6.5 Grendel

[reginhild]

Not much here on alternative uppers so I decided to start some threads for Q&A.

The 6.5 Grendel is a cartridge that was designed to fit in the AR15 platform with a barrel and bolt change. The Grendel case is similar to a 6mm PPC case but with the shoulder pushed forward and neck opened to 6.5mm. 6.5mm bullets from 85gr to 150gr can be loaded.

The best loads tend to be in the 120-125gr range where they deliver more energy than 5.56, 7.62x39, and 6.8 SPC. The difference in energy delivered only increases with distance due to the high BC 6.5mm bullets. At 500 yards you are looking at double the energy of 5.56 and 75% more energy than the 6.8 SPC.

Lots of good information can be found at Wikipedia by searching 6.5 Grendel.

Post your questions or experience with the cartridge here.

[reginhild]

Update on the 6.5 Grendel: Bill Alexander stated he has received 180,000 rounds of the Wolf Gold 6.5 Grendel ammunition in his shop - Alexander Arms.

Other retailers should be getting their share of the 10 Million round initial production soon as well.

[Gearjammer]

I have not shot one of these yet, but will hopefully do so in about 2 months, I have a freind that is getting one. If it does what I have heard it does I will end up with one before the year is out! I dont have much use for the 6.8 after reading the comparison between it and the 6.5.

[Schuetzenman]

You know I would of sworn I read that the 6.8 out performed the 6.5 Grendel and that's why the special forces that have fielded the 6.8 went with it. Now I'm hearing it's really the other way around so ...... why would the weaker round be picked.

[reginhild]

Schuetzenman, go read all the links on the 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 SPC posted at the beginning of this thread.

The initial development of the 6.8 SPC involved testing 6.5mm bullets (6.5 SPC) as well out of the modified .30 parent case that the 6.8 uses. The case is longer than a 6.5 Grendel case but not as fat. Available 6.5mm bullets tend to be very long and the .30 parent case (used in 6.5 SPC testing) results in loss of significant powder capacity when loading long bullets to AR15 platform (magazine) length. Unfortunately, this is what was used in the testing comparison.

The 6.5 Grendel overcomes this problem as it has a shorter and ever-so-slightly larger diameter case. The typical 6.5mm bullets achieve higher velocities and more energy from the 6.5 Grendel case than the 6.5mm bullets from the 6.5 SPC case as well as more velocity and energy than 6.8 SPC bullets.

The initial development and testing of the 6.8 SPC also had 115gr bullets driven at 2800fps from a 20" barrel. Due to pressure issues, Remington dropped the ammo velocity to 2625fps from a 24" barrel - really, ballistic testing needs to be re-done with the new ammo. I have that Hornady ammo still performs well in the 6.8 for anti-personnel use.

There hasn't been significant terminal ballistic testing done with the 6.5 Grendel to date but it looks promising. A 6.5mm 123gr SMK fired into ballistic gel tumbled and fractured with a 2" neck, this is the same criteria that the original 6.8 SPC testing achieved that was so great. The big difference is that the 6.5mm 123gr round delivers more energy and more fragment weight.

The 6.8 SPC has significant early testing that has proven it will be very effective on personnel in combat at typical combat ranges. The 6.5 Grendel has not had significant testing but indications are that it will perform on the same level.

Now a final caveat. All the need for fragmentation relates to combat use on people. For hunting you often want deeper penetration and expansion rather than fragmentation. The 6.5 Grendel can load longer heavier penetration rounds in an AR platform due to its shorter case length. Loading the longer rounds in the 6.8 SPC (over 115gr) results is more loss of powder capacity compared to the Grendel (and subsequent greater loss in velocity for something that is already producing less energy).

[Gearjammer]

I went to the gun show in roanoke va last weekend and ask the guy at alexander arms table how much for the 20in. flat top upper, 1000.00, I just walked off. NO WAY IN HELL will I pay that for an upper.

[reginhild]

The overwatch, long range, and counter sniper uppers in 6.5 Grendel are up there in price - match quality barrels. For a better price, the 16" and 14.5" tactical uppers are still shooting 1/2 MOA and are just over $500.

[reginhild]

Update:

Wolf Gold 6.5 Grendel ammunition is now for sale from Alexander Arms for $9.97 per box of 20.

The Wolf Gold is shooting 1.5 MOA with soft points - good for hunting but still need to stick with the AA factory 120 Nosler and 123 Scenar or the Black Hills 123 SMKs to get 1/2 MOA or less.

[Rock-N-Ruin]

After more research on the 2 calibers (6.5 Grendal & 6.8 SPC) I will probably get both, but the 6.5 will be the one that is a must have first!!! read up on the BC on both, the 6.5 seems to have a little better BC than the .308...

The more reading (and with my personal ballistics knowledge) it looks like the 6.5 is the way to go for flat flyin fodder.... JMO.... Jeff