I have about 5 AR lowers laying around waiting for a build. One will be a deer/antelope gun for my wife.
What cals are somewhat easy builds on the AR-15 platform. I have 223, 300 Whisper, and 6.5 Grendel. I'm not a fan of the 6.8SPC or the various 45 cals. I could be talked into a WSSM cal of 25 or bigger, but only 1. I might do another Grendel for my wife - unless you guys can give me a better idea. I'm not doing any more 223's.
Wildcats don't frighten me, I just don't want to do 16 steps to get brass formed.

204 or is fun round in the AR 15 as for wildcat I really like the 6x6.8 but I don't know if you would like it because it's a 6.8 case. Why do you not like the 6.8?. As for as using it's case for a wildcat it holds as much powder as a Grendel case.

A 50 Beowulf is a fun gun to shoot and adds a dynamic to close encounters no other can offer when raw power is required.

At reasonable ranges the Grendel work fine with a Barnes or Nosler bullet. If you got already then you don't have to a reloading package for a complete new caliber.

I don't like the 6.8, because anything in 270 cal is gay . As for a wildcat on the 6.8 case - the brass is somewhat hard to come by. I don't mind getting tooled up for a different cal, but the Grendel is pretty hard to beat. Never thought about the Beawolf, I'll have to look into brass for that one. Anything 20 cal is gonna be too small for deer. Are there any wildcats on the 204/222 RM case? I have a 222 RM reamer that I could bush up to 25, 6.5 or 7...
While I don't like the various oddball 458/450 brass, I thought the 45 Win Mag would work easily.

I hate chasing brass and will expect to lose 20% or so. For that reason brass has to be easy to find and cheap.

You don't want a wssm, then. Brass for those are sky high it looks like. Beowulf brass is a little pricey but big enough to find easier.

Maybe .375 SOCOM. Dies, brass, and loaded ammo are all readily available, no forming required.

7.62x40 WT.

I think the 6.5 grendel is pretty spanky with 123gr sst's if you want to reach out a bit.

277 WLV is a dandy little cartridge.

I am disappointed to read this. I though the 6.5 was greatest thing since slice bread. Seriously, I guess, the only way to learn is try new ideas and the Grendel is the fall back.

I agree with the 277. What a stupid idea that was. I mean back in the day. I guess 284 was too big?

Also surprised to see a 375 socom even exists. Why a 375 and not something like a 308 or better yet a 6.5? And will any of these ever be ansi released?

Maybe for the OP, a 6.5 on the 458 socom case. While not cheep, brass is available and probably in line with grendel brass. No dies, I guess. And probably fall under the 16 step plan. But we got s 375 now. Go figure.

That's going to take quite a die set to neck the .458 SOCOM all the way down to 6.5mm....and don't forget, you won't be able to run the pressure to 50k either, or the lugs are going to come off the bolt. A 6.5 at 35k on the SOCOM case would be slower than a 6.5G or a 6.8. Your suggestion is a poor one.

Tony

A motivated wildcatter might work with the 375 brass.

And, perhaps with a 20" barrel the extra powder would have time to burn. The current choices of 6.5/277/308 ar options all strike me as a tad low on powdered capacity. Unless pistol, then you are fine.

The op has to be practical, my post is more a "what if".

I researched the 30 AR and brass appears unobtainable. Never heard of the 375 SOCOM. Usually the lightest bullets for that bore is 200-235. H&H bullets are going to be like a FMJ from an AR. I could see the 35 SOCOM and use 150gr pointy bullets.

Maybe a Grendel necked up to 30 cal. Oops - I guess the 7.62x39 has been around for a long time, why reinvent the wheel.

I've got time to decide - maybe. If the b!tch or the "business man" get elected, I may have to buy the parts right now.

Since you're mentioning 30 and 35 cals - check out the 30 Herrett and 357 Herrett based wildcats for the AR platform. These use 6.8 SPC brass, and regular Herrett dies (currently in production by Hornady). You can do it on the Grendel case too (basically 7.62x39 Improved) but then you're looking at custom dies. The other advantage of 6.8 SPC brass is the smaller case head allowing higher pressure without breaking the AR bolt. Case capacity is similar for either one.

For the 30 cal, research the 30 HRT (Herrett Rimless Tactical) and BHW's 30 American. There are others too, all very similar. I'm running this one in a 20" barrel, which I made using a 30 Herrett reamer. Ballistics are a little faster than the 30/30 Win.

For the 35 cal there is a lot less information out there, but it's the same idea, neck the 6.8 case up to 35 and use 357 Herrett dies. I call my version the 358 Herrett, since I made it from a .358" barrel blank. I shortened the sizing die a little; bumping the shoulder back based on the length of the 200gr Hornady SP and FTX bullets and AR mag internal length (~2.300"). From a 16" barrel, this one duplicates or slightly exceeds ballistics of the 35 Remington from a 20" lever gun.

358 Herrett with a few bullet options (the heavy blue bullets are for subsonic loads, 255gr hollow point and 270gr solid)


30 Herrett rimless

NICE!
Now we're talkin'

Found a set of 357 Herret dies and a reamer. I'll keep looking for a set of 30m Herrett dies and reamer.

.17 Rem or .204 Ruger would make for a nice Dog and cat rifle!

Ive made several 6 grendle barrels for guys that really like them. They shine out to 600 using 95-107 bullets.

Just got a 30 HRT barrel & BCG in from AR Performance. Gotta find dies and get an upper for it.

What type of steel are you using to make the grendel barrels out of?

The 6 Grendel should be similar to a 6PPC. Different throat/lead??

I could be talked into a 358 SOCOM a little easier - cheap pistol bullets for plinking.

6x6.8 would be a great rig. I've built for my own use and others. Simple neck down of the 6.8 brass to 6mm. Dies easily got from CH4D. I've not had any problems finding brass. I use BHW barrels. Great round for coyote to antelope.

25/45 sharps is a fun round

I'd like to build an upper for this one.

kwg

I have a gay 6.8 SPC and it seems to be about 250 savage power, I live in a wooded area and hunt deer at relatively close range thus the Grendel did not seem to be necessary and loaded ammo had not been spotted. The big recommendation to me was I can go buy two boxes of loaded 120SST's right now at the Academy sporting goods store. I have no idea how far a 120SST out of a 6.8SPC would be effective, but under 100 yards the 85TSX kills OK and I am going to try the 95TTSX this year.