What should my next AR upper be?

[greywolf]

My criteria: Accurate, reliable, can be reloaded (ammo) relatively cheaply, would be nice if I could use standard mags but have no problem buying proprietary if I need to (if I don't already have mags that will do the trick), uses a regular AR-15 lower. Would like it to not have a ton of recoil. Most of my shooting is at the range and I'm wanting to stretch out past 500 yards and get some very accurate hits on target, but also have some good energy still past 500 yards.

I already have brass and dies for all of my current calibers.

I do NOT have an upper, bolt, carrier, etc. yet for the new project, just a complete lower.

I want it to be a rifle with good short and medium range capabilities (especially in terms of energy delivered on target - I'd like it to be good for hunting medium sized game and hogs, with good defense/anti-personnel uses if God forbid it comes to that).



Here is what I already have:

.300 BLK in 16"
.300-221 in 8"
5.56 in 16"
5.56 in 14.5"
LaRue OBR 18" (heavy sucker)
6.8x43 12"

I am getting rid of my Grendel for many reasons and so won't consider another. Is there really anything out there that will fit the bill and still remain in the AR-15 lower family?

 

[HolyMeekrob]

I, personally, am biting at the bit to get my hands on a Grendel, I can't imagine why you're getting rid of one.
Perhaps consider something similar like a 6AR or 6AR Turbo

 

[15Tango]

6.5 Grendel or 6RAT.

 

[jonbearman]

wILL THE CREEDMORE WORK FOR YOU?

 

[Killshot]

wILL THE CREEDMORE WORK FOR YOU?

No, he's using a "15' Lower, not a "10"...

The 6mmARturbo is a great mid-long range round. (good at short range, too!)

Maybe he feels like a 7.62x39? You can buy factory ammo cheap or handload. Think of it as an AK that is accurate.

Since you mentioned it, what didn't you like about the Grendel?

 

[Rookie]

6x47

 

[15Tango]

Maybe he feels like a 7.62x39? You can buy factory ammo cheap or handload. Think of it as an AK that is accurate.

Those tapered cases hate feeding out of the half straight AR mags. I make a lot of Grendel brass from 7.62x39 and it jams like crazy with unformed stuff. Really poor bullet selection in .3095-.311" as well. The 7.62X39 is a real turd past 150-200 yards - just one example, the 123 Vmax at 2400 FPS is subsonic in less than 600 yards . . . over 27 minutes of drop at 600. My long line .223 load does less than half that much drop.

Just playing devil's advocate here . . .

ETA just saw you saw no to the Grendel. Go for the 6RAT, it's nearly identical to a 6ARTurbo and you'll actually be able to get components to build it. Contact John @ White Oak. 6MM is a little cheaper to shoot than the Grendel was, that's a good thing.

 

[kentuckytroutbum]

Sorry the Grendel didn't work out for you. And it does take some work to find the "sweet" spot with that cartridge. I built an NRA match rifle for HP based upon the AR15 platform, and it took a while to find the loading combination that the rifle liked. But I'm not here to try to "resell" you on the Grendel.

My choice for another caliber on the AR15 platform would be the 6AR or 6ARTurbo as others have stated. Robert W. did a lot of development work on the 6AR. Search his article on this website.

Good luck.

Bill

 

[JerryMay]

How about the 6mm PDK?
Jerry, (UK)

 

[fl3gun]

http://www.bratrifles.com/

I have been shooting one of these for two years now in NRA XTC and Mid Range Matches. Absolutly a hammer, and no brass forming unless you want to go the BRX route.

 

[tido250]

I don't shoot competition but I own one of Robert whitleys 6mmar uppers and I thoroughly enjoy it out to 500 yrds.

 

[bowslngr]

Check out the many WSSM conversions that DTECH is offering.

 

[Rock Knocker]

243 wssm sure sounds like it would fit in there.

 

[greywolf]

Thanks for the suggestions so far. The Grendel just never worked for me - it was very frustrating. It was a CSS LW barrel, .295 chamber, and I think it was just too tight to get my reloads or some factory ammo to reliably feed - it was VERY VERY accurate, though, which is a shame. I'm selling it now to finance something else.

I'm seeing lots of 6mm suggestions - would I be able to use my 6.5 (.264) bullets in any of these or would I be going down to 6mm bullets?

How touchy/difficult is it to load properly for these? If I have to do a lot of trimming, fireforming, etc. just to get the brass right that sort of sucks

 

[dan06]

I have a 6.5-243wssm that makes a dandy AR round....think of a 60 remington on an AR platform. limited to 130gr bullets for mag feed.

 

[rain164845]

http://www.bohicaarms.com/

Just go for it!

 

[Rock Knocker]

wow they offer that in the .416 also. now im getting interested. Those things have to just beat the hell out of your lower though.

 

[Rookie]

http://www.bohicaarms.com/

Just go for it!

I've shot a few 50's and AR 50BMG conversions are just brutal to shoot! Cool! But Brutal!!! BOHICA for sure

 

[kentuckytroutbum]

greywolf-

You indicated that the chamber & neck were "tight", and that reliable feeding was a problem with you. Did you try to finish ream and/or polish the chamber, specifically the neck diameter to improve the feeding? That is, if you want to now keep your Grendel upper. You might talk to Dave Kitt, at PT&G, about a finish reamer for the chamber. If the rifle is accurate, as you say, it might deserve another look.

Also, magazines can be an issue with the Grendel, the only ones that work reliably in my rifle are Precision Reflex 6.8 SPC mags that I lightly polished the feed lips and the front edge of the magazine to remove any burrs.

Just my $0.02!

Bill

 

[Beau]

I'm seeing lots of 6mm suggestions - would I be able to use my 6.5 (.264) bullets in any of these or would I be going down to 6mm bullets?

How touchy/difficult is it to load properly for these? If I have to do a lot of trimming, fireforming, etc. just to get the brass right that sort of sucks

You'd be using .243" bullets.

Keep in mind that ANY accurate round/chamber combo is going to be touchy to load for. That's the nature of match chambers and cartridges. These 6mm wildcats that people are suggesting are going to require case forming, often including trimming, fire forming & neck reaming.

BTW, did you ever outside neck turn that Grendel?

If you want something that isn't so touchy, stick with factory calibers and non-match chambers.

Sounds to me like what you'd be happy with is a .223 with a Wylde chamber, like a 20" Rock River or a WOA upper. Your only other "factory" type choice is a 6.8 SPC, but it isn't really a 500 yd cartridge. Perhaps you should consider another platform, such as a bolt action or an AR10, as well.