Caliber? We don't need no stinkin' caliber!

The ammo wars rage on. For those of you who might be new to this whole thing, there are endless debates about what round is the most effective.

The rifle of choice for the modern man is the AR platform. Alternately described as God's gift to shooters and uglier than a Mattel toy, the proliferation of accessories and ammunition make the 5.56 the rifle of choice for many. However, this blog isn't about being popular, and it damn sure isn't about accessorizing, so let's set the record straight.

You must select your weapon based upon your needs and your wilderness.

One reason I am building an AR in 5.56 caliber is my location - Kentucky hasn't got any big game or wide open spaces. Have you ever seen Daniel Boone national forest? A slingshot has a longer range than eye-sight in that jungle. But believe me when I say that the 5.56 is not for everyone.

[Editor's note: 5.56 refers to the caliber, in millimeters, of NATO spec ammunition. The 5.56 is the same dimensions as a Remington .223, but is significantly "hotter", or more powerful. If you buy a .223 weapon do NOT use 5.56 ammo, as you risk blowing yourself up. On the other hand, a 5.56 can easily fire the often cheaper .223 ammo.]

When selecting a wilderness rifle, please consider the following three factors:
1) Range. This is the most important, overlooked aspect of a wilderness rifle. Live in Montana? Well, you need a weapon with a 1,000 yard range. Seriously. Of course, that assumes you can use it at that range. The first two rules of gun club is that you don't talk about gun club, but the third rule is that you always train with your weapon to proficiency before the doo-doo hits the fan.

2) Target. Speaking of Montana, what will you be shooting at? A southerner probably has coyotes and smallish deer to worry about. Northerners have to worry about Elk, Bears, even Moose. Hint: never, ever shoot a bear with 5.56. You will only piss it off.

3) Portability. Yep. Chances are your ability to secure game - and not starve to death - will require lugging a weapon around, probably by hand and foot, possibly all day. Weight and weildiness are important!

Everybody's needs differ, but here are my caliber choices by region of the United States (note that I did not say rifle - each caliber has its own set of available rifle platforms):
 Southeast: 5.56. Light, fast, capable.
Southwest: 7.62 NATO (.308). More take-down power for some slightly larger animals, but available in light packages. In most cases the 5.56 will suffice, however, and it is lighter and less expensive.
Northwest: .338 Lupua. Long range, takedown power, flat shooting. Overkill? Maybe, but if that mad bear or bull moose is giving you the hairy eyeball, you might be glad for it. And if every time you see dinner it is 600 or more yards away, you will thank your lucky stars for selecting this caliber.
Northeast: .30-06. This is actually a great caliber for any area, as it has decent range and takedown, and comes in very ergonomic packages. The Northeast also has some large game, but not like Alaska. A .30-06 should be fine. It also passes some of the ridiculous anti-scary-looking-guns laws published up in those regions. Because, you know, an AR-15 is more dangerous than a Weatherby .460 magnum.

Best overall caliber? 7.62 NATO (.308), in my opinion. This round is available in the amazingly ergonomic and commonly available AR-10 configuration, the ammunition is relatively inexpensive, and it has the power to take down most medium-large game. At the same time, transitioning from a hunting use to tactical use is a no brainer with this platform. Some alternatives include the 6.5 Creedmore, 300 BLK, and 6.8 SPC. However, the availability of ammo for the .308 make it a great choice.