6.5 Grendel vs the .243 what would you rather have?

What's the purpose?

Are we yote bustin' at a few hundred yards or paper punching at over a thousand?

I'd personally really enjoy a 243 in something like a Model 7 for hunting, but I'd also like a heavy barreled Savage 10 in 6.5 for stretching things out.

Edit: I just noticed the 6.5 in question is the Grendel. It doesn't change my answer much. I'd prefer a 6mm bullet from that case size personally, I think it's a slightly better match than either 243Win or 6.5G as far as bore/case capacity go.

For what? The 243 has a lot more case capacity, a higher operating pressure and more power. The 6.5 Grendel is a lot closer to the 6mm BR than the .243 win or exactly like a 6mm PPC necked up to 6.5

The 6mm Creedmoor would be a lot closer to the 243 as would the 6.5 Creedmoor if you want the heavier bullets, the 260 Remington as well.

Grendel -- available brass that accepts non-toxic small rifle primers. Typically works with heavier bullets (esp. 100gr - 127 gr) vs. the .243's typically lighter bullets. Shorter action, chambers in micro actions from CZ and Howa vs. standard short actions. It also chambers is "15 size" MSR's vs "10 size." Plenty of low B.C. 0.264" bullets that are effective on live targets like game (not just match bullets) and hold that effectiveness out to very long ranges. I'm pretty sure somewhere around 400 or 500 yards, the ballistics of .243 and 6.5 Grendel are pretty close. The .243 has more velocity and more energy up close, but I'd argue that it's actually excessive for deer-size game at those close ranges and that it just adds recoil. But I'm not dissing the .243. It's obviously a super widely adopted cartridge and part of the even more widely adopted 7.62x51 family, and it's been proven over and over again. There's a wide variety of rifles chambered for it, but there are also some good alternatives like 6.5 Grendel and 6.0 Creedmoor.

Grendel. I don't own enough "out of the norm" cartridges. I still have to get a Bob or a Swede.

More classic rifles chambered in 243 but you said both rifles being equal, so that's a non issue.

Grendel sounds like a lot of fun.

If they have to be in the same rifle, then I’d want 243win. If they could both be in the right action length for their cartridge length, it’s a lot more interesting.

For most purposes, I’ve kind of outgrown the 243win. Spent money for too long buying rifles and throwing away their barrels just to get a faster twist. If I want to shoot something at 600-800, then I need more powder, so the 243 with a fast twist and a 100-115 gets my favor. Anything closer, the Grendel will do the job. Really, at 600-800, I’d likely prefer to have a 284win or 300wm, in fact, so the advantage of the 243win is small. The 6 creed is readily available as the round I’ve been trying to convince the 243win to be for over a decade. I do find the 243win to be the most efficient and effective deer cartridge in the market, given the appropriate twist, naturally.

243, with a faster twist barrel that you can shoot heavy/long target bullets in

It will outperform the Grendel in every way if the same gun is used

Want a semi auto AR platform, well then it’s a different discussion

horsemen61 said:

^^ good point the reason I didn’t put an intended purpose down is because I didn’t want to sway anyone’s opinion it’s for whatever you want to use it for so your call only caveat is it’s one or the other same rifle just different chambering

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Well, if we're going general purpose "one and only" type general purpose deal I'd take a 243Win on a Savage action.

I'd take a donor action and put a barrel with a twist suitable for longer bullets and a properly cut chamber. You can load pretty long in a Savage SA and really let those heavies fly.

While not ideal, slinging heavy solids the 243 is capable of taking large game. It's flatter shooting as well for smaller fare.

The only two things the 6.5G does is shorter range medium game and long range paper punching. The 243Win I feel is a bit more versatile.

243, more thump !

Grendel. Bored with the .243.

This considering I already OWN my current selection of rifles, which includes the wife's .243.

well, since you say it should be the same rifle, an AR platform in 6.5G is a lot lighter than an AR platform in .243 Win.

The reason I put it this way is that I prefer the AR platform as a general purpose rifle over a bolt action.

A lot of the conversation revolves around what type of rifle with these two. I think the 243 is the reason why intermediate cartridges are popular today, it proves you don't need a magnum to hunt game. I went with a 6.5 Grendel over the 243, and consequently, the 6.5 creedmoor in a ruger American, just for efficiency sake

I have an irrational dislike of the 243 so I voted for the 6.5 grendel. Nice efficient little package. I'm considering building a 6mm grendel as a varmint gun.

Don’t forget the mini Howa or CZ 527 Grendel length bolt actions.

I voted .243 because it is available up here, so I didn't have to think long. If I was to go the 6.5 route someday (I have other calibers already and don't feel the need), it would likely be Creedmoor. Available too, looking both fun and effective.

Grendel for me. A big plus is ready availabily of very inexpensive russian ammo with 100 grain bullets. 500 round cases for $130 .Or pick up $6 a box locally at Academy and Wal-Mart, plus decent hunting ammo from Hornady at basically the same cost as 243 pretty much seals it for me. Yes I reload, but frankly my preference is to buy and keep on hand a couple thousand rounds for each of my rifles so ammo cost is a contributing factor to anything I own. I like to hunt (low round count obviously) and plink at 50 to 250 yards. Not interested in chasing tiny groups anymore so whatever is lost to the steel cased imports is irrelevant.

So we have an action that fits a 243, then the choice would be another 308 case based cartridge. Hum, with five 260s already, I would have a six pack.
Ed

I like my Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel.

Compact, good for deer and target shooting.

If it was going to be in a normal short action bolt gun I would get a 6.5 creedmoor over both of them.

.243 for me.

I'm a .243 owner and reloader, and think for my purposes (long range varmint) I like it just fine and would stick with it. Even for hunters of say deer sized game, 100 grain bullets can be driven to over 3200 fps+ in 24" barrels using IMR 7828, as reported by members here on THR using published book loads. That is pretty darn impressive, and awfully flat shooting with high BC bullets. Never met a round I didn't like, so the more the merrier.

Never met a round I didn't like, so the more the merrier.

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Well said.

I pulled targets once at Camp Perry with the inventor (Bill Alexander) of the 6.5 Grendel, and it was too new for me to ask good questions about it. Plus, it was not a 223 or 308, which were the cartridges I was shooting. I do have a very bad attitude towards cartridges du dour anyway, and I figured the Grendel would be another one. Well I was wrong about that.

One bud of mine had lots of issues getting his Grendel to feed from his AR, he tweaked the magazines a lot. Other buds have not had problems, but I think they were using single stack mags. This is a target round, so all it has to do, to compete in NRA competition, is feed five rounds from the magazine, or eight, for sitting and prone rapid fire. Most AR shooters shoot two, then reload with an eight round magazine, to complete a string of ten. From what I do know, it is an accurate cartridge, if you are firing it from an AR, don't be surprised if you crack your bolt lugs as the bolt thrust exceeds the 223. A bud of mine, his target AR came from the gunsmith with an extra fitted bolt, just for that future event. We talked about the minimum number of lugs necessary before a bolt swap out! Barrel life can be good if you down load the thing. Firing full power, full pressure 6.5 bullets will eat up the barrel. I am used to the 5000 rounds of accuracy life that a 308 barrel gives, so I am always surprised when I run into shooters who change their barrels around 1200 to 2000 rounds.

One shooter I met, replaced his 243 Win barrel around 800 rounds. He always fired full powered rounds and that ate up the throat of his rifle. He was trying to keep them all in the X ring at 600 yards, so his accuracy criteria is very demanding.

I don't care for any of these rounds. I am very happy with the 223 as a target round in the AR platform, it shoots very well out to 600 yards and barrel life is very good. As for a varmint/light deer round, I consider the 243 Win inferior to the 257 Roberts. I can push a similar, or slightly heavier bullet, to the same velocity, at lower pressures, which means my barrel will last longer.

Oh boy, that's a tough one...

I've owned both. More than one .243, and currently own a Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel.

My "old school" brain is having trouble recognizing such a small case as the equal to the .243, even though the numbers I've generated from my Grendel prove it to be true, and my shoulder definitely prefers the Grendel.

Accuracy wise- they are equal. Enjoyment wise, I prefer shooting the Grendel.

Hunting-wise, I prefer the heavier bullets the Grendel offers.

So if I had to choose (and I guess I already have since I own a Grendel but no longer own .243's) then I'd say the Grendel.