The best that never was (ar-15 edition)

[jmorris]

I think one in 7mm BR would be quite useful and that round didn’t survive even in bolt guns.

 

[cfullgraf]

20 practical. Faster, flatter version of the 223. Simple to make, but never really took off. 204ruger could be lumped in there as well although it was a bit hotter and requires a bigger bolt face, the smaller bores just never got off the ground. Shame. The 20 practical is listed as a contender barrel by the big guys in the barrel business so I will scratch that itch eventually with EAB or MGM barrels.

I've done several prairie dog shoots with a 26" heavy barrel 204 Ruger AR-15. I selected 204 Ruger over 223 Remington because it shoots a bit flatter out farther than the 223 Remington.

While I do reload, since 204 Ruger is available as commercial ammunition, it saved my last trip to South Dakota when I did not bring enough ammunition. I was able to buy some 204 Ruger for the last day of the shoot while I'd be SOL if my gun was chambered in 20 Practical.

All would not be lost as I always take a spare bolt rifle chambered in something other than 204 Ruger.

On another chambering, I've got an AR-15 chambered in 22x6.8. A wildcat round that never took off.

 

[Demi-human]

On another chambering, I've got an AR-15 chambered in 22x6.8. A wildcat round that never took off.

It totally took off. It even has SAMMI specifications, just under a different name, the 224 Valkyrie.

I remember a few years ago, hearing of your wildcat. I was just about to order a barrel and follow in your footsteps when the Valkyrie was released. And about to get a neck turner for 6.8 brass conversion when Starline came out with their cases.

In another year or so that one will be announced flopped too though.
The only game more fun than coming up with new cartridges for an AR is announcing when they’ve died!

The proprietary brassed Legend was D.O.A in my corner of the world.
Rife with all the chamber drama of the Valkyrie and overdriven pistol bullets woes of the Bushmaster. And not to forget the inflated performance reports from Winchester.

 

[Varminterror]

Where were the folks claiming “the 6.8 SPC never took off” 10-15 years ago? The 6.8 SPC was the second most common chambering in America’s most popular rifle for several years. Bolt guns and Mini’s were chambered for it too. It wasn’t the most popular cartridge in the country, but it was certainly exceptionally popular. The 300blk fad took it over, then it lost position to the 6.5 Grendel as the .277/6.8 lost favor and the 6.5mm’s gained momentum on the heels of the 6.5 creed.

 

[Cannibul]

I’m just hoping 350 sticks around. I just did a caliber swap to it for doe hunting this year.

350 Legend ammo is sitting on the shelves at Walmart and Academy around here.

I've been thinking about building an upper in 350 Legend. The FMJ ammo at Walmart is $10 a box. Straight wall is easy to reload. I've got tons of 9mm bullets laying around, I've got the correct powders.

The only thing really stopping me is I'd really like a 11-12" barrel for it and they seem to be in really short supply right now.

 

[bfoosh006]

Also a 6.8...screwed up chamber dimensions on chamber reamers and out of spec bores, created many over pressure issues.

IMHO, to many people / manufacturers scrambled to get on the band wagon... and that help create havoc.

It seems like to many manufacturers are in such a rush to produce barrels... and get them on the market... that proper development is often ignored. ( And that trend is still happening ....)

I was very close to "adopting" a 6.8 as my main platform.

http://m.b5z.net/i/u/6132121/i/6.8_20SPC_20Performance_20Testing_20Report_1_.pdf

 

[d2wing]

If you want a bigger cartridge get a bigger rifle. Seriously I would be interested in a 6 MM version, maybe the 6.5 Grendel.

 

[Varminterror]

20 practical. Faster, flatter version of the 223. Simple to make, but never really took off. 204ruger could be lumped in there as well although it was a bit hotter and requires a bigger bolt face,

204 Ruger is the same bolt face as 20 Practical and 223/5.56, and uses the same magazines.