AR-10 Caliber Question

[375 Ruger Fan]

I have an AR-15, but have been thinking about an AR-10 lately. Do I just go with a .308 or consider one of the other in between calibers? Mainly interested in a hog rifle.

243, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 CM, or 300 AAC Blackout???? Am I missing anything?
@Bob Nelson 35Whelen , no, I don't want an AR-35 Whelen................yet

The 243 option is interesting to me because it is a significant step up from the 223, without the huge increase with the others. The 308 is probably the cheapest to feed, just not sure I want that big of step up in power, recoil, report, etc. Logic tells me to go approximately halfway between a 223 and 308, that being one of the 6.5s, and then buy the AR-10 in 308 at a later date. There is a method to the madness.

Comments?

 

[Trophyhunter01]

I like to hunt with mine in 308. Highly accurate and a flat out killer with 178 grain ELDX. They are a little on the heavy side. I like the 308 for about everything in South Texas especially large pigs. 308 has lots of ammo options and massive research on load development. Makes quick work on coyotes when you need a quick follow up. Recoil is quite lite, heavy rifle and gas operation.

 

[Hunter4752001]

Prior to Jackboot Johnny, I owned an original AR10. Due to the straight stock ergonomics, it was a very mild rifle. Wish I still had it.

 

[Bullthrower338]

I’m building one in 338 Federal right now, I think it would be a great AR-10 round. Also have a 260 Remington that is a great one

 

[gbflyer]

I like to hunt with mine in 308. Highly accurate and a flat out killer with 178 grain ELDX. They are a little on the heavy side. I like the 308 for about everything in South Texas especially large pigs. 308 has lots of ammo options and massive research on load development. Makes quick work on coyotes when you need a quick follow up. Recoil is quite lite, heavy rifle and gas operation.
View attachment 577327View attachment 577328

That pic of the buck is fantastic. Belongs in a magazine.

 

[mdsalern]

There is no new brass for the .338 Federal, how do you plan to feed it?

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

7mm-08 always seemed like it would be a good ar10 cartridge.

 

[spotnspook]

Grendel and 300 blackout will fit in your AR15 lower just need different mags for grendel. You could just buy a new upper for your existing lower. I did a post on a grendel I’ve been hunting with for 5 seasons now around a month ago you might find helpful. You’ll probably find grendel a bit anemic compared to 6.5 creedmoor or 308 (123grs around 2400-2500 fps) although it is certainly a step up from 556.

As far as an AR10 I find them to be much more mild than a bolt gun with gas operation and the buffer even with rifles built light. No problems shooting at the range for fun no pain involved. 308 isn’t really a bruiser to begin with.

If you decide to stick with the AR15 lower I’d look into 6 ARC, it can throw higher BC bullets at relevant velocities compared to grendel, better balance of power while still cramming as much into a standard lower as possible.

 

[mark-hunter]

I have an AR-15, but have been thinking about an AR-10 lately. Do I just go with a .308 or consider one of the other in between calibers? Mainly interested in a hog rifle.

243, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 CM, or 300 AAC Blackout???? Am I missing anything?

If the hogs at your place can grow big, then I would pick first 308 win, and 2nd choice 6.5 CM.

Some personal impressions.
For a last year or so, I ve been training with my ar15, in 223 mainly for competitions.
During these trainings I had a chance to try AR10 in 308 win from a friend, a club member.
The impressions are following: ar15 in 223 is harmony, and ar10 in 308 win is thunderstorm that needs effort to control.
He has some ar10 and exchangeable barrels. So, last he put 14 inch barrel with muzzle brake.
This ar10 is extremely heavy, extremely loud, and for me personally not comfortable to shoot.
(I am not sensitive to recoil, I believe, I shoot regularly 375 and 9.3 for example)
maybe it takes time to adjust to rifle, who knows.
This rifle is more shootable from prone position.
In off hand position, hands get tired and shaky.

So, all in all. Would that rifle be usable for me, for hunting hogs?
308 win gives sufficient energy. check.
Picatinny rails give option for all gadgets. Night vision, bipod, everything you may need etc. Check
Shooting from rest, from blind, heavy rifle, ok. Check.
Would it be my carry rifle in the woods, for walking and stalking, or driven hunt? No, too heavy.

 

[benchracer]

There is no new brass for the .338 Federal, how do you plan to feed it?

You do realize 338 Federal is based on the 308 Win case? This is a non-problem.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

358 Winchester is an option as well.
But better yet just get an HK91. Ar’s are boring.

 

[spotnspook]

If the hogs at your place can grow big, then I would pick first 308 win, and 2nd choice 6.5 CM.

Some personal impressions.
For a last year or so, I ve been training with my ar15, in 223 mainly for competitions.
During these trainings I had a chance to try AR10 in 308 win from a friend, a club member.
The impressions are following: ar15 in 223 is harmony, and ar10 in 308 win is thunderstorm that needs effort to control.
He has some ar10 and exchangeable barrels. So, last he put 14 inch barrel with muzzle brake.
This ar10 is extremely heavy, extremely loud, and for me personally not comfortable to shoot.
(I am not sensitive to recoil, I believe, I shoot regularly 375 and 9.3 for example)
maybe it takes time to adjust to rifle, who knows.
This rifle is more shootable from prone position.
In off hand position, hands get tired and shaky.

So, all in all. Would that rifle be usable for me, for hunting hogs?
308 win gives sufficient energy. check.
Picatinny rails give option for all gadgets. Night vision, bipod, everything you may need etc. Check
Shooting from rest, from blind, heavy rifle, ok. Check.
Would it be my carry rifle in the woods, for walking and stalking, or driven hunt? No, too heavy.

I should have prefaced that my experience with mild recoiling AR10s is with 20” barreled rifle length gas systems on an old A2 style armalite and newer SR25 style build. I have no idea how a carbine gassed rifle feels.

358 Winchester is an option as well.
But better yet just get an HK91. Ar’s are boring.

While I agree ARs are boring (nothing more cliche than a 16”) the CETME/HK91 comes with its own bag of problems. Some of PTRs newer stuff incorporates a picatinny rail on the receiver which is a huge leap forward but other than that you’re stuck with HKs or Bsquares claw mount which results in atrocious height over bore issues. The trigger pack design leaves nothing to be done for the long heavy spongey trigger. Cocking tube/lever design and no last round hold open means complex mag changes if you run it dry. Delayed roller blowback and fluted chamber means your brass is going to be mangled and destroyed if you’re even lucky enough to find it since it gets thrown about 30 yards at escape velocity on a sub orbital trajectory. On the plus side there’s usually zero ejection issues unless you’re unlucky enough to rip a case head off.

 

[Inline6]

I'll only speak to my personal experience.

308 is plug and play, have taken 16" barreled rifles to 920 yards on 18" targets. Could generally have one on target and another in the air before the first on hit.

6.5CM and 6CM, the CM cases shine in this platform. The case is shorter than 243 or 260. So you can load the bullets out further and still mag feed. Have take both beyond 1200 yards on 1 moa sized targets. I'm not the best gas gun shooter. It usually takes me 1 to 2 mags to shoot to my and the rifles potential. Seekins makes a heck of a rifle for the money. Would not over look them, GAP has made the most accurate gasser I have laid hands on.

Good luck on your quest. They are a good bit heavier and bulkier that the standard AR15 FYI.

 

[0002S]

.308 shorty w/a folder and a binary trigger. Make Rhodesia great again.

 

[375Ruger416]

I have an AR-15, but have been thinking about an AR-10 lately. Do I just go with a .308 or consider one of the other in between calibers? Mainly interested in a hog rifle.

243, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 CM, or 300 AAC Blackout???? Am I missing anything?
@Bob Nelson 35Whelen , no, I don't want an AR-35 Whelen................yet

The 243 option is interesting to me because it is a significant step up from the 223, without the huge increase with the others. The 308 is probably the cheapest to feed, just not sure I want that big of step up in power, recoil, report, etc. Logic tells me to go approximately halfway between a 223 and 308, that being one of the 6.5s, and then buy the AR-10 in 308 at a later date. There is a method to the madness.

Comments?

Yep, 6.5 CM. Although, recoil AR 10 is significantly less than a bolt action, so 308 would be fine as well.

 

[0002S]

20” 6.5 CM are boringly fun

Same goes for the 18” .308

16” .308

 

[BeeMaa]

Easiest would be the 308WIN as a starter and go from there. 16" barrel with Picatinny top rail and M-Lok sides will sort you out for lights, NV and laser designator. Nearly every pig you see will be "in range" and ammo will be plentiful & cheap.

If you want softer shooting and a lighter version, the 300ACC Blackout would be a really good option depending on the ranges you expect. There are several ammo options that are both supersonic and subsonic. If you picked up one of the many ~10" barreled pistols (with a pistol brace of course) you could add a short & light suppressor to it and still keep it very portable for hunting. Ammo is a little more expensive than the 308WIN, but if you reload it will return to even. With a shorter (10") barrel I'm guessing the effective range would be around 300 yards.

The 10" suppressed 300ACC would also be a really nice home defense pistol with a different optic.

 

[BeeMaa]

Then there's this...

 

[Challer]

Easiest would be the 308WIN as a starter and go from there. 16" barrel with Picatinny top rail and M-Lok sides will sort you out for lights, NV and laser designator. Nearly every pig you see will be "in range" and ammo will be plentiful & cheap.

If you want softer shooting and a lighter version, the 300ACC Blackout would be a really good option depending on the ranges you expect. There are several ammo options that are both supersonic and subsonic. If you picked up one of the many ~10" barreled pistols (with a pistol brace of course) you could add a short & light suppressor to it and still keep it very portable for hunting. Ammo is a little more expensive than the 308WIN, but if you reload it will return to even. With a shorter (10") barrel I'm guessing the effective range would be around 300 yards.

The 10" suppressed 300ACC would also be a really nice home defense pistol with a different optic.

Agree with all this. No one should be taking hogs at 500 yards. 308 is the right cartridge on cost and ballistics.

BTW, have a suppressed Sig Virtus 300 that is SBRd in the closet. No hearing protection needed!

 

[RAVEN ROCKS PRECISION]

300 Blackout is one of my favorite calibers (to shoot and load for). If you go that route, I highly recommend running suppressed. Speaking of which—we are partnering with a local suppressor company and will be carrying their line starting in early 2024. Belt-fed rated titanium cans— more on that soon.

We have some really nice 300 BLK SwissP Styx Action ammo on sale right now as well (supersonic).

If you want something a little more exotic (maybe faddish) in an AR-10 sized package, check out the 8.6 Blackout. It’ll get you 300 BLK light characteristics with a 338 caliber bullet. Definitely more expensive but you can make the brass from 6.5 creedmoor.