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

[Goblin]

I have a 6 ARC and I like the cartridge for target shooting. I haven’t hunted with it, but my brother and nephew have borrowed it and taken whitetail deer, and liked it enough to build two more uppers for themselves.

 

[Bald1]

In free states I don't understand why anyone would use the weenie 300 blackout or 9mm legend.......Lots better cartridges avail for an AR. My favorite AR Hunting cartridge is the 7.62x39. Using Hornady SST ammunition I have killed 14 deer with it in the 22-23 seasons.

The whole idea of 300blk is sub Sonic loads with suppressors. That was the driving force behind its development.

 

[Bald1]

If you want to maximize output from an AR platform I’d go with the AR10 in 308. There’s never been a better deer cartridge.

 

[lrrifleman]

Forte, anyone suggest that you opened a can of worms?

In the beginning, the M16/AR15 (plus the AR180) were built around the .223/5.56 (derived from the 222 Remington) with a 55gr FMJ pushing a good 3200+ fps out of a barrel with a 1:14" twist. Times, rifles, and ammo have changed!

Look to the target shooters that have made the M16/AR platform a competitive platform. Gone is the 55gr FMJ (aka: M193) in a 14" twist barrel, replaced by 69gr/75-77gr HPBT/78-85gr HPBT bullets in barrels with a twist as fast as 1:7".

While the 223 bullets may still tumble if they hit a leaf on branch like the M193, they don't react like a pinball machine, entering a shoulder and exiting from the back of a knee, as the old lore claimed! Plus, today's hollow point bullets tend to be a bit heavier constructed.

Personally, I still see the 223 round more as a varmint or PDW round. I built a 224 Valkyrie upper, which showed great potential at the 1000 yard line (until the state of Delaware effectively banned semi-auto rifles with detachable magazines). I don't have enough experience to comment on the 300 BO, and I haven't really looked into the 7.62x39.

Personally, if I wanted an AR platform as a varmint/ PDW/hunting rifle, I would look at an AR10/SR25/Mk110 in 7.62x51, and build a backup upper in either: 6.8x51, 6.5 CM, or maybe even 7-08. (Note: the 6.8x51/277 Fury is on deck as the new service rifle round, ensuring a degree of future availability!)

 

[rockquarry]

Maybe I'm missing something here...is there some hidden advantage to semi-auto fire and a large magazine capacity for hunting varmints or game? That's not a Second Amendment anti-gun question for those wholly consumed by such, it's a simple question regarding hunting.

 

[NewLiberty]

Maybe I'm missing something here...is there some hidden advantage to semi-auto fire and a large magazine capacity for hunting varmints or game? That's not a Second Amendment anti-gun question for those wholly consumed by such, it's a simple question regarding hunting.

Depends on what you are hunting. For deer and similar game, it isn't much of an advantage.

For hog eradication or coyote hunting, that larger magazine capacity and faster follow up shots can be very valuable.

 

[rockquarry]

Depends on what you are hunting. For deer and similar game, it isn't much of an advantage.

For hog eradication or coyote hunting, that larger magazine capacity and faster follow up shots can be very valuable.

I've hunted both with a bolt-action rifle; more than adequate.

 

[GypsmJim]

I didn't do the poll because IMHO the 5.56 is optimum for a AR-15.

But, OTOH, an AR-15 is not suitable for big game, so the question is moot.

I personally hunt deer with a single shot Encore in .308 Winchester. That's quite suitable. If I was inclined to use a bolt rifle, it would be a .30-06. But a 12 ga. with a rifled barrel will do just fine as well.

 

[hardluk1]

A 223 with a 70gr TSX Barnes bullets can take down thin skinned game the bullet diameter is legal. Beyond that the 6.5 Grendel is good to 350 yards

OR by a bolt action that is better suited to hunting game

 

[rockquarry]

I didn't do the poll because IMHO the 5.56 is optimum for a AR-15.

But, OTOH, an AR-15 is not suitable for big game, so the question is moot.

I personally hunt deer with a single shot Encore in .308 Winchester. That's quite suitable. If I was inclined to use a bolt rifle, it would be a .30-06. But a 12 ga. with a rifled barrel will do just fine as well.

Very good response. A practical one.

 

[Bald1]

I didn't do the poll because IMHO the 5.56 is optimum for a AR-15.

But, OTOH, an AR-15 is not suitable for big game, so the question is moot.

I personally hunt deer with a single shot Encore in .308 Winchester. That's quite suitable. If I was inclined to use a bolt rifle, it would be a .30-06. But a 12 ga. with a rifled barrel will do just fine as well.

12ga slug gun……….spoken like a true NY deer hunter. Get ready Jim it’s 10 days away !!!!!

 

[Well Armed]

Who is hunting deer with an AR10? I see the AR15 as "assult rifles." Not many who own .223/5.56 AR15s care about hunting or long range shooting with a 22 cal bullet. Most American are never going to take that long of a difference shot for self-defense (legally) or hunting. The OP asked about a backup caliber aka alternative for a .323/5.56, so I do not understand all the hunting, etc talk.

When we're talking about the best alternative round to .223/5.56 for both self-defense AND maybe hunting on an AR platform, x39 is both the most plentiful, cost effective, and best performing round.

 

[rockquarry]

Who is hunting deer with an AR10? I see the AR15 as "assult rifles." Not many who own .223/5.56 AR15s care about hunting or long range shooting with a 22 cal bullet. Most American are never going to take that long of a difference shot for self-defense (legally) or hunting. The OP asked about a backup caliber aka alternative for a .323/5.56, so I do not understand all the hunting, etc talk.

When we're talking about the best alternative round to .223/5.56 for both self-defense AND maybe hunting on an AR platform, x39 is both the most plentiful, cost effective, and best performing round.

I thought he mentioned a hunting use in the original post; despite that, this seems to be a "stir the pot" type thread rather than one intended to be productive.

 

[BrovoEchoSierra]

My vote would be for the 7.62 x 39..
For factory ammo availability the 300 Black out is probably a better choice.
The 7.62 x 39 for a hand loader will out perform the Black out, and is an easy cartridge to load for.
Opinions, will vary...

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

What about those other three that you could POTENTIALLY harvest...?

Cheers!

Still hunting till Jan 1st.......Didn't mention bks killed with other rifles.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

The whole idea of 300blk is sub Sonic loads with suppressors. That was the driving force behind its development.

Yeah, I know. For clandestine people work. Not deer. Think JD Jones developed the same thing called the 300 Whisper.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

Maybe I'm missing something here...is there some hidden advantage to semi-auto fire and a large magazine capacity for hunting varmints or game? That's not a Second Amendment anti-gun question for those wholly consumed by such, it's a simple question regarding hunting.

For hogs yes. When I deer hunt with 7.62x39 I use a ten rd. magazine. It's only sticks out the receiver about an inch.

 

[mtgianni]

I went other, Ditch the AR 15 and go with an AR 10 in 308 Winchester for big game.

 

[65Whelen]

You didn't have the new kids on the block listed, 35 Legend and 6ACR.

But I have to say I'm surprised with all the 7.62x39votes. And guess what the Grendel is, an improved 7.62x39. Guess which caliber I voted for?

All this discussion just proves the AR platform is verisitile and can be used for numerous applications.. What ever your hearts desires.

 

[alwslate]

Maybe not fully equal to the .30-30, but close. You're right, no one complains about the .30-30 as a deer cartridge because they accept it for the short-to- medium range cartridge it is. Spitzer bullet or not, the 7.62x39 is not a long range cartridge either, just like the .30-30.

The 7.62X39 is a short range deer cartridge but it can do double duty as an alternative to the 5.56 in a light weight AR carbine . It is a true 300 yd rifle ctg. for military use or SD in rural areas. That's something the 30-30 can never do. Tests done by the US Government have shown that the common FMJ bullets of the widely available 7.62X39 ammo will penetrate the test steel plate used at 300 yds 100% of the time. The Spitzer bullets give it usable trajectory for large varmints two or four legged at that range. It really is an outstanding compact round and very affordable in bulk. Probably a good choice for US adoption but we'll never know.