Is anyone shooting the 30AR? Handloads? Are you happy with it?

KB

I called Remington marketing dept/customer relations today and thanked them for providing incentive to the dealer to mark down the R-15 in 30AR to below dealer cost, just to sell it. It provided a bargin opportunity for me, thanks to Rem marketing dept.

Basically they said "you're welcome". They assured me that it's SOP for Rem to produce the firearm first, then "catch up" on the ammo supply for a new cartridge, then provide the brass. Same thing happened with the 300 SAUM.

What worries me, somewhat, is seeing what happened to the whole short action Rem ultra Mag series.

Is there a pattern here?

KB

Nope almost got one when they first came out, but never did. Just got into AR's about 3 years ago just got a 300 Blk(7.62X35) which is a great little round without the special brass and other mods to shoot it in an AR. Simple upper change and your good to go- use cut down 5.56mm/.223 brass.

Yea there is a pattern. Think 5mm rimfire, 8mm Rem mag, 6.5 Rem mag and a bunch of near misses. I wouldn't want to depend on factory ammo for any of Rems cartridges except the 7mm.

I certainly hope this round takes off and is successful. On paper it really looks like a great alternative to having to buy an AR10 style rifle that are heavier and more expensive than the AR15. With ballistics near the .308Win it would be a great medium game size rifle.
I have been watching them and hoping that uppers would become available by several different companies and brass becoming more available than what it is.

There are some positive examples of Rem offerings, such as the 260. For most cartridges, eventually there becomes more than one source of brass. Take the 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 SPC for examples. Lots of naysayers to begin with, but accepted cartridges now, with brass and ammo readily available. I find it hard to accept that the 30AR won't catch on, and become at least moderately popular.

The 30 AR does fit the model of the AR15 as a "hunting" rifle. Not too long ago there was debate about the AR15 being a real hunting rifle. The discussion went something like what's the use of high capacity magazines in the woods? I tend to agree. If a real hunter can't get a deer or hog with five quick shots, then IMO it's real questionable as to whether that's hunting or not. For some a single shot is plenty adequate, and five is very generous.

The cartridge also provides the level of performance that I feel comfortable using for deer and hogs. 30-30 or 300 Savage energy seems about right to me. Frankly I don't understand the popularity of something like the 300 blackout for hunting purposes, and all the rationalizations don't make it better than it is. IMO, it only discloses the willingness of the owner to rationalize an inadequate cartridge for hunting. Some states have a minimum energy level in Regulations marking the threshold of what's an allowable hunting cartridge. I hope all states pass laws like that, since it's obvious that some people aren't self-regulating as to adequacy of their hunting tools.

Apparently Rem figured there is a market for the R-15 in 30AR. And I'm one customer. I'm sorta glad they did this, and I'm also glad in a way that this doesn't appeal to the tacticool, spray-n-prey bunch, or the bugout fear and loathing zombie killer types.

KB