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I want to build an AR upper to use for deer hunting and target shooting mainly for my missus to use but just to get some use out of my AR. Should I go with 6.8 SPC, 6.5 Grendel or 300 BLK and why? The Grendel really appeals to me because one day I'd really like to start playing with long range shooting but Im not sure it's worth the extra expense.
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Nothing wrong with the 6.5 Grendel for hunting. Plus if you want, for target shooting too.
From the Wikipedia web page:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...delanddeer.jpg
6.5 Grendel. Accurate and not that expensive to load for. I use 7.62 x 39 brass I get 3K fps with a 90gr tnt out of my 24" barreled Model 1 sales upper with groups hovering about 1/2" if I do my part.
IMO- in order of effectiveness on game; 6.5 Grendel, 6.8SPC, and .300 blackout. I have a .300 and love it, my cousin has the 6.8 and has 16 one shot kills on pigs(he loves it), and a buddy has the 6.5 and it's more accurate than ours and the cartridge mimics the .250 Savage on game.
The .300 is the easiest to get into and does a good job within 100yds. On your build for the wife; concentrate on light weight and simplicity and she will like it better.
6.5 grendel all the way for me!
How about .277 Wolverine? About the same as a 6.8 but no special mag or bolt needed. Ammo is available albeit from limited sources but many of us reload anyway.
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+1 on 6.5 Grendel. It's what the Army should have chosen instead of the 6.8 SPC. It has better down range accuracy and ballistics. Easy to load for using 7.62x39 brass. But I wouldn't knock the 6.8 either since it has 50% more energy than the 223 and it does its job well. The 300 is OK but has limitations for hunting.
Toss in the 40WT also. 223 brass and 2400 fps with 120 tsx (?) or blacktip factory stuff. 1200 ft-# @ 150 and 2" drop. I use a 145gr cast @ 2100 fps, 1200 ft-# @ 100. If I need longer than 100 yd shots, I'll take the 308 with 168gr. @ 2400 fps. X39 brass in 223 lower?
6.8 is a fantastic round for deer and low recoil especially In a the AR platform. I have all three calibers you mentioned and the 6.8 is an effective round for pigs or deer or treed bears. TSX is great bullet for the 6.8 out too 250 yards in a 16" BBL
Why is there not a 6.5x 45 on the .223 case? Gotta be one out there?
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http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=2414Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas by God
Ok this really peaks my interest where can I find a barrel chambered in this round? A quick internet search turns up naught.Quote:
Originally Posted by M-Tecs
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I like my blackout, it's a fun gun with subs and supers in a short barrel and a suppressor. Good round for playing with cast boolits as well. 6.8 has a lot of potential as a great hunting round. I always liked the 270 but thought it was a bit more than I needed so the 6.8 fits that niche. The 277 Wolverine is a good round close to the 6.8 with just a barrel change much like the Blackout is for a 223 rifle. They are like Chiclets you can't have just one!
Grendel has my vote. It does well with cast bullets also.
Although the Grendel will be my next upper, I believe for hunting I would go along with popper in choosing the 30X40 Wilson. Gp
Nope. One based on the .223 case.
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6.8 and 6.5 would be better for hunting than the 300 unless you are wanting to use a suppressor. I had a 6.8 and my son has a 6.5, we both have 300's. I sold my 6.8 upper to get a 6.5 Creedmoor barrel for my Encore.
.277 Wolverine has caught my eye. I want to experiment with it.
Has caught my eye as wellQuote:
Originally Posted by Rcmaveric
I have used the 6.8 SPC from 11.3”, 16”, 18”, and 20” guns it is a great round for deer, antelope, and coyotes. I don’t know what you consider long range but I have had no problems hitting 700 yards steel with the longer barreled uppers. I currently only have a 16” Ruger bolt action and a 11.3” Wilson Combat, if I want to shoot long range I just get something else out of the safe.
300 blackout is joke of a cartridge, not great (but not bad) for super Sonics only worth shooting subs if your shooting suppressed and I don’t personally trust subs for hunting. I have a 9” barreled upper for my SBR and don’t do anything with it other than blast plates. I did kill a couple antelope with a 16” 300 whisper I use to own before the 300blk was cool, bullets have come a long ways for it in the last 8 years at the time 125gr Nosler Ballistic tips were the best choice. If subs are what you want to do I’d look at building a 45acp AR, range would be limited but you wouldn’t need to worry if it was going to expand when it hits. 200gr SWC going 1100fps would be pretty effective through the shoulders of a deer.
THE best round for a standard AR is the 6x45, if you want something other than a 223. Shoot the 85gr partition or 80gr Barnes TTSX and you have a killer hunting round.
I haven’t played with the Grendel for various reasons if I did I would just build a 6.5x6.8SPC instead.
"300 blackout is joke of a cartridge"
I sure wouldn't go that far. Depending on the distance this round will do nicely for deer all while using 223 brass which is plentiful and cheap with the same magazines as any 5.56 AR. Swap tops with a 223/5.56 and you have 2 rifles in one.
I know you can form Grendel brass from 7.62x39 but I think the AR brass is cheaper and easier to get.
I have the 300BLK and the next gun is going to be a 6.5 Grendel, though.
I have both just because I wanted to play a bit, 6.5 and 6.8 I have no issue about hunting deer with either , the 300 BLK is not up to the distance. brass and loaded ammo is not an issue Hornady makes the 6.8 and Fed. makes the 6.8.
I am a Grendel man myself. Just got the Howa Mini to play with.
I ended up recutting the chamber of one of my 300BLK uppers (I have 2) into a 30 Apache (7.62x45) which is the 223Rem case opened up to 30 caliber. It limits the bullets to 150gr or smaller (I prefer to load it with 110 and 125gr spirepoints but I can load a 150gr FN for heavier impact but I lose needed velocity) but the new chambering allows me to use the 223Rem cases without all the cutting and trimming back to the 35mm case length and the use of more medium-speed powders (I use an adjustable gas block to bleed off any excess gas pressure should it get a bit of a spike from my carbine-length pigtail gastube) I consider it my "30 Carbine on steroids".
Regarding the 3 cartridge choices of the original posting, I would take the 6.5 Grendel for a couple of reasons since this is a cast bullet forum I'll couch it as follows.
6.8 SPC - 270 caliber molds are very few. very limited in bullet options. The Case is also a one-off. You can't easily reform another case to keep your rifle firing during periods of component shortages. (you can cut down 30 Remington cases but those are rarer than 6.8SPC!)
300 BLK - 30 caliber bullets molds and designs are out the yazoo. 223 Remington donor cases are always available for resizing and case forming. - cons are that the powder choices are very limited due to the small case (35mm in length) and anything over 125gr in bullet weight won't achieve supersonic velocities. Heavy subsonic bullets are great if you are shooting through a suppressor or short range from a tree stand but anything past 50 yards and you are lobbing them in like a mortar. And to form the 300BLK requires you to cut 10mm off a standard 223Rem case and then reform and potentially turn the necks of the reformed cartridges to fit your rifle's chamber if the brass is military surplus and thicker than commercial.
6.5 Grendel - A great compromise cartridge. - bullets and cast bullet molds can go from 90-140gr in weight which allow you to go from groundhog to deer in capability with velocities nearing 2700fps with the jacketed 100gr bullets. The cartridge case is based off the 7.62x39 case and can actually be fireformed in your rifle from a necked down 6.5 (from 7.62)x39 upon initial firing. Powder selection is better with most medium speed powders being able to run in this cartridge case and the jacketed spitzer bullets have such a high ballistic coefficient that often marksmen can make hits exceeding 600 yards with them.
"Should I go with 6.8 SPC, 6.5 Grendel or 300 BLK and why? The Grendel really appeals to me because one day I'd really like to start playing with long range shooting"
Based on this statement its 6.5 Grendel all the way .. I have a Blackout and a Grendel .
The blackout is a fun gun to shoot killed several deer and a pig with one . its NEVER let me down on a 150 and down shot (bullet placement and bullet construction for the job is key).. its even more fun with a suppressor and subsonic .. but a long or even medium range gun it is NOT
on the other hand the Grendel will kill a deer at yardages most people should not be shooting them at
my longest deer kill was 437 lasered yards .. off a bench like steady rest .. 20 oz co2 bottles are no match at 500 yds (again with a good rest)
with the correct load and equipment 1000 yds target shooting is no issue