AR-10 Caliber Question

[WAB]

I use an AR-15 in 6.5 Grendel for hogs. It is much lighter and more
Portable than the AR-10 in .308 I had used previously. The Grendel packs plenty of punch for hogs.

 

[vlwtx348]

I use an AR-15 in 6.5 Grendel for hogs. It is much lighter and more
Portable than the AR-10 in .308 I had used previously. The Grendel packs plenty of punch for hogs.

I've killed hogs with dozens of calibers, but most fell to 12 Guage buckshot or 6.5 Grendel out of my AR or Howa mini-action.
If I had a place where I could take 500 to 1000 yard shots I definitely would. They are vermin an deserve no sporting chance.

 

[Ku-winda]

@375 Ruger Fan - It may have already been mentioned (and apologies if so), but you might want to consider a combo platform of .224 Valkyrie and 6.8 SPC, which provides a ton of flexibility. I've killed everything from yodies to Aoudad/big hogs with that set up, all to great results. Can always step up to the AR-10 platform later. It will make a big difference when lugging around all day on foot. Just my two cents, fwiw.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

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

@Bullthrower338
Cody you need to build one in 358 Winchester.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

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

@mdsalern
Easy peasy Japanesey
Take 308 brass, one pass thru a full lenght sizing die with a tapered expander button and you have 338 federal. One pass thru a 358 win die and you have 358 win brass.
See easy
Bob

 

[RLL]

For the reloaders here…anyone run a 6.5 or 308 suppressed, adjustable gas block, heavy buffer, on 80-100grain pills at 33-3500fps successfully? I’ve got bolt guns to do it no problem but I’ve been toying with the idea of an AR at night that has a 400yard MPBR…

 

[Inline6]

For the reloaders here…anyone run a 6.5 or 308 suppressed, adjustable gas block, heavy buffer, on 80-100grain pills at 33-3500fps successfully? I’ve got bolt guns to do it no problem but I’ve been toying with the idea of an AR at night that has a 400yard MPBR…

Your barrel length will play a big part in the ability to reasonably reach those speeds.

My 6.5 with 95gr Vmax was clocking 3230fps out of my LMT. I'm using KGM R30K with it. I do not have an adjustable gas block on this one, LMT runs a proprietary gas system that has no aftermarket support other than swapping out the gas tube for an adjustable one.

In my yote AR15 I'm running 36gr at 3664. They have adjustable gas blocks and also suppressed KGM R556.

 

[Corey0372]

Your barrel length will play a big part in the ability to reasonably reach those speeds.

My 6.5 with 95gr Vmax was clocking 3230fps out of my LMT. I'm using KGM R30K with it. I do not have an adjustable gas block on this one, LMT runs a proprietary gas system that has no aftermarket support other than swapping out the gas tube for an adjustable one.

In my yote AR15 I'm running 36gr at 3664. They have adjustable gas blocks and also suppressed KGM R556.

whats your ballistics look like with that 36 grain?

 

[Inline6]

whats your ballistics look like with that 36 grain?

200yards is point and click.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

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.

Curious, how heavy is "too heavy"?

 

[375Ruger416]

300 AAC is nice if you’re running suppressed, but ballistics are underwhelming otherwise. 6.5 Grendel complete upper for your AR15 or else a AR10 in 6.5 CM. I built one on a Stag 10 receiver that only weighs 7lb with a 20” barrel sans optic.

As far as ammo cost, other than 556, 22lr I don’t plink, and when you compare quality hunting or match ammo the cost savings are much smaller, at least here in Canada.

For my money, 6.5 Grendel upper > 6.5 CM AR10 > 300 BO suppressed > 308. The 308 is a fine round, the same way Toyota Camry’s are fine cars. There is nothing wrong with them, they have no real weaknesses, but no particular strengths either…

 

[mark-hunter]

Curious, how heavy is "too heavy"?

120 kg is not uncommon. Have been occasional boar 150 kg. old boars are tough animals resilient to the shot to vitals. some walked hundreds of yards after being shot through the heart
of course head shots are momentarily effective..

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

120 kg is not uncommon. Have been occasional boar 150 kg. old boars are tough animals resilient to the shot to vitals. some walked hundreds of yards after being shot through the heart
of course head shots are momentarily effective..

@mark-hunter
Big boars ain't that tough when you hit them with a 250gn round nose out of the Whelen at 2,700fps. They tend to fall down real quick.
What about a nice M1 Garand converted to 458WM for the real stubborn ones.
Bob

 

[Ontario Hunter]

120 kg is not uncommon. Have been occasional boar 150 kg. old boars are tough animals resilient to the shot to vitals. some walked hundreds of yards after being shot through the heart
of course head shots are momentarily effective..

I was asking about the "too heavy" rifle weight, not the hog weight.

 

[MS 9x56]

I was asking about the "too heavy" rifle weight, not the hog weight.

If he is used to shooting a d carrying a 375 I can only infer 10lbs, 5 kg or more. I don't believe an AR 10 rises to that level.

 

[MS 9x56]

If I am not mistaken the AR 10 weighs about the same as an M1 Garand?

 

[Scrumbag]

If no one has said it yet: 358 Win?

 

[Inline6]

I was asking about the "too heavy" rifle weight, not the hog weight.

All of my large frame ARs are 12-15#s with optics.

 

[Corey0372]

All of my large frame ARs are 12-15#s with optics.

Mine is coming in just over 12 lbs as well

-16 inch barrel
-YHM Resonator K silencer
-Primary Arms 2.5-10 GLX (w/ GLX 1 piece mount)
-10 rounds loaded (in a 20 round mag)

Overall length is just a bit shorter than a Remington 700 3006 w/ 22inch barrel

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

All of my large frame ARs are 12-15#s with optics.

Mine is coming in just over 12 lbs as well

-16 inch barrel
-YHM Resonator K silencer
-Primary Arms 2.5-10 GLX (w/ GLX 1 piece mount)
-10 rounds loaded (in a 20 round mag)

Overall length is just a bit shorter than a Remington 700 3006 w/ 22inch barrel

Since I am not looking for a long range rifle, maybe I ought to look at a Ruger Mini Thirty in 7.62x39. With a thermal and suppressed it might weight 8 or 9 lbs tops.

The AR-15 in 6.5 Grendel is also sounding good.