Alternate calibers for ARs?

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ver2cal
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Re: Alternate calibers for ARs?

Post by ver2cal »

I would guess 6.5 Creed would have lots of potential in AR platform and expect it will become very popular.
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Re: Alternate calibers for ARs?

Post by HarryAlonzo »

I'm not an AR Guy, but I've been reading a bit about the .450 Bushmaster lately. I've purchased a .243 Winchester Model 88, but it may be some time before I take possession. The .243 is very attractive on paper, and I hope I like it as much as I think I will.
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Re: Alternate calibers for ARs?

Post by Archer »

The .243 is a heck of a fun gun.
I won one a few years ago in a Savage bolt and it is the cat's meow!
Pretty zippy little round that you can shoot all day long without getting beat to death with it.
I'm not usually recoil sensitive but it was a very pleasant follow up to the .270 the first time I had it out.

I may have to look at those 88s. I heard they were coming out but haven't seen one yet.

As for the Bushmaster .450 I sort of looked at it and the .458 SOCOM.
I went with the .50 Bushmaster because I saw the barrel/bolt combo on sale and I found ammo readily available and less expensive than the other two. Components for the gun also seemed to be slightly more easy to come by.
I am not totally certain I made the right choice but of the other two I would go with .458 SOCOM rather than with .450 Bushmaster. In large part because I'd rather be using the same sort of bullets I can fire from the .45-70 as opposed to having to upload those intended for hot loads in a .45 Colt.
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Re: Alternate calibers for ARs?

Post by HarryAlonzo »

Your reasoning for the .50 Bushmaster appears sound.

You have me looking forward to the .243 even harder. The Winchester Model 88 came out in 1955, and was discontinued in 1973. It was introduced at the same time as the .308 cartridge, and that's what most were chambered in.
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Re: Alternate calibers for ARs?

Post by Archer »

I'd heard vague rumors Winchester might be going to do a Japanese reissue.
Your comments made me think they might have finally done something along those lines.
Apparently not so much.

I wasn't sure I wanted the .243 when I won it but one trip to the range with one and I was pretty well sold.
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Re: Alternate calibers for ARs?

Post by HarryAlonzo »

Ah, so, a Miroku Model 88 would be something to see. Their current Model 92 is a fine looking rifle, and not that hideously expensive.
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Re: Alternate calibers for ARs?

Post by Archer »

On the alternate caliber thing, working these a bit slower than in the past.
I've got the stripped upper receiver, matching bolt and barrel, magazines and ammo for the 50 Beowulf.
I've got 2 6.5 Grendels started w/ BCGs and barrels, couple 4 shot mags with some 10s on back order, a bit of ammo I'd like to double and since these don't take any special work on the upper receiver it's a toss up whether I've got other parts or whether those parts are going to other 5.56/.223 Wylde builds.

I need handguards for both and muzzle brakes or thread protectors for the 50.
Currently planning on swapping these uppers onto existing lowers for the initial build.
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Re: Alternate calibers for ARs?

Post by Archer »

Handguards on the way for the Grendels and a couple Wyldes along with some additional parts for these and to rebuild some of my existing rifles to the new Kali-legal specs since the registration requirements are a recipe for getting tripped up in legalese.

I think I'll use a Midwest Industries G3 Keymod Lightweight for the 50.
I had planned on using a G3 Keymod with full top rail in FDE with a MagPul FDE rifle stock and maybe FDE the receivers or have the whole thing done in Burnt Bronze or Cobalt or Ti Blue CeraKote but looks like the 50 is going to be black. Was thinking something similar on the Grendels using FDE for non-5.56/Wylde but looks like at least one of those is going to get a PRS in OD or Black.
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Re: Alternate calibers for ARs?

Post by Archer »

Ordered a couple bolts from JP Enterprises. Grendel Type II probably use one to swap out with one of my Grendel bolts and the other for the Beowulf. Ben was very helpful on the phone. He had some other suggestions for parts to make things work better and last longer and those weren't limited to things sold through JP Enterprises.

I'll keep the existing bolts and check them against the JPs and a buddy's AA bolts for chamfers, edge breaks and extractors. The JPs have a rep for better strength with better radii to prevent fatigue. The two I'm replacing have a bit of a rep for needing some TLC out of the box to prevent ripping brass up and potential premature breakage. I think part of those problems may be traceable to possibly being over gassed. Since I'll be running an adjustable gas block on the Grendels and I'm looking for one for the Beowulf that last part should be less of a problem.
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Re: Alternate calibers for ARs?

Post by Archer »

Another caliber that's I think hasn't been mentioned is 224 Valkyrie.
Apparently it's getting some traction. Basically a 6.8 SPC necked down to .224 running a 90 grain pill.

I think it's going to be a bit of a nitch item. I think the 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC as well as 6.5 Creedmoor have more practicality.
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