With millions of owners in the United States, the AR-15 has famously earned the distinction of “America’s Rifle”, due to its incredible versatility in applications such as hunting, sporting, and home protection. With an extensive range of customization options, the weapon can be modified to handle a variety of different AR-15 calibers. If you’re looking to expand the capabilities of your AR-15, you’ve come to the right place! Today we’re going to distill some of the mystery and take a look at the different AR-15 calibers available, so you can make the right choice when outfitting your kit.
Why Is the AR-15 So Popular?
The AR-15 is a semi automatic rifle that has earned immense popularity due to its modular design, which allows an incredible variety of customization. Nearly every part of the rifle can be swapped out or interchanged, giving owners the ability to customize and adapt it to their specific use cases.
Central to the AR-15’s modular design is the upper and lower receiver concept. By law, the lower receiver is considered the actual firearm, as it contains the trigger, hammer, and other components essential for firing. The upper receiver is where you can functionally change the caliber of the weapon, by swapping out the barrel and other parts.
Because of the high degree of customization options, the AR-15 can essentially be transformed into a diverse range of weapons including a pistol and even a shotgun caliber firearm. With so many options, it’s easy to see why this weapon has become the modern sporting rifle of choice around the country.
Distinction Between Civilian and Military Versions
Before we move onto discussing AR-15 rifle calibers, it's important to note the difference between the civilian AR-15 and its military counterparts. While it may resemble a military rifle, the civilian AR-15 is a semi automatic weapon, capable of only firing one bullet at a time. That is in contrast to military assault rifles, such as the M4, which are “select fire”, and can be used in a fully automatic mode to fire a steady stream of ammunition.
In fact, contrary to a lot of disinformation floating around, the “AR” in AR-15 does not stand for assault rifle. Rather, AR stands for “Armalite Rifle”, named so for the Armalite company who originally produced the firearm.
Even with the extensive range of customization options available, a civilian AR-15 cannot be converted from a semi-automatic weapon into a fully automatic assault weapon. There are physical features built into the lower receiver of the AR-15 that prevent select fire modification.
Available AR-15 Calibers
Determining what caliber you need will be dependent on the type of shooting you plan to do. The needs of a hunter will be vastly different than the needs of someone who is seeking a weapon solely for home defense.
In order to utilize different calibers, you will need to change the upper receiver of your AR-15. Below, we’ll discuss some different types of AR-15 rifle calibers, and their use cases, so that you can make an informed decision on the best options for you.
5.56 NATO/.223 Remington
The 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington cartridge is regarded as the standard AR-15 rifle caliber. It was initially designed as a lightweight bullet to enable soldiers to carry more ammunition, while providing minimal recoil. For civilian purposes, it is ideal for hunting small animals like jackrabbit, rodents, and other varmint. It is also considered to have a very affordable type of ammunition, making it popular for target practice and recreational shooting. While it can be used for home defense, this caliber has less stopping power than others that may be more suited for protection.
.300 Blackout
This .30 caliber cartridge is a step up in power from the 5.56 NATO standard. It does require a short barrel upper receiver, but the added stopping power makes it ideal for dangerous medium sized game, such as wild hogs. With a shorter barrel, the weapon is also more maneuverable in close quarters, making it a solid choice for home defense. Cartridges of this caliber tend to be more expensive than 5.56 NATO/.223 Remington, and may also be harder to find when demand is high.
AR-15 Pistol Calibers
The flexibility offered by the AR-15 platform allows pistol caliber cartridges to be used, by simply swapping in a 9mm upper receiver and magazine. While it may seem counterintuitive to outfit a rifle with calibers designed for handguns, this can be a great way to ease in those new to recreational shooting. Using an AR-15 pistol caliber increases accuracy and reduces recoil. It’s a great way to learn shooting without overwhelming the user.
Conclusion
The AR-15 is a highly adaptable platform that can be configured to nearly any use case needed. Whether you are hunting big game, or simply sharpening your skills at the range, the number of AR-15 calibers that can be utilized with a few simple modifications are impressive.
At Modguns, we would love to help you find the right AR-15 calibers for your next hunting trip or recreational shooting adventure. We take great pride in helping our clients find the right modifications for their needs, with unmatched customer service and support. Contact us today!