Go to gun

[NightStalker]

I know this comes up a lot but is your Grendel your go to gun?
I trust the caliber but God forbid SHTF the caliber is not real prevalent for re supply and let’s face it you can only carry so much, or am I wrong?

[rickt300]

I know this comes up a lot but is your Grendel your go to gun?
I trust the caliber but God forbid SHTF the caliber is not real prevalent for re supply and let’s face it you can only carry so much, or am I wrong?

Resupply is going to be tough no matter what if chaos breaks out. You think the gunshops or Walmart are going to be open? Build your ammo supply now. If you are planning on running for it all you are going to do is provide target practice for those who stayed put.

[LRRPF52]

For many years of shooting Grendel, I still held onto the fact that 5.56 would be my go-to.

After shooting the 12” Grendel pretty regularly since 2018, if I only could take one AR-15, that would be it in terms of performance.

If I’m thinking I will need to resupply off of other commonly-available sources, then 5.56 it is.

I have a large family, so that gives us options.

I think it’s even more important to be a good neighbor now more than ever. Look for opportunities to help and get to know your neighbors, be friendly, courteous, and kind to them.

I know that’s harder in some areas than others, but we should still find a way.

[Zeneffect]

5.56 16" ar15. Does everything i have tasked it to do with ease and flawless function. Anything needs killing for defense or meat on the table, it will do the job and not miss a step. 5.56 is just about everywhere. You can't go 100 yards in this country without someone having a box (even in california) making resupply easier. 9mm on the hip, 5.56 on my sling.

[Rosecrans1]

If I were defending the homestead, I may carry my Grendel in AR form BUT..........most likely, I would shoot my Mini 14 in 223 or my Ruger PC carbine. Both have deminstrated their ability to feed anything I put in a mag and hit where I want them to. Both use the most available ammo in North America. (forgot to state that I lost both these guns in a terrible boating accident). :o
I would only shoot the Grendel if my targets are farther out than 100 yds. Regardless, farther than 50 FEET is an invitation to lawsuits unless the SHTF scenario arises. The Grendel is most likely an "also-ran" caliber like so many introduced since the begining of the new century. It has it's unique purposes but it's not mainstream. I love it for varminting and long distance target/plate shooting but as a defensive caliber.................nope!

[NightStalker]

I builded the Grendel because I had confidence in it to do anything I needed to include hunt or self defense. I never have liked the 556 even when I was in the Army.
I haven’t seen combat but I was in Afghanistan spending my time working on weapons systems.
My simple solution is to stock up on 77 grain 556, 6.5 Grendel, and 308 for my Ar10.
The Ar10 I’d wouldn’t hesitate to use as go to but I can’t find mag pouches I like to carry my 25 rnd mags that I like.
Just a few thoughts

[MachV]

Go to what?
The two Grendels are my goto prairie dog, rockchuck,coyote and antelope units.
The 300 blackout is fun with subs as its very stealthy with the can.
The 450 Bushmaster will handle anything from ground sqirrels to elk in its given range, makes a great dark timber elk unit!
The 223/556 may get the call if shtf but only after the grendels are empty, with 1k on hand that aint gonna be soon!
In all honesty I still shoot more 223 than the others combined but only because its cheaper to blast and practice with.

[GREYBUFF]

Grendel and .223! I reload and have enough loaded and supplies on hand to last longer than most would want to if SHTF.

[NightStalker]

I reload as well but my stock pile isn’t what it should be after Covid supply drought we just went through. Stocking up now though and will feel better when it’s back up to my liking

[drewthebrave]

For me, it's still 5.56/.223 for my go go-to. Hunting in CA limits me to non-lead ammo - and that's hard to come by in the Grendel. I'll eventually get into reloading, but as a new dad with a second baby on the way, I don't have time to get into reloading. For now, I'm stocking up on factory loaded ammo with the Barnes TSX 62gr and 70gr bullets for hunting & general purpose use.

The "go-to" build is a SanTan Ambi receiver set with 14.7" 5.56 Wilson Combat SR profile barrel. On top is a 3-9x VX-R Patrol with piggybacked Holosun 507c. I've considered swapping to my Viper PST II 1-6x, but it's actually heavier than the Leupy + Holosun combo...

I'll eventually build an identical 14.5" rig chambered in 6.5 Grendel or 6mm ARC when factory lead-free ammo availability improves. But for now, I'm comfortable having a factory load (Vor-TX 62gr Barnes) that performs well in everything from my 7.5" to my 18".

[LRRPF52]

I’ve been thinking a lot about which of all my AR-15s I would nail-down for my standard, if I was to standardize them like an arms room.

The #1 that comes to mind is my 12” Grendel because of how much it can do. It can do Home Defense, CQB, Long Range, hunting, and Rent the Night when configured.

The #2 that comes to mind is my BCM 14.5” MLGS, which can only do some of those well, and others not so well or at all.

Once I spend some time with the 10.5” Grendel, I might change my mind to that one.

[jonny rotton]

its pathetic but i am still trying to figure out what my go to is. in grendel its one of my 12" mcgowan barreled customs. i have a couple lightweight 308 pof rogues. 5.56 i like the geiselle 11.5" super dutys and i really like the bcm cold hammer forges 14.5 mlgs. i have enough ammo for each. i have been trying to whittle down my choices.

[biodsl]

its pathetic but i am still trying to figure out what my go to is. in grendel its one of my 12" mcgowan barreled customs. i have a couple lightweight 308 pof rogues. 5.56 i like the geiselle 11.5" super dutys and i really like the bcm cold hammer forges 14.5 mlgs. i have enough ammo for each. i have been trying to whittle down my choices.

You're a good American, Jonny!

[Double Naught Spy]

Grendel is my caliber of choice for most everything rifle-ish. However, I have a pretty good .223/5.56 collection. I was heavily into .223/5.56 before getting into Grendel and so have plenty on hand as I don't shoot it much any more.

[trubulator]

I live in the burbs. If I have to repel invaders into my 4 walls, it is going to be a 12 gauge loaded with buckshot. Shot lots and lots of critters with shotshells and seen what it will do, plus I don't have to worry about accidentally killing someone in the next zip code.

[montana]

The most effective anti-personnel 223/5.56 loads are the Federal Tru 55-64 grain s.p. loads..Use bonded bullets if penetration/windshields is important and the non bonded if over penetration is a concern.. Most civilian needs would be best served with non-bonded bullets so collateral damage is diminished..

The Gold dot 55/64/75 and Federal premium 55/62 bonded bullets are other effective loads..

These are mil spec assemble cartridges that are designed to work perfectly in the AR platform..

Another fact is the use of any suppressor will cut the life of the AR rifle in half..

[LRRPF52]

Something tells me a 90gr TNT from 6.5mm going 2700-3000fps would be more effective than any 5.56 load.

I have a lot of respect for 5.56 within 200yds because I’ve seen a lot of dudes get wrecked with it, including canoed heads, destroyed limbs, lots of tissue damage that was life-altering for the ones who survived, in addition to the larger data set DoD studies I had access to.

But a larger projectile going the same speed, with varmint bullet construction is going to cause more tissue destruction with more core mass to penetrate as well.

My little 12” spits the Federal 90gr TNT out at 2700fps and the 17.6” Grendel launches it at 2900fps.

It’s like a bigger M193 with a hollow point.

I can take the same blaster with other loads and put down mule deer, destroy cinder blocks, and make predictable 1st-round hits at 600-800yds, depending on TGT size.

The 123gr class of bullets in 6.5 Grendel, especially the polymer-tipped ones, will do significant damage while also doubling at hunting and LR uses.

[montana]

Something tells me a 90gr TNT from 6.5mm going 2700-3000fps would be more effective than any 5.56 load.

I have a lot of respect for 5.56 within 200yds because I’ve seen a lot of dudes get wrecked with it, including canoed heads, destroyed limbs, lots of tissue damage that was life-altering for the ones who survived, in addition to the larger data set DoD studies I had access to.

But a larger projectile going the same speed, with varmint bullet construction is going to cause more tissue destruction with more core mass to penetrate as well.

My little 12” spits the Federal 90gr TNT out at 2700fps and the 17.6” Grendel launches it at 2900fps.

It’s like a bigger M193 with a hollow point.

I can take the same blaster with other loads and put down mule deer, destroy cinder blocks, and make predictable 1st-round hits at 600-800yds, depending on TGT size.

The 123gr class of bullets in 6.5 Grendel, especially the polymer-tipped ones, will do significant damage while also doubling at hunting and LR uses.

No argument here. The 6.5 Grendel is a very effective and diverse cartridge..It is my go to pack/camping/over landing and hunting caliber for wooded and hilly environments..I figured this was a given for those who have experience with it (AKA Grendel forum members)..

I mentioned the best rounds in 223 for those in more urban environments and who chose this caliber.. I recently returned from the Colt armorers course and never wasted the opportunity to talk to the vast experience I had at hand.. After talking to many retired law enforcement and military veterans, they all repeatedly stated that using the right bullet in the 5.56 was critical..The 5.56 round can be devastating, but it can also give pathetic performance in many circumstances..Bullet choice in 5.56 is critical to performance..The 6.5 Grendel is much more forgiving..

[BluntForceTrauma]

SHTF is less about running gun battles with zombie hordes than it is learning to turn your suburban lawn into a vegetable farm with the cooperation of a neighborhood association you've formed.

A reasonable supply of ammo in any caliber will do.

I can only guess at what your definition of SHTF is, but the collapse of food and fuel supply chains is gonna be your first major problem to solve.

More realistic is the degradation of the U.S. government into something resembling today's totalitarian state of China. The Chinese people have food. They have fuel. They have a more or less "normal" life. What don't they have? Liberty. Cameras are watching everything. Digital records are kept of everything. Nothing you do or say goes unapproved by the spying eye of the police-state bureaucracy. Everything you do or say is tied to your Social Credit score, which determines the extent of your privileges and human rights.

I suppose one could conceivably need lots of ammo to keep that from happening....

[Bonas]

If you're in a situation where you have to take one rifle and the ammo you can carry and leave, then obviously Grendel is a bad choice. Frankly, anything other than 5.56 is a bad choice for that.

Outside of supply issues, I think 6.5 Grendel is the ideal chambering for small frame AR pattern rifles.