Which caliber is a better choice: 5.56mm, 6.5mm, or 6.8mm?

Question

I am looking to buy an AR 15 rifle and am trying to decide which caliber I want my gun chambered in. I want a rifle that I can use for target shooting, one that is fun to plink around with, but also that I can take hunting for medium game (mostly deer).

Answer 1

I would go with 6.8 definitely. It will pierce body armor, go through a car door and then knock down a steel plate at 25 yards. The round is higher velocity than the Ak-47's 7.62x39mm "short", yet more accurate than the 5.56x45mm NATO. It will also go farther. The REC7(Barrett's AR-15 style 6.8mm) is accurate to 600 yards with iron sights.

Answer 2

They make an AR-15 in several calibers.I have friends who have purchased AR-15's in a .264,.280 and .308 caliber.All of them had nothing but good things to say.Around here(Georgia) the .280 is a more common,and cheaper round to find/purchase than the other two that I mentioned.In my opinion,it is also "middle of the road",as far as to all of your needs/wants in a rifle.

Answer 3

buy a good AR lower and you can pick up an upper for each caliber.

Bettcha didnt know that did ya?

Answer 4

Get an AR chambered in .308.   For plinking, add a .22LR upper.

Answer 5

I would buy a 6.8 upper and a 5.56 upper because 6.8 is good for deer but more rare and expensive. For target shooting the 5.56 will be cheaper and the ammo is easier to find.

Answer 6

None is really an adequate deer caliber, but the 264 and 277 bullets, though not of the sectional density generally used for deer, will certainly come closer than the 224 poodle-shooter. And I certainly wouldn't try them on a boar hog that might take offense, though they'd work fine for sows and shoats. Modern military cartridges, unlike those of the past, simply and by design aren't up to standard for medium game.

Answer 7

Get 2 different uppers..... The 6.8 is ok for deer.... BUT the 5.56 / .223 has the advantage of less expensive ammunition if you plan on doing a lot of target shooting....

6.8MM ammunition will clean your wallet out quik. The savings on the .223 ammo will pay for another upper receiver.....

Bulk .223 ammo...

http://www.the-armory.com/shopsite_sc/st...

And bulk ammo at J&G Sales.....

http://www.jgsales.com/index.php/ammo-fo...

Answer 8

The 5.56 is not a deer round, most states require a .24 caliber bullet or larger to hunt deer, I know people will tell ya they have done it, but  that doesn't make it right , , , move to Tennessee if ya want to shoot deer with a .22, its legal there. Have fun spending your weekend tracking it through the thorns and scrub brush while your there.

The 6.5 is a better military cartridge, as it shoots flatter and has sub moa capabilities at long distances; however, it still only carries a .26 caliber bullet, encased in a .22 cal casing. It's great that it turns out 1.18 groups at 660 yards, but are you really gonna take a shot at a deer that far away? And when the bullet gets 2000 ft away from you how much stopping power will it have to penetrate the vital organs and knock down a deer? Be a great battle rifle, I will not deny that.

The 6.8 SPC has a .277 cal bullet and is pushed out of a 30 cal case. As far as I know its a 200 yard battle rifle, but i havent seen any extensive ballistics. This is great, as most deer are taken at that range.

Are you aware of Remington's new line?  Its called the R-25 . . . they have chambered the .243 and 7mm/08 for the AR platform . . .  7mm/08 would be my happy medium, its a .284 cal  bullet based on a .308 case. The third link will take you to it. If they only made an AR in 25-06 . . . I'd be truly happy.

Answer 9

The 6.5 and 6.8 are solid deer cartridges.  The 6.5 has an advantage in ballistics for hunting which gives it another 100 yards (from 300 to 400) on a deer sized game  but the ammunition selection is lower and the cost is higher.  

The 5.56 is the least expensive target round and is capable of taking a deer at relatively close ranges (I have taken whitetail deer myself with a .223).  

Those who express opinions against the 6.5 and 6.8 for Whitetail deer simply have not the experience to back up their claims.