Two new builds planned, with small framed lowers, and I’m just not sure what Would be a practical caliber to go with.
For the record I currently own a dmps pattern 20" 6.5cm, with a Nikon black series 4-16.
One 16" 5.56, gun with a gen 2 spitfire.
One 16"5.56 gun with a TA31 rco
One 16" 5.56 gun with open sights
One 10.5 5.56 pistol, that I have a Holosun AEMS inbound for.
and a 7" sc 9mm pistol, that will soon have another AEMS, if I like the one thats in route.
I’m not totally sold on doing two more 5.56 builds, what are my best, most cost effective alternatives?
Thanks.
This. We use AR9s on the “run n gun” (pistol) range.
Bottleneck rifles not allowed, we get in quality AR time with drills, barricade, prone, movement, etc. which isn’t allowed on the “Rifle Range”.
What is the purpose?
Do you want any practical capabilities from them?
Do you have slings and lights on them?
Are they to just shoot paper at the range and put in the safe?
What is the purpose?
Do you want any practical capabilities from them?
Do you have slings and lights on them?
Are they to just shoot paper at the range and put in the safe?
I have an upper in 6.5 Grendel and really like it. I’ve taken a deer with it at 275 yds. and can shoot long range (600-800 yds) with no problem. It’s a fun round to shoot and reload for…
These are the questions I ask, both of the new builds and your current rifles. I’m entirely pragmatic. If it doesn’t serve a purpose it isn’t worth owning. Duplicates are excellent, lots of ammo, mags, parts and batteries.
Well, a role hasn’t really been determined yet, im not sure. I just have all these parts, and a urge to build something, but no urge to build duplicates. If I do another pistol caliber, it would have to be .40, as I do have an ammo stockpile. Well I have a lot of 9mm also.
Grendel’s not a bad choice. Its one of the best alternative chamberings. You mentioned “cost-effective”. I’ll point out that steel cased ammo availability has been spotty over the time I’ve owned mine. Mostly Hornady Black has been what my local shop has been carrying. So, given that expense, you have to decide whether you’re getting anything extra over 5.56 for whatever you use it for. Personally I plan on selling my Grendel barrel and getting a bolt gun to do the things I got into Grendel to do.
None of the alternative cartridges are head-and-shoulders above 5.56 for general purpose use. They each typically do one or two things better, if that, and they all come with some sort of tradeoff. Hence why they get so hotly debated.
I have a 20" .224 Valkyre and a 12" 6.5 Grendel (both suppressed) and really like them both. The Valkyrie has less recoil and is more fun to shoot, but the Grendel is a little better at killing. I also have two 300BLK ARs, and those are extremely fun to shoot, especially suppressed. In fact, my go-to home defense gun is an 8" suppressed 300 BLK SBR.
It’s all personal preference obviously, but if i were in your shoes, i would do one 300BLK and one 6.5 Grendel. I think you would have a lot of fun, and good practical application, with those.
Is this assuming a stockpile? Current prices don’t seem that different between 9mm and .223.
Have a look at .277 Wolverine and .300 HAM’R. Both can be made from 5.56 brass. I cannot recommend 6.5 Grendel at current ammo and component price and availability.
Good point, but if prices come down, 9mm will almost certainly end up lower. Plus reloading, if thats an option. Blue bullets are relatively cheap, powder goes forever, and brass is free. Oh yeah, PCC barrels last forever; it takes a pile of money to wear one out. I’m not sure I ever will, with the subsonic powdercoated rounds I shoot most of the time.
It works out economically for some, leaves others another $1k in debt with nothing gained. PCCs only make monetary sense for shooting a lot, at fairly close range, but they can save piles in that application.
I already do have an ar9, and two 9mm glocks.
I have plenty of 9mm…I was just looking for something different. I was thinking 6.5 Grendel, because I have a 6.5 Creedmore…But its really heavy. Too heavy to be practical for me. I was really looking for something as close to that performance, as I can get…in a lighter frame.
I also have a 6.5 Creedmoor AR10, and wanted something lighter for coyotes etc. I went with a 12" 6.5 Grendel, and love the way it handles. I run mine suppressed, so that adds some length/weight, but it’s a very handy gun.