Help needed picking a caliber for AR long range fun

[bored184]

About a week ago I was about to order a 223 barrel for my current AR build and ended up getting cold feet and left the order in my cart. I started looking at other cartridges like the 22 Nosler, 6.5 Grendel and even the 6.8 SPC and wondered if one of those cartridges would suit me better. This is my first AR build and the amount of info on the web is a bit overwhelming.The end goal is to have a fun and accurate 100 to 600 yard medium range AR. I have a DPMS lower ready to go with the MagPul PRS GEN 2, Geissele Match Rifle trigger, Tubbs flat spring and WOA standard buffer. The upper is matching DPMS low profile upper, I do not want to change uppers. I do have nice .223/5.56 BCG, if I can get away with just switching out the bolt that would be great but I am willing to switch to a different BCG if need be.

P.S. I have nothing against the 223/5.56 but I have that itch to try something new.

 

[FatBoy]

77gr 223 would work well BUT if you're ok buying a new bolt and mags I would look at either 6.5 Grendel or 224 Valkyrie. both will have vastly superior performance, at the expense of ammo and barrel life.

If you wanted a more challenging AR round, maybe a 6mmFatRat.

 

[kzin]

224 Valkyrie was just introduced within the last month as the answer to this question. It is better than the Nosler because the shorter case allows longer bullets at mag length. 6.5 is too fat for AR15 class powder loads for maximum long range ballistics.

Valkyrie uses 6.8 bolts and mags.

edit
Just saw your definition of long range.
light bullets flat at 100-600 - nosler with slower twist
bucking the wind at 600 - 90gr Valk 1/7 twist

 

[bored184]

edit
Just saw your definition of long range.
light bullets flat at 100-600 - nosler with slower twist
bucking the wind at 600 - 90gr Valk 1/7 twist

I apologize I just realized that I used long range in the title and medium range in the post. The rifle will see a lot of 300 yard shots because that's what I can safely shoot on my property. Next year though I hope to get out and try my hand at longer ranges out past 600.

 

[kzin]

there is a thread on 22valk in the 22cf subforum here and really on every rifle related board on the internet since its a hot new thing

 

[spclark]

Mag-fed or single-load @ 600 yds?

If from mag, look into 240 Tomahawk.

If single-load with 105-108 grain bullets, 6HAGAR’s really hard to beat but too long for mag-fed when loaded optimally for 600 yards.

Both need new bolt ‘cause the case heads are 0.421”.

 

[Fast14riot]

I built mine in 6.8spc, with a 24" barrel just because people said it wouldn't work. Gun runs like a sewing machine, puts me on the podium regularly, and I can run 120gr bullets up around 2750 for good enough performance at 600m to be reliable.

If you'e not adept at tuning an AR15, a 24" 6.8 wouldn' be my first choice. I'e helped quite a few folks on the 6.8 boards get theirs up and running.

That being said, I do feel the 6.8 case is an ideal platform for necking down to other calibers. Stronger bolt than the Grendle, good mags available, increased capacity, cheap enough brass, good barrel life and a bushing die can get you a 6x6.8 pretty easy.

 

[kzin]

I built mine in 6.8spc, with a 24" barrel just because people said it wouldn't work. Gun runs like a sewing machine, puts me on the podium regularly, and I can run 120gr bullets up around 2750 for good enough performance at 600m to be reliable.

If you'e not adept at tuning an AR15, a 24" 6.8 wouldn' be my first choice. I'e helped quite a few folks on the 6.8 boards get theirs up and running.

That being said, I do feel the 6.8 case is an ideal platform for necking down to other calibers. Stronger bolt than the Grendle, good mags available, increased capacity, cheap enough brass, good barrel life and a bushing die can get you a 6x6.8 pretty easy.

Podium in what?

 

[Albany Mountain]

240 Tomahawk, take 6.8 brass, neck down, smile at the groups you get fire forming, and a hell of a cartridge after forming.

 

[Fast14riot]

Podium in what?

Mid range varmint matches, full course silhouette style matches, nothing major, but shooting against some tough competition and generally very well built bolt guns.

 

[284driver]

Without hesitation, I would get an upper chambered in 6mm ar or an improved version. I have the 6mm ar turbo 40° . It smokes a Grendel.

 

[JCUtah]

6 fat rat would be my top choice. You can get a reamer and pick your gunsmith.

6 turbo improved or not improved is a great choice. The only issue is if Mr. Whitley gets hit by a train you have a problem since nobody else has those reamers.

Look at the 6 BRA. Lots of folks going this direction.

 

[bored184]

Please keep the suggestions coming, researching the cartridges mentioned has been very informative. While researching I came across a couple things that I did not originally take into consideration. I do not mind reloading but with basically working 3 jobs plus being a dad to two little girls the simpler the reloading process the better. Second is the cost of materials involved in starting to reload for a different caliber.

 

[Shynloco]

Bored,
Based upon tour last comments, may I suggest you keep it simple and build the AR15 in .223/5.56 that you originally intended. It is the least expensive to shoot and you can buy across the counter loaded ammo for it as well and reloading when you have time. I would also recommend that if nothing else, take a look at JP Precision barrels that are extremely accurate and last longer than most others. Sounds like you already have some nice parts already on place, so finish what you started. You can learn more as you go along in terms of building another caliber AR later on to include some of the Wildcat calibers suggested above.

I recently had a custom AR15 .223/5.56 built that was intended to mirror my Gunsmith's AR15 that he shoots in competition. He usually places in the top 3 amongst 25 - 30 competitors. Both rifles shoot incredibly accurate groups shooting, 55, 69 and 77 gr bullets, when shooting handloads, And they also shoot across the counter ammo very accurately. Both also have JP Precision parts in them. And think of the additional items such as dies you'll need to reload which can cost udles when the caliber is an exotic caliber and custom dies are required. Just about any makers of dies make relatively inexpensive dies used to reload a .223/5.56. SO look at the entire picture before buying so that you do not defeat you own purpose in this build.

Alex

 

[rob67gmc]

I fully agree with Shynloco. Choose a good barrel in .223/5.56 with the correct twist. If I'm shooting a match on a 600 yd range, I use a 1-7 twist and 77 gr ammo. If shooting a simulated 600 yds at 300 yds on reduced targets, I use my 1-8 twist and 75 gr ammo.

 

[Hoser]

6 Grendel for ease of just loading and shooting. FatRat if you don't mind the case forming process.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

.223 Rem is simple to load for with a high level of accuracy. Unless you shoot in a very windy location, inherent accuracy and cost of reloading tend to be more important than wind drift out to 600 yards.

 

[243Mendoza]

+1 on FatRat. You can seat the 107gr bullet to magazine length and clean the NRA 600yd target

 

[kzin]

.223 Rem is simple to load for with a high level of accuracy. Unless you shoot in a very windy location, inherent accuracy and cost of reloading tend to be more important than wind drift out to 600 yards.

Is there any reasonable consensus on rankings for this?

 

[spclark]

Is there any reasonable consensus on rankings for this?

If you're referring to the part about inherent accuracy, look to scores fired in NRA and CMP Service Rifle Competitions for what the 223REM cartridge is capable of.

(If I had two young daughters [I have two jobs now, though both are part-time], for a hobby I'd certainly put economy as my first consideration!)