+- 6.5 Grendel Forum (https://65grendel.com)
+-- Forum: 6.5 GRENDEL DISCUSSION FORUMS (https://65grendel.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Forum: 6.5 Grendel Build-It-Yourself & Custom Builds (https://65grendel.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=9)
+--- Thread: Considering 6.5 Grendel conversion or 6mm Arc conversion (/showthread.php?tid=22611)
Considering 6.5 Grendel conversion or 6mm Arc conversion - SDguy - 01-01-2021
To be honest I have never been much of a AR guy. I have come in to a Rock river heavy barrel 223 of my dads. Rifle is really accurate, yet somehow I think Id like to try a 6 ARC or 6.5 Grendel.
What recommendations or considerations can the hoard offer for a guy that knows very little about AR's. I have a couple CZ 527 bolt action 6.5 Grendel's that suit my use very well. Never had much interest in a AR type firearm in the past with the exception of a coyote calling rifle. Quick follow up shots on a pack of coyotes does sound attractive I suppose.
Arguably 223 would be more than fine for Coyotes yet this overall setup w the heavy barrel is a lot more to cary than I was really looking to lug arround. Think I was leaning towards a 16" to 18" lighter contour barrel threaded for a supressor.
Please share your thoughts on upper options & more.
Thank you in advance.
Considering 6.5 Grendel conversion or 6mm Arc conversion - JASmith - 01-01-2021
A lot will depend on your shooting interests.
For example, punching paper and dirt clods out to a few hundred yards will be well-served with any of the three: .223, ARC, or Grendel.
The ARC will likely hit a little bit more reliably past 600 yards but the Grendel can do very well in all but the most serious competitions.
Large deer and elk-size animals are best harvested with the heavier bullets the Grendel can spit out.
The ARC and .223 overlap in the small furry creature department but harvest them no more reliably than can be done with the Grendel.
In other words, the Grendel is preferred for all-round shooting even though the ARC can beat it in some areas.
Your ultimate decision will therefore boil down to the best fit for the classes of shooting you plan to to do or less tangible things like preferences for blondes, brunets, brains or brawn..
Considering 6.5 Grendel conversion or 6mm Arc conversion - Lemonaid - 01-01-2021
If you don't have any other .223 I would keep it for cheap ammo and low recoil and that will translate into more shooting. Having a cartridge used by the military dose not hurt any either.
Considering 6.5 Grendel conversion or 6mm Arc conversion - VASCAR2 - 01-02-2021
The 6 ARC is optimized for long range shooting with heavier bullets. A lot of the 6 ARC barrels are 1:7, 1:7.5 or 1:8 twist. If your varmint hunting I dont know if the short 6 MM varmint bullets will be over stabilized in the fast twist 6 ARC barrels. The 243 Winchester have a slower twist. Western Powder reloading data shows 243 using a 1:10 twist 24 barrel and the 6 MM PCC uses a 1:14 twist. There are 6/.243 bullets as light as 55 grains with some hunting bullets over 100 grains.
If my primary goal was varmint hunting Id want to know if the light bullets are accurate in the fast twist 6 MM ARC barrels. My only experience is shooting 50 grain .224 varmint bullets in 1:7 twist which came apart. I dont know the answer but I do know the 6.5 Grendel is a very versatile cartridge for the AR-15. The light 85, 90 and 95 grain bullets are accurate in my 1:9 and 1:8 twist 6.5 Grendel barrels. Im not concerned about pelt damage so the 6.5 Grendel works for me.
One of my favorite 6.5 Grendel barrels is my Faxon Group Buy 18 6.5 Grendel. I really like the balance and ballistics on this rifle as the barrel contour meets my sweet spot for utility. Im seriously considering a 20 6 MM ARC out of the next group buy Green Mountain barrels. I just cant decide if I want to add another caliber.
If your goal is Target Shooting the 6 ARC has a slight advantage. If you want to hunt a wider variety of species the 6.5 Grendel is more versatile.
I just thought to check Hornadys load data on 6 MM ARC gas gun and bolt action. Their data uses 1:7.5 twist and list a 58 gain V-Max. I guess the 6 ARC twist will be GTG with varmint bullets.
Considering 6.5 Grendel conversion or 6mm Arc conversion - StoneHendge - 01-03-2021
Having all 3 (well, my 243 LBC might as well be a 6 arc), stick with the .223, especially in this environment and especially if you don't reload. At least you can find ammo and/or components (aside from primers). If you must go beyond that and a coyote is the biggest thing you plan on shooting, go 6 arc. Better ballistics, flatter trajectory at coyote ranges and notably less recoil. My 18" 243 outshoots my 22" Grendel and it's recoil is right in the middle of 223 and the grendel. 70s are probably as light as you want to get in ARC, though. Anything lighter may go bang, but jump will be either too long or the bullet won't be deep enough in the neck. I got the 70 gr NBTVs going 3060 out of my 18" with XBR. Stopped that project, but may go back to it now that I've scored some Benchmark, which will likely excel.