6.8 spc II vs 6.5 grendel for deer

[luvmystang67]

I have an 18" grendel and with the hornady rounds it patterns BEAUTIFULLY and I've taken a good black bear with it at probably 130 yards.

[lamrith]

Just curious, why the 20" rule for the Grendel?

I am curious too, I have 18" grendel and love it.  Only benefit I can see is velocity, and while every bit helps, I would not say building one under 20" is a big loss or a waste of a build..

For those with experience in both, how does the recoil compare between them?  I know my 18" Grendel AR build shoots soft, about like shooting 223 AR, and it is sub MOA.  That means I can put pretty much anyone behind it and no concerns about recoil, and you can shoot it all day with no fatigue.  My 18" was not built as lightweight build but complete it was 9 or 9.5# and over 2# of that was heavy scope, the bare gun was in the 7# range.  I will get the scale out tonight and confirm..

[syoungs]

I like the 6.5, and running something like a 129g accubond lr, it'll hammer deer out further then most should be shooting. Pretty versatle çaliber imho

[Yondering]

Just curious, why the 20" rule for the Grendel?

There is no 20" rule, just recommendations from people who haven't tried shorter barrels. I'd always heard the same thing, until I tried a shorter barrel.

I recently built a couple 12.5" barrels in 6.5 Grendel; the ballistics are very close to 12.5" 6.8 SPC, but the Grendel's better ballistic coefficients give a small advantage even at 100 yards. The velocity difference between a 12.5" Grendel and an 18" is a lot less than I would have thought from people's comments online. Just my experience...

[Biggerhammer]

I've run AR Grendel's from 16" inch to 26" inch. Really like 18" inch SPR contours for a all around well handling accurate barrel. There wasn't enough speed increase from 18" to 26" on the AR to justify the weight of a AR with a 26" barrel.

26" full bull contour. Heavy!

[jay.sharkbait]

6.5 Grendel with 18" SPR contour barrel

[Alchase]

Hammer and Jay, you guys have some sweet rifles.

[jay.sharkbait]

Hammer and Jay, you guys have some sweet rifles.

Thanks, I'm a tinkerer......

[lamrith]

Yeah those two jokes have some sweet rifles.
Bighammer, that 26" is a work of art.

I went more budget oriented, and while I do not have in the environment photo's I do have a boudoir session on the red shag blanket...
18" Brownells Barrel, Troy Alpha 13" rail, 9.56# with scope(PA 1-14 FFP ACSS), 7.3# bare rifle with iron sights.

[Biggerhammer]

How does that 18" Brownells barrel shoot with factory ammo? Let's say the Hornady 123gr A-Max or SST?

[lamrith]

How does that 18" Brownells barrel shoot with factory ammo? Let's say the Hornady 123gr A-Max or SST?

It loves those 123G amax, sub MOA, to point I am the problem more than rifle.  The barrel was ~$300 with a matched/headspaced bolt.  Not a total cheapy, but not a mosquito shooter like you like.  I picked it up after reading pretty positive reviews form 65grendel.com and that it was a good bang for the buck barrel.

Trying to work up my own load now to duplicate the factory Amax.
123G Amax Factory ammo chrono (sorry didn't get humidity those days):
75*f, 29.94inHg   Avg   2561fps
40*f, 30.2inHG,    Avg   2444

[Biggerhammer]

Here's a load that will get you close. You can tune it from there. It has shot well in my Grendel's/.264 LBC's. This was a group shot prone from a bipod with a rear bag out in the sagebrush.

I like the powder because it shoots well in my .223/5.56's also.👍 Shots 10-14 on a new BH 18" SPR BBL. This barrel I didn't break in, I cleaned it when I got it. Shot 9 rounds, cleaned it. Then shot the five shots bellow.

[yorketransport]

I think the Grendel has the edge past 300.

I assembled a 6.8 using a 20" ARP barrel and it shoots the 110 grain accubonds very well. Or should I say my wife shoots it very well.

This is last years deer with a 6.5 Grendel under 200yds one shot. Shooting the village bicycle.

130 accubond

The village bicycle you say?

[Biggerhammer]

I think the Grendel has the edge past 300.

I assembled a 6.8 using a 20" ARP barrel and it shoots the 110 grain accubonds very well. Or should I say my wife shoots it very well.

This is last years deer with a 6.5 Grendel under 200yds one shot. Shooting the village bicycle.

130 accubond

The village bicycle you say?

Sounds like that rifle needs a trip to the clinic.😷

[Alchase]

You can send it my way, I promise to put a few hundred rounds through it for a thorough examination.