Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles help with first AR

I am looking to buy my first AR primarily for my 10 year old daughter. The reason I am leaning towards the AR is the collapsible stock and light recoil. I am considering the 308 caliber to start shooting deer and possibly elk in a few years. I do not know anything about these rifles. I would like to spend less than 2K, can someone recommend some quality rifles for consideration.

While I really like the AR's and agree with having a stock to fit children being essential, I don't know is an AR-10 is the best rifle to start out a child as a hunting rifle. Mostly because they are so darn heavy.

I started my oldest boy with a rem 700 youth in .243, and figure it's one of the better ways to go.

So, are you looking for an AR 223 for your daughter and later a 308 for you, for hunting.

I'm with 458, the AR-10 is a different animal, way too heavy for a kid.

Well a 223 and a 308 are on different platforms, ar-15 and ar-10. They are not interchangable and while the ar-15 "can" be quite light, the ar-10 is anything but. Federal is now making their fusion bullet in .223 and should be a decent deer load.
Many of the lighter weight ar-15 are going to have 16 " barrels and if you don't count the flash suppresser they are only 14.5" and this is going to reduce you velosity somewhat.

Most 16" barrels are 16" plus the flash hider. You can buy a 14.5" with a pinned flash hider to make it 16" but the majority are 16"+.

I handled the Remington R-25 yesterday and it was in .243 (they make it in several calibers.) that might be a good place to start, you might be able to buy a 308 upper for it down the road. The R-25 is a lot lighter than the Armalite AR10. This particular gun was like new and the dealer was asking $1,089 for the gun, I think they get a couple hundred or so more for a new one.

Dino

Why not the AR15 in 6.8 SPC, or 6x47?

+1 for the 6.8 SPC. LOTS of deer & hogs have been killed with this caliber.

Sir--I understand looking for an AR.... I love looking for AR's.

However...should one question whether the AR platform is the best platform for a 10 YO youth to learn to use as a hunting weapon?

As a teaching weapon for youth competition in that class, sure. But for youth and hunting as the rationale, I just don't see how you can beat an ultra-light bolt gun...like Ruger and Remington make.

FWIW--a single shot Handi-Rifle in 243 youth model would be great. I got one. it's a tack driver.

IMHO if you wanna AR for the purpose you state...go for it. But...I'd re-visit the AR vs. a better youth weapon first. Good luck and enjoy.


E_8!

For a AR-15 platform hunting rifle the 6.5 Grendel cant be beat.

For a youth, stay with the small frame AR, not the .308 size frame. Big difference. There are a number of calibers available in the small frame that will make it a fine deer killer. I am having this debate with myself right now over whether to get a 6.8SPC upper for my son's lefty AR or get him a lefty short action 700 in 7mm-08 for deer hunting this fall. The bolt gun will be easier to learn as he has been shooting bolt .22's for a few years. He isn't used to his AR yet and I think I would rather have him understand the need to get the first shot right, than being able to pop off 19 more if he misses.

Fast Ed