02-06-2012, 05:59 PM
So if I'm going into either a 6.8 SPC or a Grendel, and am trying to narrow my choice down, and I know I'm going to hand-load my hunting and or target loads, the Grendel is the obvious choice, since I have Lapua brass, Hornady brass, and plenty of sources of throw-away brass.
I keep hearing how many factory loading there are for 6.8 SPC, but factory loading for me are what I go to for a SHTF rig where cost is the main factor. In other words, I ain't shelling out $20 per box of 20. The rest is hand-loads for me in these types of guns, and you won't find brass in the quality and longevity range of Lapua. If I need SHTF ammo, I can afford to buy the 120gr MPT brass-cased loads from Serbia (Wolf doesn't manufacture anything, they are a distributor) for $12.95 a box, or the steel case once it comes out at probably half that price or less. This favors the Grendel again.
Projectiles: I have plenty of hunting and target projectiles to choose from with the Grendel-more than enough to work with in even an above-average shoot schedule. Hunting & TGT projectiles include:
85gr Sierra Varminter
90gr Speer TNT
95gr VMAX
100gr Lapua FMJ
100gr Lapua FMJ Cutting Edge
100gr Sierra Varminter
100gr Nosler Partition Flat-Base
100gr Lapua Scenar
100gr AMAX
100gr Hornady SP
100gr Berger
100gr NBT
100gr Barnes TTSX
100gr Barnes Tipped TAC-TX
107gr SMK
108gr Scenar
120gr Norma FMJ
120gr Remington Core-Lokt
120gr Swift A-Frame
120gr NBT
120gr Speer Hot Cor
120gr Sierra Pro-Hunter
120gr SMK
120gr Berger
123gr SMK
123gr AMAX
123gr Scenar
123gr Nosler Custom Competition
125gr Nosler Partition
129gr SST
129gr Interbond
129gr Interlock Spire Point
130gr VLD
130gr Swift Scirocco
I kept it at 130gr and under, since the longer bullets take up a lot of case capacity, even though guys have used them without issue. Most shooters will not be loading 140gr VLD's, let's e honest, at least not in an AR-15. Given this list, I still hear that the 6.8 SPC has more projectiles available for it, and that the Grendel is limited on choice of projectiles to select from. There are plenty of even 120gr bullets and custom bullets from GS, North Fork, etc., that I didn't even include. I frequently see the picture entitled: "6.8 SPC Bullets" with 34 projectiles depicted, to include the Elite Ammunition Brass solids, 4 solids from GC Customs, a 120gr Barnes Solid that doesn't look like it would fit in mag COAL, and even 2 130gr pills that are meant for the .270 Winchester, that would never fit in a 6.8 case in the AR, unless you went past the ogive into the neck.
If I expanded the list above based on those parameters, I would lose track of reality as we get into the 140gr class bullets, some of the the 120 solids like the GMX, the 156 Oryx, etc. I feel that is an impractical representation of what is realistic in the AR15 platform, so I left them out. There are 34 pills of all different shapes and sizes in the above list, to include several FMJ's, without listing any GS .264", or other exotic projectiles that most will not buy or experiment with. But we're expected to believe there is a larger selection for the 6.8 for some reason. Every claim I have researched about the 6.8's superiority to the Grendel has been found to be untrue, aside from industry support, which the 6.8 clearly enjoys more of.
I think we're spoiled, more than anything..."But I want a 117.2gr Uber whatever...ah ha ha ha wa wa wa!"
I went through this whole decision process over the years before pulling the trigger, and the Grendel was my choice for several reasons that the 6.8 won't ever be capable of matching. Sectional density is the biggest one, along with Lapua brass, and multiple brass sources. That is just my decision, not the "right" one, but the one for me. I think within 300yds, most people wouldn't know the difference between the two firing the same types of projectiles, but I wanted more versatility in projectile selection/capability, and I know from my .270 that .277 pills need crazy velocity to do what .264" pills do for trajectory and wind deflection.
I keep hearing how many factory loading there are for 6.8 SPC, but factory loading for me are what I go to for a SHTF rig where cost is the main factor. In other words, I ain't shelling out $20 per box of 20. The rest is hand-loads for me in these types of guns, and you won't find brass in the quality and longevity range of Lapua. If I need SHTF ammo, I can afford to buy the 120gr MPT brass-cased loads from Serbia (Wolf doesn't manufacture anything, they are a distributor) for $12.95 a box, or the steel case once it comes out at probably half that price or less. This favors the Grendel again.
Projectiles: I have plenty of hunting and target projectiles to choose from with the Grendel-more than enough to work with in even an above-average shoot schedule. Hunting & TGT projectiles include:
85gr Sierra Varminter
90gr Speer TNT
95gr VMAX
100gr Lapua FMJ
100gr Lapua FMJ Cutting Edge
100gr Sierra Varminter
100gr Nosler Partition Flat-Base
100gr Lapua Scenar
100gr AMAX
100gr Hornady SP
100gr Berger
100gr NBT
100gr Barnes TTSX
100gr Barnes Tipped TAC-TX
107gr SMK
108gr Scenar
120gr Norma FMJ
120gr Remington Core-Lokt
120gr Swift A-Frame
120gr NBT
120gr Speer Hot Cor
120gr Sierra Pro-Hunter
120gr SMK
120gr Berger
123gr SMK
123gr AMAX
123gr Scenar
123gr Nosler Custom Competition
125gr Nosler Partition
129gr SST
129gr Interbond
129gr Interlock Spire Point
130gr VLD
130gr Swift Scirocco
I kept it at 130gr and under, since the longer bullets take up a lot of case capacity, even though guys have used them without issue. Most shooters will not be loading 140gr VLD's, let's e honest, at least not in an AR-15. Given this list, I still hear that the 6.8 SPC has more projectiles available for it, and that the Grendel is limited on choice of projectiles to select from. There are plenty of even 120gr bullets and custom bullets from GS, North Fork, etc., that I didn't even include. I frequently see the picture entitled: "6.8 SPC Bullets" with 34 projectiles depicted, to include the Elite Ammunition Brass solids, 4 solids from GC Customs, a 120gr Barnes Solid that doesn't look like it would fit in mag COAL, and even 2 130gr pills that are meant for the .270 Winchester, that would never fit in a 6.8 case in the AR, unless you went past the ogive into the neck.
If I expanded the list above based on those parameters, I would lose track of reality as we get into the 140gr class bullets, some of the the 120 solids like the GMX, the 156 Oryx, etc. I feel that is an impractical representation of what is realistic in the AR15 platform, so I left them out. There are 34 pills of all different shapes and sizes in the above list, to include several FMJ's, without listing any GS .264", or other exotic projectiles that most will not buy or experiment with. But we're expected to believe there is a larger selection for the 6.8 for some reason. Every claim I have researched about the 6.8's superiority to the Grendel has been found to be untrue, aside from industry support, which the 6.8 clearly enjoys more of.
I think we're spoiled, more than anything..."But I want a 117.2gr Uber whatever...ah ha ha ha wa wa wa!"
I went through this whole decision process over the years before pulling the trigger, and the Grendel was my choice for several reasons that the 6.8 won't ever be capable of matching. Sectional density is the biggest one, along with Lapua brass, and multiple brass sources. That is just my decision, not the "right" one, but the one for me. I think within 300yds, most people wouldn't know the difference between the two firing the same types of projectiles, but I wanted more versatility in projectile selection/capability, and I know from my .270 that .277 pills need crazy velocity to do what .264" pills do for trajectory and wind deflection.