AR15 build

smitty · Apr 9, 2017

Looking to get an AR in .243

Something to handle deer, antelope and coyotes.

I got a guy that'll build it for me for a good price. I own several others all in .223, but I'm wondering what components or options to do for this gun?

Is 18" barrel sufficient? I want the most accuracy I can get. I want it pretty simple and straightforward. Any particular barrels or uppers or whatnot to get or avoid?

deadibob · Apr 9, 2017

I'm looking to get another ar308 (large frame dpms pattern) myself. Everything is a trade off, short barrels are loud, long barrels are heavy and unwieldy. 18" is a good balance, but you will loose some velocity. I had a 24" bull barrel AR-10 and that wasn't good for much but shooting off a bench.

I will end up going with an 18"-20" lightweight barrel and keeping everything else simple and light, especially the forearm. I would prefer a 20" barrel. You can still stay in the 8-8.5 lb range this way. Good luck and tell us what you end up with.

Weiserbucks · Apr 9, 2017

243 is good, 260 rem or 6.5 creedmoore is better if you plan to take deer . No cost difference to build any of them .

If you don't want to go .264 , lots of game has been taken with a 243 . If you go 243 , get a 1-7" twist to handle the heavy bullets.

257Tony · Apr 9, 2017

Do a 6.5 creed with a 22" proof carbon barrel. More $$, but you wont lose the velocity and you'll save some weight.

elkantlers · Apr 10, 2017

^^^ Do a 6.5 Creedmore and you can still use an AR-15 platform.

Also, I not a real fan of this caliber, But you could also do a 243WSSM and keep the AR-15 platform.

c3 · Apr 10, 2017

Here's my new 9.92 lbs AR308 underground at TNT getting sighted in.

I would recommend a 6.5 CM or 308 if you want to shoot deer or longer ranges. If you want to stick to the lighter AR15 frame, look into a 300 Blackout cartridge. It can be shot subsonic with a silencer and still carries enough KE to take out just about anything at reasonable distances

As for barrel length, anything over 18" is total over kill. 18" only gives 50 - 70 fps over a 16" and for my preference of lighter weight pencil barrels, the longer 20-24" units exhibit barrel whip and are actually less accurate than the slightly shorter barrels.

In any case enjoy !!!

smitty · Apr 10, 2017

After talking with a few guys here's what I'll probably do.

Build a 6.5 creedmoor and later on add a .243 upper getting the best of both cartridges. Use the 6.5 for bear, deer and antelope, and use the .243 for coyotes.

Gunnie3035 · Apr 23, 2017

>

>
>Here's my new 9.92 lbs AR308
>underground at TNT getting sighted
>in.
>
>I would recommend a 6.5 CM
>or 308 if you want
>to shoot deer or longer
>ranges. If you want
>to stick to the lighter
>AR15 frame, look into a
>300 Blackout cartridge. It
>can be shot subsonic with
>a silencer and still carries
>enough KE to take out
>just about anything at reasonable
>distances

>
>As for barrel length, anything over
>18" is total over kill.
> 18" only gives 50
>- 70 fps over a
>16" and for my preference
>of lighter weight pencil barrels,
>the longer 20-24" units exhibit
>barrel whip and are actually
>less accurate than the slightly
>shorter barrels.
>
>In any case enjoy !!!

Please!!! The only accurate info in this statement might be the weight of his gun.

c3 · Apr 24, 2017

>
>Please!!! The only accurate info
>in this statement might be
>the weight of his gun.
>

Any particular specifics you'd like to share links or actual tests for that contest my points?

deadibob · Apr 24, 2017

>>
>>Please!!! The only accurate info
>>in this statement might be
>>the weight of his gun.
>>
>
>Any particular specifics you'd like to
>share links or actual tests
>for that contest my points?
>

Now that you mention it, when I first read your post, I was gonna call bullshit on it as well. The older, kinder, gentler me, just shrugged it off. "Barrel whip" or barrel harmonics does not necessarily decrease accuracy on a longer barrel.

Go chronograph some rifles with different barrel lengths, big difference between 16" -24"in velocity. To say (anything over 18")is overkill is an ignorant statement. Overkill for what? There are many reasons people prefer a longer barrel, just ask your girlfriend ;-)

c3 · Apr 24, 2017

Do you guys realize this is a post about AR type rifles and that I said "pencil barrels" ???

Here's some pretty good reading on the subject of 308 accuracy and speed for different length barrels.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/20...t-barrel-length-muzzle-velocity-and-accuracy/

I guess I'm not the only one who must be full of it as most barrel manufacturers only make up to a 20" regardless of profile

Remember we're all on the same team here, just spraying my $0.02 on the subject.

Cheers, Pete