different.
 
Mine are either .223 or .308 with a lot of 30-06 as back up - when I have to move around or travel its .223. Can't beat it in an M4 for size, accuracy, weight, firepower, and can carry lots of ammo. For sit and defend its .308. Long range. 30-06 for Garand and hunting rifles.
 
I vote 7.62x39. Prvi Partizan has some nasty roundnose soft points for it that resemble .30-30. The round hits harder, is widely available, and has a wealth of ammo choices available.
 
I am considering getting an AR-15, upper or full rifle in .300 BLK to supplement my 5.56. I don't think it will be my "go to" rifle caliber, but it looks interesting for an SBR, especially suppressed, not that I have decided to get a suppressor, but it is an option. This would be for an HD carbine, and range gun.

I reload, so this caliber is attractive as it uses common 5.56 cases resized.
 
one of the reasons i was considering grendel is it seems to give you the effective range of a .308, kind of negates the absolute need for a heavier .308 rifle, you can carry a lot more ammo for the same weight, and its easily converted from any x39 rifle.. so that was my logic behind going with that, i really dont think x39 offers enough of a benefit to warrant switching to that, and .300 blackout isnt even as good as x39
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top