Howdy all! There is a new company in Memphis making AR-15s called Patriot Arms. I first encountered them at a recent gun show. They seemed to have some fairly decent prices. From what I understand they manufacture everything in Memphis here except for the receivers, which they contract to a partner in Utah. They also seemed to have magpul addons on most of their guns at the booth. They sold a ton of stuff. I got a card from one of their reps, but I lost it. They don't seem to have a website (at least that I can find). What I was most intrigued with was a new line of guns they have coming out in a caliber I hadn't heard of. I think the guy said it was 300 Shadow, but supposedly it is a 5.56 that isn't necked down, and it will use standard mags and a standard receiver, allowing a fellow to just swap an upper (like some of the 6.5 guns, I guess). Are new AR-15 manufacturers popping up everywhere? How is the supply/demand situation? Any comments or experience about Patriot Arms?
That is damned interesting. But cavet emptor when buying ARs, especially anything not in 5.56. Look at all the .308 ARs out there and how many problems that there have been with them. AFAIK about the only two in .308 that you can really depend on come from LMT and Knights Armament. THen consider all the non standardization as a result. Not saying that these off calibers arent worth it. I love my AR in 6.8mm for hunting. You just gotta be careful and really do your due diligence.
No, it isn't the .300 Winchester Magnum. The Whisper is what I believe it is, based on the fact that this Gentleman told me it is based on a necked up .223. From what I have read since Shoes nailed it, it seems like a good all around round - great for hunting, etc.
I suppose if I were interested in a non-5.56 AR, I'd take a long look at the .458 SOCOM (massive short-range knockdown power, on par with a .45-70) or maybe the 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel (better long-range terminal ballistics). I can't really think of a good reason to have a 7.62x39 AR. Other oddballs like .450 Bushmaster or .300 Whisper? Why? So I have to mail order ammo? Pistol calibers? Just use a pistol. I have a couple of 5.56 ARs (one genuine Colt AR-15A2 Gov't Model, one CMMG homebuilt) and I have a lower receiver for a DPMS-compatible .308 AR that I'll build someday. I think those'll get me through. An M4-style rifle for close-up social work, a .308 for reaching out...plentiful, standard ammo...relatively cheap to feed...what more do I need?
I'd probably go with the 6.8 SPC. Yeah, Listkeeper, I know the Grendel is better, but the winner is the one that wins the marketing war. My purchases, in order, are: a 1911 and an M4. (I'll put off the M4 until I decide to go with 5.56 or 6.8.
I'd recommend the 5.56 because (1) it's more than adequate, (2) it's considerably cheaper to shoot, and (3) if the shit hits the fan, the ammo is much, much more plentiful. That said, in the six-and-a-half category, I'd choose the SPC over the Grendel for purely economic reasons. Yes, the Grendel is better...but find ammunition for it at your local small gun shop.
(4) you can always slap a 6.8 upper on a 5.56 lower if you decide that's really what you want later on.
For all of these reasons, that is why I went with a 6.8mm as my hunting round. My rifle is an AR patterned one in 6.8mm with an 18" bison Army barrel, SPC II chamber.
I built my AR fully intending to eventually convert it to 6.8. Once I'd built it and shot it, I decided to stick with the 5.56.
My (non-AW) AR I originally intended to be a 6.8mm; I put it together a few years back, near the height of the 5.56-alternative craze. But I soon realized that the 6.8 (for me) was a solution looking for a problem I didn't have. The 6.8 upper was considerably more expensive (and I had fewer choices), as was the ammo, which was also hard to come by. My AR is mainly for fun, and 5.56 ammo's a lot cheaper to burn up at the range. In the unlikely event I need it for defense, I'm not sure slightly better terminal ballistics at 200 yards is going to be much of a concern. Especially not when cost, availability, and weight of the ammo are considered.
Right now the price point between a 6.8 and 5.56 upper is pretty comparable. But the ammo is the killer. Last time I checked there was a lack of practice ammo. Down here I use the Silver State Armory ammo with a Barnes 95gr bullet for hunting.
