[mgeoffriau]

Been reading and researching for my AR build (Plumcrazy lower). My initial plan was just to do a reasonably cheap, lightweight, plinker build. I don't need to fight WW3, just want to get familiar with the AR platform and have fun shooting it.

Obvious choice is 5.56 -- ammo is plentiful and relatively cheap, mags are easy to find, and there's a billion used uppers for sale on various gun forums.

Next option would be 7.62x39mm -- that way I'd only need one ammo stash for my AR and my AK. The downside of sharing ammo is that I'm really duplicating rifles -- do I need 2 black rifles in the same caliber? Worst case scenario -- I'm scrounging ammo -- don't I want a rifle in a different but also common caliber?

Third option would be 5.45x39mm -- performance is pretty similar to 5.56, and it's waaay cheap (right now). Downside is that uppers are harder to find, and while there appears to be more than enough Eastern bloc surplus ammo to go around right now, I'm not sure what the situation will be 5 years or 10 years down the road.

Thoughts? I think the obvious choice is still 5.56 -- and I can always pick up another upper later on.

 

[mikey67]

I recently sold a S&W AR in 5.45x39. Liked the rifle and the round but my concern was downstream ammo supply. I think 5.56 will be much easier to find once the milsurp Russian ammo dries up.

 

[captain-03]

I, too, have been thinking of the 5.45x39mm. As for the ammo, buy it cheap and stack it high!! My problem is actually finding an upper that does not cost an arm and leg!! Any suggestions?