[tbaylor828]

I know that I am asking a question pertaining to a certain topic that we all understand, but why would anyone still shoot the 556 in all practical applications? I cannot stand the thought of defending myself in modern warfare with a 22 caliber bore and less that 80grains of projectile weight going down range, no matter what the velocity, impact energy, or hydrostatic shock, a small light bullet might inflict. Are we all agreed that this is a most inferior round? Yet people purchase them day in and day out because the are unwilling to change. Believing the 556 is an excellent caliber is just like believing the world is flat. Please let me know why you might want to keep shoot and own your 556 and for what purpose would your own it if given the opportunity to own a 68.

 

[jasonpeterson]

Do you consider it obsolete? Are you talking about it as a combat and self defense round in general?

I enjoy shooting my 556s just as much as shooting my 6.8s. I can shoot alot more 556s for alot less money. I can see where 223/556 would be better in competitive shooting.(3 gun etc.) I like my 6.8s but that doesn't make them the do all caliber.

 

[deacn dan]

Cause it's fun. I can shoot Prairie Dogs and skunks or paper. I already own a 5.56 and have all the reloading stuff and about 3000 rounds of brass. I don't own a 68 yet, but even when I do I would not get rid of my 556. All are fun and I like choices. If TEOTWAWKI comes, It will be nice to have a variety for what ever is available for ammo.

 

[ron169]

If the intended target is paper, the .223 is getting most of the use. If the intended target moves, its getting a 6.8

 

[owenslee]

Because I still have 14K + rounds of 5.56 ammo and 10K rounds of processed and primed brass...

It remains a good training round if you have two identical uppers...one in 5.56 and one in 6.8.

Kerry

 

[tbready]

5.56 sucks. I told myself I would never get rid of mine. Now I got 2 badass 6.8's. Cant beat that.

 

[marinesg1012]

I keep them around as a back up, my 6.8 is my house gun, the 556 is the GF's house gun

 

[rob_s]

I know that I am asking a question pertaining to a certain topic that we all understand, but why would anyone still shoot the 556 in all practical applications? I cannot stand the thought of defending myself in modern warfare with a 22 caliber bore and less that 80grains of projectile weight going down range, no matter what the velocity, impact energy, or hydrostatic shock, a small light bullet might inflict. Are we all agreed that this is a most inferior round? Yet people purchase them day in and day out because the are unwilling to change. Believing the 556 is an excellent caliber is just like believing the world is flat. Please let me know why you might want to keep shoot and own your 556 and for what purpose would your own it if given the opportunity to own a 68.

Can you relay your experience shooting people with the 5.56, and with the 6.8, that led you to these conclusions?

 

[marinesg1012]

There are plenty of gel tests and live animal tests to show the 6.8 is better then the 556 at killing stuff.....

I know the 556 works but the 6.8 would work better for a broader spectrum of situations....

 

[Dissident Aggressor]

I would just assume get rid of my Nylon 66 as get rid of a 5.56's. All guns serve a purpose, and all are fun to shoot. Main reason I have a 5.56 for a house gun is wall board penetration tests I have read, and that my wife can effectively defend us if I am not around and/or dead.

55 gr going 3000 fps doesn't do well against a twig or a ricochet off of sheet rock. With kids in the house, I do not want to be sending a 6.8, pistol round, buck shot, etc down the hall. I am sure I will get grief over this, but for the benefit of my kids and my continuing education, bring it.

My wife is not confident in shooting a pistol or a shot gun. Give her a zero recoil platform with 30 rounds and it shoots like a video game, and the odds stack up poorly for the bad guys.

The other reason we forgot to post so far is when the enemy invades our streets (Red Dawn) I want compatibility of ammo when I have to take the war to the Hill Country and live off napolitos...

BTW - Great Question RobS

 

[Jamesb74]

I have to say some of the same things. The 6.8 is great and now my main hunting caliber. But I still have the 5.56 for ammo cost,3-gun,p.dog hunting and such. I can definitly say just because I jumped on the bandwagon I am definitly not getting rid of my other calibers.

 

[HTR]

All of you know how I feel about how the 6.8 stacks up against the 5.56 for hunting....

But, the question is, for hunting what? If I am going prairie dog hunting, I take a stainless 20" 1:8 Wylde chambered .223 that AR Performance built for me. It is a great shooter, and hits them at ranges of up to 400 yards, with reasonable consistency.

When we hit the trucks and drive around late in the day, I get out my 6" Colt - barreled Spike's .22 LR conversion gun, and strap it on my SBR lower, and shoot them from the truck. What a blast that is.

On those odd nights that we decide that we are going to try to shoot some coyotes, I usually take one of my Colt 1:12 twist 5.56 uppers out and shoot that, with 40 grain VMax's. I can load those for about
$.30 each.

I love my 6.8's and consider them in another universe when it comes to shooting deer and hogs, but that doesn't mean that I would eschew 5.56, or 22LR for that matter, either....if they fit the game I am hunting.

For personal defense, I am grabbing my 16" Lothar MK68, or if inside the house, my 12" WOA. I will shoot Speer 90 grain TNT's since they will shatter in sheetrock, too.

 

[FC1982]

I would just assume get rid of my Nylon 66 as get rid of a 5.56's. All guns serve a purpose, and all are fun to shoot. Main reason I have a 5.56 for a house gun is wall board penetration tests I have read, and that my wife can effectively defend us if I am not around and/or dead.

55 gr going 3000 fps doesn't do well against a twig or a ricochet off of sheet rock. With kids in the house, I do not want to be sending a 6.8, pistol round, buck shot, etc down the hall. I am sure I will get grief over this, but for the benefit of my kids and my continuing education, bring it.

My wife is not confident in shooting a pistol or a shot gun. Give her a zero recoil platform with 30 rounds and it shoots like a video game, and the odds stack up poorly for the bad guys.

The other reason we forgot to post so far is when the enemy invades our streets (Red Dawn) I want compatibility of ammo when I have to take the war to the Hill Country and live off napolitos...

BTW - Great Question RobS

Go shoot a 5.56 through some construction materials, they go through 2x4's, drywall, plumbing....as do the ricochets

 

[DocGKR]

"Go shoot a 5.56 through some construction materials, they go through 2x4's, drywall, plumbing....as do the ricochets"

Of course they do, but the important thing to understand is what the projectiles do to a target on the other side of intermediate barriers...

Personally, I still shoot a lot of 5.56 mm--it is hard to argue with free training ammo. Having two identical uppers, one in 5.56 mm and one in 6.8 mm, is a good strategy to maximize training benefits for reduced costs.

 

[billclo]

Several reasons for not getting rid of my 5.56.
1) I have several of them, and LOTS of support equipment. LOTS of ammo that I am not keen on trying to get rid of now.

2) They have very low recoil, which is nice for introducing new shooters.

3) I can actually get a 5.56 upper in a reasonable amount of time, and it'll work out of the box just fine - I've been through 2 6.8s that didn't meet expectations, and have been waiting for my next 6.8 upper for over 6 months now (got a LMT 5.56 upper in what, 6 weeks, even during the peak of the Obama Panic). I've been trying to actually get a proper spec 6.8 upper since March '08...

4) Ammo cost and availability: 5.56 I can get decent practice rounds for about 40c/per, wheras 68. it's basically $1/rd. Even reloading, it's 18c per 5.56 or 40-45c per for 6.8.

I prefer to have BOTH, but right now the 6.8 isn't a real option.

 

[FC1982]

Several reasons for not getting rid of my 5.56.
1) I have several of them, and LOTS of support equipment. LOTS of ammo that I am not keen on trying to get rid of now.

2) They have very low recoil, which is nice for introducing new shooters.

3) I can actually get a 5.56 upper in a reasonable amount of time, and it'll work out of the box just fine - I've been through 2 6.8s that didn't meet expectations, and have been waiting for my next 6.8 upper for over 6 months now (got a LMT 5.56 upper in what, 6 weeks, even during the peak of the Obama Panic). I've been trying to actually get a proper spec 6.8 upper since March '08...

4) Ammo cost and availability: 5.56 I can get decent practice rounds for about 40c/per, wheras 68. it's basically $1/rd. Even reloading, it's 18c per 5.56 or 40-45c per for 6.8.

I prefer to have BOTH, but right now the 6.8 isn't a real option.

I agree, especially 3 and 4. I have one 6.8 and was/am planning on another 6.8 I think that the build may go the way of 5.56 waiting on 6.8 barrels and bolts are just insane.

 

[nemohunter]

variety is the spice of life. i would have at least one of everything if i could. by using your logic nothing short of a .458 SOCOM or .50 Beowolf would be acceptable. there is no doubt that those 2 vastly eclipse the 6.8 in teminal performance. why own anything else?

i have 2 5.56's and .22lr and a 6.8 BTW. i see the benifits and down falls of all of them.

 

[FC1982]

variety is the spice of life. i would have at least one of everything if i could. by using your logic nothing short of a .458 SOCOM or .50 Beowolf would be acceptable. there is no doubt that those 2 vastly eclipse the 6.8 in teminal performance. why own anything else?

i have 2 5.56's and .22lr and a 6.8 BTW. i see the benifits and down falls of all of them.

I am assuming that you are speaking to the OP?

 

[fireguy]

I took my 6.8 Xtreme to the range for the first time this weekend. Got lots of admiring looks, and I love it.

The guy to my left was shooting his 5.56 AR and loving it too. Only thing was, I'd fire a few shots and go looking for the brass. Left Side Guy wasn't as worried about saving his. Also, whereas I'd brought 60 rounds, Left Side Guy looked like he had about 300 on the table.

Don't get me wrong, I believe the 6.8 is a much better round. But I agree with the folks who are keeping their 5.56s due to ammo availability and price--and when the ammo shortage starts to slow down, availability of the 5.56 should increase faster than 6.8 and the price should come down faster. To me, the 5.56 is the affordable, available plinking-and-training alternative, not to mention the aforementioned home-defense applications also make it suitable to keep one around the house.

 

[nemohunter]

I am assuming that you are speaking to the OP?

you are correct Sir.