help me decide what to build

[n10sivern]

OK, let's start with a partial inventory of my rifles:

Bolt 6.5x55 with 28" barrel
Bolt 6.5x55 with 24" barrel
Bolt 300 WSM 24" barrel
Bolt 358 Win 20" barrel
AR10 7mm-08 24" barrel
AR10 358 Win 20" barrel
a few 243 hunting rifles
multiple 300AAC and 223 AR15's

Here is what I have to work with:

Savage SA receiver
AR15 receiver set
AR10 receiver set

My dilemma:
I have an AR15 receiver set that I want to do something special with. Possibly a 6.5 Grendel or 6mmAR. I really don't see a point in a long range 24" barrel 223. The Savage SA I was thinking about building a 308 with a 20-24" barrel. I do not own a 308 and have never been in love with the round, but maybe it's time. I considered a 6.5 Creedmoor but it isn't going to do anything I can't do with the 6.5x55. If I go 308 on the Savage receiver, I may build a 24" 260 or 6.5CM AR10 and sell off my 7mm-08 barrel and rebuild it as a 20" 308. I can't see having a 6.5 variant and a 7mm-08 AR10. There will be more variance between the 6.5 and 308 and 358. What do y'all think would be the best variations to go with.

 

[jmr40]

I'd add a bolt gun in 308 with a sporter weight 22" barrel. Or possibly 7-08 if you don't want to load for a different round. The 2 are ballistic twins. I'd keep the finished weight about 6.5-6.75 lbs, about 7.5 lbs scoped.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

1. Build a Grendel.
2. How could anyone not love the .308?

 

[Mike C2]

Are you a hunter or just a shooter? The 6.8 SPC has become my rifle that goes with me on EVERY trip. I have several and am always conssidering another. ;-)

 

[n10sivern]

I hunt and target shoot. I already have multiple 300AAC and the ballistics are similar to 6.8 out to 200 yards. That's why I was looking at the grendel or 6mmAR for the AR15

 

[n10sivern]

How could anyone not love the .308?

I think the 7mm-08 does everything better. To me it's what the 308 should have been. It almost feels like a compromise to go 308. 7mm-08 has better BC, less recoil, and I like being non-mainstream

 

[adcoch1]

Sounds like you already have your bases covered pretty well, so probably a Grendel. Unless you already have the Savage sa laying around, then I would probably go for a 358 in that. Since you already have the ar 10 shooting it it would be cool, the same with the 7mm-08. I personally don't enjoy the 308 either, not that I dislike it, i just go to the 30-06 for the purposes I may use a 308 for.

 

[n10sivern]

I already have a savage in 358. It was one of the rifles I listed

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I think the 7mm-08 does everything better. To me it's what the 308 should have been. It almost feels like a compromise to go 308. 7mm-08 has better BC, less recoil, and I like being non-mainstream

Since you love the 308's offspring I will forgive you.

 

[n10sivern]

I like 308 offspring. I like 243, 260, 7mm-08, and 358. I think the 338 federal is kind of a dud as I think the the 338 doesn't have enough powder to make it more than a short range caliber and the 358 is a better thumper at short ranges.

 

[CB900F]

n10sivern;

The large empty space I see in your collection can't be rectified by the components you have on hand, and that is a .22 rifle. My first choice would be a CZ.

May I presume that the 28" barreled gun is a target rifle & the 24" is a hunting gun? If so, between the 6.5, the .300WSM, and the .358, you've got hunting covered unless an African safari is in your future. If that's the case, ditch the .358 & get a .375 H&H or stouter. Unless, of course, the .358 has special meaning to you. The Grendel would be nice, but certainly not necessary. I'm also going to presume that the light weight varminter is covered somewhere in the AR/.243 category, though a .223/.222 bolt gun would certainly work.

I will caution you though that good .22's are addictive. Don't ask my wife how I know this, please.

900F

 

[n10sivern]

Ha, I have 6 22's, mostly savages mark ii's. As for varmint rifles, I rarely varmint hunt and if I do it's coyotes with suppressed rifles. The 223 AR's I have vary from 10.5" to 20" and the 243's are standard hunting rifles.

 

[Orcon]

I think the 7mm-08 does everything better. To me it's what the 308 should have been. It almost feels like a compromise to go 308. 7mm-08 has better BC, less recoil, and I like being non-mainstream

Well if you really wanted to be different you could chamber an AR in 19 Badger.