I'm wanting to get my kids their own hunting rifles.  I want an AR platform chambered in 6.5 cm.  No less than a 20" barrel.  Gonna be mainly used for whitetail in MI.  What brands should be considering and avoiding?

How old are they? My 6.5 CM AR10 is a whole lot heavier than I though it would be.

My 6.5 Grendel on the other hand is quite nice.

Son is 15 and my daughter is 12.  Both currently shoot my 300WSM for deer hunting.  Just want them to have their own hunting rifle

Double post oops

I built this rifle for deer hunting, 18'' Faxon barrel. I will be upgrading the can to something lighter but it is sporting the silencerco hybrid for now, it's my catch all suppressor for new guns. I have built several guns from the aero m5 receiver sets and had great performance from all of them.

This.  I hunted for 3 days with a 1000 yard 6.5 CM AR10, and dropped my deer at 15 yards.

I bought a 6.5 Grendel that week.

Grendel is a good round, an AR10 is a beast for kids that age.

I eventually sold off the AR10.

If you are committed, than PSA is best bang for buck.  But really, wait for the SFAR to come out in 6.5CM.  I very well may buy one of those myself.

I have to agree with these comments, while I do personally enjoy the large frame ARs and the rounds they can use they come with a weight penalty for sure. My 12.5'' Grendel has dropped several deer and it is much more handy.

So I actually weighed my guns and am a little surprised by just how heavy....

AR10 (mostly PSA) - 6.5 CM with 20" stainless barrel, Trijicon Accupoint 3x18x50 scope and full 10 round magazine - 24.76 lbs.

AR15 - 6.5 Grendel with 18" stainless barrel, Leupold 3.5x10x50 scope and full 10 round magazine - 19.82 lbs.

Both have Magpul stocks, both have alum free float hand guards

Yep.  There's a reason I run a 14.5 pin and weld Grendel skinny on magnesium lower with a mid length handguard and a minimalist stock.

I was between a SFAR and 6.5grendel.  I built a 14.5 grendel.  It’s a very lightweight, handy gun.  Probably in the 9lb range.  It was annoying suppressed until I got an adjustable BCG which tamed it down suppressed.  With the gas figured out I'd say it’s tough to tell the difference in recoil between 556 and 6.5.   It feels like a gassy AR15 / HK416.

I figured longest shot in MI would be 100 yards due to heavy woods, 6.5 fits the bill perfectly at that range.  Of course the shot that presented itself was 175 yards this year.  123gr SST bang flop.  I contemplated selling it off but will likely keep it, zero complaints with its performance.

Of note the angle was kindof awkward in the blind, made the shot with the stock 100% collapsed.  I'm sure I could have figured the shot out with a larger rifle but it would have been a pain, food for thought with kids / smaller framed people.

The 6.5 SFAR was just announced.  I dont think I'll be able to resist one when the 16" are available.

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