6.5 Grendel vs 6.8 SPC

[dennishoddy]

I'm going to buy or build an upper in one of these calibers.
Main purpose will be hunting, and possibly some long range target.
Anybody have experience with either?

 

[Wormydog1724]

I built a 6.8 with a bison barrel. It's accurate with ssa and Hornady ammo. It's devastating on coyotes. I'll see how it does on deer this fall. If you want some real info join 68forums. It's my understanding the 6.5 is better at distances greater than 500. The 6.8 had better energy inside 300. This is my loose understanding of the two. I'm happy I went with 6.8 so far.

 

[aeropb]

The 6.5 is a far superior design. I've shot both and they basically do the same thing, but you get way better bullet selection/design in 6.5 than .277.

 

[KurtM]

I have found that any cartridge with "Special" in the name (I E. 6.8 "special" purpouse cartridge). Usually falls far from what it should be, so from that info alone I would go with 6.5 Grendal. All joking aside Aero peanutbutter (the PB, we must assume), and TacticalK9 are both spot on. You will be far happier with the Grendal. I have used it on Hog and Mule deer and it works a lot like a 250 Savage in that respect. Go Grendal!

 

[Ksmirk]

Well for what it's worth I am the person who for some reason hates anything .270 caliber as far as I'm concerned Jack O' Conner got it all wrong with the perfect cartridge for North America! the 280 Remington is the winner hands down in my eyes if you could have only 1 rifle to do it all. Think for a second about those Swede's and their little 6.5x55 rifles, they don't have any COOL belts and they don't drive bullets to stupid crazy velocity the things most folks think they have to have to kill a 65# Whitetail deer in Oklahoma but what did they use that little 6.5 caliber round for? deer, elk, hogs, moose and ya know what it killed em'

The 6.5 caliber is so superior to the .270 caliber only thing better with more bullet selection would be the .284 caliber, that little 6.5 caliber bullet doesn't have be driven at stupid velocity to to really shine. Dennis do yourself a favor and go with a Grendel I'm pretty sure it'll make you smile. I'm off my soap box now LOL Later,

Kirk

 

[DoctorJJ]

I did a lot of research before I dove in and I ended up going with te Grendel. Your welcome to shoot mine anytime.

 

[Wormydog1724]

Honestly I am happy with my 6.8, I probably would have been just as happy with the 6.5. I have been looking at the 300 BLK more recently and have heard 'they' are coming out with 'a bunch' of new rounds, a lot of them are geared towards hunting. Anybody know any truth to this or have any insight on the 300 BLK compared to the other two? (not talking about the subsonic stuff)

 

[Jeremy Haynes]

Wormy,

I shot a 7mm TCU in steel silhouette competitions for many years out of a 10" Thompson Contender single shot pistol. I was able to hit rams all day long with open sights at 200 meters. As far as i can tell the 7mm TCU and 300BLK are identical as far as down range performance. Seeing how that round drops steel at 200 meters, i dont think i would feel comfortable taking a shot on a deer much past 100 meters unless i knew damn well i could hit a perfect vitals shot. It is a cool round, and i am sure it is fun but i dont think it is the best hunting round at any type of range at all. I have read the same as you that they are coming out with all kinds of new ammo for it, but the biggest problem is bullet design. Unless they start coming out with .30 cal bullets that will honestly expand properly at 1250-1500 fps then i would look elsewhere for a hunting round. 100 meters and closer i think it would be great, but man there are a lot of other options at that range.

458 SOCOM looks like a shitload of fun to me at 100yds on just about anything =)

IMO, a 300BLK is perfect for a supressed SBR at close/mid ranges, but it falls on its face when you try to stretch its legs so to speak.

 

[Wormydog1724]

I know how much fun subsonic 300 BLK suppressed is. I guess what's most appealing to me is using the same mags, same BCG. I really don't like my 6.8 mags. Does the 6.5 use the same mags as .223 and same bolt?

 

[Jeremy Haynes]

As far as i know, 6.5 takes a different bolt and mags.

 

[aeropb]

No and no. Different mag, different bolt, different barrel.

 

[Wormydog1724]

Well that's not what I was Wanting to hear. Wish the 300 BLK would step up and make a good hunting round.

 

[Ksmirk]

Check out a little OLD round called the 30 Remington, it pretty much amounts to a 30-30 round in an AR platform BUT you can load pointy bullets. It's the parent case for the 6.8 so you already have mags and a bolt you just need a barrel, please don't hold me to this but I think the velocity with a 150gr bullet is around the 2200fps range and I know that little 125gr NBT from a 30-30 is pure evil on deer hehe.

Pretty sure you'd have to reload but you need to be doing that anyway right? Later,

Kirk