Deer rifle in AR platform

champ198

champ198

Active member
My daughter has shown quite a bit of interest in going deer hunting this year.
She is a pretty small framed kid so I know all of my rifles will be way to long for her. So my thought was an AR.
With the ability to shorten the butt stock to fit her better it might be a good fit.
Now my problem is trying to figure out caliber for it.
My choices, or what I think my choices are at this point is 300 Blk, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8SPC or 6mm Arc.
With her being new to hunting and shooting im not planning on her shooting more than maybe 100 yards. So not concerned about the ling range stuff.
But Recoil is something I am concerned about. Like I said she's is a pretty petite little thing and don't want to have something she is going to be recoil sensitive about where she doesn't want to shoot it.
So what are some of your opinions?
Also Ammo availability is another factor.
 
I don’t know how many deer my 5.56 has killed…and none were by me. The AR platform is the perfect kid gun. Keep shots around 50-75yds and they watch them fall. When they get a little older and want to step it up a notch swap to the AR10. One kid said, Now that’s what I’m talking about when the deer almost back flipped over after shooting it with the .308, lol.
 
You could add the 300 Ham'r to your list, and a ton of wildcats if you reload, but it would be hard to beat the Grendel if deer are #1 on the list imo.
 
I have started grandkids (6 yr old) with a suppressed 223 heavy barrel AR limiting them to less than 100 yards. It works, but I much prefer the 300BO with 110 gr tac-tx projectile. Range is then limited to 150 yards or so. My 9 yr old grandson got tired of watching bucks at 200 plus, so he wanted to move on up! He had no issue at all with my Grendel. I was surprised but recoil didn’t bother him at all. And suppressed helps…
You are on the right track with AR due to stock adjustability as you said. It would be great if you could find some to let her try…
 
Even though I love my 6mm arc for coyotes, I would suggest the 350 legend and here's why...

I consider myself a pretty good shot and I try my best to only take high percentage shots. Meaning, I like good broadside behind the shoulder shots. Even with those good shots and a lot of shoulder shots as well I would have to blind tract a LOT of deer. The 6mm is just a small bullet and most of the time leaves a small hole that doesn't bleed very well. I don't understand why people think calibers the 243 are such good rifles for kids.

Now look at a 350 legend. It doesn't have very much recoil at all and a lot bigger bullet which does a lot more damage and makes a lot bigger hole. Which usually bleeds more. So far I've killed around 10 or so deer with my 350 legend and love it. Even with behind the shoulder lung shots most deer didn't make it 30 yards before falling over. I've never really even had to track one because I can usually see them fall. However, every deer no matter where it was hit left a great blood trail.
 
My experience with the 350 legend is that the deer is always dead but no blood for the first 50 or so yards. The 300 BLK is about the same with 110 VMAX. We've killed 1 using the 110 Tac tx. and it was a back flip drt heart shot. I think bullet choice is just as important as caliber. Amazing how the 450 Bushmaster just shuts a deer off so I put together a 400 Legend to test this year but recoil is pretty noticable being it is a light Axis platform. My youngest boy who at that time was 6 and a small 6 at that killed 2 deer last year one with a 300 BLK and a 350 Legend and I don't think he noticed any recoil shooting either. Practice with light loads and have plenty of eye relief and they won't noticed any extra recoil if the real deal is a bit hotter.
I had him practicing with his semi auto 20 ga in a pig saddle off of a tripod before turkey season this spring with light loads and he had no issues squeezing the trigger like it was a pop gun. After he shot his 1st gobbler 2 weeks ago with 3" XR longbeard once he realized he had killed the turkey he turned to me and laughed and said......"that hurt" but it didn't matter at that point as the mission was accomplished. He is a trigger squeezing fool at this point and I really don't want to ruin him with big recoil.
I would lean towards a larger slower caliber like the 300 BLK and know that low recoil leads to good shooting habits which leads to no flinching and good shot placement, which we know is everything. Low recoil and good fit is where it's at for beginners and kids.
 
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varminter .223 said:
My experience with the 350 legend is that the deer is always dead but no blood for the first 50 or so yards. The 300 BLK is about the same with 110 VMAX. We've killed 1 using the 110 Tac tx. and it was a back flip drt heart shot. I think bullet choice is just as important as caliber. Amazing how the 450 Bushmaster just shuts a deer off so I put together a 400 Legend to test this year but recoil is pretty noticable being it a light Axis platform. My youngest boy who at that time was 6 and a small 6 at that killed 2 deer last year one with a 300 BLK and a 350 Legend and I don't think he noticed any recoil shooting either. Practice with light loads and have plenty of eye relief and they won't noticed any extra recoil if the real deal is a bit hotter.
I had him practicing with his semi auto 20 ga in a pig saddle off of a tripod this year with light loads and he had no issues squeezing the trigger like it was a pop gun. After he shot his 1st gobbler this year with 3" XR longbeard once he realized he had killed the turkey he turned to me and said......"that hurt" but it didn't matter at that point as the mission was accomplished. He is a trigger squeezing fool and I really don't want to ruin him with big recoil.
I would lean towards a 300 BLK and know that low recoil leads to good shooting habits which leads to no flinching and good shot placement, which we know is everything. Low recoil and good fit is where it's at for beginners and kids.
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I was gonna try the 400 but so far it’s not really taking off.

As for ammo. I use the 150 deer season xp and have had great blood. The 180 power points about the same.
 
BTW, there are chassis stocks for bolt action rifles with adjustable length of pull. I know this isn’t what you asked about, but it is another option. I have an XLR chassis that one granddaughter has used. The positive is you can pick a bolt action cartridge like 7-08. The negative is it gets expensive.
Also get something YOU like, since you will use it a lot!
 
We shoot the 150 and 180s as well. I know several people who have had the same results that we've had. Id definitely stick with what is working. Some of the issues might be most of these deer were shot from the ground or not very elevated position. That low exit wound is key and why I'm trying to get away from bullets that expand too quick with no exit.
 
No doubt the AR platform form will reduce recoil vs. a bolt gun as well. With stock adjustability and the ability to attach arca swiss plates etc. they are very youth friendly. Not to mention a complete upper from BCA can be had cheap. 1.5 or 2" groups is plenty good for the purpose.
 
I own and shoot almost all of the calibers listed in AR-15's. Also have a six year old grandson that likes to shoot and hunt deer. He always chooses the 300BLK if given a choice. I always ask him why and the answers vary on occasion but he usually says its because its quieter and has less kick. We do not own any suppressors and I use linear compensators on all barrels with threads and all barrels have adjustable gas blocks. Most all barrels are 16 inchers. His second choice is the 350 legend. Its an 18" barrel that's target crowned.
 
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I'll second the 350 Legend. All the deer I've seen shot were DRT. I like the 170g hornady interlock. I get 2400 from my son's 18" and 2200 from my 10.5".
 
I have 350 & 6.5 Grendel AR’s…the 350 is a Rock River that’s been frustrating me for accuracy with the 180gr Winchester PP…I did kill a doe with it last year only about 30yds, she was DRT, had plenty of blood on exit side.
I’d consider the 350 a 200yd max cartridge, and the 6.5 good for 300-350 max
Don’t think you can go wrong with either. Ammo should be readily available for both.
 
DoubleLungRage said:
Even though I love my 6mm arc for coyotes, I would suggest the 350 legend and here's why...

I consider myself a pretty good shot and I try my best to only take high percentage shots. Meaning, I like good broadside behind the shoulder shots. Even with those good shots and a lot of shoulder shots as well I would have to blind tract a LOT of deer. The 6mm is just a small bullet and most of the time leaves a small hole that doesn't bleed very well. I don't understand why people think calibers the 243 are such good rifles for kids.

Now look at a 350 legend. It doesn't have very much recoil at all and a lot bigger bullet which does a lot more damage and makes a lot bigger hole. Which usually bleeds more. So far I've killed around 10 or so deer with my 350 legend and love it. Even with behind the shoulder lung shots most deer didn't make it 30 yards before falling over. I've never really even had to track one because I can usually see them fall. However, every deer no matter where it was hit left a great blood trail.
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What 6mm bullet are you using? I can't think of one deer that's gone more than about 10 feet after a good boiler room shot with my 243 and federal 100 grain power shock or 95 grain fusion. The kick and report of a 22" 243 is what i would call mild.
 
OP, do you already have a potential rifle? A 16" AR is not exactly mild, maybe go 20". As basically previously said a 223/556 bonded soft point at 100 yards is gonna kill any doe.
 
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