AR question???

[Armorvet]

ok, so we purchased a brand new DPMS Sportical and I think we recieved a great deal for $827 including 2-30 round mags, hard case, truglo red dot and a cleaning kit to boot but here's the next question. I'm building 2 more ARs with DPMS lowers, 1 for her which will be the XM177 variant just because that's what she wants, and 1 for me and I'm still up in the air between 7.62x39 and 6.8 SPC, the later being what I am leaning towards as a more energetic round than .223 but almost the same velocity. The 7.62 is easier to get but the 6.8 has some great reviews and gaining popularity.
Let me know your thoughts?

[mwezell]

The 7.62x39 will have feeding problems. The case has too much taper to work well in an AR mag because of the straight mag well of an AR. I would consider a 6.5 Grendel if it were me but the 6.8 is a good round. If you want a 30 caliber AR that works, use my wildcat 30 Major. It's a necked up Grendel and works great! Definitely, stay away from 7.62x39 AR's though. ---Mike Ezell

[rarebreed]

I have a 6.5 creedmore dpms ordered, can't wait to shoot that one

[WSM Man]

I won't go through it again, but I listed my reasoning behind liking the 6.8SPC in the other post where you inquired about it. I say get the 6.8SPC.

If you want to get a 7.62x39, get a good AK or MAK-90, IMO. There are great guns and fun to shoot.

See, now you get two additions!!:D

[Armorvet]

thanks much for all the feedback gents.
I've been leaning towards the 6.8 due to the size of the round in comparison to the .223, from what I have read all I will need to do is change the follower in an AR mag to feed 6.8 but the dedicated 6.8 mags are like $40 but I guess the follower will feed this round properly rather than spending $40 per mag when I already have 10+ mags for .223. This will be strictly a hunting/defense upper as it's too expensive to plink with.

[mwezell]

thanks much for all the feedback gents.
I've been leaning towards the 6.8 due to the size of the round in comparison to the .223, from what I have read all I will need to do is change the follower in an AR mag to feed 6.8 but the dedicated 6.8 mags are like $40 but I guess the follower will feed this round properly rather than spending $40 per mag when I already have 10+ mags for .223. This will be strictly a hunting/defense upper as it's too expensive to plink with.


The front rib that runs down the sides of the mags is deeper on a 223 mag than it is on a 6.8. The bullets tend to bunch up because they don't have enough space because of the rib being too deep. This causes feed issues. Some of the cheaper flimsy .223 mags swell up and won't go into thje mag well when loaded with 6.8's. Bite the bullet and buy some good PRI 6.8 mags and you'll be happy you did.---Mike Ezell

[Armorvet]

I'll take the advise and do just that as this 6.8 will be for basically hunting and nothing much more than that unless an unauthorized large varmint makes it's way into my house! LOL! I thought that replacing the follower would resolve the feed issues, as I have already tried loading 6.8s into a .223 mag and after about 5 they started getting really tough to feed.

[stalkingbear]

In my opinion, either the 6.8SPC, or better yet the 6.5 Grendal would be much better for hunting/defense/allround use than the 7.62x39's severely limited range. Basically they're the perfect choice for the niche between the 5.56 on bottom end, and the 7.62x51 (.308) on the upper end. For hunting they would be almost impossible to beat in the AR15 platform. As usual, Mike is right on the spot about the differences in mags.

[fullstrut1]

I recently bought a 450 bushmaster and so far have been very impressed with it. I am going on a quota hunt next week at Lake Barkley and hope to try it out there, it packs a punch. One of the things I like about it is the fact that you can use regular 5.56 mags and they are single stack. A twenty roung mag holds 5 rounds and the 30 holds 8.

[Armorvet]

We'll most likely chamber this one in 6.8, the 6.5 looks like a serious round but I think I'm still leaning into the 6.8, Silver State makes some excellent ammo for this so I can still hunt it and just in case, defend with it, at a price of course. A $1 a round is kinda pricey when I typically throw 200-300 rounds down range on a shooting day.

[brasskeeper]

unless you reload, you might want to stick with 7.62x39. Surplus ammo as well as new imported ammo is still avialable, for now.

The 6.8 spc looks good on paper but the ammo isnt as widely available and is generaly more expensive that 7.62x39.

If you are only going to be hunting with it, it me be a wash. Plus there are probably better hunting bullets available for the 6.8 spc (.270).

On the other hand if you reload and if the bore of 7.62x39 barrel will allow you to load .308 bullets, you would have access to some great hunting bullets.

Just my two cents

[duckslayer870]

50 Beowulf by alexander arms. Fits in all 223 mags and will shoot through 1 in steel boiler plate, stone buildings, cars, engine blocks, and any other places bad guys can hide.:cool:

[Armorvet]

That's what the GF wants in the future is a .50 beowulf upper for her AR, she said she wants something that puts anything down first shot, go figure!

[duckslayer870]

50 BW will put a D8 cat dozer down on the first shot. They are using them in the mideast at checkpoints to stop fleeing vehicles. The first report I heard about it stated that they found the driver with a large hole in him in the back seat whil the round went through the windshield, driver front seat, rear seat, and exited the trunk lid. Needless to say the drivers innards become outtards. BTW the recoil is no more than that of a hot 410 or light 20 gauge load. Reloading dies are available as well as aftermarket brass.

[Armorvet]

My GF got a kick out of that comment about putting a D8 down, too funny! That's the fun thing about an AR lower is that there are so many options open for the uppers without buying an entire new gun.

[straycat]

Duckslayer870 where do you get info on the Military using a non-issue weapon? Personal weapons are a big no-go and I have not found any proof the Military has adopted the .50 BEO in any capacity. Hopefully it is fact but.............................?

Thanks,Straycat