I shoot .762x39 regularly for all of the reasons above.
Two words: import ban.
7.62x51, or .308
.308.
I think you missed 1 category. Accuracy
The .223, .308, 30.06 .50cal have progressively flatter trajectories making the higher calibers better for snipers.
For me it probably boils down to .223 or the .308 if you have more money and expect to shoot at targets farther away.
.308
One gun does not fit well for both Hunting and defense if you are talking medium to big game and home defense. A 308 for hunting would be too big for home defense. My home defense semi is the M1-carbine but I have varius other weapons for hunting.
.308
Mostly etc.
An AR-15 can be had with uppers for both .223 and 7.62 X 39. The lower is the legal firearm, so changing back and forth means that you still have only one gun. I’m no expert on AR types, so maybe someone else can fill you in on the details.
I have a pair of Panther .308s that I enjoy.
Basically the same internals as an AR-15, but scaled up.
Went groundhog hunting with it the other day . . . . puff of “red”
Anyone have good leads on the best buys for quality 1000 round cases of 5.56 rounds???
At close, defensive distances 7.62x39 has my vote. It’s not very accurate much beyond 200yds, but it wasn’t meant to be. 5.56mm is accurate at up to 600yds, but at that distance has lost most of its energy, it will make a neat little hole, but not do much damage, unless you hit the target in just the right spot. 7.62x39 costs about 1/2 of what 5.56mm costs and the weapons that are usually chambered for it, the SKS and the AK-47 have looser tolerances, and are more inherently reliable than the AR-15 that is typically chambered for the 5.56mm, and can be had for considerably less $ in most cases. For the combination of close in reliability and cost the 7.62x39 is hard to beat.
30-06 is the best overall round but it is expensive and not as readily available as others. Therefore, I would go with the .308. It can punch through a car door at 300 yds.
.223’s are for the wives and children. Easier to handle and lighter but no punch. It takes 5 or 6 rounds of that to do the same job of 1 .308.
Please consult Boston T. Party’s “Gun Bible”
Here is the link.
http://www.amazon.com/Bostons-Gun-Bible-Boston-Party/dp/1888766069
This guy seems to know what he is talking about.
.308 for versatility, popularity, and availability.
5.56x45mm is also a wonderful light semiautomatic rifle caliber. Much domestically produced ammunition is available.
7.62x51mm is a wonderful heavy semiautomatic rifle caliber. Domestically produced ammunition also abounds, although not as much.
.308
For a first time beginner, I would say a .223 but then you did say the best.
There’s a second situation you have to understand. I shoot at a lease that has a lot of empty cartridge cases on the ground. The 7.62X39 is useless to pick up because it’s mostly Berdan primed. It can’t be reloaded.
You have to consider buying cartridges that can be reloaded and you’re back to .223 or .308. The best all around caliber is .308. The .223 cartridges are more plentiful and easier to get.
My first semi-auto rifle was a M1 carbine when I was a kid.
Fine weapon, cheap to use, easy to learn.
Based on cost of ammo, 7.2x39 wins. (SKS are cheap too)
This is a great all around combat round.
But making one (AK, SKS and others) as accurate as a 5.56 is a hard sell.
Most 5.56 will out shoot 7.62.39 guns all day at ranges of 150+yards.
Under that distance (more than 95% of real world combat engagements), 7.62x39 will shoot well enough to defend you against anything reasonable. Very good terminal ballistics.
I was raised/trained on the M16 (22+years in the service) so I prefer that weapon and have bought an M4 clone and stockpiled ammo.