Why don't you buy three uppers and in the calibers listed and use your one lower for all three. Just get the correct magazines for the appropriate calibers. Add more later because you can.
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I have ARs in 5.56, 300 BLK and 7.62 x 39 in carbines and a 300 BLK pistol. I bought one in 2007 and put the others together over time. I am a deer hunter and normally hunt open country with bolt guns in 257 Wby or 30-06.
Since I built the AR in 7.62 x 39 I did take it once but did not get a shot and later on the same hunt killed a deer at 282 yards with the 257, so it only goes when shots are 200 yards or so. I did kill one large deer with a mini 30 and got sold on that round.
The last I put together was the 7.62 x 39 carbine and it quickly became my favorite. If I could only have one it would definitely be the 7.62 x 39 for many reasons. With 150 grain bullets it is far superior to the 300 BLK. But that really only matters if you plan to hunt with it. You can still buy steel cased ammo which groups about 2 inches in my guns, at 40 cents per round and countries other than Russia are making it now. I buy it and shoot it just because it is that cheap and likely always will be in my lifetime.
If hunting is primary use, then I would suggest the 350 Legend as Wicked109 says. It is superior to the 7.62 x 39 and takes all the 357 pistol bullets plus rifle bullets up to 180 grain. That makes it a thumper for anything you might want to hunt. You reload so that is a consideration. During the ammo crises the last few years, I would see 350 ammo on the shelf everywhere, it is not popular here in Oklahoma, I thought about buying one just for that reason, lol.
The 300 BLK was a cool concept. I started with it when it was still the 300 Whisper and there was no commercial ammo for it. I loaded everything from 30 cal carbine 110 grain round nose, the 125 grain spitzers to 208 grain Amax for it. I shoot all of the ARs suppressed most of the time. The 300 is a mild round really reminds me of the 30 cal carbine. I lost my interest when I bought the 7.62 x 39 and saw the power difference with the 150-154 grain soft point ammo. Not to belabor the point but many people are confused about the 300 BLK vs the 7.62 x 39, so here is my point for hunting uses. Most people like to have about 1,000 foot pounds to kill a big deer or hog or black bear. Here are two of the Hodgen charts showing the bullet I use, a 150 grain Hornady BRSP with the BC or .423. There are hotter recipes but Hodgen shows enough difference to make the point. You can load a 300 BLK up to about 2,000 fps. Note the chart. The BLK actually holds the 1,000 fpe to 150 yards. The 7.62 x 39 holds it to over 250 yards, a full 100 yards more. So basically, the Russian round is good for hunting a lot farther. That is why I like that round in the AR platform. It is a true 200-225 yard deer gun if I want it to be. The 300 just does not carry the power very far.
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If I were building to day, and already have one in 5.56 and one in 7.62 x 39, I would definitely go with Wicked109, the 350 Legend has lots going for it. There is a ton or reloading recipes out there and you can use any 357 pistol bullets for fun or varmints. And it is superior to the 7.62 x 39 for hunting at ranges out to 200 yards. During the ammo shortage the last 3 years, I could find 350 ammo on the shelf all the time, even at Walmart who does not sell assault rifle ammo, lol.
I have no experience with the Grendel. I do have an interest in the 450 Bushmaster. A buddy has one and it is a cool round. Brass is hard to find at times, but Starline has it today at 74 cents per round. The 450 has limited use for me, I have a 45-70 to fill that role. But it is definitely interesting.
Let us know what you decide, and then give us some feedback down the road.
Since I built the AR in 7.62 x 39 I did take it once but did not get a shot and later on the same hunt killed a deer at 282 yards with the 257, so it only goes when shots are 200 yards or so. I did kill one large deer with a mini 30 and got sold on that round.
The last I put together was the 7.62 x 39 carbine and it quickly became my favorite. If I could only have one it would definitely be the 7.62 x 39 for many reasons. With 150 grain bullets it is far superior to the 300 BLK. But that really only matters if you plan to hunt with it. You can still buy steel cased ammo which groups about 2 inches in my guns, at 40 cents per round and countries other than Russia are making it now. I buy it and shoot it just because it is that cheap and likely always will be in my lifetime.
If hunting is primary use, then I would suggest the 350 Legend as Wicked109 says. It is superior to the 7.62 x 39 and takes all the 357 pistol bullets plus rifle bullets up to 180 grain. That makes it a thumper for anything you might want to hunt. You reload so that is a consideration. During the ammo crises the last few years, I would see 350 ammo on the shelf everywhere, it is not popular here in Oklahoma, I thought about buying one just for that reason, lol.
The 300 BLK was a cool concept. I started with it when it was still the 300 Whisper and there was no commercial ammo for it. I loaded everything from 30 cal carbine 110 grain round nose, the 125 grain spitzers to 208 grain Amax for it. I shoot all of the ARs suppressed most of the time. The 300 is a mild round really reminds me of the 30 cal carbine. I lost my interest when I bought the 7.62 x 39 and saw the power difference with the 150-154 grain soft point ammo. Not to belabor the point but many people are confused about the 300 BLK vs the 7.62 x 39, so here is my point for hunting uses. Most people like to have about 1,000 foot pounds to kill a big deer or hog or black bear. Here are two of the Hodgen charts showing the bullet I use, a 150 grain Hornady BRSP with the BC or .423. There are hotter recipes but Hodgen shows enough difference to make the point. You can load a 300 BLK up to about 2,000 fps. Note the chart. The BLK actually holds the 1,000 fpe to 150 yards. The 7.62 x 39 holds it to over 250 yards, a full 100 yards more. So basically, the Russian round is good for hunting a lot farther. That is why I like that round in the AR platform. It is a true 200-225 yard deer gun if I want it to be. The 300 just does not carry the power very far.
If I were building to day, and already have one in 5.56 and one in 7.62 x 39, I would definitely go with Wicked109, the 350 Legend has lots going for it. There is a ton or reloading recipes out there and you can use any 357 pistol bullets for fun or varmints. And it is superior to the 7.62 x 39 for hunting at ranges out to 200 yards. During the ammo shortage the last 3 years, I could find 350 ammo on the shelf all the time, even at Walmart who does not sell assault rifle ammo, lol.
I have no experience with the Grendel. I do have an interest in the 450 Bushmaster. A buddy has one and it is a cool round. Brass is hard to find at times, but Starline has it today at 74 cents per round. The 450 has limited use for me, I have a 45-70 to fill that role. But it is definitely interesting.
Let us know what you decide, and then give us some feedback down the road.
Attachments
There is a new Winchester 400 Legend that is intended for the AR-Platform and bolt action rifles. I don't know if barrels are readily available but if you are looking for something that looks to be an exciting new option with 300 yard effectiveness for a wide variety of game...this might be it. You can do some research on the internet, ammo is being produced but not sure if many LGS will carry it since it's so new, and you can reload - so you're golden.
www.americanrifleman.org
An Official Journal Of The NRA | New For 2023: Winchester 400 Legend
Winchester Ammunition has introduced an all-new cartridge for the 2023 hunting season with the big-bore, straight-wall 400 Legend.
Wow, that one looks good too. I am going to have to take issue with that 300 yard gun. Here is another review. Sighted at 150 yards, it drops 26 inches at 300 yards. When you have to figure range that closely you run the big risk of wounding the animal. Once you start having to hold over the top of the animal or having to crank the turrets, youmight want a flatter shooting gun. SO, while my 45-70 will easily kill deer at 300-500 yards, I am not going to call in a 500 yard deer gun.
""""Trajectories are somewhat similar among the three cartridges. With the same 150-yard zero, the .350 Legend (180-grain Power-Point) drops 5.5 inches at 200 yards and 29.5 inches at 300 yards, while the .400 Legend (215-grain Power-Point) drops 4.9 inches at 200 yards and 26.4 inches at 300 yards.""" New Hunting Cartridge: Winchester .400 Legend - Game & Fish (gameandfishmag.com)
That bullet is dropping like a brick from 200 yards. From that chart they posted a deer at 300 yards would not really be shot thru the lungs, lol, it would be coming down at a 60% degree angle, so you have and entry wound in the top of the back and an exit at the belly.....well maybe a little exaggerated. I just think they are wrong to market it as a 300 yard deer gun. Everybody reading this understands the limitation, but new, young or inexperienced people often buy into hype like that. So, at what angle of fall to the ground do we think a cartridge loses it status as a good deer cartridge? My favorite 30-06 load I have killed an antelope at 563 yards, a very slow and methodical shot under the best hold I could muster. At that range, if my gun is sighted at 100 yards that bullet rises and falls about 64 inches. Most people without a known distance would be a fool to take that shot. I was. Once in a while that situation comes along and it looks solid and it works. But that same load must rise and fall 12 inches to hit a spot at 300 yards, a chip shot for a 30-06.
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Winchester has their own online ballistic caculator now, and here is their latest. 31 inches drop at 300.
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But if you extend their data on out, it gives a picture to compare to regular deer guns. Simply stated, at 500 yards the 400 Legend falls 151 inches, that 30-06 drops about 50 inches. At 300 yards that 30-06 drops a max of about 12 inches the 400 drops 32 inches. Just saying, calling it a 300 yard deer gun is way off base, in my opinion, and that is one of their "marketing" statements, that it :
"The new 400 Legend cartridge is set to deliver optimized ballistic and terminal performance for use out to 300 yards on America’s big-game....".
That is why I call BS, opinions vary. Sorry for the rant OP, please let us know your decision and range results.
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""""Trajectories are somewhat similar among the three cartridges. With the same 150-yard zero, the .350 Legend (180-grain Power-Point) drops 5.5 inches at 200 yards and 29.5 inches at 300 yards, while the .400 Legend (215-grain Power-Point) drops 4.9 inches at 200 yards and 26.4 inches at 300 yards.""" New Hunting Cartridge: Winchester .400 Legend - Game & Fish (gameandfishmag.com)
That bullet is dropping like a brick from 200 yards. From that chart they posted a deer at 300 yards would not really be shot thru the lungs, lol, it would be coming down at a 60% degree angle, so you have and entry wound in the top of the back and an exit at the belly.....well maybe a little exaggerated. I just think they are wrong to market it as a 300 yard deer gun. Everybody reading this understands the limitation, but new, young or inexperienced people often buy into hype like that. So, at what angle of fall to the ground do we think a cartridge loses it status as a good deer cartridge? My favorite 30-06 load I have killed an antelope at 563 yards, a very slow and methodical shot under the best hold I could muster. At that range, if my gun is sighted at 100 yards that bullet rises and falls about 64 inches. Most people without a known distance would be a fool to take that shot. I was. Once in a while that situation comes along and it looks solid and it works. But that same load must rise and fall 12 inches to hit a spot at 300 yards, a chip shot for a 30-06.
Winchester has their own online ballistic caculator now, and here is their latest. 31 inches drop at 300.
But if you extend their data on out, it gives a picture to compare to regular deer guns. Simply stated, at 500 yards the 400 Legend falls 151 inches, that 30-06 drops about 50 inches. At 300 yards that 30-06 drops a max of about 12 inches the 400 drops 32 inches. Just saying, calling it a 300 yard deer gun is way off base, in my opinion, and that is one of their "marketing" statements, that it :
"The new 400 Legend cartridge is set to deliver optimized ballistic and terminal performance for use out to 300 yards on America’s big-game....".
That is why I call BS, opinions vary. Sorry for the rant OP, please let us know your decision and range results.
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