6.5 Grendel - why don’t I want one?

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spittinfire

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I want another AR in something bigger than 223. Can anyone tell me why I shouldn’t build one in 6.5?
Mainly be used for punching paper and if I like it I’ll take it deer hunting sooner or later.


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spittinfire said:
I want another AR in something bigger than 223. Can anyone tell me why I shouldn’t build one in 6.5?
Mainly be used for punching paper and if I like it I’ll take it deer hunting sooner or later.


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You'll probably love the Grendel, it's a really sweet round, capable of going a very long ways effectively.
 
I have a 6.5 Grendel upper that I used to regularly shoot out to 1000 yards. You can make some really accurate loads with 123gn AMAX pills over 8208XBR powder and CCI magnum small rifle primers.
 
I have a 6.5 Grendel CZ bolt gun. It is the last bolt gun I’d sell. That round is awesomeness. I don’t reload yet, but $9/box Wolf shoot 1 MOA at 100’ and Hornady shots better. Federal Fusion I haven’t shot enough to have a good read on yet, but it would kill a deer at 500. An AR in Grendel would be very nice. Search for the Grendel forums to learn more. Lots of info there.
 
You shouldn't buy one if you don't reload and don't shoot steel case ammo. That would be a perfect storm of crap and my friend is in that boat.
He overbuilt a Grendel with a Lilja barrel and all these expensive parts, and complains about $25 boxes of brass ammo. Meanwhile I talked him into buying a cheap PSA 12.5" pistol that shoots 1.5MOA at 200yds with Wolf steelcase.
 
Ikarus1 said:
You shouldn't buy one if you don't reload and don't shoot steel case ammo. That would be a perfect storm of crap and my friend is in that boat.
He overbuilt a Grendel with a Lilja barrel and all these expensive parts, and complains about $25 boxes of brass ammo. Meanwhile I talked him into buying a cheap PSA 12.5" pistol that shoots 1.5MOA at 200yds with Wolf steelcase.
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If you think $17 a box for Hornady Black is reasonable, I can hook your friend up with plenty.
 
I built an AR-15 lower and it has been sitting in the closet for weeks while thinking about a 18" 223 barrel. I really want the 6.5 Grendel but not ready to buy another set of dies, case trimmer, bullets and cases. Going to be following this thread and it might change my mind. I seen people at the range shoot 525 yards with no problems. A friends daughter who is many 8 hitting target at 500 with every shot. Really a good round.
 
I had one briefly and sold it. My range goes to 300 and I already own shoot and reload 223 and 308. It didn't shoot any better so I let it go.
 
So I had to start googling last night and from reading reviews and reports Grendel Hunter seems to offer a great shooting upper for under $500. I’m kind of leaning that way so now I guess I’ll have to start squirreling some cash away.


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I’ve got the Grendel bug as well and my plan is to build a nice upper that I’ll slap on my Daniel Defense lower when I want to use it. Went on a hog hunt recently and I was telling some of my buddies about the 6.5 Grendel and neither of them have ever owned an AR, but they each ordered a kit from PSA to build dedicated hog hunting rigs. I’ve never even shot one, but I guess I sold the round pretty well to them....
 
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I’ve been hunting with my 6.8 SPC AR since 2012, and I’m extremely impressed with its performance on deer. The 6.5 is better for long range target work, but they’re pretty much equal in hunting distances. Your choice would depend on what you do the most.
 
Chuckman said:
Yeah, I sent that out quickly and couldn't finish up. 6.5 shares that commonality, too.

I have a buttload of ballistics comparison data for 22.4 Val, 6.5, and 6.8, I need to see if I can find it.
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The biggest difference is 6.5G doesn't lose velocity as quick as the .223 rounds so it does well out of a 12.5" barrel for those that like SBR or AR pistol route for commonality. I tested my 12.5" pistol suppressed with Hornady black and can't wait to start reloading for the round. To me it fits perfectly in between the 300blk cartridge and .223 with the added benefit of long range performance. It may be my go to round for everything.

I apologize I don't have much experience with the .224V round.
 
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chrishf12 said:
The biggest difference is 6.5G doesn't lose velocity as quick as the .223 rounds so it does well out of a 12.5" barrel for those that like SBR or AR pistol route for commonality. I tested my 12.5" pistol suppressed with Hornady black and can't wait to start reloading for the round. To me it fits perfectly in between the 300blk cartridge and .223 with the added benefit of long range performance. It may be my go to round for everything.

I apologize I don't have much experience with the .224V round.
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Spot on, definitely a better distance/precision round, and loses in the shorter barrel competition. In fact, I am not sure I would shoot .224 Val in anything shorter than 20".
 
The G is a great round, shot one for about a year and sold it after getting into the Creedmoor game.

My main deer rifle is a 12.5" 6.8 w/ a 5" can, amazing setup for hunting out of tree stands.
 
jmccracken1214 said:
I love my Grendel’s.
Here’s my 20 abs my 12”.

Smacking steel plates at 700 yards with a 12” ar is pretty ballin.
View attachment 113251
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Parts of one county I hunt in does not allow rifles to hunt deer but pistols are perfectly legal.....I built a 10.5" .300blk last yr and it worked great but I wouldn't mind something with a little more range. How does the Grendel compare with the blackout as far as recoil/muzzle blast? The blackout is very mild and works great for my daughter..... I will not be shooting suppressed. Thinking about a 12" Grendel and setting the blackout up for home defense.

@chrishf12 Feel free to jump in on this as well.
 
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BBD280 said:
Parts of one county I hunt in does not allow rifles to hunt deer but pistols are perfectly legal.....I built a 10.5" .300blk last yr and it worked great but I wouldn't mind something with a little more range. How does the Grendel compare with the blackout as far as recoil/muzzle blast? The blackout is very mild and works great for my daughter..... I will not be shooting suppressed. Thinking about a 12" Grendel and setting the blackout up for home defense.

@chrishf12 Feel free to jump in on this as well.
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I’ve got a 12.5” grendel and can’t tell any different between it and a 16” 223 really. It’s not bad at all, very soft shooting and will take game out to 300. Someone on snipers hide killed a buck a little over 500 with a 12.5 grendel
 
Darkhorse said:
I would consider a 6.8 spc also. Ammo will be easier to get once the military switches over to 6.8
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303hunter said:
I’ve been hunting with my 6.8 SPC AR since 2012, and I’m extremely impressed with its performance on deer. The 6.5 is better for long range target work, but they’re pretty much equal in hunting distances. Your choice would depend on what you do the most.
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This I have been hunting with mine since 2013. the 100/110gr Accubonds are a nightmare for deer.

My 8 pointer I took last year was with a factory 90gr gold dot.

Up to 300 yards there pretty equal, I went with the 6.8 just because as a reloader I wanted to push the limit on reloading. Harrison (owner of AR15 performance, took an elk at 373 yards years ago

For target a 224v is what I am thinking of getting next.

Ikarus1 said:
yeah that ain't gonna happen anytime soon, especially in bulk. SPC is been out for what, 15 years? Heck you can't even get M855A1 yet.
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There is a foreign army that put in for the 6.8. Jordanians I think. But in the US, yea it wont happen.
 
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BBD280 said:
Parts of one county I hunt in does not allow rifles to hunt deer but pistols are perfectly legal.....I built a 10.5" .300blk last yr and it worked great but I wouldn't mind something with a little more range. How does the Grendel compare with the blackout as far as recoil/muzzle blast? The blackout is very mild and works great for my daughter..... I will not be shooting suppressed. Thinking about a 12" Grendel and setting the blackout up for home defense.

@chrishf12 Feel free to jump in on this as well.
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To be honest I don't notice any difference between blk and Grendel recoil in a gas gun. I cannot comment on the muzzle blast as I have only shot 12.5" grendel and 8" blk suppressed. I would not be scared to let a new shooter start out with 6.5G either rifle or pistol configuration.

In a increased range scenario I have read where people are taking small game out to 400+ yrds with a grendel pistol.

I don't have enough time behind the round yet, but I think the 6.5 could fill the 300blk HD role for me as well. Not saying it is better at CQB, however allows me to standardize around 1 specialty round vs multiple.
 
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chrishf12 said:
To be honest I don't notice any difference between blk and Grendel recoil in a gas gun. I cannot comment on the muzzle blast as I have only shot 12.5" grendel and 8" blk suppressed. I would not be scared to let a new shooter start out with 6.5G either rifle or pistol configuration.

In a increased range scenario I have read where people are taking small game out to 400+ yrds with a grendel pistol.

I don't have enough time behind the round yet, but I think the 6.5 could fill the 300blk HD role for me as well. Not saying it is better at CQB, however allows me to standardize around 1 specialty round vs multiple.
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Thanks..... with steel cased Grendel ammo @ $5/box it'd be cheaper to let her burn ammo and get me out to 200yds more comfortably in the stand. The recoil I'm not really worried about but the noise/blast in bigger guns bothers her, she's only 8. Guess I need to put one together and try it out.
 
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