Modern AR builders have tons of cartridges at their disposal and no longer need to stick with standards like .223 or 5.56 for their builds. Long-range shooters will appreciate 6.5 Creedmoor, those that love behemoth cartridges have .50 Beowulf to work with, and there are other options like .300 BLK and 7.62 Soviet that offer solid close-range performance, even from short barrels.
But even in the face of all of these, sometimes the best option is still a 5.56 upper. Here’s what you should know.
Availability of Ammo
The 5.56 NATO cartridge is likely the most ubiquitous rifle cartridge in the country, even more available and accessible than .30-06 and .308. There are few other rounds that are more available than it is even if you account for 12 gauge target loads and 9mm FMJ ammo. Effectively every gun shop in the country will have 5.56 and likely many different types of it.
Low Cost
In addition to the fact that it is highly available, the 5.56 cartridge is also very affordable. This is a big bonus for people that build their ARs for plinking, high-volume target shooting or even competition. There are far more expensive rifle cartridges out there, making this a solid choice.
Low Recoil
As rifle cartridges go, 5.56 and its mate .223 are two of the lowest-recoiling rounds out there. This makes them both perfect for beginner shooters, those that are smaller-framed, and the recoil-sensitive in general. Of course, anyone could benefit from less recoil though, as it enables one to shoot for longer with less fatigue.
Flat Trajectory
Another great thing about the 5.56 cartridge is that it exhibits a fairly flat trajectory, and drops very little at close and intermediate ranges. This, in some minds, makes it a solid cartridge for long-range target shooting, even though there are better, more powerful cartridges. Balancing availability, cost and performance, it really doesn’t seem too bad.
Number of Sporting Applications
Even if you put everything aside that has been covered in this post so far, one of the biggest advantages of a 5.56 upper is that the cartridge enjoys so many useful applications. In addition to plinking and high-volume target shooting, 5.56 is effective for long-range shooting, various competitive disciplines, hunting, and when loaded with an appropriate bullet, even a variety of defensive applications.
Better Power Than Most Handgun Cartridges
Lastly, if you do intend to build a rifle with a 5.56 upper and use it either for sporting or defensive applications, you will appreciate the fact that it offers greater stopping power than most common handgun cartridges including 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 ACP.
Explore a Wide Range of 5.56 Uppers at MCS Gearup
Looking for a place where you can shop and compare 5.56 uppers of different lengths, and with other different features? Start your search online at MCS Gearup. They carry a wide range of assembled uppers in different chamberings, along with an exhaustive collection of AR parts.
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