Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC for best all round AR caliber.

There is not much if any difference in practical accuracy or killing power in the game fields. I choose the 6.8 and would do so again. I like the cartridge very much and do not see that I have given up any practical exterior ballistics in doing so. With either cartridge I would set my AR's up with low power S&B scopes with lots of field of view. For long range works have much better options already and the minor differences between the 2 cartridges is a moot point to me

The 6.8 does look like a lot of fun..

Nice looking AR!! Here's my hunting rifle and patriot gun. Well one of them

The guy in the video was not impressive to me in his knowledge of terminal ballistics, since he reference "energy dump" which means he is ignorant of what is actually happening in an "inelastic collision" which a bullet strike most certainly is

I have said this same thing about the 6.8 several times and caught all sorts of flack for it. The 6.8's recoil is not heavy by any means, it's just heavy for a fast-shooting gun and much heavier than a 5.56. JMO.

I have both and the 6.8's recoil is not a factor in fast accurate fire in-fact I often see bullet impacts through the scope

Both under 2-300 yards are probably almost the same. 300-800 the Grendel shines, thus giving you a good pronghorn gun or coyote gun. I think also the Grendel can shoot slightly lighter weight bullets for smaller game. Like I said, best all around. Whether you get ammo or not at Walmart isn't an issue for me, I reload, except for 22's. Off topic, but I am considering a 22 Hornet as a 22 mag substitute. I found out I can reload a Hornet about the same price as 22 mag and can get twice the power.

I fail to see the problem in taking a deer at 400 or so yards with the 6.8 and do not see the 6.5's claimed advantage until farther out and then the 6.8 ain't bad

As much as I like my 6.8 and recognize the Grendel as a viable alternative, there just ain't no way I'm hunting elk with either one of them. Yes, I know they have both been used to take elk at distance, but I choose not to even attempt to duplicate that stunt.

The 6.8 is the modern 30-30. It has about the same uses.

The data shows the gredel has the advantage from muzzle out. The higher bc bullets give it the real advantage. The short stubby 6.8 bullets rate pretty low on the hornady HITS calculator and they shed energy and velocity quickly. The grendel has a higher HITS score from muzzle to flesh.

I also saw a chart somewhere, that at long range the 6.5 actually retained more energy than a 308. It is one of those calibers that does more than it should, like the 6mm PPC. The 6.5 Swede is also a good one. In Sweden, they use their 6.5 to hunt moose.

I wish you guys would just buy one of each and start killing something.

+1, Both kill no prob to 300 yds, which covers about 90-95% or more of deer/big game hunting esp in an AR platform for most hunters IMHO. Folks need to consider velocity to expand, comparing rounds on FT LBS alone does not tell the story.

As to chamber spec variance of Grendel for LBC, etc. - the originator's goofed the marketing and launch of the round by trying to hold on to all rights. Hornady, etc. got around it to offer it to more people. No issues IMO with the change. I'd just go w/latest reamer specs for best accuracy.

At least one guy thought so highly of the 6.5 - he had a 6.5 round done on the 6.8 case - Hmmmmmm and has a whole website on it. Something to ponder.

http://www.reloadbench.com/cgi-bin/...mber=34&DaysPrune=1000&SUBMIT=Go

I recognize his work prob was largely done before more brass available in Grendel, and less bullet choices in light 6.8s.

What the [bleep] is a HITS score? Is that something JeffO came up with?

I'm sure you've more AR experience than TAK...

Now we're dumping mags at elk?

Alexander Arms came up with the 6.5. They also came up with the 50 Beowulf. However the 458 Socom has just as much power and uses 45-70 bullets in reloading. Bill Alexander made a mistake on both IMHO. Trying to hold on to the 6.5 priority, and not necking down the 50 Beowulf to 458 caliber. The 6.5 is now SAMII speced as of 2012. So anyone can make the barrels and ammo for it now.

Remington came out with the 6.8 based on their old 30 Rem cartridge that fell by the wayside to the 30-30. But they didn't keep the priority to it. After reviewing all I could, I think the 6.5 is a better round. I also think the 458 Socom is a better round (for reloaders) because the 450 Bushmaster uses a slightly smaller bullet than the 458 and if you use 458 bullets in the 450 they have to be resized slightly smaller which is an extra step in the reloading process.

I also think if I can come up with the money, that the 300 Blackout is another good caliber to have. Good short range cartridge and it can use a silencer with subsonic bullets. For longer range the 6.5 is the way to go for more knockdown than the 223 can offer. Then for a big thumber the 458 Socom. That would cover just about all bases except long range magnums, with 4 total uppers. Throw in a 22 LR conversion kit and you should be able to take anything in North America.

6.8's and 6.5's serve multiple purposes. Hunting, protecting your family and your constitution.

Umm, yeah. You're getting a week long tag team from Kate Upton and Olivia Munn before there's even a 1% chance of you shooting at zombies and black helicopters.

6.8's and 6.5's serve multiple purposes. Hunting, protecting your family and your constitution.