Ok guys... need a vote. I'm conflicted.
 

Here's the options:

5.45x39, 18" heavy barrel, neato handguard, neato compensator 500 bucks
6x45mm, 18" heavy barrel, meh handguard 440 bucks
6x45mm 20" heavy barrel, meh handguard 470 bucks

Their comparable calibers but I can theorectically deer hunt with the 6x45mm but not with the 5.45mm stuff. 6x45 is fairly expensive to shoot but if I reload then it's a non issue... just means I'd have to reload for it. 5.45 ammo is cheap and plentiful but uses special magazines.

this is all for an AR-15 platform gun.

late the final battle be decide!

I am going to pick up a Spikes or BCM AR15 in .223/5.56 in the near future. Possibly with my tax refund.

Id vote if i knew what the hell you were talking about lol

20" cause its a rifle you might deer hunt with.

we're talking about AR-15 top halves (upper recievers). I'm currently leaning toward the 5.45x39 but I think I'll end up just getting another 5.56 upper for now since the ammo is cheap as snot.

it's 20-40 bucks a box of 20 for the 6x45 stuff. I can fireform cases by just whizzing .223 rounds out of it but that's not a good practice. If it buy the 5.45 then I can buy a cheaper upper in 7.62x39 that doesn't come with the bolt carrier group later for hunting. Grrrr... decisions. Don't forget I still need to buy a couple .22LR uppers.

If it were me choosing, I'd have to decide what my primary goal was for the gun. If I really wanted to hunt with it, 6x45mm, 20" it would be. If I wanted to just take it to the range and plink around, 5.45x39 or 22LR. If you get the 6x45mm you lock your self into that more expensive round, but go with the others and it not a good for hunting.

I think the 5.45 just to have something fun to shoot with since I feel you probably have a better gun to hunt with having seen little bits and pieces of your gun collection posted on here.

that's one of the things I'm solving for. I have plenty of guns but most of my hunting rigs are kinda heavy... 9-12lbs. I want something in the 5-7lbs range which is one reason why I chose the AR platform.

I think I'll just get a 2nd .223 upper and then get the 6mm upper, then I'll grab the .22lr and 5.45 uppers later on. I can do one more hunting season with a 12lbs .270 I guess. If I can sell some car parts then I can have them all now.

Oh... check out new thread. I'm doing the impossible with a .223.