Wanting a pistol upper to mount night vision to for self defense and hunt at the ranch. Already have a 6.8spc as my main hunting rifle so not sure if I want another wildcat caliber or something cheaper to shoot. Will also be a home defense gun so will have a 10.5 barrel

Either or. Whichever you like.

556/223 get the job done.

300 allows for supers and subs. So there is that.

Whichever you want really,

Psa had a fn 10.5 barrel. Geissele rail. Geissele pinned gas block. Forged upper for 499. The rail alone is 250 from geissele. The gas block is 70. The pinning service would cost 50-70.

Just need to add bcg and charging handle

Expires 3/6.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-10-5-chf-carbine-length-5-56-nato-1-7-geissele-9-5-mk14-m-lok-upper-no-bcg-or-ch1.html

5.56 NATO. Cheap, proven and should take out or frighten 2 legged or 4 legged threats.

I use 300 AAC blackout for my AR pistol/home defense. I think it's sort of hard to beat for its purpose. I'm using a larger grain hollow point too

When you say upper, I'm assuming you have a pistol lower? You stated that you have a 6.8 rifle, which I'm assuming has a 16"+ barrel. Don't want you making a mistake by putting a pistol length barrel on something that it should not go on.

6.8 is 16" and staying that way. The other will be a pistol lower and pistol upper so I can run the sub 16" barrel and stay legal

Just checking. My vote is a 300. I have an Aero with a 10" barrel that shoots pretty well up to around 150-200 yards at the range. Hunting wise it kills every pig at 15-100 yards.

300. Much more versatile.

I will eventually get a suppressor so .300 was on top of the list for now. Did thinking about getting another 6.8 since by the time I get magazines and such I will break out even. But if SHTF having more than one option would be nice

223/556 for reliability

5.56

Right to bear is/was having a sale on the BA 10.3" Hanson barrels. Just picked one up and screwed it on an upper. Haven't had a chance to shoot since we kicked off spring break Friday, but I was impressed with the quality and finish.

300 blk is ok. But you can shoot a lot more 5.56 for the same amount of money.

It's also more versatile in my opinion. You can shoot anything from 45 grains to 80ish in the 1:8.

To those that recommend .223 pistol for home defense - what do you think about hearing protection?

Have you ever shot a short barrel 5.56? It is concussive af due to not having a full power burn.

This why a short barrel 300 blkout is much more pleasant to shoot in my opinion. It only needs 8inches of barrel to get a full powder burn.

Personally think .300 is a superior round inside 100-150 yards. It's marginally more expensive and harder to find and that shouldn't be problematic if are purchasing in bulk or online.

Two things.

Hearing damage and what adrenaline rush does.

Gonna take more than a blast or two to damage hearing. And if push comes to shove. Bigger problems than hearing if you're having to send it protecting your family.

Adrenaline rush will make you say. "Didn't even notice it. "

And you will want it loud. Let's the whole neighborhood know something is going on at the stamper hiuse.

What Steve said. I don't think it's any louder than a .357 or .44 mag. So yes potentially hearing damage, but not deafening.

Asked pd friend of mine who unluckily has had to discharge his ar indoors (shot him dead). Asked him. It must have been loud. He says. Didn't even notice it. Took about an hour to come down off of rush.

Puryear Playboy said:

---

300. Much more versatile.

---

This and not even close. 78gr supers - 220gr subs. Inside of 150 yards and especially self defense it's a great option. My blackout pistol is my primary home defense weapon.

Here's a good series about ammo choices and versatility.
https://www.ammoland.com/2017/12/300-blackout-ammunition-review/#axzz6G8UY9D5c

IDAg10 said:

---

Have you ever shot a short barrel 5.56? It is concussive af due to not having a full power burn.

This why a short barrel 300 blkout is much more pleasant to shoot in my opinion. It only needs 8inches of barrel to get a full powder burn.

---

If I had money to burn:

https://www.foldar.com/product/double-foldar15-pistol-.300bo#product_detail

Second thought. 300

Ha yeah not kidding if money was no objection but that is super cool. I have less in my setup including my suppressor and optic.

stamper said:

---

To those that recommend .223 pistol for home defense - what do you think about hearing protection?

---

Noveske Flash Hider KX5 Pig would help. I will probably do something like this on my 300 AAC blackout to direct the noise/blast forward

Not to hijack this thread but I'm looking at building a .300 Blackout for hog hunting at the lease and I'm grappling on barrel length.

What's the range of effectiveness with a 9.5" or 10" barrel? Could I still drop hogs at 100-150 yards?

Depends on the optics you plan to run. Because of home defense I run a red dot so I try to stay inside 100 yards. The .300 blackout ammo series I linked up the page goes into barrel lengths, bullet grains, and bullet drop.

Ag_07 said:

---

Not to hijack this thread but I'm looking at building a .300 Blackout for hog hunting at the lease and I'm grappling on barrel length.

What's the range of effectiveness with a 9.5" or 10" barrel? Could I still drop hogs at 100-150 yards?

---

That's easily doable with my 300 upper in 16" barrel. I'm not sure of the reduced accuracy caused by the shorter 10" barrel, although I would imagine there would be some. I run a vortex StrikeEagle 1-6x24 on mine , due to recommendations from the OB. Those optics are great easily out to 300yds.

When I was younger, I could have hunted at that distance with a red dot, but my eyes are old now. I prefer the red dot at 100 yrds in, but just because it is slightly less bulky.

P.U.T.U said:

---

I will eventually get a suppressor so .300 was on top of the list for now. Did thinking about getting another 6.8 since by the time I get magazines and such I will break out even. But if SHTF having more than one option would be nice

---

If that's the reason you're looking to add another caliber instead of just getting a short 6.8 put together, you'd be crazy to not do it in 5.56.

Everyone needs 2 or 3 .556 laying around in case the SHTF....ammo is too cheap not to. Bring on Bloomberg.....

Just saw the Army is using the 6.8 to replace the SAW, think I'll just do a short barrel 6.8 and stock up more when ammo gets cheaper