GUN STUFF

[duccarlos]

WTF?

[Buckethead]

WTF?

Hoffenclangen loudenboomer. 

[ducatiz]

WTF?

Mountain William Engineered 23mm soviet ZU23

[Buckethead]

I'm sure this has been discussed to death in the pages of this very thread, but I'm about to do my first AR build and I'm looking for some advice on calibers. With prices what they are now, I'll probably be able to build 2 uppers without catching too much flak from Wee Wifey.

Planning to do a mid-length (18-22", depending on what I can find that I like) .223/5.56 build for cheap ammo and basic interchangability purposes. Been looking at other calibers as well so that I can use the rifle for things like hunting and distance shooting. So far, the two main calibers I've been contemplating are 300 Blackout and 6.5 Grendel. I handload, so beyond initial costs, ammo availability and cost aren't really much of a concern.

What I can tell from my research so far:

300 Blackout

Pros:
Ammo is relatively readily available
.30 cal, so there's a ridiculous number of reload bullet options available
Lower pressure. Less damaging to the brass, so they last through more reloads
Loadable sub-sonic, so I'll wind up wanting a suppressor. Mmm... suppressor...
Solid hitting power and not terrible drop out to 200m or so, and let's be honest, that's gonna be most of my shooting.
Cheaper to build.

Cons:
From a ballistic standpoint, it might as well be a .30-30
I'm gonna want a suppressor, which will be much more difficult to sell to Wee Wifey
It's the cliche bigger AR-15 caliber. I ride a Sport 1000. I don't want the easy way. It's boring.

6.5 Grendel

Pros:
Longer practical range
Plenty of 6.5 reloading options
I really like the 6.5 as a caliber. Not just Grendel, but also 6.5x55 Swedish, .264 Win Mag, etc.
Terminal ballistics beyond 200m
Cases can be made from 7.62x39 with a couple of intermediate steps (Maybe I get a rifle in .220 Russian?)
Cache

Cons:
Commercial ammo options/availability
Build cost
Suppressor options are... well... kinda pointless

For the tie break, I turn to the collective wisdom of the DMF Gun Stuff thread and its contributors.

And to reward you for having read this far, I present this video that Monsterlover shared earlier today.

[DRKWNG]

I'd go for 300blk just because you won't have to buy up a large quantity of new magazines, and the fact that it uses the same bcg as the 5.56, so spare parts wouldn't be a problem either.  But even more importantly, mmmmmmm suppressors.

[Monsterlover]

You should change your dmf name to mmmm.. Suppressors

[DW]

I was fortunate enough to win an EAA Witness Match in 40SW this weekend. It's one of those guns that was never on my radar, but now that it's made its way into the safe it will likely stay. I was fairly impressed with it. SA only trigger, 15 rnds capacity, and all steel construction. Not a bad take for $0.

[Kopfjager]

Nice 

[Kopfjager]

[Kopfjager]

[Kopfjager]

[Monsterlover]

[DanTheMan]

That reminde me, i need to dust off the shotgun. Tis the season!

[Kopfjager]

My boy 'Riding the Cougar'

[Adamm0621]

With the KSG as a Christmas present from my girlfriend, the collection is starting to come together nicely...  

From top to bottom:
Remington 700 SPS Tactical .308/7.62mm,
Sig Sauer M400 AR-15 .223/5.56mm,
(Left) Beretta PX-4 Storm .40S&W,
(Right) Keltec KSG 12ga pump shotgun,
Taurus Judge PD Poly .45LC/.410ga