What AR round should I try next? Bigger than 5.56.

kymasabe · January 5, 2024, 10:32 AM

Hey all. I'm bored with 5.56, tired of building the same old AR's, thinking of building something bigger. .300 Blackout might be an option but...was thinking maybe .350 Legend? 6.8SPC (if anyone shoots that anymore?) Maybe .450 Bushmaster?
I'm looking for ammo that's not going to be TOO expensive or hard to find, need something reliable, parts availability that's not too exotic, something that might be used on occasional pig hunt.
Your thoughts ?

44caliberkid · January 5, 2024, 12:23 PM

I really like my 6.8 SPC and 450 Bushmaster. I also have 458 SoCom, but the Bushmaster is easier and more economical to build and shoots 1 to 1.5 inches at 100 yards. Easy to reload for too, since I already reload 45 Colt and 454 Casull.
I have 300 Blackout AR pistol, sort of a home/ urban defense gun, with a red dot/ laser combo sight. I only shoot 110 - 125 grain, high velocity loads, no subsonic, heavy bullets. It is a fun gun but looking back on all my AR builds, I wouldn’t have done 300 Blackout, 22 Nosler or 22 Valkyrie.

tangolima · January 5, 2024, 12:26 PM

6mm arc next for me. What for? I will figure it out.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

50 shooter · January 5, 2024, 01:10 PM

www.7mmvalkyrie.com

taylorce1 · January 5, 2024, 01:58 PM

If you want cheap ammo I'd build a 7.62X39 AR.

Wrong forum for this question, but I won't hold it against you.

**44 AMP** · January 5, 2024, 03:28 PM

Skip all the crap in the middle and go for the 50 Beowulf!

Koda94 · January 5, 2024, 05:17 PM

Quote:

I'm looking for ammo that's not going to be TOO expensive or hard to find, need something reliable, parts availability that's not too exotic, something that might be used on occasional pig hunt.
Your thoughts ?

6.5 Grendel is an awesome hunting caliber in the AR platform and well established availability in parts and ammo.

ballardw · January 5, 2024, 06:44 PM

I would think the approach is "what do I want to do" which would lead towards likely caliber choices.

Hard to go wrong with .22 LR as an option.

603Country · January 5, 2024, 10:08 PM

I went for the 6.5 Grendel. The grandson shot up a big hog with the 223, but the hog went another 300 yards. It was the last straw on pig hunting with the 223. Too many ran off. They don’t go far when you hit them well with the Grendel.

I’d have probably been just as pleased with the 6.8 SPC, but I already had reloading bits and pieces for the Grendel.

JasoninSD · January 5, 2024, 10:45 PM

I've used both the 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel on deer and antelope. I've had no problem with either of them but if I were to settle on one, it would be the 6.5. For factory ammo you will probably have better choices there. You might even be able to pick up some cheap steel cased Wolf ammo for the 6.5. Not sure if it is still available but I did lay some in a few years ago when it was about $6 per box.

Koda94 · January 5, 2024, 10:50 PM

Between the two I think the 6.5Grendel has better ballistics downrange than the 6.8 SPC.

P Flados · January 5, 2024, 11:16 PM

For a combination of "just shooting" and pig hunting using factory ammo, the 350L sounds pretty good.

For more general purpose hunting, a 6.5 Grendel would be my choice.

Webleymkv · January 6, 2024, 08:48 AM

Based on what I see available in my local stores, .300 Blackout, .350 Legend, and .450 Bushmaster seem to be the most popular non-5.56 AR calibers. Of the three, .300 Blackout has the most widely available ammo and lowest cost. However, the main advantages of .300 BO are running in very short barrels and/or with a suppressor neither of which you mentioned in your OP.

You did mention Hog hunting and when I hear that I immediately think "brush gun" and when I think "brush gun" I immediately think of big bore lever guns. Since .450 Bushmaster gives roughly the same Ballistics as .444 Marlin, a purpose built "brush gun" cartridge, it only makes sense to me that .450 Bushmaster would be a superb pig hunting cartridge.

taylorce1 · January 6, 2024, 09:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kymasabe

I'm looking for ammo that's not going to be TOO expensive or hard to find, need something reliable, parts availability that's not too exotic, something that might be used on occasional pig hunt.

OP isn't reloading, so he's looking at cost for the most basic round available. The cheapest ammunition online at ammoseek.com with conditional free/ free shipping requiring quantity or total amount spent. This is just most of the cartridges mentioned so far with a couple extra thrown in.

.223/5.56: .45 a round brass case ($200 purchase)
7.62X39: .50 a round brass case (1000 rounds)
.300 BLK: .60 a round (300 rounds)
.224 Valkyrie: .68 a round ($125 purchase)
6.8 SPC: .86 a round (1000 round case)
6.5 Gren: .95 a round (500 round case)
.350 Leg: $1 a round ($200 purchase)
.300 HAM'R: $1.20 a round ($50 purchase)
6mm ARC $1.42 a round ($250 purchase)
.50 Beowulf: $1.70 a round ($250 purchase)

Sarge · January 6, 2024, 08:35 PM

I have been leaning toward the 6.5 Grendel, but I'll probably try some IMI 77 grain Razorcore before I order a 6.5 upper.

jmr40 · January 6, 2024, 08:46 PM

Quote:

I'll probably try some IMI 77 grain Razorcore before I order a 6.5 upper.

Good idea. I think most people would be surprised at what a 223 with heavier bullets does. It makes most of the "other" cartridges that can be shot through an AR 15 platform look much less appealing.

It is my opinion that you really have to move up to the AR10 rifle to get it in a cartridge that is really a significant jump up over 223.

But if I were going to go bigger the 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 cartridges make the most sense to me.

tangolima · January 6, 2024, 08:54 PM

I tried heavy bullets. Accuracy is not good for some reason. Anything heavier than 68gr is struggling. I have some light varmint bullets. They will go real fast. Not sure whether they will disintegrate with 1:7 twist.

-TL

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Crankylove · January 7, 2024, 12:05 AM

I’ve got complete rifles in 5.56, 5.56, and .338 Federal.

I think my next uppers will be .300 BLK, and 6.8.

I’ve also been eyeballing 9mm and .46 Auto carbines.

Occasionally, I get the bug for a .375 SOCOM, but I expect ammo is a bit more than the OP is looking for.

Ignition Override · January 7, 2024, 02:59 AM

A Fedex pilot neighbor also has just the AR in .223.

Now he’s interested in building,
or buying, an AR-10.

I have Zero rifle building experience or advice for him.
My main rifles are .308 (no ARs), and just one is 7,62x39.

**44 AMP** · January 7, 2024, 02:22 PM

What velocity are you getting with those 77gr slugs?? from what barrel length??

rickyrick · January 7, 2024, 05:31 PM

I’m trying out 450BM, I know there are better long range options out there but since I now live in the dense forest my tastes for ARs have changed. I won’t be shooting anything beyond 50-100 range. I’ve been tossing around a few ideas and came up with 450BM.

Really you’re gonna get answers that are other people’s favorites or pet calibers. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s good to see what others are doing.

I have .223/5.56, 300AAC and 6.8SPC. I like those so far and leaning towards 6.8 as being my favorite.
300AAC is pretty quiet unsuppressed, especially with subs but even with supers.

If I were still living in west Texas I may shoot for longer range options, but I’m not, so my next trial is the 450BM. I haven’t bought a complete upper in a very long time but I opted for one this time.

wild willy · January 7, 2024, 06:22 PM

I’m a 6.8 spc fan.Ten years ago that’s what I would have recommended.But some bullets have been discontinued the cheap gold dot bullets are gone and the relatively cheap ammo is gone.Today I would go with the 6.5 Grendel

Shadow9mm · January 7, 2024, 06:32 PM

6.5 grendel

Grey_Lion · January 8, 2024, 03:52 PM

""something that might be used on occasional pig hunt."" - 2 people said AR-10 / .308 and I entirely agree. For knock down with outstanding ballistics and wide availability, the .308 is one of the best out there especially for taking down a sow at distance. A quality muzzle brake and the recoil isn't any worse than a barbie gun with nothing. I had a chance to fire my friend's AR-10 and, if I had a boar problem, it's what I'd reach for.

drdirk · January 12, 2024, 05:29 PM

300 blackout is VASTLY superior to 223 when hunting. I know a lot is written that it's not all that much of an upgrade but having hunted boar and other game for many years with both, the difference is night and day. It's effectively the perfect AR round when your goal is not to carry a war full of ammo with you.

January 5, 2024, 10:32 AM	#1
kymasabe Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2005 Location: SW Florida Posts: 2,747	What AR round should I try next? Bigger than 5.56. Hey all. I'm bored with 5.56, tired of building the same old AR's, thinking of building something bigger. .300 Blackout might be an option but...was thinking maybe .350 Legend? 6.8SPC (if anyone shoots that anymore?) Maybe .450 Bushmaster? I'm looking for ammo that's not going to be TOO expensive or hard to find, need something reliable, parts availability that's not too exotic, something that might be used on occasional pig hunt. Your thoughts ? __________________ God's creatures big and small, eat them one, eat them all.

January 5, 2024, 01:10 PM	#4
50 shooter Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2002 Location: SoCal PRK Posts: 986	www.7mmvalkyrie.com __________________ I see the world thru bloodshot eyes Streets filled with blood from distant lies The dogs of war never compromise, No time for rearranging.

January 5, 2024, 01:58 PM	#5
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,251	If you want cheap ammo I'd build a 7.62X39 AR. Wrong forum for this question, but I won't hold it against you. __________________ NRA Life Member

January 5, 2024, 03:28 PM	#6
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,871	Skip all the crap in the middle and go for the 50 Beowulf! __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 5, 2024, 06:44 PM	#8
ballardw Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 1,415	I would think the approach is "what do I want to do" which would lead towards likely caliber choices. Hard to go wrong with .22 LR as an option. __________________ -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ All data is flawed, some just less so.

January 5, 2024, 12:23 PM	#2
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,104	I really like my 6.8 SPC and 450 Bushmaster. I also have 458 SoCom, but the Bushmaster is easier and more economical to build and shoots 1 to 1.5 inches at 100 yards. Easy to reload for too, since I already reload 45 Colt and 454 Casull. I have 300 Blackout AR pistol, sort of a home/ urban defense gun, with a red dot/ laser combo sight. I only shoot 110 - 125 grain, high velocity loads, no subsonic, heavy bullets. It is a fun gun but looking back on all my AR builds, I wouldn’t have done 300 Blackout, 22 Nosler or 22 Valkyrie.

January 5, 2024, 12:26 PM	#3
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,839	6mm arc next for me. What for? I will figure it out. -TL Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

January 5, 2024, 10:08 PM	#9
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	I went for the 6.5 Grendel. The grandson shot up a big hog with the 223, but the hog went another 300 yards. It was the last straw on pig hunting with the 223. Too many ran off. They don’t go far when you hit them well with the Grendel. I’d have probably been just as pleased with the 6.8 SPC, but I already had reloading bits and pieces for the Grendel.

January 5, 2024, 10:45 PM	#10
JasoninSD Member Join Date: March 21, 2006 Posts: 86	I've used both the 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel on deer and antelope. I've had no problem with either of them but if I were to settle on one, it would be the 6.5. For factory ammo you will probably have better choices there. You might even be able to pick up some cheap steel cased Wolf ammo for the 6.5. Not sure if it is still available but I did lay some in a few years ago when it was about $6 per box.

January 5, 2024, 10:50 PM	#11
Koda94 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Location: Cascadia Posts: 1,295	Between the two I think the 6.5Grendel has better ballistics downrange than the 6.8 SPC. __________________ lightweight, cheap, strong... pick 2

January 5, 2024, 11:16 PM	#12
P Flados Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2017 Location: Wilmington NC Posts: 243	For a combination of "just shooting" and pig hunting using factory ammo, the 350L sounds pretty good. For more general purpose hunting, a 6.5 Grendel would be my choice.

January 6, 2024, 08:48 AM	#13
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,446	Based on what I see available in my local stores, .300 Blackout, .350 Legend, and .450 Bushmaster seem to be the most popular non-5.56 AR calibers. Of the three, .300 Blackout has the most widely available ammo and lowest cost. However, the main advantages of .300 BO are running in very short barrels and/or with a suppressor neither of which you mentioned in your OP. You did mention Hog hunting and when I hear that I immediately think "brush gun" and when I think "brush gun" I immediately think of big bore lever guns. Since .450 Bushmaster gives roughly the same Ballistics as .444 Marlin, a purpose built "brush gun" cartridge, it only makes sense to me that .450 Bushmaster would be a superb pig hunting cartridge.

January 6, 2024, 08:35 PM	#15
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	I have been leaning toward the 6.5 Grendel, but I'll probably try some IMI 77 grain Razorcore before I order a 6.5 upper. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

January 6, 2024, 08:54 PM	#17
tangolima Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2013 Posts: 3,839	I tried heavy bullets. Accuracy is not good for some reason. Anything heavier than 68gr is struggling. I have some light varmint bullets. They will go real fast. Not sure whether they will disintegrate with 1:7 twist. -TL Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

January 7, 2024, 12:05 AM	#18
Crankylove Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2008 Location: 8B ID Posts: 1,753	I’ve got complete rifles in 5.56, 5.56, and .338 Federal. I think my next uppers will be .300 BLK, and 6.8. I’ve also been eyeballing 9mm and .46 Auto carbines. Occasionally, I get the bug for a .375 SOCOM, but I expect ammo is a bit more than the OP is looking for. __________________ The answer to 1984 is 1776

January 7, 2024, 02:59 AM	#19
Ignition Override Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2008 Location: About 20 nm from the Big Muddy Posts: 2,887	A Fedex pilot neighbor also has just the AR in .223. Now he’s interested in building, or buying, an AR-10. I have Zero rifle building experience or advice for him. My main rifles are .308 (no ARs), and just one is 7,62x39. Last edited by Ignition Override; January 7, 2024 at 03:08 AM.

January 7, 2024, 02:22 PM	#20
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,871	What velocity are you getting with those 77gr slugs?? from what barrel length?? __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

January 7, 2024, 05:31 PM	#21
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,238	I’m trying out 450BM, I know there are better long range options out there but since I now live in the dense forest my tastes for ARs have changed. I won’t be shooting anything beyond 50-100 range. I’ve been tossing around a few ideas and came up with 450BM. Really you’re gonna get answers that are other people’s favorites or pet calibers. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s good to see what others are doing. I have .223/5.56, 300AAC and 6.8SPC. I like those so far and leaning towards 6.8 as being my favorite. 300AAC is pretty quiet unsuppressed, especially with subs but even with supers. If I were still living in west Texas I may shoot for longer range options, but I’m not, so my next trial is the 450BM. I haven’t bought a complete upper in a very long time but I opted for one this time. __________________ Woohoo, I’m back In Texas!!! Last edited by rickyrick; January 7, 2024 at 06:28 PM.

January 7, 2024, 06:22 PM	#22
wild willy Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2006 Posts: 404	I’m a 6.8 spc fan.Ten years ago that’s what I would have recommended.But some bullets have been discontinued the cheap gold dot bullets are gone and the relatively cheap ammo is gone.Today I would go with the 6.5 Grendel

January 7, 2024, 06:32 PM	#23
Shadow9mm Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2012 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,978	6.5 grendel __________________ I don't believe in "range fodder" that is why I reload.

January 8, 2024, 03:52 PM	#24
Grey_Lion Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2018 Location: Baton Rouge - Louisiana Posts: 407	""something that might be used on occasional pig hunt."" - 2 people said AR-10 / .308 and I entirely agree. For knock down with outstanding ballistics and wide availability, the .308 is one of the best out there especially for taking down a sow at distance. A quality muzzle brake and the recoil isn't any worse than a barbie gun with nothing. I had a chance to fire my friend's AR-10 and, if I had a boar problem, it's what I'd reach for.

January 12, 2024, 05:29 PM	#25
drdirk Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2004 Location: houston, tx Posts: 179	300 blackout is VASTLY superior to 223 when hunting. I know a lot is written that it's not all that much of an upgrade but having hunted boar and other game for many years with both, the difference is night and day. It's effectively the perfect AR round when your goal is not to carry a war full of ammo with you.