Is anyone here shooting the .30 Remington AR?

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:59 am

Interested in your observations. I see it as sort of a .30-30 AI or .300 Savage for the AR-15 but I don't have one, it is just an interest.

pwl44m · Post by **pwl44m** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:45 am

I have a Mod 8 in 30 rem. It would be interesting to say the least.

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 10:01 am

Different cartridges on far different platforms...

foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:01 pm

Great question Hobie. Tag for the info

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 12:50 pm

I'll have a short article up tomorrow on the blog but there's no new info in it, merely a compilation of facts relevant to my interest. I'd still like to hear from anyone who has actually shot one.

rodeo kid · Post by **rodeo kid** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:12 pm

Hobie, someone just did an article on it. I read it last week, but I'm getting so old I don't remember for sure which one. I'm pretty sure it was either American Rifleman or Guns magazine. God Bless.

Pisgah · Post by **Pisgah** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 2:06 pm

pwl44m wrote:I have a Mod 8 in 30 rem. It would be interesting to say the least.

Hobnie is correct that the .30 Rem. AR and the .30 Rem. ar totally different critters. The .30 Rem. is basically a rimless .30-30, while the .30 AR is more like a souped-up .30-30 or a somewhat watered-down .300 Savage, depending on how it's loaded. Never shot one, or even seen one "in person", but based on what I have read it looks to be an interesting option for anyone looking for a medium-range rifle on the AR platform for anything up to whitetail size.

m.wun · Post by **m.wun** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 2:45 pm

Maybe too close to a 7.62-39.Ammo sure would be more available.Its still fun to
see the new stuff though...

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:01 pm

From what I've read it's maybe a warm 30-30 but not quite a 30-30AI !

To me this one kinda follows the ideas of the AR in the WSSM's .

For some strange reason I've been wanting an AR to deer hunt with for maybe 5 years now !

The 6.8 SPC , the 25 WSSM and possibly this 30 REM AR intrest me in this capacity .

The AR-10 platform would do exactly what I want but the 10 is a little to heavy for my taste .

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 3:03 pm

m.wun wrote:Maybe too close to a 7.62-39.Ammo sure would be more available.Its still fun to
see the new stuff though...

Yeah the ammo would certainly not be a mainstream thing or something you found in every country store .

But on the other hand I'm one of those folks that likes to try most of the new stuff and then after I kill a deer or two with it I loose intrest

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:00 pm

m.wun wrote:Maybe too close to a 7.62-39. Ammo sure would be more available. Its still fun to see the new stuff though...

It's got more performance than the 7.62x39. The case has more capacity and it's standard pressure is about 10,000psi higher. It's also a less tapered case so it works well in the AR-15 straight mag well.

Frankly, I find it fascinating but I have an AR-10 so I have no need. What I WOULD like to see is a family of cartridges! I would like to see the next cartridge in the family be a .25 Remington AR. The 6.5mm thing has been done to death - give us a quarter bore that will take white tails and still throw a light slug at more than 3200fps for varminting.

Back to the OP however - YES, I'd like to hear much more about this cartridge. There have been maybe three or four gun mag writeups about it in the last two months, but I'd sure like to hear from some users.

Best,
Oly

Post by **Old Savage** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:07 pm

So what case is it on?

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:16 pm

Hobie,I thought you wanted to know if anyone in Ar (Arkansaw) shot a .30Rem., my friend has one.

O.S.O.K. · Post by **O.S.O.K.** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:31 pm

Old Savage wrote:So what case is it on?

A shortened, blown-out 30 Rem.

I read about it in the last Rifleman - they were getting 2500 fps with 150 grain bullets - I think it was a 20" barrel... not bad at all.

I personally like the 6.5 Grendel but it doesn't seem to be taking off. The 6.5mm is a very efficient caliber.

stew71 · Post by **stew71** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:45 pm

I'm in the process of building an AR-15 and have given serious thought to picking up a completed .30 RAR upper from Bushmaster. I think it'd make a fine brush gun around here.

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 4:52 pm

Old Savage wrote:So what case is it on?

The .30 Remington AR is a shortened .284 Winchester with a slightly larger rim so that it HAS to use the AR-10 bolt head. It is NOT the .30 Rem in any way shape or form.

While doing my research for my article (yes, I know about the American Rifleman article) I discovered that others had a thought that I had cross my mind, that the .30 WSSM would have been better (but Remington can't have W in the title, can they?). Others are already making uppers for the .25 WSSM. I too wanted something "better" than the 7.62x39MM COMBLOC for the AR but as it stands, I don't think the .30 RAR is it.

I would still like to hear from anyone that actually shoots one.

tman · Post by **tman** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 5:03 pm

Can't hunt with a semi-auto centerfire in Penna.

Would make a nice brush/long range deer rifle.

piller · Post by **piller** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 5:06 pm

If it must use the AR10 bolthead, then does it also require the AR10 platform? If so, then the weight would still be right up there with something in .308 and I don't see the need if that is the case. If it is on the AR15 platform with the AR15 weight and more power, then I would be interested.

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 5:34 pm

How about a .300 Whisper.

http://www.larrywillis.com/silencer.html

http://www.larrywillis.com/300Whisper.html

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:52 pm

piller wrote:If it must use the AR10 bolthead, then does it also require the AR10 platform?

No. It does change the way the barrel is made as the locking surface dimensions must correspond to the larger bolt head. It was designed for the AR15 lower to avoid the bulk and weight of the AR10.

Post by **Hobie** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:53 pm

Rusty wrote:How about a .300 Whisper.

http://www.larrywillis.com/silencer.html

http://www.larrywillis.com/300Whisper.html

I understand your question but that wasn't MY question.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 10:11 pm

piller wrote:If it is on the AR15 platform with the AR15 weight and more power, then I would be interested.

There's always the .50 Beowulf - works great on an AR15 platform, and performs pretty much like a .500 S&W or .45-70 in semiauto carbine format...

Post by **Old Savage** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:01 pm

This will come and go without much real notice.

pwl44m · Post by **pwl44m** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:32 pm

Did Cummings write about this ? I think I'll just stick with My old trusty 30 Rem. semi auto. I thought this was a LEVERGUNS forum anyway.

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:59 pm

AJMD429 wrote:
piller wrote:If it is on the AR15 platform with the AR15 weight and more power, then I would be interested.
There's always the .50 Beowulf - works great on an AR15 platform, and performs pretty much like a .500 S&W or .45-70 in semiauto carbine format...

The 450 Bushmaster or whatever it's called fit's the AR-15 as well ! And the ammo , components and dies are a good bit less expensive then the stuff for the 50 Beowulff !

The guy at "Advanced Technology" in Bemidji Minnesotta amkes a bunch of different wildcats on the WSSM case ! Think he has one up to .375 and I know he's got a 35 WSSM .

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:00 am

pwl44m wrote:Did Cummins write about this ?

Intresting !

And I thought all Cummins did was make diesel engines

Combat Diver · Post by **Combat Diver** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 1:23 am

While interesting, I do not think Remington will continue to support. They do not have a track record in a long time supporting new cartridges that they come out with. They should have chambered it in 6.8 SPC, which alot of hunters are choosing in the AR15 and its their cartridge! Look how many rifles they chamber for it today. ZERO, while other companies are.

CD

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:02 am

Old Savage wrote:This will come and go without much real notice.

Based on my readings so far I'd have to agree. I can't find anyone I know personally who has actually used one and while the magazine capacity is much reduced over the .223/5.56 but the same as the WSSM cartridges (in AR magus and not a problem with the .300 Whisper), it has less ballistic performance than the .30 WSSM.

pwl44m · Post by **pwl44m** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:18 am

Pwl44m did not write "Did Cummins write about this" pwl44m wrote " Did Cummings write about this".

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:52 am

I posted my notes in my blog today... http://shootingwithhobie.blogspot.com/2 ... on-ar.html

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 2:03 pm

pwl44m wrote:Pwl44m did not write "Did Cummins write about this" pwl44m wrote " Did Cummings write about this".

I know that I doctored it up so it was the correct spelling for the engine company !

I have no earthly idea who this "Cummings" person is you made mention of !

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 7:25 pm

For those who are not AR buffs or are not familiar with the round here's a bit more.

I've seen it reported that the .450 Bushmaster was the parent case. I'm told the parent case of the .450 was the .284 Winchester, I don't know, but I suppose you could draw that line as well.

.30 Remington AR on the left, .308 Winchester on the right.

The base idea Remington was supposedly working under was to produce a round for the AR-15 platform that performed better than the 6.8mm SPC. I've read that 6.5 and 6.8mm versions were tried but .30 caliber proved more accurate and less fussy to load/reload so that's why they went with .30 instead of any other caliber you'd care to name. I have no idea if this is true, it's simply what I've read. Also, the .450 Bush/.30 AR case will run through an AR without major modifications to the platform beyond the unique bolt and barrel. The WSSM uppers for the AR-15 that I've seen are all hand made and are highly modified from the standard AR-15 upper reciever. Could they have been mass produced? Surely, but I am under the impression that Remington/DPMS/Bushmaster are not into that and want off-the-rack items that will bolt together - keeps costs down etc.

Here's an early article about the .30 Remington AR:

http://www.rifleshootermag.com/ammuniti ... index.html

A "Guns" magazine article on it here:

http://fmgpublications.ipaperus.com/FMG ... /GUNS0211/

I've also read that the round is easy to load for and meet the specs Remington reaches, which was an early concern as well. Some folks wondered if the round used some concoction of special powders that reloaders were not going to be able match. Remington did themselves a huge disservice and the new round untold damage when they botched their ammo website information and listed what appeared to be 7.62x39 statistics for the new round. The AR community immediately dismissed the round as a result. In any case it looks as if the round lives up to its' claims and the round is featured in this year's Hodgdon reloading magazine as well as a recent NRA reloading article.

Here is a link to the American Rifleman article:

http://www.americanrifleman.org/article ... ington-ar/

In short, it's a good round and it's available off the rack today. Both the rifles and the ammo are available in my town at various shops. Same goes for 6.8 SPC - both rifles and ammo are still selling locally. You cannot say that about a 6.5mm Grendel or an expensive, custom WSM or WSSM rifle in the AR platform. The latter are outstanding, but it's nice to have off-the-shelf alternatives.

Regards,
Oly

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 7:35 pm

Hobie,

Never heard of the cartridge till I read your title this morning. Then later my 2011 issue of the Hodgdons Annual Manual came and they have an 8 page article in there. Well, mostly half pages but still a fairly big article.

Joe

pwl44m · Post by **pwl44m** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:04 pm

And U say the Glock is Ugly ! "U"! being every one , not just U Oly
That thing is Uuuuugly.

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:28 pm

It is almost the .308x1½" Barnes isn't it?

Streetstar · Post by **Streetstar** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:16 pm

I like the concept of 308 power in a more compact rifle. I went on a lower receiver buying spree a few years ago and still need to build up 2 of them, but i was waiting around to see if the cartridge "made it" i guess.

The shape of the 7.62 x 39 AR magazines and their feeding problems rules those out for me.

I was on the fence about a 450 BM, but decided it doesnt do any more than my Guide Gun (actually less, as it uses .451 and .452 bullets, while the .458 Socom uses -- ---- wait for it ------------ .458 bullets

_)

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:09 pm

pwl44m wrote:And U say the Glock is Ugly! "U" being every one, not just U Oly. That thing is Uuuuugly.

Indeed it is! ARs are just not much to look at and frankly they are heavy when fully outfitted in hunting trim. And just like Glocks they work very well.

Playing with them is an addictive sickness something akin to golf - I highly recommend avoidance!!

Best,
Oly

gunner69 · Post by **gunner69** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 11:41 pm

Personally, I like the 6.5mm bullet in whatever it is shot in. All my 6.5's take game effectively, usually on the 1st shoot. I have both the 6.5 Grendle and the 6.8 SPC. If I want to reach out and touch someone (or something) my hand reaches out for the Grendle.

olyinaz · Post by **olyinaz** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:16 pm

gunner69 wrote:Personally, I like the 6.5mm bullet in whatever it is shot in. All my 6.5's take game effectively, usually on the 1st shoot. I have both the 6.5 Grendle and the 6.8 SPC. If I want to reach out and touch someone (or something) my hand reaches out for the Grendle.

Down range I suppose the Grendle will better the .30 RAR due to the more aerodynamic bullets, but at shorter ranges the .30 RAR should hit just as well (or better with heavier slugs) and it looks to best the 6.8 SPC pretty much all around.

I hope it catches on. Heck, I hope just about any round catches on because I like folks to have options!

Cheers,
Oly

pwl44m · Post by **pwl44m** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:03 pm

pwl44m wrote:And U say the Glock is Ugly ! "U"! being every one , not just U Oly
That thing is Uuuuugly.

Actually I was referring to the Cartridge. ARs R Purty.
@ 6pt-- I knew that. I don't know Cummings either. I guess He is a Poet that some of the more Scholarly on here read.lol

Post by **AmBraCol** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 4:11 pm

When I first read your question a couple days ago I had the impression that you were talking about fitting the 30 Remington into an AR15 platform - and the image simply did not work. 30-30 length cartridge in a 223 length action - huh? Now I see the AR designation tacked onto the end. Why didn't they simply call it the 30 AR? Much less confusing. I can just see some kid with his grandpa's old rifle going in an buying a couple boxes of this new round because, after all, it says right there "30 Remington" on the barrel!

So, no, I do not have any experience with this round.

BUT I'm curious too, now that you've brought it to my attention. Now what we need is for Colonel Cooper to come back and ask, "What is it for?"

Post by **Hobie** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:18 pm

AmBraCol wrote:When I first read your question a couple days ago I had the impression that you were talking about fitting the 30 Remington into an AR15 platform - and the image simply did not work. 30-30 length cartridge in a 223 length action - huh? Now I see the AR designation tacked onto the end. Why didn't they simply call it the 30 AR? Much less confusing. I can just see some kid with his grandpa's old rifle going in an buying a couple boxes of this new round because, after all, it says right there "30 Remington" on the barrel!

So, no, I do not have any experience with this round. BUT I'm curious too, now that you've brought it to my attention. Now what we need is for Colonel Cooper to come back and ask, "What is it for?"

Yes, yours is the common reaction both to the cartridge designation and to its purpose. Indeed, one might ask why.

awp101 · Post by **awp101** » Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:58 am

AmBraCol wrote:When I first read your question a couple days ago I had the impression that you were talking about fitting the 30 Remington into an AR15 platform - and the image simply did not work. 30-30 length cartridge in a 223 length action - huh? Now I see the AR designation tacked onto the end. Why didn't they simply call it the 30 AR?

I was thinking .30 Remington Auto-Rim when I read it.

Could not figure out for the life of me how someone would run a rimmed cartridge through an AR without major work...

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 4:40 pm

BTT, cause Jr. brought home a new " Guns & Ammo Book of the AR-15" and there's an article in it on the .30 Remington. Still no personal experience but it is more information. Hope that helps.

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 4:20 pm

That's the .30 Remington AR, the .30 Remington is a different cartridge.

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:22 am

If any one interested, there are 4 boxes of 30 Rem AR; at Omaha Cabela's. Dont remember price, but did open one up and look at them. Neat loooking cartridge

Post by **Hobie** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:41 pm

I am amazed at how many folks are looking for info on this cartridge. We never get ANY inquiries at the shop. None. But my itty bitty blog post has tons of visitors! Amazing.

BenT · Post by **BenT** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:04 pm

When I read about this cartridge in this years Hodgdon's annual . I thought this would be a great whitetail cartridge. I don't own an AR. But in the next couple years I plan on getting one in 223 for yotes and if I like the way it carries I would get another for whitetail and this 30 AR would fit the bill.

Post by **Hobie** » Thu May 12, 2011 6:23 am

The .25 WSSM would also work but it isn't getting the interest the .30 Rem AR is getting. I'm thinking because it is a wildcat and the .30 AR is factory.