What caliber should I choose for my next AR-15 upper?

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TheGewehrGuy

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I am looking for something that will take out a deer within 200 yards, accurately enough, and humanely. I already have a semi-dedicated, actually a few semi-dedicated bolt-action hunting rifles to use, but I am looking for something that I can use for possibly coyote, deer, road hunting and for target shooting at 100 yards.

I live in Washington state where there is a tree every 2 yards, so I am not going to be making 10000 yard shots like a lot of guys like to boast about.

I have considered buying an AK, just so it can sit there and compliment my AR-15, but I am not a big fan of the AK platform anyway.

I am also looking for something that can be built for less that $550.

So...
7.62x39- Favor because of heavy hitting, cheap shooting round (drawbacks: possibly inaccurate and magazines don't work well)

6.5 Grendel- AWESOME ballistics, almost have to reload, but expensive to target shoot or plink.

6.8 SPC- I am leaning towards this because it is kind of in between the first two because of it being more available.

Just give my your opinion, and it will help decide where to displace my hard-earned minimum wage money...
 
I was thinking 6.5 Grendel before I saw that you listed it. I've read a lot of great things about that caliber but haven't had a chance to shoot one. How much would it cost per round to shoot if you reloaded? (this is a question for anyone)
 
Have you considered 450 bushmaster? IIRC you can use some .45 ACP bullets for reloading so cost would be low for some loads and its accuracy out to 200 yards is impressive. Every once in a while they have them on sale at Bushmaster and Cheaper than Dirt
 
6.5 is not cheap nor is it prohibitively expensive. It splits the difference between 5.56 and 7.62 which is pretty much where you would expect it to be. Wolf makes a cheap brass plinking round. There is also what is effectively match ammo/hunting ammo and that is expensive. What is bad is there is nothing in between. Its like if you had a 7.62 and could only shoot Wolf ammo or match and you get the idea. Now 6.8 seems expensive to me. The high end stuff costs about as much as 6.5 and there is no Wolf alternative. It is hard to get hold off ammo buy I've never been out of it. I buy 500 round lots and when I get to a certain point I put a backorder in and it gets there before I get desperate. I don't shoot it a lot for a couple of reasons but as far as recoil goes if you did not tell the shooter he was shooting 6.5 instead of 5.56 he probably would not have noticed even if he had just fired a 5.56.

You could buy an upper already built for $690 so I'd guess you could build one for around what you are asking. You would need a different bolt, barrel and magazines.
 
Check out 300 AAC Blackout before you buy anything. Ballistics comparable to 7.62x39 but uses standard .223 sized magazines and bolts - only the barrel differs from a 5.56 AR.

Otherwise I would do a 6.8 SPC and at least have reliability along with the attributes you're seeking.

I would choose a .308 upper.
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Does not compute. Do you mean a .311 jam-o-matic, or the obscure .30 Remington AR that only loads single-stack?
 
Out of the calibers the OP listed, I would lean towards 6.8x43mm SPC.
The 6.5x40mm Grendel is more of a medium-long range cartridge, while the 6.8x43mm SPC is more of a short-medium range cartridge.


For 200 yds or under...
.458Socom :evil:
It'll take down any animal on the North American continent.


jim243 said:
I would choose a .308 upper.
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Are not compatible with standard AR15 lowers.
Unless, it's a custom single-shot upper.
 
.308
Then let me know where you find the parts instock. Im looking for parts for a .308 also
 
OK, people don't seem to get it. .308 Winchester or 7.62x51mm is NOT compatible with a standard AR-15 lower. It's far too long. Maybe somewhere there is an obscure single-shot bolt action .308 upper that fits on an AR-15 lower, but nothing practical or semiauto.

You will not be able to buy or build a .308 Win AR for anywhere close to $550. It's unlikely you'll be able to buy or build a .308 Win upper, which would require an appropriate lower, for $550.

Some of these responses you might as well have said "order a custom Merkel in .375 H&H and tell me how it works for you."
 
I would vote 7.62x39. It would be cheaper to feed it long term, and it can be plenty accurate. The magazines are a weak point/expensive, but I've heard 10 shots always work well and the C-products high caps are supposedly working well now. I'm fortunate to have some of the old factory Colt and USA high cap mags that all work well.
 
I know you didn't mention it but how about a 243 upper. Sounds like it would work out pretty well for what your after. It works great for both deer and coyotes. Not the cheapest round but not the most expensive either.
 
I own both the 6.8 and the 6.5. Of the two, it is cheaper for me to shoot 6.5 because I use only 7.62x39 fireformed brass that I have either gotten for free or had saved up from years and years ago. The 6.8 and 6.5 are near identical killers up close. Depending on the load, the 6.5 will start to pull ahead in energy at 100-150 yards. If I were only shooting to 100 yards I would have no need for the Grendel as the 6.8 can do anything really well at that range. It even does pretty good up to 300 or so yards. If you really want to stretch its legs then it can kill at 400 as well. The 6.5 will just be flatter shooting with more energy with the right bullet. If you are looking at 16" barrels both calibers will be pretty equal with the 6.8 having a slight advantage up close (100 yards). If you want a long range longer barrel weapon the 6.5 would probably be my choice. The 6.5 can reach out past 1100 yards from a 16" barrel. The 6.8 can reach out to about 700 yards and then it will go sub sonic from a 16" barrel.

Now, the real advice. If you are wanting to shoot your gun a lot then neither the 6.8 or the 6.5 is a good choice. Factory ammo for both costs about as much as it would for a .30-06 or .308. So, if you have images in your mind of doing mag dumps just for the thrill, you had better be rich. Of my three ARs, the .223 has about 4k down the barrel and the others have less than 500 apiece.
 
I know you didn't mention it but how about a 243 upper.
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Same case length and roughly same OAL as a .308 Win, won't fit into an AR-15 lower.

There are some wildcats like 6x43mm but you'd better be loading all your own ammo and enjoy tinkering.
 
Same case length and roughly same OAL as a .308 Win, won't fit into an AR-15 lower.
Click to expand...
I'm getting an upper in a .35 caliber based on the .25 WSSM case. It's got a Shilen match grade barrel, so it should be SUPER accurate. Launches a 200 grain @ 2,800+ fps. Feeds from a standard mag and lower.

Problem is, it's about $950 so it doesn't fit the budget. I also have a SOCOM upper, but it's also above the price range.

Sounds like the 6.5 or 6.8 depending on their cost.
 
Z-Michigan said:
Check out 300 AAC Blackout before you buy anything. Ballistics comparable to 7.62x39 but uses standard .223 sized magazines and bolts - only the barrel differs from a 5.56 AR.
Click to expand...

True, the .300 Blackout is the latest incarnation of the .300 Whisper/Fireball. and is currently being loaded commercially by Remington and at least 3 other ammo manufacturers. There is also the 6X45 which is the 5.56/.223 necked up to 6mm (.243). It, like the .300 BLK, uses all standard AR parts (including BCG, and mags) with just a barrel change. I believe Black Hills is loading the 6 X 45. There may be other companies but I can't remember them off the top of my head right now.
 
Like 7.62 said, look into that 6x45. It is no problem if you reload. I like the looks of it, but I will be doing my grendel build first.
 
I would look at a 458 SOCOM. It is somewhat similar to a 45-70, fits on a standard AR-15 lower and takes standard mags with no mods. It can be loaded with 45-70 rounds which make it good for deer and if you want something harder the 458 win mag bullets can be loaded. It sounds like a perfect fit for what you want.
Check it out at http://teppojutsu.com/
 
You're being unrealistic with your price point. While it's possible to build a 5.56 AR for $550- if you really shop around, other calibers have less of a demand and command higher prices - a fact that nearly all of the 'advice' you've gotten here has ignored.

GunForAll us running a sale now - a Bushmaster 16" upper in 6.8 SPC for $462-
http://www.gunforall.com/shopcart/mcartfree/product.asp?intProdID=11369
Mate that to one of the PlumCrazy polymer AR lowers and you'll have a 6.8 AR for just under $600-, which is the cheapest you're going to get into this. You'll pay even more for the other two calibers you listed.

Good luck!
 
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