Caliber Wars

[Defender]

I don't remember seeing this posted here before...A wholly unscientific, but very visually appealing video. Kinda makes me wanna carry a siper rifle, LMAO:

[Caster]

Yup, someone posted that while ago. Great video.

Interesting thing you bring up though. I wish to GOD someone would actually win this "Caliber War" ! There's SOOO many good calibers out there but no one can dislodge the old timers. I'm afraid if I choose one I will choose one that will in just a few short years drift away into obscurity. .223/5,56 & .308 dominate the field right now. Now, the .308? Rightfully so. It's a bad boy and can get the job done right. I've heard from more than one veteran that a hostile hit with a 7,62x51 tend to stay down a lot more often.

The .223/5,56 on the other hand? Look at the plethora of improved choices. 6,5 Grendel, 6,8 SPC, .30 Remington AR, 6x45, .300 whisper & blackout. What to choose? Me, I've tried to play it safe and stuck with the 5,56 so far. Using a 75 or a 77g HPBT in a 1/7 twist steps up the cartridges ability a good bit, but it's a patch fix because now I can't shoot the lighter bullets very well. I have a large pile of 50g soft points I loaded for a 1/10 I used to have and they just turn to dust. GGGGrrrrrr! I wish someone would settle the deal so I can invest confidently. I'm thinking the 6,8 will likely be the victor.

[mikegideon]

I think it has been posted. Still a great video,

[Rightwinger]

Good stuff to look at. Thanks woolfie

[hipower]

I've heard quite a bit of talk about the .338. Seeing this, I believe that it really is a viable replacement for the 556. Now that means another upper, doesn't it?

[mikegideon]

Yup, someone posted that while ago. Great video.

Interesting thing you bring up though. I wish to GOD someone would actually win this "Caliber War" ! There's SOOO many good calibers out there but no one can dislodge the old timers. I'm afraid if I choose one I will choose one that will in just a few short years drift away into obscurity. .223/5,56 & .308 dominate the field right now. Now, the .308? Rightfully so. It's a bad boy and can get the job done right. I've heard from more than one veteran that a hostile hit with a 7,62x51 tend to stay down a lot more often.

The .223/5,56 on the other hand? Look at the plethora of improved choices. 6,5 Grendel, 6,8 SPC, .30 Remington AR, 6x45, .300 whisper & blackout. What to choose? Me, I've tried to play it safe and stuck with the 5,56 so far. Using a 75 or a 77g HPBT in a 1/7 twist steps up the cartridges ability a good bit, but it's a patch fix because now I can't shoot the lighter bullets very well. I have a large pile of 50g soft points I loaded for a 1/10 I used to have and they just turn to dust. GGGGrrrrrr! I wish someone would settle the deal so I can invest confidently. I'm thinking the 6,8 will likely be the victor.

The problem with the AR-15 is that you wind up bumping the ceiling. The platform will only handle so much bang. I've looked hard at the 6.8, and have even shot one. I think it will be around for awhile. I agree, the 5.56 will do a lot with good bullets.

I'm playing with the .458 now, and will even shoot it one day. Still waiting on the upper from RRA. It's frustrating. Single source for brass, and NO data in the reloading manuals. It's gonna be a fun thumper gun, but range is limited.

[Caster]

The problem with the AR-15 is that you wind up bumping the ceiling. The platform will only handle so much bang. I've looked hard at the 6.8, and have even shot one. I think it will be around for awhile. I agree, the 5.56 will do a lot with good bullets.

I'm playing with the .458 now, and will even shoot it one day. Still waiting on the upper from RRA. It's frustrating. Single source for brass, and NO data in the reloading manuals. It's gonna be a fun thumper gun, but range is limited.

I know, I thought the socom bug had bitten me too, but capacity is diminished as well as range. I guess I'll never live to see a DC-15 modular platform like Republic Commando's carry. Mission adaptable from PDR to Assault to Sniper with simple snap in place enhancement attachments. Range from point blank to a couple thousand yards.

All jokes aside, we really do try to ask entirely too much from one mechanical device, you know?

[qwkvert]

Hey Larry, we need to make Tad take us out to shoot that new 6.8spc. It's mighty purdy sittin in that hard case...

[DaveTN]

Why would the 338 be a replacement for the 556? The 7.62NATO is a proven performer that is far superior to the 5.56. But some whine that the rounds are too heavy to carry and too hard to come back on target. The .338 is heaver and has about twice the recoil. 7.62 NATO is available and doesn’t have a “designer†price tag attached to it. .338 is far too big for a platform like the AR.

.338 is a “one shot, one kill†round, not a “Spray and Pray†round.

[Guest Oaklands]

Cool vid.

[mikegideon]

Why would the 338 be a replacement for the 556? The 7.62NATO is a proven performer that is far superior to the 5.56. But some whine that the rounds are too heavy to carry and too hard to come back on target. The .338 is heaver and has about twice the recoil. 7.62 NATO is available and doesn’t have a “designer†price tag attached to it. .338 is far too big for a platform like the AR.

.338 is a “one shot, one kill†round, not a “Spray and Pray†round.

Don't know about the whining part. The military decided the round was too heavy. Spraying and praying is why they went to the 5.56 to begin with. if that's how the bulk of your operators use their weapons, then the .308 is too big. One shot one kill is a wonderful thing if you bother to aim your rifle.

I view the .338 as a sniper round that's a gap filler bewteen the 7.62 and .50 BMG. Doesn't make sense to shoot somebody across the room with it.

[mikegideon]

I know, I thought the socom bug had bitten me too, but capacity is diminished as well as range. I guess I'll never live to see a DC-15 modular platform like Republic Commando's carry. Mission adaptable from PDR to Assault to Sniper with simple snap in place enhancement attachments. Range from point blank to a couple thousand yards.

All jokes aside, we really do try to ask entirely too much from one mechanical device, you know?

Sure, capacity is diminished. But, you really don't have to shoot something more than once. Use your sights :-)

[Caster]

Sure, capacity is diminished. But, you really don't have to shoot something more than once. Use your sights :-)

No arguments there. Never fired the round, but I can tell from reading and simple looking at the thing....it ought to work!

[mikegideon]

No arguments there. Never fired the round, but I can tell from reading and simple looking at the thing....it ought to work!

35 grains of H110 behind a 300 gr jacketed hollow point. Still digging for good load data, but I got all the stuff. Rightwinger has some more current data.

[Worriedman]

Saw a poster the other day, had three .338 loaded rounds and a paper Lincoln on it, the caption was "I could have sworn my rifle was chambered for .338LM, turns out it uses $5.00 bills!"

Edited July 10, 2011 by Worriedman

[RobertNashville]

I do enjoy watching this video but what I take from all this is that caliber is FAR less important than hitting your target (if we are talking about a defensive shooting, anyway).

One of my favorite Jeff Cooper witticisms is "you are only outgunned if you miss"!