Next ar15 project...

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adcoch1

adcoch1

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So I am starting on my next build.... And I cannot decide on caliber. I have built 458 SOCOMs, 300 blk, 6.5 grendel, 5.56, 50 Beowulf, etc, but I am starting to believe I am more about the build process than the ownership since most of my projects get sold after I play with them awhile...

So this one is going to have a2 style sights. And it will be configured as a "pistol" with the parts shown. Now that could still mean a carbine length barrel, or a 14.5", 12", etc. But carbine length gas system, or some weird hybrid that attaches the furniture at carbine length.

I wouldn't mind a 22lr, or another 6.5 grendel, maybe a 223, 7.62x39, or an old wildcat like 6x45. But needs to be something that makes sense running open sights primarily, for messing around in campsites, or woods bumming, truck gun, etc. Not set on a dedicated purpose for it yet.

So, ideas for cartridge/caliber?
 
If you don’t have a particular purpose I’d probably default to 22, 556 or 7.62 just from an ammo cost standpoint (assuming we see normal again). If you don’t care about ammo cost I like the 6.5 Grendel a lot for an AR platform caliber.
 
IdaD said:
If you don’t have a particular purpose I’d probably default to 22, 556 or 7.62 just from an ammo cost standpoint (assuming we see normal again). If you don’t care about ammo cost I like the 6.5 Grendel a lot for an AR platform caliber.
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Yeah I think a 12" or so grendel pistol would be fun for sure. I have been looking at 22lr parts too, but an AR seems a bit big and heavy for a dedicated 22...
 
x39, something that is cheap to shoot, I don't have to dedicate time to reload for it. It's just a grab a box of the stuff it likes and head out. I have enough to reload for. This is a big plus in my book for the x39, for whatever reason any other cartridge I'm wanting to reload for.

And a 10" pistol would make a dandy rifle for your desires, bumming around in the truck, desert, mountains, etc.
 
7.62x39

Thats what im building currently. 10.5" barrel.

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WestKentucky said:
6.8spc is a great mid-bore for the AR. I love my rifle and am seriously considering rebarreling my pistol to 6.8. If you look at brass availability and whatnot it doesn’t make sense, but it’s a good one.
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That's what I was going to suggest.

My last AR build was supposed to be a 6.8SPC, but I cheaped out and built it in 5.56mm. I'm currently building another in 5.56mm, because 1 is none, and 2 is 1. After that, and assuming things chill back out, I have a Honey Badger lower already set aside for the 6.8SPC build.
 
WestKentucky said:
6.8spc is a great mid-bore for the AR. I love my rifle and am seriously considering rebarreling my pistol to 6.8. If you look at brass availability and whatnot it doesn’t make sense, but it’s a good one.
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I kind of feel like 6.8 is in life support. hardly any barrels and parts for one even before this current shortage. pity too, because I rather like the caliber. I have about 120 pieces of brass I've saved over the years thinking I'd build one.

But for an open sights pistol, bump around gun, how about a 9mm? I'm a huge proponent of the cmmg banshee/emdomag setup.
 
greyling22 said:
I kind of feel like 6.8 is in life support. hardly any barrels and parts for one even before this current shortage. pity too, because I rather like the caliber. I have about 120 pieces of brass I've saved over the years thinking I'd build one.

But for an open sights pistol, bump around gun, how about a 9mm? I'm a huge proponent of the cmmg banshee/emdomag setup.
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Have a 9mm pistol already, and running endomag, but it is not as exciting as I thought it would be. It works great but I haven't shot it much. Of course ammo price has something to do with that ATM. Don't really want to use all my spp on 9mm...

What about 350 legend in a pistol? Anybody try it yet?
 
greyling22 said:
I kind of feel like 6.8 is in life support. hardly any barrels and parts for one even before this current shortage. pity too, because I rather like the caliber. I have about 120 pieces of brass I've saved over the years thinking I'd build one.

But for an open sights pistol, bump around gun, how about a 9mm? I'm a huge proponent of the cmmg banshee/emdomag setup.
Click to expand...

6.8 is alive and well for me. If you need a place to off load the brass...just sayin'.

To me the 6.8 is the best all around hunting round for the ar15 platform, just so well balanced in velocities, energies and a great selection of bullets in it's weight class. It does very well in shorter barrels to boot.
 
BreechFace said:
@BigBlue 94 those flip up sight gas blocks are sweet, never have used them but I do like the look of them on builds such as yours.
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That one is actually a normal gas block with rail and a sight put on top. Not a one piece unit. I do have one of them though, a Yankee Hill Machine, on my 6.5 Grendel build. I like it a lot as the sight folds down to rail level.

The 6.5G is the camo one
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BreechFace said:
6.8 is alive and well for me. If you need a place to off load the brass...just sayin'.

To me the 6.8 is the best all around hunting round for the ar15 platform, just so well balanced in velocities, energies and a great selection of bullets in it's weight class. It does very well in shorter barrels to boot.
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Isn't the Grendel just a hair better in terms of ballistics? That plus probably some piggybacking off of the 6.5CM may give it an edge in popularity.
 
IdaD said:
Isn't the Grendel just a hair better in terms of ballistics? That plus probably some piggybacking off of the 6.5CM may give it an edge in popularity.
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Pretty similar. But the 6.8 has more going for it in my opinion in ethical hunting ranges. There isn't enough difference to really say one way or the other, but in my mind there are advantages to the 6.8 as being the better rounded of the two for a hunting AR.

6.8 was designed with reliability in mind with it's case design, it has better energies by my calculation and experience 200 yards and in, and does better with shorter barrels due to it's larger bore. That's about as much as I'm going to get into it because this topic is beat to death.
 
BreechFace said:
Pretty similar. But the 6.8 has more going for it in my opinion in ethical hunting ranges. There isn't enough difference to really say one way or the other, but in my mind there are advantages to the 6.8 as being the better rounded of the two for a hunting AR.

6.8 was designed with reliability in mind with it's case design, it has better energies by my calculation and experience 200 yards and in, and does better with shorter barrels due to it's larger bore. That's about as much as I'm going to get into it because this topic is beat to death.
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They are both better than a 223, especially from a short barrel... Either would be fun, but both have unique bolts and barrels. So a little more expensive than 223, 350 legend, 6x45, etc...
 
My .350 was a 16" barreled gun....cant have ar pistols here anyway......
Thats probably what I would go with, were I building an even shorter gun.
 
adcoch1 said:
I have been looking at 22lr parts too, but an AR seems a bit big and heavy for a dedicated 22...
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I disagree here.:cool:

adcoch1 said:
What about 350 legend in a pistol?
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So, like a boomy 9mm with gas operation?:)
(Not really.;) A 14” 350L would be quite formidable.)

What about entirely goofy with an 8mm AR pistol?
Or more American as the 32ARC?
Or a little simpler as a 32x45?

If it’s the building and sourcing of parts and components that is fun, this would be a one of, bespoke rifle. Well, as an AR can get...:D
Not many AR extensioned, 32 caliber barrels out there.
Pistols bullets for varmints and plinking. Rifle bullets for longer use or larger game.


Probably won’t be very sale-able afterwards.
Except to me.;)
 
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