bsdubois00
Head Honcho Emeritus
+1 on the 6.5 Grendel - although I'm building a 308 AR for this purpose...
What is the best caliber for hunting whitetail deer that will fit on an AR15 lower
- Thread starter jtischauser
- Start date
Hornady makes good factory ammo for both. They cost basically the same and I have seen some on shelves at place's like Dong's or Sportsworld in Tulsa. Neither is available at places like Academy or Walmart, at least I haven't seen it.
Dieseltech09
Well-Known Fanatic
There is a larger varitey of factory ammo for the 6.8 than the 6.5.
Silver State Armory makes some of the best 6.8 rounds out there for hunting or tactical
http://www.ssarmory.com/6.8ammunitionsales.aspx
I have a few boxes of their 110gr Serria Pro Hunter Im going to try out once I finish my rifle.
bsdubois00
Head Honcho Emeritus
I look for this to start to change - Alexandria Arms held the rights to the 6.5 until last year when they agree to release them so the round could be SAAMI approved. Now with no licensing fees I look for a lot more companies to start pumping out 6.5G Ammo.
This is the selling point for me - much more bullet in the 6.5G
This is the selling point for me - much more bullet in the 6.5G
bigbrowndog
Red Neck Tactical
between the 2 at reasonable deer distances they are equal, the Grendel benefits from being easily available with heavier bullets.
My choice would be Grendel, unless a 6.8 was available for less. the 30 AMU would also be a good choice since Hornady is supposed to legitimize it.
Trapr
My choice would be Grendel, unless a 6.8 was available for less. the 30 AMU would also be a good choice since Hornady is supposed to legitimize it.
Trapr
shootingbuff
Well-Known Fanatic
Pick one and mail order a few boxes of ammo.
Might as well pick the one that will give you the most and that is the 6.5 due to its BC/SD.
Best with your choice.
Might as well pick the one that will give you the most and that is the 6.5 due to its BC/SD.
Best with your choice.
jtischauser
I'm addicted to kicking ass
Next question is what manufacturer to choose for upper? Also what barrel length?
Dieseltech09
Well-Known Fanatic
If you are going to be shooting paper or set up on prairie dogs at 500 yds then a 6.5 with a 24" barrel would be the way to go. If you want a light weight, short easy to handle carbine for ranges up to 300 yds then hands down its the 6.8spc
Dieseltech09
Well-Known Fanatic
For 6.8 I would go with AR Performance http://www.ar15performance.com/
Get a 16" upper. According to their info they have gotten 2600fps with Hornady 110gr HPBT out of their 16s
Found this online thought Id share
This list maybe outdated
Feegee
The Magic Man
Hell yea!! He loaded me up some Sierra soft points and at 150 yards I dropped a big 8 pointer. It hit him dead center of the chest and there was no heart left. Just use a 223 no need for all that other crap I have shot many deer with just 223. Plus it also feels good to kill something with your 3 gun set up.
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jtischauser
I'm addicted to kicking ass
No hand loads for my bro. He probably couldn't find a place to order ammo without my help.
Dieseltech09
Well-Known Fanatic
There is also the 300blk. Hornady has a 110g V-max or a 208g A-Max for around $30 a box And UMC bulk ammo is less than $15 a box
jtischauser
I'm addicted to kicking ass
300 black out fits on an AR15?
Dieseltech09
Well-Known Fanatic
Yes it does. It uses the same bolt so you just have to change out the barrel. I think you can even use standard 223 mags with some tweaking. The brass is made from standard 223 brass
shootingbuff
Well-Known Fanatic
Then i would be back to the 458SOCOM :72:
drmitchgibson
The white Morgan Freeman
You can use standard mags without tweaking if you use factory ammo or load to standard dimensions.
bigbrowndog
Red Neck Tactical
you owe it to the animal to use MORE than enough gun, not just enough gun. 120gr bullets would be my minimum, which rules out the .223. Yes, I know lots and lots of deer have been killed with it, but then more have been killed with a 22 rimfire haven't they!!!!! I would also limit my shots to 250yds max. regardless of what kind of accuracy you get, its the terminal ballistics that kill animals not the exterior ballistics.
Trapr
Trapr
I would disagree with the 120 gr minimum. 95 or 100 gr bullets out of a .243 are devastating to a deer. I've seen many, many deer killed with those bullets and it wasn't just a barely killed or marginally killed. It was very impressive.
Brian,
What 110gr bullets are pushed to those speeds out of a 6.8 with a 16" barrel? The numbers I've seen are more like 2300 fps.
Edit: I reread your post and I see you said SSA. From what I understand those tactical loads are super hot. Guys that are hand loading aren't necessarily getting that much velocity even when pushing the over pressure signs. I'm not sure if I'd want to shoot those loads out of my gun.
What 110gr bullets are pushed to those speeds out of a 6.8 with a 16" barrel? The numbers I've seen are more like 2300 fps.
Edit: I reread your post and I see you said SSA. From what I understand those tactical loads are super hot. Guys that are hand loading aren't necessarily getting that much velocity even when pushing the over pressure signs. I'm not sure if I'd want to shoot those loads out of my gun.
bigbrowndog
Red Neck Tactical
I said it would be MY minimum, I didn't say anything about anyone elses opinion, I have used 90 and 100 grain bullets in a 25-06, for a few years and my opinion is based on the performance seen from the differences of using heavier over lighter bullets. Besides I cannot think of one thing that a 90-100 grain bullet accomplishes better using terminal ballistics than a 120gr bullet, given equal parameters. even trajectory differences, which is exterior ballistics, is so minimal.
Trapr
Trapr
