Started building my first AR15

[TDIfan]

Very nice!! and I love the color!!.... waiting to see pictures of your next AR build!!!

I have another lower...just not sure what caliber to build. Got enough .223s now. Any suggestions? 300 BO, 6.5 Grendel, 6mm arc, 224 Valkyrie, 458 socom?

[maille man]

I have another lower...just not sure what caliber to build. Got enough .223s now. Any suggestions? 300 BO, 6.5 Grendel, 6mm arc, 224 Valkyrie, 458 socom?

7.62x39...

[Normlizer]

A caliber that u can find ammo for. How deep are your pockets?

[TDIfan]

A caliber that u can find ammo for. How deep are your pockets?

Well, the only advantage I see is in 6.5 Grendel, where tula make steel cased ammo. Still pricey at $2 per rnd. Socom is $4. Blackout is really cool sub sonic, but I don't have a can. And might not ever.

[ViperHummel]

7.62x39 is fun and cheaper than .223. It can be a finicky project and you*ll need spare parts, but I enjoy the ones I*ve had. I have three projects in 7.62x39 just waiting for my attention.

[TDIfan]

7.62x39 is fun and cheaper than .223. It can be a finicky project and you*ll need spare parts, but I enjoy the ones I*ve had. I have three projects in 7.62x39 just waiting for my attention.

Can a 7.62x39 be built on a standard lower? Never looked into that cause that's what the AKs are for. If I was I
the market for another gun in x39, I think it would be a vz58. My buddy has one and I like it a lot.

[Emptymag]

Can a 7.62x39 be built on a standard lower? Never looked into that cause that's what the AKs are for. If I was I
the market for another gun in x39, I think it would be a vz58. My buddy has one and I like it a lot.

YES!

These are the non-standard parts needed:

Barrel chambered in 7.62x39
7.62x39 BCG (more specifically, just the BOLT - the carrier itself is the same)
7.62x39 AR Magazine

An enhanced firing pin is recommended if using ammo with hard primers
Sometimes an extra power hammer spring is needed

Pistol build thread

Carbine build thread

[ExFlyinguy]

EM builds nice rifles and he takes even better photos

OP, I have 5.56, 300Blk, and .458Socom.

I can't think of any reason I would try and persuade you to .300blk over x.39 For me it's a snobbish cosmetic issue probably more than anything else. Much like I can't get past the angled glock mags in a 9mm AR vs a straight stick Colt type mag, I can't get past the exaggerated curve of the .39 mags.

But I'm happy with my .300 build. Probably my best advice would come down to whether or not you reload. If you do, 300Blk probably edges out the .x39 because of all of the options you have, and even making your own brass from 5.56. If you just buy ammo and send it down range x.39 is probably the winner

[maille man]

Blackout is really cool sub sonic, but I don't have a can. And might not ever.

They make subsonic 7.62x39. I haven't tried it. But, it's a thing...

[TDIfan]

They make subsonic 7.62x39. I haven't tried it. But, it's a thing...

There is 9x39, which looks like the 300 blackout cartridge and might be the subsonic round based off of 7.62x39. I am contemplating 300 blackout mostly because the mags are the same. I do reload, so maybe I should start looking for a die set. I've got lots of 223 blank shells (from using the golf ball launcher), which could be easily made into 300 blackout.