AR's and the 6.5mm Grendel

[22-rimfire]

Would it be reasonable to buy an AR in 6.5 Grendel when you don't own an AR in 5.56? Is loaded ammunition available? This would be a rifle that would be not shot often. I have just never been that interested in getting an AR. I own a Mini 14 and that has always been enough to satisfy my urges to blast away from time to time.

There is an article in Shootimg Times magazine on the cartridge and it makes a lot of sense to me. There is one term or series of terms that I don't understand. They list drop say for the 6.5 Grendel at 300 yds as 5.1" MOA. At 300 yds, 1 MOA is about 3", so is that 3"+5.1"?

Would also like to hear views on the caliber in general.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

No sight in distance is listed, the 5.1" is the vertical drop due to gravity based on some point of aim. The 3"/~1MOA @ 300yards is the rough variation from shot to shot at that range.

Basically think about hitting 5" low somewhere in a 3" diameter circle.

 

[22-rimfire]

Sight in distance is 100 yds with an M4 Carbine.

 

[TurtlePhish]

Loaded ammo is available for 6.5G and it's a good, efficient long-range cartridge. Ammo isn't nearly as cheap as .223/5.56mm, but I've heard rumors of Wolf tooling up to produce it by next year.

The 5.1" MOA thing sounds like a typo to me.

 

[22-rimfire]

Thinking about this some more.... a 1 MOA rifle will impact at 300 yds within a hypethical 3" bull. So, 5.1" would in fact be the drop below the point of aim. If you could see the absolute center of the bull, you would be hitting low within about an 8" circle but grouping about 3" more or less from my interpretation. Correct?

 

[cat_IT_guy]

If you could see the absolute center of the bull, you would be hitting low within about an 8" circle but grouping about 3" more or less from my interpretation. Correct?

Close. The top of the 3" circle would start about 3.5" below the center of the bullseye, and the bottom of the 3" circle would be about 6.5" below the bullseye (so 5" of drop plus or minus 1.5" either way of vertical variation).

 

[bejay]

if youve never really been interested in an ar why would you want to buy one in another caliber?

 

[22-rimfire]

Why not? AR's are offered in many calibers. This one has my interest. So it goes back to my original post. Seeking your positive opinions, not criticism or speculation on why I have not already purchased an AR.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

With the Internet, I am sure you can find ammo. It will never be as common as the standard rounds. I won a mini-14 as well. Personally I like to stick to common rounds that have been widely used for 50 to 100 years. If that doesn't concern you I see no reason not to get it. Could always sell it.

 

[Girodin]

Would it be reasonable to buy an AR in 6.5 Grendel when you don't own an AR in 5.56?

I think that depends a lot on the intended use.

 

[TIMC]

The 6.5 Grendel is a fine round, I have one and like it a lot. I use mine for hunting, mainly varmints but I'm sure it would do well on deer or anything else I wanted to take with it too. Ammo is getting easier to find now that Hornady is producing it. If you're looking for a plinker I would go with an AR in .223 since it will be much cheaper to shoot.
Here is a couple of pics of mine

 

[viking499]

Good looking rig TimC.

What brand?

 

[bigscout511]

I built my first ar on the Grendel bases on its hunting capabilities for whitetail, I just didn't have a need for the 556

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[madcratebuilder]

The Grendel excels at long range precision and hunting light to moderate size game. The typical Grendel is a sub moa rifle, even the cheapest barrel you could find should shoot moa.

Ammo is readily available from Wolf and Hornady, each with several choices. Wolf is working on a steel case round that should sell for under .30 a round.

 

[22-rimfire]

Beautiful Bob Cat, TimC. I like the rig too. The AR's are good varmint rigs.

Who makes the best AR platform rifle (most reliable and reasonably accurate) in 6.5 Grendel?

 

[TIMC]

viking499
Good looking rig TimC.

What brand?

Alexander Arms

22-rimfire
Beautiful Bob Cat, TimC. I like the rig too. The AR's are good varmint rigs.

Thank you!

Who makes the best AR platform rifle (most reliable and reasonably accurate) in 6.5 Grendel?

Mine will put 10 rounds inside a nickle at 100 yards, that would put it at the top for me.

 

[longdayjake]

If I was looking for the most accurate 6.5 grendel I would go with the Alexander Arms ones. If I was just looking at getting into the caliber I would go with an upper from J&T distributing. I own a 20" from J&T and I used it to take an Elk at about 100 yards. Recovered the bullet. Here are a couple of pics.






And a rockchuck!

 

[mokin]

It is enitrely reseanable to own an AR-15 in 6.5 Grendel and not in 5.56 NATO. I had a Colt chambered for 5.56, sold it and built another in 6.8SPC. As you already have a Mini-14 that can shoot 5.56 your set. I have to admit though, for the price of 6.8SPC I could buy an upper chambered for 5.56 and it would pay for itself rather quickly.

 

[justice06rr]

If you can afford the rifle and the ammo, go for it.

Otherwise, I would still suggest sticking with 5.56/223 so you have ammo commonality with your Mini14. I would not really buy an AR that does not have ammo readily available locally if I can help it.

 

[viking499]

The more I look, the more I like.........

 

[68wj]

I dropped 2 5.56 AR's years ago and was seriously considering a 6.5G build. It is a good round and I didn't feel the need to keep a 5.56 around. I ended up going a different direction (different cartridge) with my build and am happy with it. I have another 5.56 upper in the safe too, but it seems to be primarily for gun games rather than necessity.

Keep your mini for fun and build an AR that works for you.