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  1. #1
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    Thinking about a 6.5 Grendel upper**UPDATED 2020**

    Ok...been something I’ve been thinking on and off for a while. I’ve played around with the 300 BO, but with no cans in house there are better rounds for what I’m after. Been MIA from the hunting scene but want to get back into it.. plus want something different then 556.

    - I hand load so cost is down on ammo
    - want something that can reach out better
    - want a 308 ar or such but thinking a decent 16” Grendel upper for hunting, or whatever would fit the bill here.

    Questions I kinda have..bolt...or just pick up a complete bcg?

    - Mags? I see guys saying mags are fine if under 5 (perfect for hunting) but what others? E landers reliable?
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    Last edited by mustangfreek; 13 March 2020 at 01:20.

  2. #2
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    I’ve done enough reading to go cross-eyed on which caliber. I have a Grendel for the range but settled on a 6.8 for what you describe. Four reasons: 1) 6.8 bolts are stronger because they have more material on the rim. 2) 6.8 brass cycles more reliably. 3) out to 400 yards, both bullets are similar for hunting uses. 4) Longer than 16” isn’t necessary to maximize cartridge (18” is the start for Grendel).

    Then there’s ammo options for 6.8 as well as wildcats built off 6.8s like the newly released 224 Valkyrie. All around, I think 6.8 is THE intermediate cartridge/case for the AR15 system. I didn’t think so when I began researching because of the rising sex appeal of the Grendel and the 6.5mm craze. 6.8 has been overshadowed but not for lack of performance.

  3. #3
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    Fledge pretty much nailed it. No love for that round here. Broke bolts multiple times and even trashed a barrel extension on one. Feeding is sketchy like a 7.62x39 AR. I like the 6.8 better myself but again it's pretty pointless. Not enough ft lbs for hunting at any distance on either of those rounds so you might as well shoot a 5.56 unless you are looking for a 6-800yd paper puncher with the 6.5 or maybe a supressed hog gun with the 6.8.

  4. #4
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    I hunt in WA with a 16" ARP Scout barrel in 6.8 SPC (for those that don't know, .243 is minimum caliber to hunt deer and larger game with in WA). Since you handload I suggest looking into the 6.8 SPC. Sub-MOA barrels from ARP are around $200. Book values ("SPC I") on the 6.8 aren't that great thanks to Remington but you can push that round. At intermediate ranges the Grendel and SPC are probably a wash. My over-generalization is that if you want to stretch out to paper targets at several hundred yards than a Grendel with a long tube is probably the better choice but if you prefer a carbine for either HD or the field then the SPC is probably the better choice. Mags are probably the weak link for either cartridge. I use a PRI 10-rounder for hunting since there is no mag limit for hunting in WA and a 5 rounder is just a 10er with a block. I agree with Fledge that the 6.8 SCP II is about the perfect intermediate cartridge for the AR platform. It's really unfortunate that Remington dropped the ball.

  5. #5
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    If its for hunting purposes only what type of game and what distances are you wanting to shoot at?
    The best way to survive a violent encounter is to be the one inflicting the most violence.

  6. #6
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    Oh, and as far as bolts go, you can get either a 6.8 or 6.5 complete BCG from Monmouth for $90 right now: http://www.monmouthreloading.com/pro...urer=toolcraft

  7. #7
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    One other little tidbit that may be of interest is that Federal's new 224 Valkyrie is basically a 6.8 case necked down for 22 cal. The 6.8 crowd is hopeful this will lead to some spill over benefits for 6.8 shooters like more/better magazines and improved/continued support for brass.

  8. #8
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    A lot to say but I’ll try to break it down

    I hear ya I’ve read tons lately awhile back when I was thinking about it. I’m more or less spit balling as I have a AR15 lower sitting.

    I thought the AA bolt uses a deeper face then the others for more strength?
    What are we talking 6.8 is like.422 case head and Grendel is like .445 ish I think

    Both are barrel and bolt swap, along with Mag selection, which does suck

    Rough numbers 6.8 16” 120 gr 2475 FPS/1600 ft lbs

    6.5 Grendel 16” 123 gr 2360/1350 ft lbs

    So very close and stay about the same till 5-600


    Ideally I’d like to do a 308 or 6.5 creed but no funds for a full ar10 build right now, , and a lower sitting here bored so piecing a upper for it seems the choice.

    Wish I could just do a ar10 and sir this lower..problem solved right...

  9. #9
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    The Elander mags are fine. I have the 17, 20, and 24 round magazines and haven't had problems with any of them.

    The problems with broken bolts were generally caused by people using 7.62X39 bolts which don't have the correct bolt-face depth. I don't know anyone who's actually broken a bolt anytime recently, but there are loads of people who know someone who knows someone who broke fifteen bolts because the 6.5 Grendel is the devil's caliber or something, and if you shoot a 6.8 Spcl then angels come down and give you handies while a heavenly choir sings.

    I am really interested in the 224 Valkyrie, but near as I can tell that's the only noteworthy thing related to the 6.8.

  10. #10
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    If you are after deer, then you'll appreciate the small frame AR in the field. Either 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel will take deer just fine at typical hunting ranges. I wouldn't want to lug around an AR 308 in the field when a small frame will get the job done. I think elk opens next week, and I can see wanting a .308 for that.

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by din View Post
    The Elander mags are fine. I have the 17, 20, and 24 round magazines and haven't had problems with any of them.

    The problems with broken bolts were generally caused by people using 7.62X39 bolts which don't have the correct bolt-face depth. I don't know anyone who's actually broken a bolt anytime recently, but there are loads of people who know someone who knows someone who broke fifteen bolts because the 6.5 Grendel is the devil's caliber or something, and if you shoot a 6.8 Spcl then angels come down and give you handies while a heavenly choir sings.
    I admit I lol’d a little when I read this..


    I’m more or less bored with 556 at the moment and looking for something different..I enjoy the building/tinkering/smithing as much as shooting..

    I’m overdue for a 308 build..but can’t swing a full build right now..we’ll could would take forever

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by mustangfreek View Post
    I admit I lol’d a little when I read this..


    I’m more or less bored with 556 at the moment and looking for something different..I enjoy the building/tinkering/smithing as much as shooting..

    I’m overdue for a 308 build..but can’t swing a full build right now..we’ll could would take forever
    I’m about to start another build, and am looking at the grendel myself, although I haven’t committed fully to it just yet. But I’m after something I can take deer (legally) with. Here you can’t hunt deer with anything under .23 caliber.

    I too, really enjoy the planning and building as much, if not more than the shooting.
    Last edited by KW900A; 12 November 2017 at 06:25.

  13. #13
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    I'm wanting to do a 6.8 build now. Looking for a 18" barrel that is spec for OPS collar. Right now only one I've found is Bison.

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  14. #14
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  15. #15
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    I second on what others have said about using 6.8 instead of 6.5 for deer.

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