R.W.Dale
Member
Please vote only if you own a rifle chambered for one or both be it AR based or otherwise
6.8spc versus 6.5Grendel the popularity contest
- Thread starter R.W.Dale
- Start date
- Status
SaMx
Member
I don't have either, so I didn't vote in the poll, but all gun/ammo availability issues aside, I would pick 6.5 grendel.
rbernie
Contributing Member
The 6.8SPC wins if the criteria is slanted towards market availability of parts. The 6.5 Grendel wins if the criteria is slanted towards BC-driven factors (e.g. downrange retained energy).
I chose the 6.8SPC because being able to buy barrels and bolts and magazines and brass from multiple independant sources was more important to me than any incremental downrange performance gain.
I chose the 6.8SPC because being able to buy barrels and bolts and magazines and brass from multiple independant sources was more important to me than any incremental downrange performance gain.
R.W.Dale
Member
That's what I would like to determine. Just how much of an availibility issue there is
Bartkowski
Member
I don't own a gun so chambered either, but if I were to buy one, I would buy the 6.5 too, I don't really like the 6.8.
HorseSoldier
Member
Had a DPMS 16" 6.8mm Rem SPC upper, but sold it recently. However, my 6.8mm barrel and bolt for my LMT Monolithic Rail Platform should be here soon.
I have considered getting a Grendel upper or rifle as well, but am slowed down by the fact I don't think it does anything noteworthy compared to 6.8 Rem SPC except in a long-range, precision shooting kind of set up. If I ever have a few grand laying around for Alexander Arms upper, magazines, etc., plus optics I may still go that route. For a CQB range to 300 kind of gun, it just doesn't do anything special that I don't already get from 6.8, my .308 FALs, etc.
I have considered getting a Grendel upper or rifle as well, but am slowed down by the fact I don't think it does anything noteworthy compared to 6.8 Rem SPC except in a long-range, precision shooting kind of set up. If I ever have a few grand laying around for Alexander Arms upper, magazines, etc., plus optics I may still go that route. For a CQB range to 300 kind of gun, it just doesn't do anything special that I don't already get from 6.8, my .308 FALs, etc.
kentucky_smith
Member
- Joined
- Oct 6, 2005
- Messages
- 1,686
I bought a 6.8 because I could get one at the time, then sold it when I finally acquired a 6.5. Bud's had a 6.5 AA tactical upper for $500. 
rkh
member
The 6.8 has a lot going for it. Many of the top manufacturers produce rifles in the caliber. Bullets and brass are cheaper than what's available for 6.5. Ballistics are comparable to the Grendel out to at least 250 yards. The 6.8's case is inherently less prone to feed-related failures, and could be used in a belt-fed weapon.
Further, the 6.8 really shines in carbines with barrels shorter than 16 inches.
Further, the 6.8 really shines in carbines with barrels shorter than 16 inches.
Depends on what you want. 6.5 grendel is a target round. 6.8 is meant to be a combat round. Either will make a good light deer cartridge for moderate ranges.
Be warned, the ballistics for the 6.5 Grendel look impressive, until you realize that they are achieved with a 24 inch barrel loaded to bolt action pressures. 6.5 Grendel from a 20" AR is not so impressive.
Also, when comparing it to the 308/7.62x51mm they compare the Lapua Scenar against the M80 ball. Load 308 with an equivalent bullet and it kicks the 6.5's butt.
6.8 is of course limited to 115gn or so bullets in the AR. These tend to have poorer BC than 6.5, but as this cartridge was meant for about 300 meters or less, it's a good compromise.
6.8 is available at most sporting good shops. 6.5 Grendel typically has to be ordered.
Both cartridges are limited by the fact they have to fit in an AR magazine.
Be warned, the ballistics for the 6.5 Grendel look impressive, until you realize that they are achieved with a 24 inch barrel loaded to bolt action pressures. 6.5 Grendel from a 20" AR is not so impressive.
Also, when comparing it to the 308/7.62x51mm they compare the Lapua Scenar against the M80 ball. Load 308 with an equivalent bullet and it kicks the 6.5's butt.
6.8 is of course limited to 115gn or so bullets in the AR. These tend to have poorer BC than 6.5, but as this cartridge was meant for about 300 meters or less, it's a good compromise.
6.8 is available at most sporting good shops. 6.5 Grendel typically has to be ordered.
Both cartridges are limited by the fact they have to fit in an AR magazine.
6.8 SPC vs 6.5 grendel
After looking at thje comparisons given by Alexander Arms, and realizing they were slanted to give the best possible tilt in the direction, I decided to do an apple to apples comparison between 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel using identical barrel lengths, and comparable loads and bullets. Nominal barrel length is 20 inches.
Here are the two loads:
6.8 SPC
110 gn Sierra Pro-Hunter (BC 0.318)
29.5 gn H335
Velocity 2572 fps
45,889 PSI
6.5 Grendel
120 gn Sierra Pro-Hunter (BC 0.356)
29.0 gn BL-C(2)
Velocity 2439 fps
45,893 PSI
Here's how they compare:
With realistic hunting loads, the difference between the two rounds is negligible out to 500 yards.
After looking at thje comparisons given by Alexander Arms, and realizing they were slanted to give the best possible tilt in the direction, I decided to do an apple to apples comparison between 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel using identical barrel lengths, and comparable loads and bullets. Nominal barrel length is 20 inches.
Here are the two loads:
6.8 SPC
110 gn Sierra Pro-Hunter (BC 0.318)
29.5 gn H335
Velocity 2572 fps
45,889 PSI
6.5 Grendel
120 gn Sierra Pro-Hunter (BC 0.356)
29.0 gn BL-C(2)
Velocity 2439 fps
45,893 PSI
Here's how they compare:
Code:
velocity at range 6.8 6.5
0 2572 2439
100 2331 2217
200 2103 2007
300 1889 1809
400 1689 1626
500 1507 1459
Energy at range 6.8 6.5
0 1616 1585
100 1327 1310
200 1080 1073
300 871 872
400 697 704
500 555 567With realistic hunting loads, the difference between the two rounds is negligible out to 500 yards.
R.W.Dale
Member
Well I know that! What I would like to know is which round if not both is gonna be the next 5mm rimfire or .40AE
Personally I'm hoping that the 6.8 has reached that critical mass required to remain viable
I don't own either but I would like to get a 6.8 upper sometime. Maybe everyone else has a different experience, but in my experience 6.8 is more widely available than 6.5. Nobody wants to end up with a cartridge that won't be around in the future and it seems like 6.8 has the upper hand as of right now.
BTW,
From a 20 inch barrel, the 6.5 grendel with the 139 Scenar (with a BC of 0.616) only does 2224 fps. It does overtake the 6.8 with the 110gn at 100 yards, and at 500 the 6.5 with the Lapua Scenar has 782 ft-lbs of energy vs 555 ft-lbs for the 110 gn Pro-Hunter.
There is a lack og high BC match type bullets for the 6.8, and this gives the 6.5 Grendel a huge advantage for target use.
From a 20 inch barrel, the 6.5 grendel with the 139 Scenar (with a BC of 0.616) only does 2224 fps. It does overtake the 6.8 with the 110gn at 100 yards, and at 500 the 6.5 with the Lapua Scenar has 782 ft-lbs of energy vs 555 ft-lbs for the 110 gn Pro-Hunter.
There is a lack og high BC match type bullets for the 6.8, and this gives the 6.5 Grendel a huge advantage for target use.
hacksaw
Member
Not to hijack the thread but....
Does anyone know if the mini 14 ia available in 6.8 spc yet? ruger had announced plans for this chambering a while back....
Does anyone know if the mini 14 ia available in 6.8 spc yet? ruger had announced plans for this chambering a while back....
HorseSoldier
Member
As far as local gun store's stocking either goes, in my neck of the woods I can find 6.8 Rem SPC on the shelves locally. It definitely is not carried by everyone, but some places stock it.
I haven't seen any place that stocks 6.5 Grendel.
Of course, if you mail order ammo, the point becomes moot.
Rokman
Member
I have neither but am interested in the 6.8 only because I occasionally see some availablity of this ammo. I have never seen ammo for the 6.5. I am waiting to see if popularity of these calibers catch on. I am hoping that they do.
ryoushi
Member
I'm glad everybody is having so much fun with their ballistics programs. Ammo is expensive nowadays and at least we are thinking and talking about shooting.
I live in a city of just over 1,000,000 people. We have more than a few good gunshops and I have yet to see one box of 6.5 Grendel Ammo on the shelf. Not a whole lot of 6.8 SPC either but one shop carries Remimington, Hornady and SSA and another shop has Hornady.
I live in a city of just over 1,000,000 people. We have more than a few good gunshops and I have yet to see one box of 6.5 Grendel Ammo on the shelf. Not a whole lot of 6.8 SPC either but one shop carries Remimington, Hornady and SSA and another shop has Hornady.
tailfeathers
Member
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2006
- Messages
- 11
6.8 Ranch Rifle
I have had my 6.8 Ranch Rifle a couple weeks now and just got it out to a 100 yd range...I sold guns for years and stayed away from the Mini-14 because of its poor accuracy...When the Ranch Rifle was announced in 6.8 and the reengineering of the Ranch Rifle to improve accuracy was also announced I thought I needed one...My first 10 rounds to get on the paper on a windy day at 50 yds yielded a quarter sized group...OK?...I figured X2 at 100 yds would be an OK group...So yesterday I had it out at 100 yds and the first 5 rounds were a little high and about an inch and a half...I made an adjustment and settled down a little more and the second 5 rounds were almost dime size with one small flyer an inch away...
I'm thrilled since I was shooting off of my Workmate table kneeling behind it and not my usual bench...And this is with a dot sight...The trigger is crunchy just before it breaks so a little work on it will yield some good results...This round should be around for a long time with several ammo makers now supplying ammo...Its way more practical and cheaper to shoot than a 6.5 Grendel...I'm hoping better bullets will come along in time...Great mid sized cartridge...
I have had my 6.8 Ranch Rifle a couple weeks now and just got it out to a 100 yd range...I sold guns for years and stayed away from the Mini-14 because of its poor accuracy...When the Ranch Rifle was announced in 6.8 and the reengineering of the Ranch Rifle to improve accuracy was also announced I thought I needed one...My first 10 rounds to get on the paper on a windy day at 50 yds yielded a quarter sized group...OK?...I figured X2 at 100 yds would be an OK group...So yesterday I had it out at 100 yds and the first 5 rounds were a little high and about an inch and a half...I made an adjustment and settled down a little more and the second 5 rounds were almost dime size with one small flyer an inch away...
I'm thrilled since I was shooting off of my Workmate table kneeling behind it and not my usual bench...And this is with a dot sight...The trigger is crunchy just before it breaks so a little work on it will yield some good results...This round should be around for a long time with several ammo makers now supplying ammo...Its way more practical and cheaper to shoot than a 6.5 Grendel...I'm hoping better bullets will come along in time...Great mid sized cartridge...
hacksaw
Member
I have searched the internet and am unable to find a ranch rifle in 6.8spc, any help guys?
SaMx
Member
ECVMatt
Member
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2004
- Messages
- 2,867
I have a Remingtion 700 in 6.8 SPC and love it..
I use it as a truck gun. I load 90 Grn HP's in it at about 2900 fps. It hammers varmints pretty darn well. Anything inside of 300 yards it toast. Most of my shots are at about 200 yards. I really can't see shooting past 300 yards because it becomes very difficult to accurately identify targets and the ground cover here is pretty thick.
It is an neat little round with no recoil, very little noise, and a good punch. I really wish CZ would bring out the 6.8 in the 527 line. That would be a nice little gun.
The 6.5 Grendel just doesn't do much for me. If I need more power, then I will simply bring a more powerful gun. The shape of the case suggest feeding problems and I can't find any ammo locally. For a long time AA was the only maker of uppers/ guns. The 6.5 is just too exoctic for me to committ to. I understand what it is trying to do for the AR platform, but I still think the 6.8 is better for that purpose as well. I don't think the trade off's are worth the proformance past 400 yards. How many normal folks really shoot that far from field positions? I guess target shooting would be another matter though. The Grendal seems to need somewhat specailized bullets to get the good numbers. Have you seen how much those cost?? Yikes!!
I am not sure about getting a 6.8 upper for my AR. Again, I think I would just use my M1A, but the idea is interesting enough for me to investigate further...
I guess it boils down to what you like best. If you shoot the Grendel and it works then you are good to go. If the 6.8 is your thing, that is fine too.
I am just glad we have all these choices these days...
Matt
I use it as a truck gun. I load 90 Grn HP's in it at about 2900 fps. It hammers varmints pretty darn well. Anything inside of 300 yards it toast. Most of my shots are at about 200 yards. I really can't see shooting past 300 yards because it becomes very difficult to accurately identify targets and the ground cover here is pretty thick.
It is an neat little round with no recoil, very little noise, and a good punch. I really wish CZ would bring out the 6.8 in the 527 line. That would be a nice little gun.
The 6.5 Grendel just doesn't do much for me. If I need more power, then I will simply bring a more powerful gun. The shape of the case suggest feeding problems and I can't find any ammo locally. For a long time AA was the only maker of uppers/ guns. The 6.5 is just too exoctic for me to committ to. I understand what it is trying to do for the AR platform, but I still think the 6.8 is better for that purpose as well. I don't think the trade off's are worth the proformance past 400 yards. How many normal folks really shoot that far from field positions? I guess target shooting would be another matter though. The Grendal seems to need somewhat specailized bullets to get the good numbers. Have you seen how much those cost?? Yikes!!
I am not sure about getting a 6.8 upper for my AR. Again, I think I would just use my M1A, but the idea is interesting enough for me to investigate further...
I guess it boils down to what you like best. If you shoot the Grendel and it works then you are good to go. If the 6.8 is your thing, that is fine too.
I am just glad we have all these choices these days...
Matt
Last edited:
- Status
