What's the best alternative to 5.56 for an AR-15?

[YeshuaIsa53]

I use other rifles. 30-06 and .308 are the only two I've used over my lifetime. I use bolt-action on buck only days, and semi-auto on doe days if we still need more meat. Now I'm going to need to go deer hunting.
Thanks.

edit: .308 rounds aren't expensive when you use one to three a deer season, and 3 at the range per trip for the tack drivers. Semi-auto I practice with milsurp, and do not count. 308 is easy to find milsurp.

I found the AK-47 Saiga sporting rifle in 308 with an eight round mag to be easily carried around, much easier than my tack drivers.

 

[Echo40]

Thank you, but I'm really not interested in purchasing a new Rifle chambered in .308 right now.

 

[Imissedagain]

I don't know anyone who's tried to build an AR for 7 mm TCU (.223 necked up to 7mm), but the little cartridge has always interested me.

I was thinking about the 7mm Valkyrie.
If Lapua or Starline had brass available,
that might be worth investigating for the AR15.

The 224 Valkyrie looks interesting as well.
Add the 22 Nosler to the list.

At an indoor range, I asked the RO, what was making the building sound/feel like you're in the inside of a Timpani?
300 Blackout was his answer.

For a 458 SOCOM, this bullet might be interesting with an appropriate barrel length etc stc.
Pic below from Lyman's 49th.

 

[rockquarry]

I don't know anyone who's tried to build an AR for 7 mm TCU (.223 necked up to 7mm), but the little cartridge has always interested me. I was thinking of picking up an H&R handi rifle and making a barrel for it, but then they went out of business.

If you want something you can buy factory ammo for, the .350 Legend would seem to be a good choice.

In re: vamint calibers. I once knew a gunsmith in NW PA who used to shoot groundhogs with a .458.

I used the 7mm TCU in a T/C Contender with a 14" barrel years ago. I'd have to review my old notes, but I think the OAL for this cartridge would be too long for use in an AR setup, unless the bullet was deeply seated. That might encroach on powder space enough to adversely affect ballistics. With the popular short AR barrels many shooters prefer, an additional velocity reduction would be guaranteed.

As I recall, with the Contender 14" barrel, I never quite reached published book velocities anyway. Quite accurate cartridge, though. Perhaps this has been done with the AR already, I don't know.

 

[Countrycuz]

Most of the poll choices would not be legal for deer in my state. I chose "other" as the 350 Legend seems to be catching on around here.

 

[gjgalligan]

What's the best alternative chambering for a general purpose AR-15?

That is like asking what is best Chevy, Ford, Dodge (now Ram)?

I have a few ARs, 2 in 5.56/.223 and one in 9mm.
The only thing I use them for is punching holes in paper and maybe HD if ever needed.
The only other chambering I would consider is maybe a .22lr if I could be sure of a good reliable firearm. And they would be for punch holes in paper.

When it comes to varmint or big game I have other firearms that are better suited for said purpose.

 

[DesertFox]

Will add that the S&W upper in 5.45x39 sure is fun to shoot. 7N6M has a weird ammonia smell and the recoil impulse is next to nothing.

 

[rockquarry]

Will add that the S&W upper in 5.45x39 sure is fun to shoot. 7N6M has a weird ammonia smell and the recoil impulse is next to nothing.

I've noticed the "recoil impulse" term before. Is it something different than recoil?

 

[noonster]

The longer barrels give the shooter a little more fps, ergo they shoot flatter. Is that a big deal? I dunno, I don’t get out to shoot long range any more. Could be placebo or who knows what. The LR guys like the 6.5 with a 24 inch barrel better than the 20” and that better than 18”, etc. I got my 6.5 made up with a 20 incher. Seems to be adequate for all around use. If I ever get out to LR again and can shoot “6’s” with any regularity I’ll be happy.

 

[BillBro]

For hunting medium game and 2 legged lethality Im still partial to the 6.8SPC. A bolt, barrel and mags and youre in business. A 110gr hornady at 2550-2600fps is what the military wanted.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Can't believe I picked up a 2nd 300 BLACKOUT upper: what the HADES, it was Black Friday, after all...!

Cheers!