Enduring/"Proprietary" AR-15 Rounds as of Now

[Dave I]

Most of the "which round for my AR-15" discussions seem to all mention the .223/5.56 (obviously) as well as the .68 and .65 Grendel, then usually the .50 Beowulf, 300blk, and "other" (just to cover all the bases) seem to show up with at least casual mention. However my search results also seem to be rather dated so some of these I'm not sure if they have caught on or if they are fading fast.

Which brings me to the question. Which rounds seem to have found a foothold and will likely be around for a while?

For me, I'm mainly considering a 5.56 upper, however would also consider a .68 or .65 (or "other") if one both seems like it will stick around and is popular enough to be available/remotely-economical (and get a .22lr conversion for plinking). I'm mainly just interested in what the options are that seem to be more likely than not to stick around. If there is some recent topic for this, feel free to slap up a facepalm and a link and I'll gladly read it. I DID try the search function though, so no double facepalms please.

-Cheers

[LocoGringo]

Well, I'd have to ask first what you plan on doing with the rifle. Do you plan on shooting casually or LOTS of rounds? Do you plan on punching paper, or hunting? What distances are you looking at shooting? Do you want a bench/prone precision rifle or a lightweight, practical shooter? The AR-15 is so adaptable, you first have to narrow down how you are going to use it and how often you are going to shoot it. Are you going to handload is another factor to consider.

Having said that, the 6.8 SPC is the second most popular caliber in the AR-15 platform behind the 5.56. It is efficient and can send a 110 grain projectile between 2550 and 2650 FPS out of a 16" barrel without much more recoil than a standard 5.56. If you shoot a lot, the 5.56 is extremely difficult to beat for economy. If you're shooting every once in a while or hunting, the 6.8 is an excellent choice. The .300 blk is the newest kid on the block and is being pushed hard by Remington/AAC and is capable to 200 yards, but is more of a specialty round for suppression. The 6.5 Grendel is billed as a long range precision round, but I'm sure it is perfectly capable as a hunting round as well, just difficult (and expensive) to find ammo for. The .300 blk is kind of difficult to find ammo for, but easy to handload for...a 5.56 case stuffed with a light .30 caliber bullet. Lots of options...

I'm a member of the 68forums and I know there is a separate forum for the 6.5 Grendel. I'm sure there are also forums for the other calibers as well and I'm sure they will all say that their round is here to stay. It's hard to beat sales figures and as I mentioned in the first paragraph, the 6.8 SPC is the second most popular in ammo sales behind the 5.56, so I'm almost certain it's sticking around. Lots of additional bullets for the 6.8 are coming out for handloading as well. It ranges from 85 grain to 130 grain bullets that are available. A vendor on the 68forums has also designed a specialty upper for subsonic use and has lined up a bullet maker that will shoot a 220 grain bullet for subsonic use. Have fun researching...

[John A.]

5.56 is what the US military uses, so lots of availability. Plus as you mentioned, you can buy a conversion bolt and magazine and shoot 22LR through it.

I think the 300 blackout will stick around because Cerberus Corp. has been pushing it hard.

I still think 6.8 SPC II is better than the blackout for supersonic use, has seen combat in the US special forces with favorable results and most recently adopted by the Jordanian Royal Guard.

There is numerous major manufacturers for it as well. I think just about every AR maker out there has a 6.8 in their lineup and lots of ammo availability from SSA and Hornady and Remington, others, etc.

6.5 Grendel. Last I heard, Bill Alexander recently dropped the ownership rights to it so other companies could make it without licensing. Ammo availability is problematic for it, but Wolf does make a bullet for it when you can find them available.

They're still not as popular as 6.8 either.

With that said, 6.8 drawback is it is too expensive for casual weekend plinking.

Same can be said for all of these larger calibers I suppose.

[Dave I]

Originally Posted by LocoGringo

Well, I'd have to ask first what you plan on doing with the rifle.

Details . . . Punching holes in paper and something to fill the ever-popular role of a "what-if" HD/SHTF/zombie gun. Not that I ever plan on using it for anything other than paper to be honest, and for hunting I'd probably get a designated rifle if I were to ever go that route.

Having said that, the 6.8 SPC is the second most popular caliber in the AR-15 platform behind the 5.56. [snip] If you shoot a lot, the 5.56 is extremely difficult to beat for economy. If you're shooting every once in a while or hunting, the 6.8 is an excellent choice.

I'd like to shoot regularly, however I do not get to shoot a ton. Economy is nice, however so are improved ballistics. Reloading . . . I don't, am considering it in the future.

As for staying-power, it sounds like the 6.8 SPC has filled the 1B option for the AR-15.

Have fun researching...

Most def!

Originally Posted by John A.

5.56 is what the US military uses, so lots of availability. Plus as you mentioned, you can buy a conversion bolt and magazine and shoot 22LR through it.

That is a nice consideration.

I think the 300 blackout will stick around because Cerberus Corp. has been pushing it hard.

I still think 6.8 SPC II is better than the blackout for supersonic use, has seen combat in the US special forces with favorable results and most recently adopted by the Jordanian Royal Guard.

There is numerous major manufacturers for it as well. I think just about every AR maker out there has a 6.8 in their lineup and lots of ammo availability from SSA and Hornady and Remington, others, etc.

6.5 Grendel. Last I heard, Bill Alexander recently dropped the ownership rights to it so other companies could make it without licensing. Ammo availability is problematic for it, but Wolf does make a bullet for it when you can find them available.

They're still not as popular as 6.8 either.

Good info. Thanks!

With that said, 6.8 drawback is it is too expensive for casual weekend plinking.

Same can be said for all of these larger calibers I suppose.

True. That's kind of my dilemma. The 6.5 & 6.8 are interesting and intriguing, however I also like the idea of economical ammo to get me out there as much as I can afford from a time standpoint.

-Cheers

[LocoGringo]

The solution to your dilemma is quite simple. Get yourself a 5.56 to start (for economy and familiarization) and then begin building an upper in whatever other caliber captures your interest so that you have all of your bases covered. Essentially you'll have 1.5 rifles before it's all done, but I predict that BRD will take hold and you will eventually end up with at least 2 rifles.

[shatnerglass]

Originally Posted by LocoGringo

The solution to your dilemma is quite simple. Get yourself a 5.56 to start (for economy and familiarization) and then begin building an upper in whatever other caliber captures your interest so that you have all of your bases covered. Essentially you'll have 1.5 rifles before it's all done, but I predict that BRD will take hold and you will eventually end up with at least 2 rifles.

This is exactly what I'm going to be doing. I'm leaning toward 6.8

[LocoGringo]

Beware of BRD!!! It catches quickly and is nearly incurable.

[Frontier Owner]

The way I read the OP, which of the "common" rounds for the AR are gonna last and which are going the way of the .222 Remington Magnum.

My thoughts, if you're not going with a 5.56mm chambering, I would go 6.8mm SPC for a general purpose and hunting. If you enjoy chasing varmint at long range, the .204 Ruger is worth a look.

Im concerned on the .300 blackout. Savage isn't chambering in that round due to accuracy issues. It may be good for a suppressed sub 100m gun, just not sure at the moment.

[yocan]

before you guys say 6.5 is dead, it will be around even if everyone drops it, because for the price when reloading its the most affordable long range round on the market.

and PSA is right now gearing up barrels to start selling 6.5, so I don't think its dead.

300 blackouts not going anywhere because of its subsonic capability/bolt magazine being the same as 556 and as been said cerburus is pushing it, so hard all the companies it owns are stopping the 6.8spc (which sells better then 300 black out btw) to push the 300 black out, they are trying to force it into existence, and they are big enough to make it happen I think. the beauwolf/.458 socom are never going to become common enough to make them affordable

556 is not going anywhere for the next 30 years

[YoopermikeXDM]

I will be interested in an ar 15 when they come out with a 5.7x28 version!