What is your favorite AR15 caliber?

[dist1646]

Nice. Wish they would start making brass again.

I have heard that Hornady will if there is enough demand. It would be nice if it is as good as the first run.

 

[Archeryrob]

This thread spurred me to make my ladder round chart for 6.8 SPC. I was actually surprised that GRT gave me warnings on using 4198 and 3031 for powder as not getting good burns. Went with 4227 as h110, N120 and other powders all seems to have the same burns and fps solutions.

I started at what would be legal to kill a deer in MD and worked up in .25 grains until I started getting pressure warnings. I have not cast bullets yet so weight and seating depth might get adjusted still to varying results.

 

[Cool_Moo5e]

Depends on the situation, I have my 223 Wylde because 223/556 is the most common caliber minus the 22lr.

 

[Growler215]

Guess I could have dropped 6mm ARC for one of those ... oh well.

Didn't realize there was a limit on the number of entries. Not bad choices considering the limit.

I probably would've dropped .22lr and 9mm Luger for SOCOM and Beowulf, as I don't really think of the former as AR15 calibers (and they aren't on my Lyman MSR Ammo Checker block). But that's just me.

But, hey, I've also got a 9x39 AR15 pistol - and no way does that make anyone's Top 10, although it's a real blast shooting heavy .366" bullets at subsonic velocities.

 

[smdub]

7.62x39 is for AKs not ARs
Can’t see those worlds colliding in my safe

You should try mine. IMO: 7.62x39 is for supersonic. 7.62x35 (300blk) is for subsonic.

My favorite is the AR47 so since I could only pick one that was it. Don't have a reliable drum mag solution yet (but working on it.)

Though for sheer volume of lead delivered per year, my AR22 surely wins.

 

[calicojack]

You should try mine. IMO: 7.62x39 is for supersonic. 7.62x35 (300blk) is for subsonic.

Good point!

 

[noddaz]

.223 / Wylde is all I have.

I would like to have an upper in 300 Ham'r, but I already have rifles that are too expensive to feed.

 

[jimbobborg]

9mm ARs are fun to shoot when they work properly. I finally got one that does.

 

[johnkn]

Aside from the standard caliber, my other two favorites in my collection are 300 HAMR and 458 SOCOM.


.

 

[Biggfoot44]

But, hey, I've also got a 9x39 AR15 pistol - and no way does that make anyone's Top 10, although it's a real blast shooting heavy .366" bullets at subsonic velocities.

An intriguing caliber .

Since it will be a Handloading caliber anyways , is their a reason you couldn't build a " 9.2" x 39 , using a .358 bbl ?

 

[outrider58]

I honestly don't think I have a favorite. Most of mine are plain-Jane 5.56/.223 I have some 9mms and some .22lrs and one 300 Blk.

I guess the 9mms are tops for now. But do they count?

 

[alucard0822]

Most of my AR15s are suppressed SBRs, so 300BO is the most versatile. I shoot AR22s and AR9s far more often, but they are not AR15s

 

[Growler215]

An intriguing caliber .

Since it will be a Handloading caliber anyways , is their a reason you couldn't build a " 9.2" x 39 , using a .358 bbl ?

No reason except money. You can actually buy 9x39 barrels and dies, e.g. from KAK Industries. Sometimes they have brass, too, although I've made most of mine from Starline Grendel Basic (straightwall) brass. Some people have made their brass by fire forming 7.62x39, often with cheap Makarov bullets, although that's a bit tricky since, in addition to being less tapered, 9x39 also has the shoulder moved forward.

I actually still have 1000 rds of factory Tula steel case ammo for this, too. Reluctant to shoot any more of that up since it currently can't be imported.

 

[erwos]

I'm pretending all things are equal, in which case 6.5 Grendel gets my vote, hands-down. Back when steel-cased ammo was available, it was awesome for pretty much any use case.

These days, it's more like 5.56x45 or .300 BLK.

 

[rsideout]

The rounds that I probably shoot the most in my favorite AR are 5.7x28, followed by 300BLK, and .22LR.

 

[outrider58]

The rounds that I probably shoot the most in my favorite AR are 5.7x28, followed by 300BLK, and .22LR.

Just avoid shooting in while sitting in your car on a hot summer's day... wearing OP shorties.

 

[Kagetsu]

My biggest issue is availability of mags and cartridges. I always liked the 6.8 but it just looked like everyone wanted it to be a dead cartridge. The 6.5 Grendel looks great except mags seem to be limited to 7 rounds. The 300BO appeals to me but only with 10-12 in. barrels. The one I'm leaning towards is the 458 Socom. It will be a great round in the forest when night seems to make Bigfoots hostile. Big slugs are exciting. *Freudian*

 

[Melnic]

Favorite? 300 blackout cause I mold the bullets, powder coat and then shoot suppressed.
However, it takes a lot of time and for bulk reloading, 223.

 

[Growler215]

My biggest issue is availability of mags and cartridges. I always liked the 6.8 but it just looked like everyone wanted it to be a dead cartridge. The 6.5 Grendel looks great except mags seem to be limited to 7 rounds. The 300BO appeals to me but only with 10-12 in. barrels. The one I'm leaning towards is the 458 Socom. It will be a great round in the forest when night seems to make Bigfoots hostile. Big slugs are exciting. *Freudian*

I've got a bunch of 20 and 26 round 6.5 Grendel Duramags, and a single 10 round Duramag for the range. These all work great for both 6.5 Grendel and 9x39mm.

The caliber that I've got that is limited to 5 and 7 round factory mags is the 450 Bushmaster. Even there, I swapped out the follower on some straight 25 round 5.56 metal mags with 450 Bushmaster followers to create higher capacity mags.

 

[apodgrouparms]

Which AR15 caliber do you prefer? I really like 6.5 Grendel. I think it is a great all-purpose round. If I were an avid hunter I might be tempted to say 350 Legend instead. 5.56 NATO is great and provides long barrel life. But there are other offerings that I believe are more capable.

We like the 7.62x39. But our AR15 16" Full Build is designed for 556/223.