300 blackout vs 6.5 Grendel vs 44 magnum for my son

[Mark-DuCo]

I'm starting to plan for next deer season, and I think my son will be ready to hunt with my. He will be almost 10 and is a great shot with his .22 already with open sights. My issue is that currently I only have a 7mm-08, a 12 guage, and a muzzeloader for deer and my son is way way on the small side for his age.

So I am narrowing my options down to a 300 blackout, 6.5 grendel, or a .44 magnum lever gun. I have been leaning towards the 300 blackout since I have a lower ready anyway and I could put a suppressor on it since he doesn't care for loud noises even with ear muffs on. I also like the 6.5 Grendel because eventually he could reach out farther as his confidence builds. The .44 magnum is on the list just because it seems like the standard first deer rifle around here and I've always wanted to add a lever gun to my collection anyway.

Any thought on these or are there any others I should be looking at?

 

[Rookie]

6.5 grendel.

AR-15 BARRELS 6.5 GRENDEL HYBRID | Brownells

The 6.5 Grendel cartridge was purpose-built to outperform the 5.56 NATO and .223 Rem. cartridges at extended range, and the Criterion Barrels AR-15 6.5 Grendel barrels are optimized to ensure users get the most from their AR-platform rifle. Each o...

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Very accurate. Little to no recoil. Better ballistics than the 300 blackout.

 

[BiscuitsandGravy]

My vote would be for .300 BO in a pistol config. As you say, you already have a lower.

My 17 year old has scored a buck in '15, '19, '20, and '21 all with the same .300 BO.

YMMV.

 

[Ggreen]

I've killed deer with 300 and Grendel. And Grendel is the best answer.

 

[randyb]

I have a grendel but have to admit a fondness for the .350 legend for some reason.

 

[DadSmith]

6.5 Grendel will serve him well and has the best accuracy and range out of the three.

 

[ScouT6a]

Another vote for the Grendel.
Accurate, flat shooting and cream puff recoil. I like mine a lot and have taken Whitetails out to 362 yards with it.

 

[Rookie]

Mine is a tack driver with 123sst. The 90 grain tnt isn't as accurate but still moa and a lot less expensive. The downside is that they only make them in batches one or two times a year, so buy them when you see them. I've taken a coyote at 400 yards and 650 yards. It's my second favorite round.

 

[Mark-DuCo]

For you guys with Grendel set ups, will an 18in grendel upper with mid length gas system work on my lower set up for 16" 5.56 carbine gas system or will i need to change buffers?

 

[Rookie]

I run mine with a standard buffer.

 

[Rookie]

If you get the barrel I suggested (or any other), check the extractor. I never had any issues with hornady ammo, but I ran into intermittent problems with federal brass. It was a quick fix and eliminated the problem.

 

[Chalky]

Should be fine. I run a 20" rifle length gas upper on my standard lower. I went that route thinking it would shoot softer. Probably going to get a 16" mid length in the future. Depending on range you want to shoot, don't lose a lot and it's lighter & more handy in the field IMO.

 

[Rookie]

Should be fine. I run a 20" rifle length gas upper on my standard lower. I went that route thinking it would shoot softer. Probably going to get a 16" mid length in the future. Depending on range you want to shoot, don't lose a lot and it's lighter & more handy in the field IMO.

Slash's Heavy Buffers | Home

Custom Heavy Buffers for AR10 AR15 rifle carbine. Home of the Slash CAR-10 Buffer.

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I have one in my 6mm creedmoor, and it is the softest shooting gun I have.

 

[Mark-DuCo]

This is the upper I am thinking about getting if I go the 6.5 route.
https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/ca...traight-fluted-rc-bur-nrail-spiral-flash.html

 

[Rookie]

Stick with E-lander mags.

 

[1nderbeard]

This is the upper I am thinking about getting if I go the 6.5 route.
https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/ca...traight-fluted-rc-bur-nrail-spiral-flash.html

6.5 is what I'd go with. I've had issues with 300 bo ammo reliably working in uppers before, and I think 44 mag would be a decent recoil for a 10 YO.

I'm sure it's not the norm, but save your bear creek receipt. I bought a 20 inch upper in 2019 for that hunting season. Didn't wind up taking a shot other than 5-10 rounds to sight in.

Sighting in for this year was incredibly inconsistent. Come to find out bear creek knew there were huge production issues with the barrels on this caliber about that time. Long story short I gave them a terrible review on google and would up getting a gift certificate from them for the value of the barrel (not the entire upper, just the barrel).

So just make sure you test it a lot before hunting season comes and your son winds up missing by 8 inches.

I happened on an upper made by Aero and have had zero issues. I also spent some money on a nicer odin works setup this year. Haven't shot it yet.

 

[Bstarkey_46947]

What is the typical range you would be taking shots. Both my kids learned to deer hunt with a 44 Mag H&R bull barrel single shot. I carry it sometimes just because it is light and and shoots well.

 

[Mark-DuCo]

What is the typical range you would be taking shots. Both my kids learned to deer hunt with a 44 Mag H&R bull barrel single shot. I carry it sometimes just because it is light and and shoots well.


View attachment 170953

Where I normally sit the max shot is about 75-100 yards, but there are fields we can sit out and reach out to 300 yards.

 

[DadSmith]

I run a 20" barrel rifle length gas system.

Hornady 123gr SST for deer they are very accurate. They shoot right around 1 moa at 100yds consistently.

Less than moa at 100yds. 0.734" 5 shot group is my best so far with Hornady Black 123gr ELD Match.

 

[edwea]

6.5 grendel > 300. I have both and wouldn't hit the woods without the 6.5. And for what it's worth, I built my son a 6.5 to hunt with because I didn't want to share the one I hunt with.