re: 6.5 year old first rifle

An AR15 chambered in 6.5 Grendel. Why 6.5 Grendel over 243?

-Similar recoil levels so for recoil it's a wash out of a bolt gun. Out of a Semi Auto AR15 action recoil will be even less.

-Extreme bullet efficiency of the 6.5 grendel puts more energy at the muzzle and more energy down range. 243 has a longer point blank range than the 6.5 but you are trading PBR and muzzle velocity for 30% increase in bullet weight and more energy at the muzzle. And as the bullet flies down range the extreme efficiency of the 6.5mm round will further widen the down range energy as the 243 start shedding it's speed. Ballistic efficiency also means less wind drift.







-The AR15 in 6.5 grendel will be a rifle he will use for the rest of his life for more than just bolt gun hunting. The cartridge is extremely versatile. The AR15 platform can shrink down to his size then grow with him. 243 isn't a rifle you want to shoot often as the 243 will burn the barrel out after 1500 rounds or so. You want to plink? Get some steel cased ammo for less than $0.30/round. Barrel life is theoretically greater than it's 223 counterparts. 6.5 Grendel is not only a fantastic deer hunting caliber but works great suppressed subsonic with 160gr loads out of 16-18" carbine or midlength gas system. You want to shoot long range the 6.5 will hit out to 1000 yards. In fact once you spread it's legs past 600-700 yards you start carrying more down range energy than the venerable 308 with half the felt recoil and less wind drift.