5.56 or 7.62

[Minister of Defense]

Not that I'm paranoid or anything, but I know there are several former military types here.

If you were to purchase something that involves those particualr numbers, which would you reccommend, and is there a particular brand or make?  I've always wanted one, have the money, and now seems to be as good a time as any.

Not to mention about 100 lbs of rice and beans.

Call me silly if you must.

[Gonnagle]

I cannot claim to be a military type, but I grew up about 20 miles from the ass-end of nowhere and have some experience with items of this nature. My take is that your best bet is whatever you're most comfortable with and can use most effectively. There were plenty of bumper stickers on pickup trucks when I was a kid that said "I'd rather be missed by a .45 than hit by a .22". Some of those trucks were in the parking lot at my high school. Some were even in the faculty parking lot.
Also, consider the availability of refills. If you can't get 7.62, it doesn't do you any good to have the dispenser.

[Minister of Defense]

To expand, I currently own a 30.-06 hunting rifle, a 9mm and .44 Magnum handguns.  I'm thinking it might finally be time to round out the collection with say a Ruger 10/22, a shotgun and something else with several large magazines.

[General Scum]

I'd say "Minister of Defense" is right!

'Yeesh'

[Minister of Defense]

Those who know me and that path I've walked know that life has taught me to prepare for, and expect the worst. 

I'm seldom dissapointed, occasionally  pleasantly surprised, and almost never caught unprepared.

[Gonnagle]

To expand, I currently own a 30.-06 hunting rifle, a 9mm and .44 Magnum handguns.  I'm thinking it might finally be time to round out the collection with say a Ruger 10/22, a shotgun and something else with several large magazines.

Do you post "I Dare You to Trespass" signs?

[Minister of Defense]

Nope.

Trespassers will be shot.

Survivors will be shot again.

[redoubtable1]

Wow. I could write on this all day. It really depends on what you want to do with it. 5.56 (AR15, Mini-14) is lighter and generally has higher (30 rnd) capacity magazines. 7.62x51 NATO (FAL, SCAR Heavy, M1A, etc.) is heavier and therefore has a better punch, similar to .30-06. But magazine capacity is generally limited to 20. 7.62x39 Eastern Bloc (AK, SKS, etc.) is heavier than 5.56, has 30 rnd magazines but doesn't have the punch of 7.62x51. The round is similar to .30-30. The round itself is generally accurate, the launching platform is generally not. But you can get and AR in 7.62x39 now if you want.

Are you planning on close quarters urban combat? Then 5.56x45 or 7.62x39 is probably the choice.
Are you planning on mid to long range shoot and scoot? Then 7.62x51 is your option.
Are you planning on hunting? Any of these calibers are capable of taking a deer. Though 5.56 is too small to do it legally. (WA state minimum caliber for deer is 6mm.) 7.62x51 is probably capable on most North American animals. But, substance hunters are known to have taken elk with .22lr, but that is definitely not recommended.

All of that said, I've got 3 ARs in my safe. Two are 5.56 and one is 9mm. I also have a Yugoslavian AK and  SKS. I don't currently own any firearms chambered in 7.62x51 . But I do want a FAL, M1A (civvy M14) and a M1 Garand chambered in 7.62x51 instead of .30-06 (for caliber commonality). Well there's an option I hadn't thought of. If you already have a .30-06 bolt gun, why not look into a Garand. Then you have long range punch, 8 round rapid reload clips and caliber commonality between weapons.

The biggest problem right now is the price of ammo. Due to the various wars around the world and the general demand for metals in emerging industrial economies, the price has more that doubled in the last 2 years. This is especially true of the 3 calibers discussed.

And to Cortrah, if you think Minister of Defense has a 'Yeesh" load of guns, well, I have at least 10 handguns, 12 or so long guns, and my want list is double that for each.   I'm a collector and I have a 1400lb safe to keep them in.

To everyone, if you live in the South Puget Sound region and you'd like to try your hand at a firearm. Send me a PM and we'll set it up. I'm always interested in introducing folks to the shooting sports.

[Free Beer]

I was going to post at first and then I thought "redoubtable1 is on this forum now" so I decided to shut up and let the expert speak.

The only thing I might add is that I think that 5.56 is fine for mid range (300 m) shooting with iron sights.

[Cyclometh]

5.56.

7.62 if you don't think you'll have much access to maintenance facilities.

[Gonnagle]

Nope.

Trespassers will be shot.

Survivors will be shot again.

I kind of like "Trespassers will be violated".  Nicely non-specific and more than a little creepy (Paddle faster, I hear banjo music!)

[Free Beer]

Nope.

Trespassers will be shot.

Survivors will be shot again.

I kind of like "Trespassers will be violated".  Nicely non-specific and more than a little creepy (Paddle faster, I hear banjo music!)

Squeal, fat boy! Squeal!

[Minister of Defense]

Trespassers will be shot.

Survivors will be violated.

If you're still alive after that, we'll hand you over to the cops.

[redoubtable1]

I was going to post at first and then I thought "redoubtable1 is on this forum now" so I decided to shut up and let the expert speak.

The only thing I might add is that I think that 5.56 is fine for mid range (300 m) shooting with iron sights.

Very true, you can get hits at 300m and beyond. But some lethality issues have cropped up in recent years. This gets into barrel lengths, rates of twist, and bullet weights; but if I had an option, I'd keep the 7.62x51 for ranges over 200m and 5.56 for shorter ranges. But if I had to pick one, I wouldn't feel under gunned with 5.56 out to 300m.

[Minister of Defense]

I figure if I need to play AT&T(reach out and touch someone) that's what the .30-06 is for.  If I can see it, I can usually hit it with that gun.

My concern is some of the stories I've been hearing lately from the Sandbox about hitting a bad guy two or three times with a 5.56mm before he stays down.(punching 5.56 holes)  Whereas with a 7.62, what you hit, pretty much stays hit.  The area I'd be operating in would be roughly a rectangle shaped area say, 1/3 to 1/2 mile on the short ends to 3/4 mile on the long dimension, with the 'house' being just about in the center.  The longest clear lines of sight are about 400 yards, maybe a touch further if you're looking at the fields across the creek.

My grandparents were dairy farmers at an undisclosed location, and the extended family is talking about getting a few animals on the off chance that things really go in the tank.  Located in a nice valley with gravity fed water, a few animals and stored food to get us till next fall for harvesting vegies and whatever, and we'd be able to weather out the worst of times.  

Like I said.  A bit paranoid, but prepared.  Must get more beans and rice.

Some of those dimensions might be a little long for 7.62mm, bit I'm concerned about the knock down of the 5.56.  Not to mention, I've heard some things about modern body armor shrugging off 5.56 in the Sandbox.  

Redoubtable1, what are your plans this weekend?  I'm headed down there to look in on my mom while dad is out playing Bambi-killer in Eastern WA.