I don't know very much about the AR platforms and I know enough to be dangerous.
So I am asking for some input as I would like to buy an AR in .243 caliber for my young grandson to start hunting with. He has been shooting a DPMS AR-15 in .223 and can shoot the AR better than a typical bolt action rifle because of the adjustable stock. It allows him to hold the gun better and see better thru the scope while being gas operated and reducing recoil.
So I want to buy him an AR in .243 so he can hunt some exotics and deer with it and have a little more firepower than the .223 offers.
Can you buy a stock AR in a .243 caliber? If so what brand and model?
Thanks for any input I can get.

I had in 243. It was a tack driver. I bought it off Gunbroker cause I couldn't find one anywhere local. In fact I have had a couple. They were both great shooters. Only reason I got rid of them is because I just like to do a lot of swapping. My buddy has my last one. One was a Dpms and the other was a Remington I believe.

You could go that route but most AR10s are heavier rifles and that might be a problem for a youngster. I would look at a new barrel and bolt carrier group for the AR he is using and turn it into a 6.5 Grendel or 6.8SPC. Both will have less recoil than a 243 and still be capable rounds for hunting. Also the $ saved could buy him lots of ammo

I would agree with kmon1. I have a 6.8SPC and it will kill TX whitetails and hogs all day, every day out to any reasonable distance that your grandson can shoot. Ammo and mags are more readily available and cheaper than that of 6.5 Grendel as well.

Agree! I recently built a 7-08 and it's an awesome rig but I would look at a 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 spc as they are easy to build, plenty of ammo, low recoil compared to the 243, and plenty to kill deer.

There are some great youth size rifles out there that have multi-piece stocks that allow it to be extended as the child grows older.

Reduced recoil ammo is also available for the .243 and some larger calibers that produces less recoil than a .243.

Mossberg Patriot

Reduced Recoil Ammo

I'm also in agreement of the 6.5 or 6.8. I tend to lean toward the 6.5 because of the availability of cheap plinking ammo from Wolf.

Dpms lr 243 lite . I've got one that is very accurate and reliable. I've killed lots of pigs and varmints with it and shot two doe with it last season. They are quite a bit more than an ar-15 but they are worth it.

If it's going to be a hunting gun, go with the AR-10. I'd suggest buying a 7-08 or a .308 with reduced recoil ammo. If that is too much recoil, brake it. IMO, there is no good reason to give a young kid a marginal-at-best caliber for hunting.

http://www.dpmsinc.com/Hunting-Rifles_ep_75-1.html

Good starting point.

About 5-6 years ago I decided I wanted more out of my AR-15 so I bought a 6.8 upper for it. The only factory load it would shoot well was Silver State Armory. I tried every factory load available at the time. I don't reload so I was married to Silver State Armory. It was impossible to find them in the stores so I had to order them. I did take a few deer with it and IMO it was just "ok" at best. I sold the upper and bought an AR-10 in 7mm08. It's "VERY" accurate and has low recoil. Only draw back is the weight.

My concern over the 6.5 and the 6.8 suggested above is that the ammo is mostly all custom made and hand loaded and not easily or readily available.
My idea on the .243 was that it improved the knock down power substantially over the .223 and ammo is widely available just about anywhere.
I am starting to lean towards an AR-10 and having a .243 barrel made for it with a brake. More expensive I know but that way we can get what, I think, will be an excellent gun for my grandson for quite some time.

You might want to shoot it without the brake first. I used to have an AR in .243 WSSM and there was next to no recoil.

Recoil would be the last of my concerns in an AR platform. They have much less recoil than bolt guns already, and .243 will be a dream to shoot.

That's not true at all any more, unless you live way out in the sticks. Academy has multiple brands/weights of both of those and they're also available from many online retailers. However, the .243 has a substantial gap over both, and if that is what you want that is what you should buy. You don't need the brake, IMO.

Marginal at best?

My question as well.

A .243 is more than sufficient for any animal native to Texas IMO. There are many people who believe the same.

If he wants a 243 go for it. It's not a bad round. Everyone seems to think bigger is better. But if you flinch when you shoot guess what it's not going to be a good shot. If you anticipate the recoil same thing. I'd much rather take a gun I'm comfortable with and know I'm good and accurate with rather than a bigger gun that I may not shoot as well. No need to caliber debate. Is there more efficient and effective rounds out ther than a 243 yes but for a kid it makes a great round.

If he can handle the weight of the gun and pulling back the slide go for it. It's a great caliber.

I may get bashed on this forum, but I was in the same boat as you OP. I spent about $125-$150 and swapped out the barrel, gas block, and flash hider on my .223 for a .300 blkout. Bought the ammo from Chad here on the THF.. low recoil and knocks good sized holes out of them.. just throwing that option out there..

If you like the .243, the Remington Ar25 is an option too..

This past Saturday at about 70 yards.. dropped in her tracks.

.243 would make a fine weapon, Use a rifle length gas tube and an adjustable gas block with no more then a mid contour barrel it should be just fine for the young man.

.223
300 BO

They're marginal for deer. .243 is fine.

What about 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC both work well on deer sized game and have good hunting factory ammo available. You could throw in the 30AR and a host of wildcats if you reload and don't mind going exotic with caliber choice in a lighter weight platform than the AR10 or DPMS.

I would not put a kid into a 50Beowulf or Socom but they surly are thumpers in an AR

I do reload. And all that reloading and studying of load manuals has led me to believe that the AR15 is best left as a .223, and if you need more power, buy a different gun. 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel leave a lot to be desired when compared to a 6.5 creedmore or 7-08, and the 300 blackout can't even match 30-30 ballistics. The big bores, such as the 458 socom and 50 boewulf are the only ones that even get close, but they're expensive to build, shoot, and not kid friendly, as you say.