What caliber will I be when I grow up??? Custom build thoughts. [Archive]

JLP

11-23-20, 19:39

So, working on my latest, "because I can build" and looking for input. Here's what I have so far:

Aero Precision M4E1 upper and lower (really impressed with this pair)
LaRue MBT-2S trigger (love this thing!!)
Strike Industries enhanced LPK.
Magpul MAID grip
Magpul CRT stock (meh...)
BCM gunfighter mod 3 CH
Bravo Company Manufacturing A5 Intermediate Buffer System
BCM or Toolcraft BCG (about the same in my book and have one of each)

So, what am I missing, barrel of course which will determine caliber, muzzle device, handguard system (love Seekins, but would love to know some of your favs), and gas block/tube. Now here's where I get the mental block, what caliber???? 5.56 and 9mm are out, have both of those covered several times over. Was thinking in this order, 300 Ham'r (don't really hunt), 300 BLK (no plans on a suppressor, too many hoops) 6.8 (had one back in the day sold it, don't remember why).

What say you, great wealth of knowledge and opinion?? Is there a favorite of yours that I'm overlooking? Barrel, caliber, handguard????

Thanks for the input and before anyone asks, I have built many and build my own 1911's (a bit more tasking than an AR) and my budget for the missing pieces is about 500 or so.

opngrnd

11-23-20, 19:59

What do you want to do with it? What part of the envelope would you like to stretch? Distance? Cheaper ammo?

JLP

11-23-20, 20:02

What do you want to do with it? What part of the envelope would you like to stretch? Distance? Cheaper ammo?

There's the rub, I simply don't know... all the calibers I listed are always pricey and I have .22 covered 5 different ways. I was just wondering what other folks were digging and I was missing. Cost is not a major factor, but always a consideration.

turnburglar

11-23-20, 21:10

This won't fit your build.....

But when I wanted more than 556, I settled on 6.5 creedmoore.

zero regrets.

JLP

11-23-20, 21:17

This won't fit your build.....

But when I wanted more than 556, I settled on 6.5 creedmoore.

zero regrets.

I totally get that, but when I go to the AR-10 platform, I move to bolt guns. Weight and accuracy start taking over, before capacity and speed. Long range, seems I can be a little slower and methodical.

GSPatton

11-23-20, 22:43

.50 BMG. The perfect all-around caliber - more than capable at CQB distances and out to 2+ miles LOL

LookAtYourself

11-23-20, 23:02

hard to say what you should build, but i've always wanted a 6.5 grendel upper.

Dino11

11-24-20, 05:20

Build a 6mm ARC, it is a very accurate round and has some energy behind it. More accurate than a 6.5 Grendel, and their is a ton of different bullets available for loading if you reload. It cost me about .35 cpr to reload and thats at todays inflated prices. This round pretty much checks all the box's, hunting, target, home defense. Even has ties to the military.

JLP

11-24-20, 06:02

JLP

11-24-20, 07:10

hard to say what you should build, but i've always wanted a 6.5 grendel upper.

That looks like a great round, but I've heard about feeding problems with it. I wonder if that's just internet wizards spouting off what their friends might have heard. Not sure if the 300 Ham'r is a big improvement over it and the ammo is certainly more available and less expensive.

opngrnd

11-24-20, 07:49

I'd go the 6mm route.

officerX

11-24-20, 09:14

My suppressed AAC 300BO is my favorite gun to shoot.

JLP

11-24-20, 09:54

What are some folks favorite handguards? I like the looks of the LaRue, but know nothing about them other than they normally make good stuff.

officerX

11-24-20, 10:14

What are some folks favorite handguards? I like the looks of the LaRue, but know nothing about them other than they normally make good stuff.

The BCM KMR is my favorite.

JLP

11-24-20, 10:21

Any thoughts on the 350 legend?

223to45

11-24-20, 11:16

That's one I hadn't thought of! How does it stack against the 300 Ham'r?

What is it about 300 Ham'r that you like??

6mm ARC vs 300 Ham'r , not even comparable.

300 HAM'R just a jacked up 300 Blkout.

you have about 40-50 calibers to choose from.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AR_platform_cartridges

223to45

11-24-20, 11:18

Any thoughts on the 350 legend?

What does it do, that other calipers cant??
It was designed for some states with hunting restrictions.

Disciple

11-24-20, 11:39

Build a 6mm ARC, it is a very accurate round and has some energy behind it. More accurate than a 6.5 Grendel,

What is the source for ARC being more accurate than Grendel?

JLP

11-24-20, 11:54

What is it about 300 Ham'r that you like??

6mm ARC vs 300 Ham'r , not even comparable.

300 HAM'R just a jacked up 300 Blkout.

you have about 40-50 calibers to choose from.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_AR_platform_cartridges

That's why I started this thread. I didn't even know it existed. Looks VERY interesting!!

utahjeepr

11-24-20, 11:57

I have several 5.56, .22LR, and a 9mm SBR.

I personally debate .300BLK or .458 SOCOM but not enough to get myself off the fence. Is there a hole in your lineup. Say a DMR/precision 5.56 or...?

223to45

11-24-20, 12:32

I have several 5.56, .22LR, and a 9mm SBR.

I personally debate .300BLK or .458 SOCOM but not enough to get myself off the fence. Is there a hole in your lineup. Say a DMR/precision 5.56 or...?I did a 458 Socom. Just for something to play with.

Just wish I was able to suppress it.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

turnburglar

11-24-20, 15:04

I gave this thread a little more thought:

I'd run a 300BLK or 6ARC if I was gonna do a non 556 build.

JLP

11-24-20, 15:37

I gave this thread a little more thought:

I'd run a 300BLK or 6ARC if I was gonna do a non 556 build.

I'm kind of down to 300Ham'r or the 6 ARC. Wilson just put their 300 Ham'r w/13 Twist on a serious sale so.... DAM IT!!!

GSPatton

11-24-20, 17:24

I have several 5.56, .22LR, and a 9mm SBR.

I personally debate .300BLK or .458 SOCOM but not enough to get myself off the fence. Is there a hole in your lineup. Say a DMR/precision 5.56 or...?
Not to get too off topic, but I don't even bother with ARs in .22 LR. Every one I've seen and handled has issues. Ditto for 9mm ARs, the operating system is just brutal on internals.

Red*Lion

11-25-20, 13:31

6.5 Grendel is a great mid range-to long range round. My most recent build was an 18" Grendel using a criterion barrel. I have an existing Grendel upper as well. I have never had any type of feeding issue, but if I was to guess I would venture to say that some folks using less quality magazines may get them. Stick to ASC and Elander and you will be good to go.
I would not waste my money on a 6mm. Too new to have any selection of components or proven ammo yet.
I will also note that I am a fan of an AR in 7.62x39 as well.

JLP

11-25-20, 13:44

Red*Lion

11-25-20, 19:32

YHM just put their x39 barrels on sale also and SERIOUSLY temped there as well. It's the only somewhat reasonable ammo on ammoseek...

I have a 16" carbine and a 11" pistol in 7.62x39. They both shoot well with steel cased russian ammo. I did have some initial feeding issues with my 11" pistol, but that ended up being gas related and now shoots very well. I even get 1.5ish MOA using steel case ammo.

joedirt199

12-01-20, 22:36

Grendel. Steel cased for cheap blasting and match ammo for long range precision. Mags are getting better and more companies getting into the grendel game.

LookAtYourself

12-08-20, 16:06

That looks like a great round, but I've heard about feeding problems with it. I wonder if that's just internet wizards spouting off what their friends might have heard. Not sure if the 300 Ham'r is a big improvement over it and the ammo is certainly more available and less expensive.

more likely, if true, coming from idiots on forums that go unregulated. Or at least unregulated in things that matter.

JLP

12-08-20, 18:23

Soo this one became a 7.62X39. The price was too good to pass up on the YHM barrels and friend agreed to sell me one of his 1K cases for pre-panic price to go with it. So I caved and went simple....

Dino11

12-09-20, 04:28

What is the source for ARC being more accurate than Grendel?

https://shwat.com/6mm-arc-vs-6-5-grendel/

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/11/13/head-to-head-6-mm-arc-vs-65-grendel/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=insider&utm_campaign=1120

Just a couple examples, I am shooting bullets with a BC of 571.

dewshe

12-09-20, 08:13

I second the 300 blk. SBR, suppressed 300 is tons of fun.

Disciple

12-09-20, 13:29

https://shwat.com/6mm-arc-vs-6-5-grendel/

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/11/13/head-to-head-6-mm-arc-vs-65-grendel/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=insider&utm_campaign=1120

Just a couple examples, I am shooting bullets with a BC of 571.

I though you meant the extreme spread was inherently lower for some reason, but I see you mean the ARC has superior external ballistics. Out of longer barrels ARC hold a substantial lead there. Have the two been compared out of very short barrels? That is the place I could see the Grendel holding an edge.

pinzgauer

12-09-20, 22:18

https://shwat.com/6mm-arc-vs-6-5-grendel/

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/articles/2020/11/13/head-to-head-6-mm-arc-vs-65-grendel/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=insider&utm_campaign=1120

Just a couple examples, I am shooting bullets with a BC of 571.Absolutely zero reference in the shooting times art indicating ARC was more accurate.

Did point out higher BC, so less flight time at extreme range, etc. Makes sense, that is the intent of ARC. So maybe less wind drift at extreme range.

But grendel is no slouch at range either, and is a very accurate cartridge. More importantly, it is not finnicky and is easy to reload accurate loads.

blade_68

12-10-20, 13:17

350 Legend has a interesting use for hunting and should be a fair to slow down stuff needing the air let out at least out to 200 yards / meters. The downside is magazines and capacity of them. I'd like to try it out on hogs when I get a chance, more than 300 B.O. / 7.62×39 but less than 308 so lighter package option. Would be interesting with a solid suppressor to knock back to hearing safe.

Pappabear

12-10-20, 13:32

This won't fit your build.....

But when I wanted more than 556, I settled on 6.5 creedmoore.

zero regrets.

This but since you can’t, what about that new 30ARC? I’ve read only a little but intriguing.

Good luck.

PB

Grendelshooter

12-11-20, 07:25

My screen name might give it away but Grendel all the things.
The people saying that Grendel doesn’t feed are the same ones who say the AR platform is garbage because it was originally issued without a chrome lined barrel and had no cleaning kits, ie Fudds.

Pappabear

12-11-20, 12:29

The real answer for what will you be when you grow up is "300WM". End all be all hammer. 225's at 2887fps is a grown-ass man, all growed up.

PB

Grendelshooter

12-11-20, 13:03

The real answer for what will you be when you grow up is "300WM". End all be all hammer. 225's at 2887fps is a grown-ass man, all growed up.

PB

I used to want a 300PRC for my hunting rifle until I saw what a 6.5 Grendel 123SST factory load did to a whitetail. Absolute devastation. I’m actually going to start using 5.56 for it, Grendel tears up too much meat.
Until I get to go to Africa I have no need for a magnum cartridge. Wish I did lol.

Pappabear

12-11-20, 14:04

I used to want a 300PRC for my hunting rifle until I saw what a 6.5 Grendel 123SST factory load did to a whitetail. Absolute devastation. I’m actually going to start using 5.56 for it, Grendel tears up too much meat.
Until I get to go to Africa I have no need for a magnum cartridge. Wish I did lol.

Not a whitetail cartridge for sure, buts Elk medicine. And great for ELR steel targets.

PB