Bushmaster Varminter .223, want .243 upper & barrel for deer any recommendations?

ConservativesUnite · #1 02-16-2009, 09:07 PM

I have a Bushmaster Varminter .223 with 24", nice trigger etc. What I want to do is get a .243 upper and barrel of similar length and go deer hunting with it. In WI and ND we can use a centefire .22 cal, but some of the shots in ND can be a little far for a .223. Does anybody have any experience with a .243 AR rifle? Any recommendations for barrel manufacturer? DPMS makes a .243 barrel, anyone else?

Kevin Thomas · #2 02-16-2009, 10:31 PM

Your easiest option here would be a 6x45mm, simply a 5.56mm necked up to take .243 bullets. Plenty of load data available, decent performance, and readily available (and inexpensive) brass for reforming. This is a simple rebarreling, nothing more. Beyond that, there are several other options, all of which require more work, much more costly brass, and more effort on your part. I've had a 6x45, and it was a decent combination. I've seen a number of the other guns, particularly the 6mm PPC set up in ARs for competition use, but they do tend to be a lot more finicky.

If you want an actual .243 Win (I wasn't quite clear on this from your post) then you're looking at a larger platform, such as the AR-10. What did you want to do with this? That should be the final determining factor in how you set it up.

Kevin Thomas
Berger Bullets

Ridge Runner · #3 02-17-2009, 04:34 AM

yep, the 243 is too long for the AR-15, so you must go with the AR-10 platform (308 win. length action) not only is an AR-10 400 dollars higher than the AR-15, its also 3-4 pounds heavier.
However, you can call or email mike milli of bemenji mn, he's an AR smith, does good work very reasonable, he'll build you an upper for the AR-15 chambered in 243 WSSM, and it'll fill your 243 needs in a lighter weight cheaper rifle. I've had one of mikes uppers for several years (25 wssm) and its the most firepower you can get in the AR-15
Mikes contact info dtech1@paulbunyan.net
RR

308 · #4 02-17-2009, 06:09 AM

Another possible option, that I think will fit your current platform is Remingtons new 30 AR cartridge. Its a 30 cal that is getting dang good ballistics for a ar 15 frame 30 cal, about 80% of full power 308. That would be a much better option than 22 or 24 calibers for deer. Just my lowly opinion of course: 308

msalm · #5 02-17-2009, 06:41 AM

6.5 Grendel gets my vote. I've built a couple on AR's and a CZ 527 Carbine and it's a good round. 120gr Nosler BT's at 2550 or so is plenty good for deer. 100gr bt's are probably a little flatter shooting. You can still buy the Wolf Gold for $12 a box through Midway...not to bad.

dogdinger · #6 02-17-2009, 08:24 AM

ar-10 in 243

Moorespeedr · #7 02-17-2009, 10:39 AM

Pick up a DPMS upper in 6.8 SPC.

There are many other manufacturers that offer a 6.8, but it's hard to beat DPMS in the bang for the buck category. I am building two 6.8 SPC ARs on Rock River lowers (plus a 5.7 on a RR lower), right now. Don't have all the parts yet, so I can't say. But I did have a 6.8 SPC barrel made for my TC. It has more recoil than I expected, but it sure is fun to shoot (too much recoil for a small kid, but not an adult).