AR 15s in calibers other than 5.56 NATO
- Thread starter Balrog
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small town life
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I've been wanting a 6br in either rem br, ppc or dasher for 90gr or less. Other than that I like my 6.8spc over 6.5gren. 300bo and 5.56.
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kimberkid
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I think it was released ahead of its time… and now I’m drawing a blank as to what it was called but like the 300 blackout the case is shortened and necked down so it shoots a 6.5 pill.
Unlike the 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC II & 7.62x39 it does not require special mag or a different bolt.
Like the 300 blackout you just change the barrel, go shoot a whole new range of ammo weights up to at least 140grain pills and still stay in the same mag.
I’m tempted to call one of the many barrel manufacturers and have one made just for me to play with … maybe that would answer my question of why it never took off.
Unlike the 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC II & 7.62x39 it does not require special mag or a different bolt.
Like the 300 blackout you just change the barrel, go shoot a whole new range of ammo weights up to at least 140grain pills and still stay in the same mag.
I’m tempted to call one of the many barrel manufacturers and have one made just for me to play with … maybe that would answer my question of why it never took off.
Charlie98
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That was going to be my suggestion... 6.5 or 6.8. Yes, you have to drop the requirement for standard AR magazines, but I think it's a reasonable inconvenience for the end result. I think they are the best 2 choices for a versatile round while staying in a standard AR-15 platform... most of the others are giving up something to achieve a niche goal. I keep toying with the idea of a 6.8SPC AR, but my AR builds keep popping out as 5.56mm... because I'm cheap, and I don't want another round to load for.
As of now I own & shoot ARs in chamberings of .223, 5.56, 5.45x39, 300 Blackout, 7.62x39, 350 Legend. The only ones that can use the same mags is the .223/5.56, 5.45x39 & 300 Blackout, I have bought some specific mags for the 5.45 & 300 Blackout but they will shoot through the normal mags too.
Necessary_Nutrient
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Right now is a good time to get into 6.8 SPC reloading as .277 bullets in the proper weights, 90-120, seem to come up on sale for better deals than .264. Check Midway for deals. Factory is about the same between 6.8 and 6.5, although my local Scheels has 3 6.8 SPC loads and nothing for 6.5 Grendel.
CCI 450 primers are also available and Scheels has them for 79.99, small rifle primer starline 6.8 brass can also be found.
Daniel Defense released a sweet deal on DDM4’s in 16” with a Geiselle SSA and Tornado quad rail for around 15-1600, might be some of those still around. I got mine
6.5 Grendel is available in bolt guns right now so shooters looking for that 1-2 combo have that to consider
KnightHawk
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I agree with the above completely. Keep it simple. Anyway that’s where I’m at. I have a 556/223 and wanted something more but only in the AR15 platform.
My criteria was reliability of operation, magazines and availability of ammunition or components like brass.
I could only come up with the 7.62x39 with magazines for that cartridge. The 300 blackout doesn’t have enough energy for me. Everything else is either very specialized or a boutique cartridge.
But my disclaimer is I’m an old fart and rear guns for me are blue steel and lumber.
I love my 6ARC build. I am using an Odin Works 18" barrel. My barrel does very well with Hornady 108Gr ammo.
I also have a 6.8 SPC that I put together years ago for deer hunting. My other non 5.56 rifles are 22lr.
Gumby0961
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My first AR was a 7.62x39 and still my favorite. Next was 450 BM, Great knockdown range not so great. I think a lot depends on what your going to use it for. If you want a fun caliber that blows stuff up better than a 223, either of these will work. The 450 ammo is costly, even reloading it runs around $2 a shot if you are buying brass with it.
Shawn Dodson
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I have uppers in 25-45 Sharps (5.56 necked up to .25 caliber), .300 BLK, 7.62x39, and 6.8 SPC.
Each has a specific purpose.
If I had it to do all over again, then I'd probably pick 6mm ARC as a general purpose cartridge over all the others, but I have what I have.
Each has a specific purpose.
If I had it to do all over again, then I'd probably pick 6mm ARC as a general purpose cartridge over all the others, but I have what I have.
Lo-Profile
Member
I have them in 22lr, 5.56, 300 Blackout, 350 legend and 450 Bushmaster.
They all can use regular AR magazines with some modification. For magazines, I use black for 5.56, FDE for 300 Blackout, yellow tape for 350 legend and orange tape for 450 Bushmaster
Also have a 9mm that uses Glock magazines
They all can use regular AR magazines with some modification. For magazines, I use black for 5.56, FDE for 300 Blackout, yellow tape for 350 legend and orange tape for 450 Bushmaster
Also have a 9mm that uses Glock magazines
someguy2800
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I have had 5.56, 6x45, 7.62x39, 300 blackout, 350 legend, 358 yeti, and I have a 45 raptor barrel I haven’t put together yet. They are all good at something.
someguy2800
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As for cartridges that work in a standard mag, 300 blackout, 6x45, 25-45 sharps, 277 wolverine, 6, 6.5, and 7mm TCU, and 300 ham’r come to mind.
I like my 7.62x39. It shoots steel cased ammo very well, mags are cheap and reliable and the ammo is cheap, relatively speaking. At today's prices, .50 a round for plinking ammo and .75 a round for hunting ammo. It has all of the power that I need for distances that don't require a .308 and it performs well coming out of a short barrel.
greyling22
Member
15 years ago, 6.8 was hot. when I selected 6.5 grendel 5 or so years ago, 6.8 was definitely on it's way out the door. you could get a barrel from 1 or 2 companies, whereas the grendel was available from over a dozen. I don't know if things have changed since then. Functionally, they are more or less equivalent out to 2 or 300 yds.
I recently built a 300 ham'r upper because I got tired of hunting my grendel brass and wanted something I could make out of the limitless 5.56 cases laying around. of course, now I hunt for my ham'r brass because it's a lot of work to trim and fire form one of those little boogers. wilson combat does a pretty good job of keeping ammo available if you don't reload. it's about the only non-556 caliber I can think of that uses standard AR parts and mags, and has ammo available. neat rounds from MDWS like 277 wolverine and the ocelot, the 25-45 sharps, etc are all pretty much reloader wildcats.
I recently built a 300 ham'r upper because I got tired of hunting my grendel brass and wanted something I could make out of the limitless 5.56 cases laying around. of course, now I hunt for my ham'r brass because it's a lot of work to trim and fire form one of those little boogers. wilson combat does a pretty good job of keeping ammo available if you don't reload. it's about the only non-556 caliber I can think of that uses standard AR parts and mags, and has ammo available. neat rounds from MDWS like 277 wolverine and the ocelot, the 25-45 sharps, etc are all pretty much reloader wildcats.
small town life
Member
Although I have a 300bo, I'd choose the 300wt/hmr over the bo due to shooting up to 150's and seldom 170's. I'm a faithful FMJ user, so 185's are possible in the wt.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I’m enjoying a 6.5 Grendel and a 6 ARC. I won’t argue for them as people’s needs and interests vary. But I like them.
The picture of the 30AR looks awful similar to 6BR. Why does no one offer a 6BR upper? Shoulder too sharp to feed worth a flip? If that was able to be offered, game over for the other 6mm offerings.
Since the 450bm fits, wonder how a rimless 41 cal 1.75” case would do? Even a rimless 414 supermag would be fun. Yes, I’ve heard of the 400 legend, but I’m a 41 fan for it‘s relative oddness.
It cracks me up the AR platforms have turned into the semi auto TC Contender and Encore. I love it.
Since the 450bm fits, wonder how a rimless 41 cal 1.75” case would do? Even a rimless 414 supermag would be fun. Yes, I’ve heard of the 400 legend, but I’m a 41 fan for it‘s relative oddness.
It cracks me up the AR platforms have turned into the semi auto TC Contender and Encore. I love it.
small town life
Member
Whether it be a 6dasher or ppc or br rem/norma would be all good! I haven't seen any offerings in 6br. The 6arc is as close as you'll find with the same energy as the dasher or any other br cases that will fit into an AR15 mag.
wesmonster
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I briefly looked at getting in to .450 bm, .50ae or .458 socom.
Of the three ,.450bm ammo off the shelf was cheapest by far.
Both .450 & .50 seemed to be easier to reload vs .458.
But ballistically at greater distances the .458 seemed to perform the best, if you're looking at hunting with it.
I've also seen a few bolt actions chambered in .450 bm, not so much in the other calibers.
Nice thing about .300bo is you only need a .300bo upper minus bcg. Your 5.56 bcg should work just fine. And if you get a .300bo upper with a bcg then you have a spare in a pinch.
Only 5.56 mag I couldn't get .300bo to run in were my Magpuls, those were windowed gen2s. Everything else is fine. Even $10 D&H and korean steel SHKs.
I also run .300bo in a Mini 14 and Ruger Ranch bolt action (AR mag version).
Best place to start with a variant, and it probably won't stop there.
Of the three ,.450bm ammo off the shelf was cheapest by far.
Both .450 & .50 seemed to be easier to reload vs .458.
But ballistically at greater distances the .458 seemed to perform the best, if you're looking at hunting with it.
I've also seen a few bolt actions chambered in .450 bm, not so much in the other calibers.
Nice thing about .300bo is you only need a .300bo upper minus bcg. Your 5.56 bcg should work just fine. And if you get a .300bo upper with a bcg then you have a spare in a pinch.
Only 5.56 mag I couldn't get .300bo to run in were my Magpuls, those were windowed gen2s. Everything else is fine. Even $10 D&H and korean steel SHKs.
I also run .300bo in a Mini 14 and Ruger Ranch bolt action (AR mag version).
Best place to start with a variant, and it probably won't stop there.
Hello.
If it's your first AR, I highly recommend you stick with 5.56 (not 223). I got mine in .300 Blackout, an excellent choice, but not the best choice for my first AR. Ammo components availability is an issue, as well as cost. I do shoot supers, subs with a can. There is definitely something to say about 300 Blk suppressed, it's amazing. Without a can, I see no compelling reason to go with this caliber, other than just wanting to. My range has some noise restrictions, so a suppressor is a must in my case, and here in France we can buy them without paperwork.
Get a 5.56 and buy an upper later in the weird caliber of your choice.
Gil.
If it's your first AR, I highly recommend you stick with 5.56 (not 223). I got mine in .300 Blackout, an excellent choice, but not the best choice for my first AR. Ammo components availability is an issue, as well as cost. I do shoot supers, subs with a can. There is definitely something to say about 300 Blk suppressed, it's amazing. Without a can, I see no compelling reason to go with this caliber, other than just wanting to. My range has some noise restrictions, so a suppressor is a must in my case, and here in France we can buy them without paperwork.
Get a 5.56 and buy an upper later in the weird caliber of your choice.
Gil.