What caliber would you like to see become mainstream in the AR-15?

[Hammerhead6814]

I'd buy one if 6.8 SPC was standard. That way there would be a greater supply of ammunition and therefor I could afford to shoot one.

 

[68wj]

I'd buy one if 6.8 SPC was standard. That way there would be a greater supply of ammunition and therefor I could afford to shoot one.

Quality ammo is comparable in price between 5.56 and 6.8. Especially if you want to hunt with an AR. There is, however, no "cheap" plinking ammo available for the 6.8 at this time.

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

Quality ammo is comparable in price between 5.56 and 6.8. Especially if you want to hunt with an AR. There is, however, no "cheap" plinking ammo available for the 6.8 at this time.

That is very true. The closest to plinking ammo that I have found is Remington full metal case but it is still $20 per box. It would be nice to see a place like Lake City pick up a FMJ contract but that would require the military to adopt the cartridge.

 

[kimberkid]

Quality ammo is comparable in price between 5.56 and 6.8. Especially if you want to hunt with an AR. There is, however, no "cheap" plinking ammo available for the 6.8 at this time.

I reload several caliburs but I'm a fan of standard NATO caliburs you can pick up most anywhere. I guess for this reason for a big bore AR I'll stick with 7.62x39 ... now that there are 30 round mags available that work, but it would be nice to have 1 mag that worked for both caliburs.

 

[ArmedBear]

our government loves $$$ more than troops

Given a finite budget (okay that's not apparently a given these days, but still), I suspect that the troops would prefer to have 5.56x45 with the current amount of smart artillery, modern tanks, effective close air support, etc., to 6.8SPC with less of the above. Just a thought...

 

[Bigfoot]

6.8 Bigfoot aka 6.8x42mm. The case length and bullets of the 6.8SPC with the larger diameter brass of the 6.5 Grendel. 200 fps faster than the SPC. Short enough case and still have the powder capacity to shoot almost all of the 270 cal 130s around 2700 fps. Runs in 6.5 Grendel mags and bolts.

Start with long 7.62x39 (blanks w boxer primer) brass, cut it to length and fireform in chamber. Resize in dies and load.

Another option is to make it the same length as the 6.8SPC so current SPC barrels can be converted. Shorter 130s will still fit. Rechamber the SPC barrel, swap to the Grendel bolt and it's done.

Heres a pic of the Privi Partizan 7.62x39 long blank brass. Perfect diameter, rim and groove size to fit the Grendel bolt head.