AR in 243... thoughts or opinions?

I really like the .243 cartridge and had an AR in .308 before and felt like it was a little more than I needed for any of the hunting that I do. I've been thinking of getting one in .243...any thoughts or opinions? How would this compare to a 6.8?

Thanks!

I've thought about it but the ability of the round doesn't justify the size of the rifle. I've got a SBR 7mm08 and a 16" 308 AR. For intermediate I went with a 6.8.

Just load a 308 with 125 grain bullets if you want a wimpy gun.

I have one and couldn't live without it now . It's my feed truck and varmint hunting rifle. I use 87 grain v-max for varmints and 85 grain Sierra game kings and 100 grain soft points for deer and hogs. It's a good utility rifle.

I'd prefer the 6.5 Grendel instead. But that's just me. It's a very individual choice. If the 243 intrigues you by all means do it.

As others have said, I'd skip it, and it does not justify the size of the rifle. One of the best combos I have is an LR-308, 16" and suppressed, loaded with 155 gr Sierra Tipped Match Kings. Coyotes, and hogs are all its seen, but I have no doubt it would do a fine job on whitetail.

To run a 243 to full potential, you need the twist to stabilize 105-115 gr bullets, and be a hand-loader. If you have all that, the .243 is salty!

I have one and love the thing. Great shooter and fun. 243 is a great round. It was kinda hard to find. I think I found mine on Gunbroker

There was a thread on here last year, a guy specifically built one in .243 to be pretty light, as AR10s go. I think it was right at 10-10.5lbs fully dressed. I think my 6.8 with a can, full mag, and kill light weighs that much.

I think you have nv and I know you have suppressors. So again I will say stick with a ar15 platform and keep the weight down. The 6.8 is awesome unless you go with the 2016 Thf koolaid 6.5 Grendel.
I would keep it handi as possible imo.

for a truck gun ect., an ar10 platform is to frigging heavy for my tastes

Very true. Weight is a factor...my AR10 was a heavy mother to be carrying around. I have most of the above listed calibers (243, 7-08, 308) in bolt guns, but only .223 and 300 BO in AR's. Thanks for the opinions, I'll probably look harder at the 6.8 since it is still in the AR15 platform. It doesn't seem like there is much to be gained by going 243 over the 6.8.

I like them.

FWIW, I would buy one. Loaded with 80 grain mono-metal bullets, it should give you a rifle that hunts very will with almost no recoil. Maybe not for everyone, but they seem to sell pretty well on GunBroker.

Not to derail the topic too much, but is anyone considering the .277 Wolverine? It seems like a competent round, but my never get SAAMI support.

My buddy built up a nice 243 last year.. Very nice and lightweight too.
Great rifle..

he's got a Larure OBR 18" 308 that is heavier and a 6.8 16", 6.5 Creedmoor, etc..
It's a very nice rig

http://tacticalgunreview.com/south-texas-arms-sta-lr-in-243-win/#more-22774

Not a 243 fan, but I Love my 6mm Remington.......I handload and can really appreciate what it offers this little caliber.

That said, I wanted to build a AR rifle for hog hunting and possibly deer; all around ranch rifle. I figured, after years of killing all kinds of game with my 6mm, if I could get close with another caliber, that would be success in a AR hunting rifle for me. I did not want a AR-10 (heavy) platform, and one that could swap out with my existing M4 5.56. My 6.8 reloads all but equal the 6mm Rem within the ranges I shoot. Game On!

I now have multiples and they are all killers. If you're looking for a AR hunting rifle inside 300 m, the 6.8 SPC II is the ticket.

It looks like it would do OK but still be somewhat on the marginal side for deer. Past 100 yards, I would only shoot at varmints with it.

It ought to be great for varmints with the lighter bullets, perhaps out to 200 yards or so. - But the .223 will do better.

I'd feel under-gunned with the .277 Wolverine against medium game, even with a whitetail there would be a lot of shots that I would pass up, knowing that this round is not going to give me bone-breaking penetration. - A regular old 30-30 lever gun is good for about the same ranges, but is light years ahead of the .277 Wolverine as a killer, at any range.

A good bolt action carbine in .308 would be so much more effective that it would be ridiculous. In the end, there is a limit to the performance cuts that I am willing to put up with, just to be able to say that I shot something with an AR15.

I own a 6.5 CM in an AR and love it. As long as the twist is right and you will load for it I'd say go for it.

Seems like a solution searching for a problem.

I appreciate the knowledgeable feedback. I'm just at a point where the .223 has lost its fiz for me; but I like the ergonomics and platform. I tried the 300blk for a bit, but it didn't offer much more than my handy little .357 M92 carbine. I'll either re-evaluate the 6.8 or 6.5, or just relegate the AR15 as a plinking rifle.

Heck, I might just give up all rifle calibers except .308 and .357 magnum for any harvesting. I'll probably keep a .223 for two and four legged varmints.

The 6.8spc and the 6.5 Grendel are both quite a bit more powerful than the .277 Wolverine. Getting set up for one of those is going to be more expensive, but you get a lot more for the money. Both are widely recognized as good all-around deer and pig cartridges, out to several hundred yards.

I hope that you do not think that I am trying to discourage you from trying out the .277 Wolverine. My point there is that with a cartridge that is marginally powerful, you'll just have to be awfully picky about the shots that you take. - Just as handgun hunters must do. Placed in the right spot at a moderate range, the .277 Wolverine will most definitely kill a whitetail.

My wife bolt action 18.5" barrel pushes a 95 grain fusion factory load 2720 fps, my 12.5" 6.8 pushes a 120 sst 2400 both have pratically same amount of energy out to 300 yards. Put a 18" barrel on the 6.8 and gain 100 fps then the 6.8 would overtake it, but then again run a 22" barrel on a .243 and its the other way around! I also tried the blackout for a bit with 8.5" and 16" barrels, but was not satisfied in the speeds i got. I was going to build a 6.5 grendel recently but at the distances i shoot out to 300 yards its no difference in the 6.8, so i scrapped that idea. Was going to build a 18-20" 6.8 but i wouldnt gain much over my 12.5" so it was another idea trashed! Guess i will just enjoy the 12.5" 6.8 and shoot the heck out of it!