6.5 Grendel AR for a dedicated coyote night hunting rig

R

Ricky Bobby

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What’s everyone’s thoughts on the 6.5 Grendel for knocking down coyotes with a little authority? I could care less about saving fur. I’d really like to stick with the AR platform for my night hunting but not sure I want to move to an AR 10 because of bulk/weight. Wanting something to smack em a bit harder than my 5.56 and not sure if there’s any other options than the Grendel for an AR 15 platform? Plus, I can just swap out the uppers with my current setup. Any ideas or thoughts and/or suggestions?
 
I have been thinking along this line for a rifle build for my wife myself . Either 6.5 gren or 6.8 spc but for her it would be a combo use gun up to pronghorn and whitetail as well as hogs on our annual pilgrimage . Another fealla is kinda wanting to sell me a .224 Valkrye upper that looks like it could be a yote smacker delux but I just dont know enough about the caliber and it seems to be kinda dropping off the radar .
 
I recently bought a 6.5 Grendel upper and mounted my pulsar thermal to it. It’s an 18” ACME Machine upper and so far seems pretty good for the $. I’ve only shot 8 rounds through it to zero but it shoots same hole accurate. Shooting American Eagle 90gr Speer TNT HP Ammo. Haven’t been out calling with it yet but plan to this week. I like what i have seen out of the Grendel so far.
 
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I was thinking along the lines you are as well with throwing the 224 Valkyrie in the mix mainly because I can still find factory ammo for it. I plan to start reloading at some point if I could ever find a decently priced press and if components become available again.
 
6x6.8 is the route you should strongly consider. Uses 6.8spc brass and throated for the light 6mm bullets makes a super flat shooting rig that IMO is a perfect night hunting rig.
 
6.5 well works well, however,....for night hunting I would go 6mm arc. It is a 6.5 Grendel necked down to 6mm.
We've been getting great results with it. For long range I would still go Grendel, but for hunting yotes at night the arc wins out. Hope this helps
 
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Fast and flat wins at night.
I currently shoot a 20" 243 bca ambidextrous ar and have previously shot a 22" 6x6.8 and 22" 22 Nosler. I would prefer these over the slower Grendel and 6 Arc which are designed for heavier bullets that aren't as flat shooting. I also wouldn't want to depend on finding brass for a new cartridge.
We killed a bunch of coyotes with 55 ballistic tips and it works well given the speed. I feel like the 70s out of the 6x6.8 flattered then even better and naturally the 243 does exceptionally well with 70s.
I would like to try 60 sierra hps as I have heard good reports about how they perform on coyotes and I have a 243 upper that shoots the very well. However the 70s are doing such a great job and I have enough loaded ammo that it is hard to justify changing things up. 60s aside I feel like 70s are the go to bullets for coyotes. The 6x6.8 runs them 3265 ish and I'm sure the 243 is faster. Out to 300 the trajectory is flat and the knock down power is there as far as you can hit them. Remember 1st order of business is to hit them and ranging can be tough at night. I do feel like we killed more running coyotes with the faster 22 Nosler shooting 55s 3500 ish.
Shooting coyotes out to 200 it probably doesn't make much difference but when they hang up the laser cartridge is handy.
I also don't like short barrels. The long barrel helps speed and the forward weight helps balance the rifle on the pod.
For ease of finding brass with a little sacrifice in speed I wouldn't over look a 20 or 22" 6x45.
 
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What’s proper full name for 6 x 6.8 for clarification? It’s a SPC .... correct??? Just want to be sure I’m thinking right on all this! Lol. I get all these chamberings confused.
 
It probably gets called different things but calling it a 6x6.8 pretty much will get you where you need to be. Its a 6.8 spc with a simple neck down to 6 mm with no shoulder change. The other version is the 6 DTI. It is the same thing only when fireformed it blows the shoulder forward just a hair gaining it a very slight powder capacity advantage. Just make sure dies are available for the 6x6.8 before you drop any coin unless your cool with using bushing dies.
 
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This season I have been using a 20” Grendel upper with thermal. Shots have been around 50-60 yards. Have killed 5 coyotes with the Grendel, but while none made it out of the field / bait site area, I am less than pleased at this point. I am not writing it off just yet, but at least with 4 of the coyotes, it didn’t drop them as quickly as I am used to with my 6x45 upper. The 6x45 has been a great one, for me at least.

My first loads were with 100 gr. Sierra HP’s. Four coyotes were taken with that bullet and only one dropped on the spot. Since then I switched to 90 gr. Speer TNT’s and have only taken one coyote with it so far, so the verdict is still out on that bullet.

I like the Grendel cartridge, neat little cartridge, but it just hasn’t performed with quick kills like I am used to, even though shot placement has been good. I plan to continue using the TNT’s for a while, and maybe switch to another bullet if they don’t perform to my expectations. As I say, none made it out of the field. I did follow up shots, though. Time will tell.

#1 & 2. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0HjeKgeCglA

#3. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gfbFq0G7RBw

#4. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wiKkP2bAxKM

#5. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pNDdG8j3g3g

 
I switched to a 6.5 Grendel after having so many runners with my 223. Guess I have never mastered the thermal, especially judging distance at night. I have an Alexander Arms upper and shoot a 90 gr Varmageddon. I have killed several coyotes 200 yds and further, however I still have more runners than I should.
I just expected more DRT coyotes than I'm getting. I know bullet placement is the key, but that is easier said than done (for me).
I've even considered moving to a 22-250 or 243, but the availability of guns and reloading components has me second guessing that idea.
 

I plan to stick with the Grendel for a while at least, probably the remainder of this season to give it an honest try and not rush to judgement too soon. However, I have a new and unfired Ruger American Predator in 6mm Remington (Grice Gunshop special) that is jumping at the bit for some coyote action. I have some 55 gr. Sierra Blitz Kings and some 58 gr. V-Max that should do 3900+ fps. That’s probably going to be next season’s choice, combined with the thermal.

 
That 6mm Rem. is going to hit them like the "Hammer of Thor". I think we were both amazed at how the 17 Rem. with a little 25 gr. hp, at 3,900 fps would put their feet straight up in the air. Speed kills with a hydrostatic shock effect that just seems to paralyze them most of the time.
 
I too have went to the 6X6.8. I have .223, 6.8, & .260 rem A/Rs. The 6X6.8 has become my favorite. Mine shoots sub moa by a long shot. The only negative is brass. It's easy to make if you can get dies. There was lots of info back when I built mine. Google be your friend. Oh and it hits way harder than .223
 
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