Charlie98
Member
True but I'd prefer it in the .300.
I have the best of both worlds... my snappy 99 is in .308.
Which is more VERSATILE: An AR-15 in 6.5 Grendel, or an AR-10 in .308?
- Thread starter WVGunman
- Start date
I have the best of both worlds... my snappy 99 is in .308.
Hokkmike
Member
Ubiquity and price of ammo would be the deciding factor.
I chose .223/5.56 because it is everywhere and affords high capacity...
I chose .223/5.56 because it is everywhere and affords high capacity...
It's hard to give a recommendation without knowing the intended purpose and the ranges involved. I'm a big fan of the 6.5 Grendel. My sons and I have taken many deer with them. They work great on large upper midwest deer as long as you don't extend the range past around 250 yards. After several failures with well placed shots at ranges of around 275-300 yards we've all switched over to 308. We know that works with zero drama. The only real downside is weight. The SFAR solves that problem if you're willing to deal with a sometimes iffy new platform. I have one and it's been giving me some problems with cases sticking in the chamber. I also have a Palmetto AR10 with an 18 inch barrel that only weighs about 20 oz. more, has been 100% reliable, shoots sub MOA and cost just over half as much so that's what I've been using.
Just to reiterate, my scenario is large deer at fairly long range so for me it's 308. If your game is smaller or your range is under 250 yards the Grendel will do just fine and I doubt it's going away any time soon.
Just to reiterate, my scenario is large deer at fairly long range so for me it's 308. If your game is smaller or your range is under 250 yards the Grendel will do just fine and I doubt it's going away any time soon.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
Good post OP. I have 223/556 and 7.62x39 AR 15'S. I really enjoy them. I have been thinking about 6.5 grendal too. If i decide im not going with a 6.5 CM AR 10. I may go with a grendal.
OK, so the SFAR is what it is and isn't another flavor of AR10.
It's funny, I was just at Academy Sports looking around and, after seeing this thread, was shocked at the variety of 6.5 Grendel there was on the shelves, although there was also a good bit of .308. Neither hide nor hair of 5.56, but a couple of flavors of .300BO.
I was toying with the idea of getting a 6.5 Creedmore, but might just go with a Grendel. I don't think it needs all of that barrel like a Creedmoor does and it'll be a nice compliment to my 7.62x39.
Man, I'm really on a Ruger American Ranch/Predator kick right now. They're so cheap and shoot so well that I'm buying one everytime I get an itch. They are so much more of a pleasure to tote around and shoot than an AR platform.
small town life
Member
In the 15 variety I have 5.56, 6.5gren, 6.8spc (my favorite) and 300bo. In the 10's (DPMS styles and a few Armalite cut, but DPMS compatible) 243win, 260rem, 6.5creed, 308win and 2 short mags (6.5prc & 7saum). Barrel lengths from 16-28".
kimberkid
Member
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2010
- Messages
- 1,654
If I was starting over from zero, I’d start with a 18-20” 223 AR15 for general shooting to 5-600 yards which is about the max distance I have available unless I want to travel a couple hundred miles. Then a 6.5 Creedmoor for tighter groups/accuracy or at longer ranges than the 223 and lastly 300 BO for fun subsonic to ~50 yards or so.
But that’s just me.
But that’s just me.
InTheSwamp
Member
Exactly. When one's not able to answer that question, then the 5.56 seems to be the right answer.
Gordon
Member
stick with an aero ar10 . all the parts will fit and they are by far the biggest forger of them in us. i don't like the grendel because in an ar15 the bolt head and lugs are getting thin for my taste. y caps just went out btw to those who will be forced to comment. an 18 inch lightweight barrel on an ar10 isnttoo heavy if you are not handicapped or under 70 imho. the recoil is very light if set up correctly. .308 win lets you sensibly hunt all us game to any sensible range with right bullets . change calibers with in common. 473 head size no problem. .
small town life
Member
Aero Precision barrel in AR10 are all heavy, even the fluted barrels. Best 308 AR barrel I've owned (still do) is a hybrid m118 from CBI. $350-375 regular price, but I managed to get 2 around $260-280.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
I've never really been an AR guy, so that factors in to my reply. I hunt with a bolt action. But I've had an AR (or two) in 5.56 for many years, mostly on principle. More recently my attention was caught by some of the new(ish) AR cartridges that I find more interesting than 5.56, namely the 6.5 Grendel and the 6 ARC. I now have an AR in each of these and am growing to like them a lot. Unless you have a need for or just really want a heavier rifle in .308 or one of its derivatives, I'd opt for an AR15 in 6.5 Grendel or 6 ARC ... and if it could only be one of those, I'd probably go with the 6 over the 6.5. YMMV.
ETA: OP, I see you reload and have an aversion to SRPs. Given that, the .308 is probably a better candidate. Lots more factory ammo available if need be. When I decided on a 6.5 Grendel, I planned on hand loading for it exclusively.
ETA: OP, I see you reload and have an aversion to SRPs. Given that, the .308 is probably a better candidate. Lots more factory ammo available if need be. When I decided on a 6.5 Grendel, I planned on hand loading for it exclusively.
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EIB0879
Member
For me weight isn't an issue but factory ammo availability is so I hunt with a PA-10 in .308.
But lately I have been eyeing an AR in 6.8 SPC.
But lately I have been eyeing an AR in 6.8 SPC.
For me, the AR308 is more practical. But then I already load for 308 and 6.5G doesn't interest me.
And yes, AR308s are every bit as modular as AR15s. You just have to know your receiver pattern and stick to the right parts. But you can get pretty much every accessory imaginable for AR308 pattern rifles.
And yes, AR308s are every bit as modular as AR15s. You just have to know your receiver pattern and stick to the right parts. But you can get pretty much every accessory imaginable for AR308 pattern rifles.
adcoch1
Member
The Grendel will throw a 100 grain bullet with basically the same velocity and trajectory as a 308 throwing a 170 grain bullet (approximately) so if the uses you have require the heavier projectiles, go 308. But the Grendel is lots of fun, and totally capable of deer and hogs inside of 250 yards. As always, with the right bullets and proper shot placement. If the weight of the rifle isn't a major concern though, the 308 is the better choice. I have a few Grendels, but not an ar10, yet.
Gordon
Member
You know you can put or buy a 6.5 Creed AR-10 , both problems solved.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Exactly. Were I to acquire an AR-10, it would be in 6.5 Creedmoor rather than .308. I like the .308 just fine, hunted with one for many years. But I got completely out of .30 cals a few years ago.
Gordon
Member
I have two AR 10 s : a light .308 18" light barrel 2-10 scope with buis and collapsible. And a heavy 22" barrel 6.5 Creed with 6-24 scope no buis and a fixed adjustable combstock.. Both AERO upper and lower with Timney triggers and Adjustable gas blocks for my various reloads to get dialed in. I got 6 various AR 15 s to share with my son in .223 , 6.8 Spc2 , ..300 Bo and
458 socom . Two of the AR 15 s are SBR . Never thought I be an AR lover till the late 90 s started relooking into them I started using AR in 68 , but was trained on M14 and M1 in 65 . AR has become Murika's rifle ! Simple tools and you can do whatever.
Gordon
Member
Damn AI driven auto correct changes context
berettaprofessor
Member
The Grendel will be lighter and more mobile. And if you reload, what do you care if it's popular in 10 years. The 6.5 Grendel may not be popular then, but 123 grain bullets will still be available. As will 7.62X39 brass to convert!
Recently acquired a Ruger SFAR 16 inch for woods hunting. I also own a DPMS G2 Hunter 20 inch (discontinued) for longer range hunting. Both handle and feel like an AR-15. Run both suppressed, both are tack drivers, and don’t recoil much. If using for hunting and general use I would recommend one of these rifles in .308 over the 6.5 Grendel. The Ruger handles amazing and shoots sub moa with factory hunting ammo. 1/2 moa with handloads. (I got a good one)
OP
OP
WVGunman
Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2014
- Messages
- 380
Okay, a lot of people are asking exactly what I plan to use it for. This would be my do-everything gun, the gun I just pick up if I need a centerfire rifle for almost any purpose. This would include shooting varmints from crows to groundhogs through coyote to feral pigs; camp defense against a bear, SHTF, zombie apocalypse, long(ish) range target shooting, etc.
I am not much of a rifle shooter, so even all added up I don't do most of these things combined all that often. I already own a lot of .22s, shotguns, and air rifles, so I just need one versatile rifle for all the above. I don't care if either the cartridge or the gun is the best at anything, it just has to be good enough to get the job done passably well.
I am not much of a rifle shooter, so even all added up I don't do most of these things combined all that often. I already own a lot of .22s, shotguns, and air rifles, so I just need one versatile rifle for all the above. I don't care if either the cartridge or the gun is the best at anything, it just has to be good enough to get the job done passably well.
Get a standard AR in 5.56 and a .308 bolt gun.
Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Given the clarification, I'd go AR10 in 6.5 Creedmoor. @bearcreek has a point with his recommendation of two, though I'd still opt for a 6.5 Creedmoor over a .308 even in the bolt gun.
