Ammo availability

[Holleta]

In regards to the 5.56 being good for nothing larger than chipmunks and the 6.8 being the messiah...blah, blah, blah....

Remember back to the DC sniper and the " Bushmaster 2-2-3 assault rifle". Many of those poor people died from one shot of the "underpowered and worthless" 5.56 at respectable distances. I sure wouldn't want to take a slug from one.

The 6.8 may be better at 500 yds + but honestly.

Who shoots at 500 yds?

Who has ever shot at 500 yds?

The 5.56 is available and will continue to be....at pretty decent prices too.
The 6.8? Well, it may just be a fad and be a wildcat cartridge by 2008. It will NEVER have the popularity,availability or reasonable priced ammo of the 5.56/223.

Personally I would rather have (and in fact do...thank you very much) an AR-10/308 platform rather than a 6.8 for the same reasons above.

Love it or Hate it...it's my opinion....and I'm sticking' with it!!!

[phillyd2]

Originally Posted by Holleta

Who has ever shot at 500 yds?

Shot at or actually hit something? Or should I say hit something intentionally?

[Holleta]

Originally Posted by phillyd2

Shot at or actually hit something? Or should I say hit something intentionally?

LOL!! You know what I'm getting at Philly.

[phillyd2]

Originally Posted by Holleta

LOL!! You know what I'm getting at Philly.

I do and agree with you 100%

[dgg9]

Originally Posted by Holleta

Remember back to the DC sniper and the " Bushmaster 2-2-3 assault rifle". Many of those poor people died from one shot of the "underpowered and worthless" 5.56 at respectable distances.

Wasn't his farthest shot something like 77 yards (IIRC)?

Personally I would rather have (and in fact do...thank you very much) an AR-10/308 platform rather than a 6.8 for the same reasons above.

I would too -- but have you tried to buy a case of .308 (yeah, yeah, 7.62, not .308) milsurp recently? The prices are obscene.

If for no other reason, that's why I advocate learning/practicing on a 7.62x39 weapon -- the ammo is substantially cheaper.

[Agent Ronin]

Originally Posted by dgg9

I would too -- but have you tried to buy a case of .308 (yeah, yeah, 7.62, not .308) milsurp recently? The prices are obscene.

With that in mind, how about 5.56mm NATO? Sure you can find it but its nearly impossible to find 55gn. FMJ's or SS109's. Reloading Components for the 5.56 are going extinct due to the war effort. I have yet to find CCI #41 primers for less than 135$ per 5000... Oh well this only concerns those who reload. I guess what im trying to say is you cant win no matter what cartridge you use, you got to pay to play...

[Holleta]

Originally Posted by dgg9

Wasn't his farthest shot something like 77 yards (IIRC)?



I would too -- but have you tried to buy a case of .308 (yeah, yeah, 7.62, not .308) milsurp recently? The prices are obscene.

If for no other reason, that's why I advocate learning/practicing on a 7.62x39 weapon -- the ammo is substantially cheaper.

I guess it depends on where you get your info from as far as the ranges the DC sniper shot. I heard the farthest was 150 yds+....we may never actually know "the truth" there. My main point is the 5.56 is quite a lethal round as is and is certainly nothing to scoff at.

I think all ammo is priced sick right now though there are deals to be had here and there ( I just picked up 560 rds of SA 308 for $100). 7.62x39 may be a bit cheaper but the last case I bought was $59...a far cry from todays prices.

Not to steal the thread but I'm getting a 22 conversion for one of my Glocks and already have a dedicated 22 LR AR upper....Now that's cheap ammo!!!

[ALS]

Originally Posted by phillyd2

I agree with your advice. Get a AR in 5.56 and also a .308 But I would go with a M14 over a AR10 if given the option. Actually, I was and did

Get all 3 and have a matching set

I have to agree on using a heavier 69-75 gn in the AR will help with increased damage. Ask the Victims of the Beltway snipers in Maryland and Virginia if a .223 loaded with 55gn FMJ is an effectrive round for stopping power.

[dgg9]

Originally Posted by Holleta

My main point is the 5.56 is quite a lethal round as is and is certainly nothing to scoff at.

I agree. Inside its operative range, it's very effective.

I think all ammo is priced sick right now though there are deals to be had here and there ( I just picked up 560 rds of SA 308 for $100). 7.62x39 may be a bit cheaper but the last case I bought was $59...a far cry from todays prices.

Your SA .308 was a steal. Pretty much everywhere, milsurp .308 is around $500 a case, if you can even find it.

7.62x39 has gone up in price too, but you can still get it for $160 a case.

.308 has more than tripled in the last 4 years. 7.62x39 has about doubled, and from a lower initial point. 7.62x39 today is what .308 was in 2003.

So, putting aside ballistics for the moment, which round seems more affordable to shoot/train/practice with?

[Holleta]

Originally Posted by dgg9

So, putting aside ballistics for the moment, which round seems more affordable to shoot/train/practice with?

I'm with you DDG. I'm saving my expensive ammo for a rainy day. For me- I'll shoot/practice with 22 LR whenever possible and reload for the more expensive calibers...at the very least save my brass.

I think I would still rather shoot 223 and reload it than shoot 7.62x39 though. Not that I'm a snob but I really appreciate the accuracy and sights of the AR platform over the AK platform.

Before this becomes an AR vs AK thread I have more AKs than ARs so that's not the issue.

Getting back to the original intent, I would consider a 6.8 over a 223 or 308 only if you have money to spare or plan on reloading. Otherwise the 223 and 308 are simply better values to shoot with close enough performance to not warrant the change/investment of the 6.8 equipment.