6.8 spc or 6.5 grendel for deer?

Please assume AR15, 16 inch.

Mule deer, out to 500 yards.

Which is better - 6.8 spc or 6.5 grendel?

Your comments are appreciated!

Mule deer, out to 500 yards.

Neither

+1... LOL

This debate again?

Begining to think Lee24 has some compitetion

IMO the grendel has it all over the 6.8 those 6.5mm bullets are much more ballistically efficient than a 110gr .270" bulllet. A 120gr Nosler ballistic tip would be the one i would look hard at, but 500 yds is really pushin its range, 300yds and under would be the correct range for its velocity.

Originally Posted by DarkStar

IMO the grendel has it all over the 6.8 those 6.5mm bullets are much more ballistically efficient than a 110gr .270" bulllet. A 120gr Nosler ballistic tip would be the one i would look hard at, but 500 yds is really pushin its range, 300yds and under would be the correct range for its velocity.

Although it is rather difficult to compare Apples to Apples when the two rounds do not have identical bullet weights, but we can come close.

Using published load data with same barrel length and similar bullets I came up with this.

6.5 Grendel with 120gr Nosler BT. Muzzle velocity 2466fps.
Zero at 250 yards = 2037fps and 1105fpe
At 500 yards = -51.91 inches, 1657fps and 731fpe

6.8SPC with 130gr Nosler BT. Muzzle velocity 2430fps
Zero at 250 yards = 1981fps and 1133fpe
500 yards = -55.05 inches 1589fps and 729fpe

As you can see, the difference in performance between the two is almost immeasurable. The BC of the 120gr 6.5 is .458 while the BC of the 130gr 277 BT is .433. Not any real difference at all.

Originally Posted by steve4102

Originally Posted by DarkStar

IMO the grendel has it all over the 6.8 those 6.5mm bullets are much more ballistically efficient than a 110gr .270" bulllet. A 120gr Nosler ballistic tip would be the one i would look hard at, but 500 yds is really pushin its range, 300yds and under would be the correct range for its velocity.

Although it is rather difficult to compare Apples to Apples when the two rounds do not have identical bullet weights, but we can come close.

Using published load data with same barrel length and similar bullets I came up with this.

6.5 Grendel with 120gr Nosler BT. Muzzle velocity 2466fps.
Zero at 250 yards = 2037fps and 1105fpe
At 500 yards = -51.91 inches, 1657fps and 731fpe

6.8SPC with 130gr Nosler BT. Muzzle velocity 2430fps
Zero at 250 yards = 1981fps and 1133fpe
500 yards = -55.05 inches 1589fps and 729fpe

As you can see, the difference in performance between the two is almost immeasurable. The BC of the 120gr 6.5 is .458 while the BC of the 130gr 277 BT is .433. Not any real difference at all.

My 20 inch Stag puts out 110 ttsx's at 2720 fps with a .377 BC. With I might add about 7 lbs of recoil. I like that out to maybe 400yds tops.I can't fathom shooting at 400 much less 500 with any rifle.

Thanks for that! Very helpful, but not very impressive. I think the 300 yard limit suggested above is prudent.

Originally Posted by steve4102

Originally Posted by DarkStar

IMO the grendel has it all over the 6.8 those 6.5mm bullets are much more ballistically efficient than a 110gr .270" bulllet. A 120gr Nosler ballistic tip would be the one i would look hard at, but 500 yds is really pushin its range, 300yds and under would be the correct range for its velocity.

Although it is rather difficult to compare Apples to Apples when the two rounds do not have identical bullet weights, but we can come close.

Using published load data with same barrel length and similar bullets I came up with this.

6.5 Grendel with 120gr Nosler BT. Muzzle velocity 2466fps.
Zero at 250 yards = 2037fps and 1105fpe
At 500 yards = -51.91 inches, 1657fps and 731fpe

6.8SPC with 130gr Nosler BT. Muzzle velocity 2430fps
Zero at 250 yards = 1981fps and 1133fpe
500 yards = -55.05 inches 1589fps and 729fpe

As you can see, the difference in performance between the two is almost immeasurable. The BC of the 120gr 6.5 is .458 while the BC of the 130gr 277 BT is .433. Not any real difference at all.

DPMS 260 = solid 500 yd deer rifle in good hands.

Better to have said, the 'Right Hands'....and I am not speaking about me. 500 is a long ways out, but the gun is Deer of Angle and the 260 is a killer.

Mule deer or any big game at 500 yards indicates hunter is not a hunter. 99.9% of guys afield could not hit a 12" circle EVERY shot when shooting from real world field conditions at 500 yards. If you can't, you have no business trying it.

Both the cartridges mentioned are marginal at 300 on a big deer, look up the ballistics on a 25 Remington or 257 Bob if you think different.

A plain old 721 in 270 or 30-06 is FAR superior to either for a lot less money. My ancient 721 in 300 H&H is three times the rifle of either of those AR popguns. You want a serious AR, get a DPMS LR in 308 or 300 SAUM.

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