What ARs do I need?

[Palerider]

They really are like shoes, or coats - there are some that do OK at several roles, but it's better to have one that's the best for each intended purpose.

Yep, like any tool. But it’s also nice to have some that “call” you to take them out because they’re a little different and fun to shoot. I just bought a cheap 9mm carbine just for this purpose. It will live in its base form just to keep it simple.

[Sgt.K]

Horsepower at longer ranges and most importantly, cool factor. :-)

My friend is wondering what's a good meat gathering round out of a standard lower (e.g. .450 Bushy, .458 Socom, etc.) as he may be in possession of a number of lowers waiting to be built out. AR-10 is a whole new chassis...

[Palerider]

My friend is wondering what's a good meat gathering round out of a standard lower (e.g. .450 Bushy, .458 Socom, etc.) as he may be in possession of a number of lowers waiting to be built out. AR-10 is a whole new chassis...

Ah, gotcha, I do not have experience with any caliber other than 5.56 in a standard lower and the barrel length recommendations are covered.

[NathanB]

My friend is wondering what's a good meat gathering round out of a standard lower (e.g. .450 Bushy, .458 Socom, etc.) as he may be in possession of a number of lowers waiting to be built out. AR-10 is a whole new chassis...

6.5 grendel

[ExFlyinguy]

My friend is wondering what's a good meat gathering round out of a standard lower (e.g. .450 Bushy, .458 Socom, etc.) as he may be in possession of a number of lowers waiting to be built out. AR-10 is a whole new chassis...

I just built a 458 socom.

From what I've read .450 BM beats 458 on paper.

450BM has been approved by saami and is pretty easy to find at my LGS & Cabelas neither of which had 458 socom.

450BM is a straight walled cartridge and has the advantage of being allowed in States that only allow straight walled cartridge for hunting i.e. Ohio

You almost have to be a reloader to choose 458

All that said - I can't see any reason why .300blk or the 6.5 flavors wouldn't serve as a much better whitetail cartridge than the .4xx rounds

[DavidH]

300 AAC is a capable deer/midsize game round, as is 6.5 Grendel.

[Yellowfin]

Currently serving the purposes I consider essential:

1. 16" 5.56 Recce setup for 3 gun, range fun, SHTF, varminting, etc. -- 1-4x scope
2. 18" 5.56 DMR setup for DMR competition, range fun, SHTF, and varminting w/ 3-15x scope
3. 16" 5.56 pencil barrel w/ irons for my son when he's old enough to learn to shoot w/ a centerfire
4. 16" .22LR w/ 1-4x scope for my son and/or myself and/or wife for practice and small game
5. 18" .308 AR10 w/ 3-15x scope for hunting (out of state, I don't bother with here), precision matches, range fun, SHTF
6. 10.5" .300BLK w/ red dot for HD, pest control and hogs, range fun
7. 16" 6.8 SPC for my son and/or wife for hunting (lighter weight than AR10)

[SCARshooter]

Drop the "s" in "ARs". You need 1. Get 1 AR, be it a 16", 14.5" pin & weld, or 11.5" AR "pistol/SBR". Take whatever money you would be wasting on building other ARs & invest it in decent kit, glass, armor, NOD, & most importantly TRAINING. Having multiple ARs is worthless if you cant employ them better than the guy(s) shooting at you.

[Emptymag]

You can't do a New York reload with only one rifle.

[jthrelf]

Drop the "s" in "ARs". You need 1. Get 1 AR, be it a 16", 14.5" pin & weld, or 11.5" AR "pistol/SBR". Take whatever money you would be wasting on building other ARs & invest it in decent kit, glass, armor, NOD, & most importantly TRAINING. Having multiple ARs is worthless if you cant employ them better than the guy(s) shooting at you.

Backups for parts or to pass off aren't a bad idea though.