Questions on 6.5 grendel...

[Cal-gun Fan]

Hi guys,
I've really been wanting to find an intermediate cartridge in a semi-auto platform capable of taking deer and other game, moderate recoil (ideally lower than a .308), and capability at longer ranges, and I think I've found it in the 6.5 Grendel. This seems like a relatively new round and I read that since Alexander Arms just released their...proprietary hold or whatever it's called on the ammunition, more companies will be starting to produce it. Ammunition cost doesn't seem too high, with Wolf gold (reusable brass) available for $13 a box with steel cased ammo promised to come, and plentiful 6.5 bullets available for reloading.

Ideally, I would be building an AR in this caliber so that I can buy it piece by piece.

So...
1. What do you guys think of this cartridge?
2. What range would you say this cartridge is effective to?
3. What does availability look like for this round in the future?
4. What companies make good barrels and caliber-specific parts for the Grendel?

 

[osprey176]

The Grendel looks like a great little mid-range round for the AR platform.I am just starting my first AR build,and am going with the .223 for coyotes and prairie dogs.I am already considering picking up another upper in the Grendel.

 

[madcratebuilder]

The Grendel can't be beat for long range accuracy. Excellent for moderate sized game animals. Good selection of Hornady and Wolf ammo, Wolf steel case well be released by the end of the year hopefully (notice I didn't specify what year).

Magazines can be a problem, reliable feeding may take some work. A few local friends have played around with barrel length and we have found that you can go as short as a 16" barrel and still maintain adequate velocity for long range shooting.

I've got two years with this 24" Over watch barrel I built. I'm looking at barrels and plan on a 16" or 18" upper to go with it. I use the Vltor A5 RE and find recoil to be very much like a 5.56 with standard M4 RE.

 

[snakeman]

The thing about the 6.5 grendel is the ballistics aren't as good as they appear. If you compare directly the ballistics of the 6.8 spc and the 6.5 grendel from the same barrel length, you are left with the 6.8 as the winner. Although the 6.8 only has a slight edge in ballistics that's not really significant in the real world, it does have an edge in ammo choices, feeding reliability, and available parts and magazines. This is why I chose the 6.8, had the grendel been more abundant I would have built one. I am sure you will be happy with either one for deer, pigs, and target work. Also, Hornady makes probably the best ammo for the grendel or the 6.8.

 

[madcratebuilder]

If you compare directly the ballistics of the 6.8 spc and the 6.5 grendel from the same barrel length, you are left with the 6.8 as the winner.

What chart are you looking at?

Try comparing any 6.8 SPC to a 123gr A-Max Grendel. Starting around 300yds the Grendel walks away from the SPC. Not even close at 1000yds and the Grendel still has 2-300yds of performance left in it.

 

[68wj]

what chart are you looking at?

Try comparing any 6.8 spc to a 123gr a-max grendel. Starting around 300yds the grendel walks away from the spc. Not even close at 1000yds and the grendel still has 2-300yds of performance left in it.

I guess it depends on what you are looking for in said performance.
Hornady Factory Loads http://www.hornady.com/store/6.8mm-SPC/
Muzzle 100 200 300
6.8 VMax 2550/1588 2319/1313 2100/1077 1893/875
6.8 SST 2460/1612 2250/1349 2050/1120 1862/923
6.5 Amax 2350/1508 2189/1308 2034/1129 1885/971

Yes, it does start to pull ahead around 300, but for hunting they both hit their energy and expansion limits about the same time. If you are wanting to put holes in paper much further than that, the 6.8 is a poor choice given the many other options out there. For game the SPC and Grendel are closer than many of their respective fans want to discuss.

Although SSA's new 140gr Berger load for the 6.8 SPC is holding 1000 ft/lbs to just under 400 yards. http://www.ssarmory.com/6.8_spc_ammo_140gr_VLD_Berger.aspx

 

[mshootnit]

why is it the first that I ever hear about something it is already sold out?
Anybody want to trade a couple PRI 6.8 mags for a couple Bushy 5.56 mags?