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Old December 18, 2012, 12:51 PM   #1
WV_gunner
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AR calibers other than .223?

What exactly are my options? I'd like a 50AE but I want more than just a few shots out of a magazine. A 9mm would be ok but there's cheaper semi auto 9mm rifles out there. I'd like a medium range catridge too. Does anyone have experience with the .458 Socom? I understand its basically a 45-70. The .243 AR10 seems nifty also, but I doubt I'd purchase one. I'm just looking to get pointed in the right direction, any help is appreciated.
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Old December 18, 2012, 12:54 PM   #2
UtopiaTexasG19
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You will find more than a few posts on this question in the search function here and also on Ar15.com. I believe there are over 25 caliber options if not more.
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Old December 18, 2012, 12:56 PM   #3
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Also would a catridge that is easily made not subsonic.
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Old December 18, 2012, 02:44 PM   #4
MarkCO
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Tons of options from .17 to 50 caliber in the AR15 base platform.

Mainstream with simple barrel conversions are the easiest. Like the .204 Ruger and .300AAC.

Then you move to barrel and bolt conversions. Like the 6.8 and .450 BM.

Then you have more exotic conversions that require different magazines, buffers, magwell blocks, etc. Of course if you go to the .308 based platform, there is another whole list of options.

All depends on what you want to do with it.
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Old December 18, 2012, 02:47 PM   #5
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I've had a 458 SOCOM for a couple years. It is an excellent caliber for what I call short range shots-200 yards or less. I've shot mine out to 300 yards,but it drops lock a rock at that range shooting 325gr FTX bullets.
If you don't handload,the 458 SOCOM isn't a caliber that I'd suggest,factory ammo is hard to get,and very expensive.
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Old December 18, 2012, 03:10 PM   #6
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Quote:
Also would a catridge that is easily made not subsonic.
Not sure I understand that statement, seems like a word or two got left out by accident. If you're looking for something that can go subsonic though, 300 Blackout has become a favorite of mine. It's ballstically comparable to a 30-30, and suppresses easily as well. It's a great cartridge in the AR platform.
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Old December 18, 2012, 05:07 PM   #7
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Sorry for not making sense, on pain medicene and it affects me.
Looks like I need to do some more researching.
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Old December 18, 2012, 05:18 PM   #8
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ok here's all the chamberings I can think of off the top of my head:
22lr
5.7x28
22 hornet
222 remington
223/5.56
5.45x39mm
7.62x39mm
7.62x40
6x45mm
6.5 grendel
6.8 SPC
300 fireball
300AAC/Blackout/Whisper
450 bushmaster
458 socom
50 beowulf
50 AE

those are just off the top of my head, there are dozens more. for medium range I would say that 6.5grandel or 6.8 SPC would be your best option.
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Old December 18, 2012, 08:40 PM   #9
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The bigger calibers have heavy recoil, low magazine capacity, are expensive to shoot, and are only useful at fairly short range.
My stable includes 5.45 & 7.62 x39(most likely arms of any foreign invaders so I can use their ammo) and a new 300AAC(just in case there's need for a suppressed shooter at some point). If I need more power or range, I have plenty of bolt actions that are easier to feed. I don't choose to tie up an expensive AR platform to provide a 22lr.
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Old December 18, 2012, 09:07 PM   #10
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My first ar was in 556. I am in the process of building another and am leaning on 300 black or 762x40, odd ball I know but I love to reload. I love the idea of something other than 223 in an ar platform



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Old December 19, 2012, 02:43 AM   #11
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Quote:
Sorry for not making sense, on pain medicene and it affects me.
Looks like I need to do some more researching.
I hear ya, I just spent a few weeks on pain meds as well! But researching is a great use of down time, isn't it?
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Old December 19, 2012, 08:51 AM   #12
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Quote:
The bigger calibers have heavy recoil, low magazine capacity, are expensive to shoot, and are only useful at fairly short range.
All depends on how you set them up and what those terms mean to you.

My .450 BM will hold 1 MOA out to 300 yards. I can hit a 10" steel plate at 500 meters with almost boring regularity. It has a Syrac adjustable gas block turned down quite a bit which helps with the recoil as well. I have 5, 9, 12 and 15 round magazines for it. I am running at about $32/100 rounds.

Moving to the 300AAC, the recoil is less, accuracy is great, capacity is the same as in .223 and I am running at about $24/100 rounds. Still hitting the 500m 10" plate 1 for 1.
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Old December 19, 2012, 11:32 AM   #13
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Moving to the 300AAC, the recoil is less, accuracy is great, capacity is the same as in .223 and I am running at about $24/100 rounds. Still hitting the 500m 10" plate 1 for 1.
I've been able to get my Blackout costs down to about $17/100 using surplus 147 or 150's, which makes it almost cheaper to shoot than 223 in the AR platform. Going to subsonics gets a little more expensive because I'm using a more expensive projectile, but the point is that my experience has been the same as yours as far as being able to shoot calibers like the 300 Blackout relatively inexpensively.
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Old December 19, 2012, 11:48 AM   #14
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I like the 5.45x39 but there are only a handful of ammo choices -
corrosive steel cased is half the price of .223.
non-corrosive steel cased is the same price as steel cased .223.

Shooting corrosive is OK but must clean afterwards.
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Old December 19, 2012, 03:51 PM   #15
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the 7.62 nato (.308) is fun. love my rock river lar-8
shot a .50 beowulf the other day. that packs a punch!
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