I've been looking at 6mm ARC.
6.5mm Grendel
6.8mm SPC
I've been looking at 6mm ARC.
Gettin' down innagrass.
Let's Go Brandon!
Here a 4 others that sell 6mm ARC barrels just doing a quick search.
https://www.precisionfirearms.com/m8...more%20rows%20
https://www.opticsplanet.com/helix-6...10070301008005
https://www.shawcustombarrels.com/sh...ory/6mm-arc/28
https://compasslake.com/product/6mm-...lein-4-groove/
There seems to be a difference of opinion in this matter. I suspect there are a ton of posts here debating the two cartridges and we will not settle the matter here. I say, to each his own. The two cartridges are for all practical purposes nearly identical in terms of exterior ballistics. I give the edge to the 6.8 because of it's better track record of reliable feeding and lack of catastrophic bolt failures. My 18" ARP barreled 6.8 easily does < 1 MOA using factory ammo.My conclusion, as an all-around cartridge, the 6.5 Grendel is the clear winner.
https://www.ar15performance.com/home
Originally Posted by Harrison
Last edited by Steve_in_Allentown; 06-18-21 at 20:41.
Originally Posted by Red*Lion
My conclusion, as an all-around cartridge, the 6.5 Grendel is the clear winner.Why did you attribute a quote to me when it is the words of the author of one of the articles that I quoted/posted? I am not trying to convince anyone to agree with me. To each their own. I have had zero feeding problems with Grendel mags and zero problems with bolt failures. Both cartridges are similar to around 300 or so yards and then the Grendel performs better. Hard to get Grendel ammo, but that's why serious Grendel shooters reload. Have and enjoy what you want.Steve in Allentown said....There seems to be a difference of opinion in this matter. I suspect there are a ton of posts here debating the two cartridges and we will not settle the matter here. I say, to each his own. The two cartridges are for all practical purposes nearly identical in terms of exterior ballistics. I give the edge to the 6.8 because of it's better track record of reliable feeding and lack of catastrophic bolt failures. My 18" ARP barreled 6.8 easily does < 1 MOA using factory ammo.
Last edited by Red*Lion; 06-18-21 at 19:20.
My mistake. Apologies.
Since you reload I thought the following written by the guy who runs AR15 Performance might be of interest.
Originally Posted by constructor a.k.a. Harrison at ARP
More insight from Harrison. My take away from all the numbers is that the two calibers provide essentially the same ballistics. The differences are definitely there but so small as to be of little practical consequence within 600 yards. My benchrest days are well behind me. A long shot for me these days is 300 yards. If I need to reach out any further than that it'll be with a .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor.
Link to the information presented below: LINK
Originally Posted by constructor a.k.a. Harrison at ARP
One thing to keep in mind is that all the 6.8 SPC figures people like to point to are the so-called SPC-II non-sammi variants. And some of the information being referenced in this thread is from people with a very strong vested interest in selling non-sammi barrels for 6.8. It is very clear to me they are no longer objective sources.
Your common inexpensive SPC from Remington or similar doesn't perform anything like that. And using the hot stuff in a barrel with the sammi throat is a recipe for high pressure problems.
People mention Grendels and bolt life/failure. I've been shooting Grendel extensively since 2008, as has my brother and also some friends. No one I know has ever had a bolt issue. Nor magazine issues.
The bolts do receive more bolt thrust due to the larger bolt head diameter, so do have to be stronger. You could argue fairly there's less margin of error with a grendle bolt than with 5.56. Much less of a difference between Grendel and SPC though.
On the positive side it is very difficult to make an inaccurate grendel load when hand loading. There is a pretty good selection of bullets, all that I need.
Both my brother and I have hunted with Grendel, and my son is starting to. It's a deadly stopper on hogs and deer. And even bigger if you're willing to try though I wouldn't recommend it or 6.8 for longer ranges.
And the ability to get steel case Grendel ammo for plinking/training up until recently was a huge win. It's not super accurate but it's great for 25 and 50 m drills.
Grendel was also designed from the very beginning to be extremely reliable in full auto in both AR and AK platforms. And accordingly is sold for and in use by militaries in the AK platform. It was also designed such that it could be made on the barnul and similar Soviet ammo making machines.
And the last thing is that being able to use 7.62X39 brass was a real advantage when brass was hard to get during the 2008 shortages. One swipe through the loading die and you're in business.
There are enough intangibles to swing the needle to Grendel for me. I can shoot any of them, and if 6.8 had a substantial advantage I would change to that route. But especially if you're a hand loader, Grendel is a very easy pick. I know very few people that went Grendel and regretted it. But I do know some people that went 6.8, but then ended up moving to Grendel.
6mm ARC might be fun for paper at distance, but I really don't want to go that light on projectiles. And if I needed to, Grendel gets awful close. Bill Alexander did used to say that the ideal Grendel bullet weight was 110 to 115, which is closer to 6 mm ARC.
But the Hornady 123 amax and SST were pretty much designed specifically for Grendel, have the same exact BC and can be used interchangeably without changing loads. So I'm very happy with those two projectiles for hunting and target.
The Hornady 123A Max factory loading was extremely accurate. I've shot five shot half inch groups at 100 yd with that in my first grindle which was a 20-in stainless bull barrel. Like I said earlier, it's very hard to make an accurate Grendel's unless you miss-built the rifle.
So yeah, I'm a Grendel fan. There's a lot of intangibles that don't get discussed much that led me that direction. But it's not worth arguing over on an internet forum :-)
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