6.5 Grendel has no recoil and my son has had lots of success with it. He is almost 18 and still grabs the Grendel when we deer hunt. 7mm-08 is also very effective for just a bit more recoil than the 243.
My son uses my Grendel for deer hunting and they have all fallen with one shot using the 123gr SST. Ranges were from 50 yards all the way out to 260 yards.
I know 4 deer is not a huge sample size, but I have been very impressed with the effectiveness of the Grendel. Not one has gone more than 20...
In terms of the smoothest action, I give another vote for the Sako Finnwolf, but they are not pistol caliber. I think they only came in 308 and 243 that I recall.
If you want to go a little bigger than your 243- I am a big fan of the 7mm-08 as some others have mentioned. It just seems to be magical on whitetail sized game. Right now ammo can be hard to come by though.
If you want to consider something a little less powerful than the 243- Like a few others...
I will echo what others have said in that I think it is the perfect cartridge for deer sized game. I have a Winchester Model 70 EW and I haven't used a different rifle for deer since I got it. It just flat out works. Easy in the recoil department, good ballistics, effective on game...
I chose the 6.5 Grendel as my second AR caliber after 223. I am not a reloader so the option of economical wolf ammo for practice was very appealing. As is the relatively economical Hornady Black offerings. My purposes were different than yours as I was looking for something more suited for deer...
When I researching a 6.5G upper I had it narrowed down to Atheris and Sanders Armory. I went with the Sanders and have been very pleased, but its sounds like I couldn't have gone wrong either way. Definitely a big fan of the 6.5G, it doesn't get the attention it deserves.
Sako Finnwolf-
My dad had one which my brother now owns in 243. I would love to have that gun. The build quality is great and there isn't a lever action smoother. The opening feels spring loaded and you just have to close it. They are pricey and I would be afraid to use it a lot because if...
Another vote for the 7mm-08. I have been very impressed with mine since I got it about 10 years ago. I have never needed a second shot to drop a deer. They are all very effective deer cartridges and come down to personal preference. I wouldn't say finding ammo is an issue with the 7mm-08. Pre-...
I have a 20" Sanders 6.5 Grendel upper and it is a shooter. In terms of accuracy and build quality I would put it really close to my White Oak Armory upper in 223.
I don't think you will be disappointed with Sanders.
I ordered a Sanders Armory 20" 6.5 Grendel Upper (I had the Nikon Monarch 5 waiting for it), along with some magazines, a bipod and some ammo. Now all I need to do is get out and see how it shoots!
If I am just going after deer, my favorite caliber is 7mm-08. Every deer I have shot with it have not gone far. You pretty much can't go wrong with everything that has been suggested, comes down to preference and situation.
I have the Model 70 EW in 7mm-08 and it is my go-to deer rifle. It is well built, fit and finish are great and it is MOA with Remington Accutip factory ammo. For me it is the perfect deer gun.
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