Would you get into 6.5 Grendel in 2024?
- Thread starter KCode
- Start date
Do you know which barrel length Barnes used for their data/development? The data on their site says 2590fps. I assume they used a 24" barrel like Nosler. You data looks about 200fps slow which would make sense for a new 18" barrel and natural variation.
I haven’t looked. But I’m assuming it was a 22-24”. I’ll be happy if the barrel sped up and picked up 100-150fps and got me to 2400
I got into 6.5 Grendel with a CZ 527 bolt-action rifle for deer hunting. No regrets. Whether it is better or the more recently introduced 6 ARC, I couldn't say, but the 527 was never chambered in 6. Either would work in an AR-15, but they both perform much better with a longer barrel than most people prefer on an AR.
AR's also bring a lot of other potential criteria into the mix. Heavier projectiles are going to have a better terminal effect, but if the bulk and weight of a full loadout is a factor, then the trajectory of the bullets is going to arc more because larger cases to hold the powder for higher velocities would reduce magazine capacity and therefore increase magazine count and overall weight. If you're hunting and you only need about five cartridges, it doesn't matter.
300 BLK is the worst of both worlds. It's too small and light for subsonic, being beat even by 45 ACP. It's too heavy and with insufficient powder capacity for supersonic. Grendel is certainly a better choice for supersonic. For subsonic, we need some more innovation. 300 BLK works well because it uses the 5.56x45 case, magazines, etc., but like I wrote, it's too small and light to slow it down. The 45 is better, but it may lack the pressure to operate a gas action. Pistol cartridge carbines typically use blowback actions that don't just blow, they suck. Suppressed AR's need a large caliber cartridge that generates a lot of gas pressure. I don't like how the straightwall options headspace off the case mouth, so maybe 458 socom or 9x39.
AR's also bring a lot of other potential criteria into the mix. Heavier projectiles are going to have a better terminal effect, but if the bulk and weight of a full loadout is a factor, then the trajectory of the bullets is going to arc more because larger cases to hold the powder for higher velocities would reduce magazine capacity and therefore increase magazine count and overall weight. If you're hunting and you only need about five cartridges, it doesn't matter.
300 BLK is the worst of both worlds. It's too small and light for subsonic, being beat even by 45 ACP. It's too heavy and with insufficient powder capacity for supersonic. Grendel is certainly a better choice for supersonic. For subsonic, we need some more innovation. 300 BLK works well because it uses the 5.56x45 case, magazines, etc., but like I wrote, it's too small and light to slow it down. The 45 is better, but it may lack the pressure to operate a gas action. Pistol cartridge carbines typically use blowback actions that don't just blow, they suck. Suppressed AR's need a large caliber cartridge that generates a lot of gas pressure. I don't like how the straightwall options headspace off the case mouth, so maybe 458 socom or 9x39.
I regret to say I concur the 300 BLK only beats the Grendel in reliability.
Under 100 yards, the 300 BLK is o-tay but if I could go back in time and talk to myself, I'd say DON'T DO IT unless you're doing apartment building style CQB.
Under 100 yards, the 300 BLK is o-tay but if I could go back in time and talk to myself, I'd say DON'T DO IT unless you're doing apartment building style CQB.
This is what the Beretta NARP looks like. I think this one is 5.56, but you get the idea of the layout, semi-monolithic upper, looks like a throw-lever quick-detach handguard.
Yeah, even in 2025….
First groups from a new 18” Grendel build.
Seekins upper, lower, hg
Proof 18” Stainless 6.5 Grendel barrel
Toolcraft DLC bcg
Colt lpk
Standard carbine RE w/H buffer
Magpul STR with Subrevtech bag rider
Flat Larue MBT trigger
NX8 4-32 Mil-XT in a cheap Warne X-Skel mount
Surefire 3 Prong FH
Castle nut is staked at 12 o’clock.
Groups were shot at 100 yards across the bedcover of my truck on a Harris with a rear squeeze bag. Forgot my chrono. Hornady Black 123ELD’s and 100ELD-VT ammo used.
The 2 groups on top of one another were shot suppressed. The 100gr ammo short stroked without the suppressor but locked back on empty suppressed. 123’s ran like a champ with and without the can.
I got sloppy and shanked shot 3 in the top left pic but oh well, I counted it in the group.
Lone shot in center pic was the first fired after a quick bore sight.
First groups from a new 18” Grendel build.
Seekins upper, lower, hg
Proof 18” Stainless 6.5 Grendel barrel
Toolcraft DLC bcg
Colt lpk
Standard carbine RE w/H buffer
Magpul STR with Subrevtech bag rider
Flat Larue MBT trigger
NX8 4-32 Mil-XT in a cheap Warne X-Skel mount
Surefire 3 Prong FH
Castle nut is staked at 12 o’clock.
Groups were shot at 100 yards across the bedcover of my truck on a Harris with a rear squeeze bag. Forgot my chrono. Hornady Black 123ELD’s and 100ELD-VT ammo used.
The 2 groups on top of one another were shot suppressed. The 100gr ammo short stroked without the suppressor but locked back on empty suppressed. 123’s ran like a champ with and without the can.
I got sloppy and shanked shot 3 in the top left pic but oh well, I counted it in the group.
Lone shot in center pic was the first fired after a quick bore sight.
The 2 Grendel’s I’ve put together in the last couple months. An 18” with Craddock RTR and NightForce NX8 2.5–20x. I just finishing this 13.9” Craddock RTR Pangris. Just ordered the Steiner T6XI 2-5-15x this evening. Both are using adjustable gas blocks and sharing a HUXWRW Flow 762. While I’m sure the 13.9” will be more well rounded, the 18” is just so enjoyable and rewarding to shoot. Both are using Geissele SDE triggers and A5 buffer systems.
It’s like my MRAD. It’s makes me look like a much better shooter than I am.
It’s been fantastic. I’ve shot 3 5 round groups from the 18” barrel using the Precision Firearms Lapua Scenar L 120 grain and all 3 were right round 0.8 MOA. I’m not the best shooter either. I’m using the HUXWRX Flow 762 and it shoots like a 22. You can watch the round impact the paper at 100 yards.
That’s part of the reason I wanted to try to 13.9” Pangris so badly. I’m sure it won’t be as easy to shoot as the 18”, but I’m excited for it!
Does the accuracy drop off at all after 4 or 5 shots? Or does it hold pretty good.
My 16” 6.5 G Faxon will always put the first 2 rounds almost touching, and after that she opens up to an inch or so…
I can’t remember the profile, but it’s fairly thin.
You didn’t ask me but the 2 18” Grendel RTR’s I have don’t string when they get hot. They handle heat as well as any other spr profile barrel I have.
Yes I would get into Grendel in 2025. I feel it has a far superior line up of available loaded ammo and bullets as compared to either the 6 ARC or 22 ARC. For hunting and shooting from short barrels it will out perform the 6 ARC and 22 ARC. The 6.8 SPC would compare favorably for hunting. For just target shooting I chose the 22 ARC. It shoots 7% flatter than the 6 ARC and much better than the Grendel. I just checked, I have five Grendel's and two 22 ARC chambered rifles.
Thank you for the “heads up”. This is an excellent price for this ammo. It performs very well in my Larue 6.5 Grendel with Craddock 18” Bartlien barrel.
I ordered 10 boxes myself, but thinking I should have bought more
Figure at least one of my Grendel’s should like it.
Figure at least one of my Grendel’s should like it.
Good find on the Hornady Black! It is hard to reload at that price. I might just pick up a few boxes. This ammo shoots around 1.25" in most of my Grendel rifles. Went back and looked at my chrono data from last summer, in my 11.5" LaRue SURG Hornady Black 123 gr. averaged right at 2200 fps. STD DEV 13.3 fps.
It’s hard to reload at that price for sure. I was very close to picking up a few boxes, had them in my cart and the card primed. Then I remembered that it was just sort of “meh” out of my current main squeeze. And, I am set up to reload ammo that is not “meh.” That walked me back from the edge.
Don’t get me wrong, Hornady black 123 bthp is sub moa in one of my other grendels, but it’s 2-4 moa out of the one I’m sitting behind as I type this. (I took it and some black out to the range this morning…)
Up side, I’ll have a few more pieces of brass to add to the reloading stack… Downside, id rather buy ammo my gun likes…
Don’t get me wrong, Hornady black 123 bthp is sub moa in one of my other grendels, but it’s 2-4 moa out of the one I’m sitting behind as I type this. (I took it and some black out to the range this morning…)
Up side, I’ll have a few more pieces of brass to add to the reloading stack… Downside, id rather buy ammo my gun likes…
There was a guy who made a 1st-round hit at 760yds on a 2 MOA plate with his 12.5” Odin Works suppressed 6.5 Grendel with Hornady 123gr BTHP ammo at one of my DM courses. That ammo has always shot really well for me. Looks like they incorporated the 123gr American Gunner into the Black line. You can buy 2 different 123gr 6.5 Grendel Hornady Black loads:
123gr BTHP
123gr ELD-M
All the Hornady ammo has shot well for me, dating back to the 123gr A-MAX before the ELD-M existed. It shot well out of my 16” button-rifled AA/ER Shaw pipe I started with, but I’ve mostly shot through Lilja and my 12” Monster Group buy barrel when shooting the American Gunner BTHP and 123gr ELD-M over the past 11yrs for the 17.6”, and 7 years for the 12”.
123gr BTHP
123gr ELD-M
All the Hornady ammo has shot well for me, dating back to the 123gr A-MAX before the ELD-M existed. It shot well out of my 16” button-rifled AA/ER Shaw pipe I started with, but I’ve mostly shot through Lilja and my 12” Monster Group buy barrel when shooting the American Gunner BTHP and 123gr ELD-M over the past 11yrs for the 17.6”, and 7 years for the 12”.
