6.5 Grendel versus 6mm ARC for whitetail

[janttony]

With Hornady's release of the 6mm ARC, its long range performance has been discussed. Here's my question, in the spirit of the upcoming deer season, if you could only choose between 6.5 Grendel and 6mm ARC to hunt with for the entire season, which caliber would you choose? I'll give a few parameters, in that, barrel has to be more of a typical AR barrel length (i.e. 16"-20") and maximum range is 400 yards (I'm from South Georgia and, unless I'm on a power line, 200 yards is going to be my max shot distance).

[A5BLASTER]

Do you handload? If not get the grendel, more factory hunting ammo choices.

If you handload, choose the one that tickles you, both rounds will kill what you shoot and you won't beable to tell the difference between one dead animal killed with arc and one killed with grendel.

[JASmith]

Do you handload? If not get the grendel, more factory hunting ammo choices.

If you handload, choose the one that tickles you, both rounds will kill what you shoot and you won't beable to tell the difference between one dead animal killed with arc and one killed with grendel.

+1 !!

[janttony]

Do you handload? If not get the grendel, more factory hunting ammo choices.

If you handload, choose the one that tickles you, both rounds will kill what you shoot and you won't beable to tell the difference between one dead animal killed with arc and one killed with grendel.

[rabiddawg]

you won't beable to tell the difference between one dead animal killed with arc and one killed with grendel.

You are a lot smarter than you look

[A5BLASTER]

You are a lot smarter than you look

Maybe I should run for president lmao.

[Stinky Coyote]

The arc adds about 150 yards of effective range for class 2 game and steel/paper combo gun it's very attractive package and finally a factory offering in the 6ppc/6br/6dasher class of cartridges. It's a brilliant cartridge and move by hornady imo as this is an extremely popular class more in the target/range worlds but does double duty on class 2 game really well.

For pure hunting though the 6.5 Grendel is going to be the better choice yet still bangs plenty long on the range when you want to play. You've got class 3 game potential as you're chucking more than 120 grains of lead with more than .25 sd. Something about sub 120 grains of lead for big game hunting doesn't work for me regardless of sd, so i was pretty excited about the Grendel when i first learned of it many moons ago. 98% of all game is killed inside 300 yards real world, and probably 95% under 200 yards.

I don't think you'd go wrong with either cartridge as they really will be close to each other, splitting hairs most of the time, more velocity with less weight vs the heavier slower option. The heavier slower option almost always gets the nod as the game size goes up, you get more from the powder burned, more efficient. Although both these cartridges at the top of efficiency in all cartridges imo, again...splitting hairs.

Grendel for hunting.
Arc for combo target/class 2 game hunting.

[cwlongshot]

Dont drink the kool aide. (At least not too much)

There is no replacement for displacement. No matter how small the Grendel will be superior on game animals. Enough to choose one over the other? Thats for you to decide. After all as mentioned, dead is dead.

What I will tell ya is Hornady makes money when they convince you to buy there product. No matter how many half and partial truths they spout.

They test the optimal ballistically enhanced bullet against a 123 SST and claim how much better it is.. BETTER HOW???

Clanging steel is near as much fun as ya can have dressed.... But means SQUAT to kill ability of a given caliber or bullet.

Flat tredjectory is also grand! Makes repeatable hits easier! But there is GOOD REASON they compair to calibers like the 308. Cause the 308 has been there and done that. Will and does continue to do that!

If ya like the 243 and want a AR to launch it. Whose better than you!! Buy the ARC and enjoy. But dont tell me your chopped down upstart is superior to a proven caliber. Cause ones "better" is anothers meh.

CW

[gldprimr]

[Les]

For many years I loaded a Hornady 87gr boattail SP in a .243 winchester bolt gun before I got into an AR platform. I wonder why they don't offer that in 6mm ARC? The 87 killed like lightning. Velocities are similar.

[WanderingZero]

I'm with you. Saw the results of .243/100 grain on a few deer a long time ago and was never too impressed. I know others have had different experiences and different opinions but it just takes a little more diameter and weight, combined with decent sectional density, for me to start to feel comfortable. 6.5mm and 120 grains is about the minimum for me to not worry about whether I've got enough bullet for the job I might need to do.

[grayfox]

For many years I loaded a Hornady 87gr boattail SP in a .243 winchester bolt gun before I got into an AR platform. I wonder why they don't offer that in 6mm ARC? The 87 killed like lightning. Velocities are similar.

Hornady data has the 87 gr bullet (Vmax) for loads. The 87 SP would use the same data. 11 different powders, H4895 to CFE 223.
The OAL may differ however, so check your chamber and measurements with the chamber case-comparator.

[grayfox]

By the way some of us are also experimenting/using the Sierra 90 gr TK bullets.

[LRRPF52]

[Texcl2]