I went shooting with some guys from work a couple years ago and they made a big deal out of me not knowing the distinction between AR 15 & 10. Then they proceeded to miss everything they shot at and I’m a pretty good shot so my go to joke was that where I come from we’re more concerned with how to shoot it than what to call it. That shut em up but I will always remember the distinction and they still can’t shoot worth a damn
Fun fact: you said: One day I'd like a higher powered "battle rifle" such as an AR-15 in those calibers you mentioned.
An AR-15 is a 5.56 and/or .223 (5.56 will shoot 223 but not all 223 will shoot 5.56.
An AR 10 is 7.62 and/or 308 (in this caliber the 308 will shoot both but the 7.62 NATO rifle isn’t generally up for 308)
As you wander off into the world of gun enthusiasts the AR10/AR15 is shorthand for bang size
I went shooting with some guys from work a couple years ago and they made a big deal out of me not knowing the distinction between AR 15 & 10. Then they proceeded to miss everything they shot at and I’m a pretty good shot so my go to joke was that where I come from we’re more concerned with how to shoot it than what to call it. That shut em up but I will always remember the distinction and they still can’t shoot worth a damn