6.8 spc and 6.5 Grendel Thoughts?

B

buddy10mm

New member
They're both kind of the rage in the "tactical" ar15 crowds. I'm seriously thinking about one as my "general carry" caliber in an ar15 format, as opposed to a .243 or even a .308.

Any thoughts?

Anyone used either caliber for dogs or other hunting?

Sorry if this ends up as a repeat of an earlier thread.
 
I looked at both long and hard and ended up with the 6.8spc.
I dont shoot long range at coyotes most of the time and have an AR10 in .243 for when i do.
The 6.8 has been a great cal for me my AR with a 16" barrel is just flat deadly on coyotes.
IMG_0723.jpg
 
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I went with the 6.8spc, I ordered a 10" barrel for my contender pistol just today. I wanted something with more punch than my hornet, but smaller than my 30-30. It would be used for small deer on down.

after doing some reading, I read it has more energy at 100,200 and 300 yds than a 30-30 with 30% less recoil.
(though not many shoot a 30-30 to 300).

I also checked on the grendel, and after some thought just didnt like the fact that it was so proprietary, I just like to have more options when getting ammo, and the fact that some of the barrel makers agreed not to build barrels for this round, thus limiting my options again.

for me it boiled down to the ability to get ammo, It is stocked here where I live while the grendel is not. so easy choice for me.

Good luck to you. I hope my rambling helped.

Dave
 
As Gary did, I thought long and hard about both.
The scales, for me, tipped slightly towards the 6.8 SPC.
and that is what I purchased. Mine is a 16" RRA upper with
a free float tube. I added a quad rail gas block, and
a tactical latch, to the upper, and pinned it to a Superior
Arms, lower, with lots of goodies on it. Regrettably, I
don't have pictures. I have not gotten a shot at a coyote
with it, but a couple of other vermin have taken hits
from my 110 gr. VMax loads. Pretty violent stuff.
I am sure it is not fur friendly. I am extremely happy
with this choice. So happy in fact, I am going to build
a 6mm WOA(6.8 SPC necked down to 6mm with a slight shoulder
change).

So why did I choose the 6.8 SPC over the Grendel?
First, the death grip on the case design, and the
premium price for the Grendel, because of it, stuck
in my craw. Second, the Grendel left very little on
the floor, in initial development. On the other hand,
the 6.8 initial development, by Remington, was poorly
worked, and left much potential left in development, when
they seemingly abandoned it. Second and third efforts,
have gotten much more velocity, out of round. Add some
improvements in bullets, better suited to the case
capacity, and efficiency, and I saw little difference.
Many comparisons one finds are with the Grendel vs. 1st
generation 6.8 SPC chambers, twist rates, and early bullet
choices. Comparisons with the Grendel vs. the 6.8 SPC,
in 1:11-1:12 twist barrels, DMR chambers, and new bullet
offerings, would show little to no advantages between
the two case designs, at ranges out to 400 yards. After
that, the Grendel get the advantage not by the case design,
but by better long range bullet offerings, in 6.5mm. The
6.8 gets a slight advantage in round count in magazines,
and in brass supply, and cost. More brass sources for
the Grendel may be in the future, driving prices down,
but the 6.8 has Remington making brass, which is a
far distant second to Silver State Armory brass. SSA
brass availability has never been an issue, and SSA sells
it direct, at a fair price, along with good deals on loaded
ammo.

Good Luck with the decision. Unless one is a Kool-Aid
drinker, in either cult followings, the choice will
probably boil down to factors other than real world
ballistics.

Squeeze
 
I have to agree with Gary and Squeeze on this too. I weighed all the factors between the 6.5 and 6.8, and went with a 6.8 SPC. I do lots of Coyote Hunting, and possibly Hog hunts soon. So, this caliber would be great.

I have enough 223 uppers, just wanted something with a bit more heat. I have one in the works now, a 16" WOA, SS, 1:11 SPC II. Should be ready in May.

I so far have about 900 .277 bullets, plenty of powder and primers. Stag 6.8 lower from Rainier Arms. Lee Dies, PR Waffle Mags, SSA Brass, along with the Bill Springfield 3lb. trigger job.

Come on May, can't wait.

LC
 
Thanks!

I've got to admit I was at first leaning heavily toward the 6.5. But I hear alot of good things about the 6.8.

I have not really checked ammo availability here or in South Dakota where I hunt sometimes. I figured it would be an internet order matter.

I'm wondering, does the fact that Wolff makes 6.5 sway anyone's opinion? That certainly lowers costs.

Finally, on the newer 6.8 versions, I've noticed the SSA Combat and +p loads are quite a step up. Anyone have experience with them?

Thanks for all your thoughts so far!
 
Here we go again. Truth be told, either one will put a spanking on a coyote better than the 223. I went for the Grendel, for several reasons. The main reason is, you can easily fireform your brass from 7.62x39. Alot of people will say "you can get 6.8 in a gun store, but you can't the 6.5" Well, where I live, you can not get either. It's mail order, or make your own. You can get 7.62x39 brass anywhere. Another reason I went with the Grendel is the larger bullet selection and bullet weight capability of the Grendel. You can load down to a 95 grain V-max or up to 140 grain, with 120 being the optimal range. The 6.8 does not have that versatility. And when you look through all the BS - and believe me - there is plenty in both camps, anything the 6.8 can do, the 6.5 can do and more. Here's a picture of my pea shooter.

006.jpg


Now if I could just get a coyote to come to my calls to shoot.

Oh yeah, and I wouldn't run Wolf in my father in law's rife, or somebody I didn't like either! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Quote:
Here we go again. Truth be told, either one will put a spanking on a coyote better than the 223. I went for the Grendel, for several reasons. The main reason is, you can easily fireform your brass from 7.62x39. Alot of people will say "you can get 6.8 in a gun store, but you can't the 6.5" Well, where I live, you can not get either. It's mail order, or make your own. You can get 7.62x39 brass anywhere. Another reason I went with the Grendel is the larger bullet selection and bullet weight capability of the Grendel. You can load down to a 95 grain V-max or up to 140 grain, with 120 being the optimal range. The 6.8 does not have that versatility. And when you look through all the BS - and believe me - there is plenty in both camps, anything the 6.8 can do, the 6.5 can do and more. Here's a picture of my pea shooter.




I have to call BS on the highlighted statement. The
6.8 SPC can be loaded from a 90 gr. Sierra HP to what
ever .277 150 gr. bullet you choose. And the current
optimal bullet is 110-115 gr. So what prompts you to
suggest the Grendel is more versatile than the 6.8 SPC?

Oh, on the "6.5 can do and more", try putting more
rounds in a magazine. You are correct on one point, it
either takes more effort, or more cash, for brass. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Just funnin' ya, Bull. The Grendel is a fine round,
and it would be a better choice, if there wasn't such
a premium attached to getting one, and shooting one.
If I really wanted a Grendel style case, I would go
with one of the slightly modified, and re-named, versions,
to get around Bill Alexanders choke hold on the Grendel.

Squeeze
 
Quote:
Here we go again. Truth be told, either one will put a spanking on a coyote better than the 223.

-snip-

Now if I could just get a coyote to come to my calls to shoot.

-snip-

Oh yeah, and I wouldn't run Wolf in my father in law's rife, or somebody I didn't like either! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif



There ya go, Bull... Fixed it for ya... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif (j/k)

If you haven't guessed, I'm a devoted 6.8 fan. Truth be known, both rounds have their pluses and minuses... I went with the 6.8 and have never looked back. I'm perfectly happy with a round that shoots a 90gr. bullet at 3000FPS, can drop a deer, yote or hog. And will shoot under a .308 out to 300+ with sub MOA accuracy to 400+. Yea... I'm good with that... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'm not going to be shooting steel at 600 to 1000 yards. Which I'm sure it could do. OR shooting a mile to drop a whitetail... Where I hunt and with the shots typically presented, the 6.8 is a perfect fit.

We can "discuss" balistics, energy, trajectory, reloading, blah blah blah... Til' we're all blue in the face. But why? It's the typical Ford vs. Chevy debate.

The best advice I can provide is to decide what you want the rifle to do. Run the numbers. Then pick the round that fits the bill. 6.5 or 6.8.. Either will serve you well... Good luck with your decision and keeps us posted!!
 
I'd really to get my hands on the New Stag Model 7 hunter in 6.8 upper. Anyone see one of these yet?

MnYote, what kind of 6.8 upper are you running?
 
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MnYote, what kind of 6.8 upper are you running?



My first was a DPMS, 1:11, SAAMI chamber. Could not get it to feed or eject due to a EXTREMELY tight chamber. Had the chamber reamed out to DMR specs by Constructor at AR Performance. Took the gun from zero to hero!! Turned an ornery cuss into a REAL shooter with just a few turns of the reamer! This upper is now owned by another member of this site. My next stage was to have two custom uppers built. Also by Harrison at AR Performance.

A 12.5" SBR, 1:11 S.S. WOA Match barrel, DMR chamber. Here she is in "tactical" dress... she also has a 1.25-4 Accupoint for our "tactical" yote hunts...

AimpointGoodness.jpg


And an 18", 1:11, custom S.S. super match barrel. Also with the DMR chamber. Now sportin' a new Trjicon Accupoint 3-9x40 Mildot scope... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

18in3-9x40.jpg



Both can easily out shoot me any day of the week. And twice on sundays. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Each is built on a POF Gen III lower, RRA guts, Vltor VIS uppers, Young National Match BCG's and a Timney drop in trigger group.

Manufacturers are now realizing that in order to extract the best performance from the 6.8 round, they need to step away from the traditional fast twist barrels and tight SAAMI chambers.
 
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Got dang! You have some nice equipment. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif



Thank You!

However, the joke is on them... I'm too old to start a family so when it comes time for another custom build, they can have the other nut as well!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif That is if the Gubment doesn't take it first... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I just got done loading up 50 rounds. 90gr TNT's pushed by 31.5 grains of H322. This is a MAX load at around 51K PSI. Not to be used with fast twist barrels and/or SAAMI chambered guns. Should chrono close to 3100FPS... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I had a 6.8spc mini 14 for a few months. My gun shot great with the Rem 120 grn match ammo which I was getting locally for $20 a box. I shot a big coyote with it at about 100 yards...hit it in the neck/shoulder area and nearly took the head off. Quite a bit too much bullet for a coyote. I liked the gun and round but didn't feel it did anything on varmints that my 223 couldn't do. The bullets seemed to really drop off past 200 yards. On targets I would have to aim over a foot over the bullseye to hit it. The thing that I would caution against is following some of the reloading on the 6.8 forum. Some of those guys are hot loading 110-120 grn rounds to 2800fps+. If you want to hunt big game there really is no need to use this little round in an AR, just use a boltgun in the real deal 270win and you'll be set.
 
Quote:
I had a 6.8spc mini 14 for a few months. My gun shot great with the Rem 120 grn match ammo which I was getting locally for $20 a box. I shot a big coyote with it at about 100 yards...hit it in the neck/shoulder area and nearly took the head off. Quite a bit too much bullet for a coyote. I liked the gun and round but didn't feel it did anything on varmints that my 223 couldn't do. The bullets seemed to really drop off past 200 yards. On targets I would have to aim over a foot over the bullseye to hit it. The thing that I would caution against is following some of the reloading on the 6.8 forum. Some of those guys are hot loading 110-120 grn rounds to 2800fps+. If you want to hunt big game there really is no need to use this little round in an AR, just use a boltgun in the real deal 270win and you'll be set.



This is a perfect example of someone not doing their homework. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif Sorry birdbow, it's not meant as a poke at ya... But if you go back and examine your post, you'll see where, knowingly or not, you set up the gun and the round to fail.

I'm in TOTAL agreement with your words of caution when working up a load for ANY firearm!! While I have ZERO issues pushing my properly set up AR to 2800fps+, to use my rounds in your Mini-14 would result in disaster!

Again birdbow... This is not meant to bash you as that was not my intention. In fact, if you ever get to my neck of the woods, drop me a PM. We'll hit the range and you can see for yourself how far this "little round" has come from your Mini-14 days... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
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