08-22-2021, 01:20 PM
I've heard mixed reviews on the relative effectiveness of it. For now, I don't have a very good feeling; as blocking incoming Russian ammunition is consistent and tidy with the current administration goals. At first glance is sounds like existing importation permits will be honored, but I don't know if that means current importers get to continue to import indefinitely; or if it's more of a case of the stuff in-bound in the near-term gets to still come in, but will dry up thereafter. My expectation is it will be closer to the latter.
Grendel had two advantages over 6.8:
-Longer legs for ~same performance close range(ish).
-Option to shoot at nearly 1/3 the cost.
The second advantage is about to go away, I suspect. We'll see. Which is a big deal for Grendel shooters if so.
I have every confidence Wolf will figure out an alternate supply chain via other nation's state-arsenal systems. I'm sure we'll see 5.56 and 9mm recover first, one way or another. We'll see if 6.5 Grendel makes it into that recovery plan. What made it so nice was Bill Alexander apparently flew to Russia, convinced them to make Grendel, and worked with them on the best design and techniques to make it (or so the lore goes). It was tidy because it was made on the same 7.62x39 lines, using the same shell-holders and such, but with just a few die-changes; so it was easy for them to do Grendel runs - once they figured it all out and had the systems and expertise in place to do so.
One likely silver lining (well, we'll call it grey) is that 7.62x39 shooters will have to switch to brass. Which means you'll be finding more 7.62x39 brass laying around. For the reloader, those turn into 6.5 Grendel brass for essentially no extra effort (I just turn my standard die down a bit, and that's it, no annealing, no fireforming special runs. Just run and go).
Grendel had two advantages over 6.8:
-Longer legs for ~same performance close range(ish).
-Option to shoot at nearly 1/3 the cost.
The second advantage is about to go away, I suspect. We'll see. Which is a big deal for Grendel shooters if so.
I have every confidence Wolf will figure out an alternate supply chain via other nation's state-arsenal systems. I'm sure we'll see 5.56 and 9mm recover first, one way or another. We'll see if 6.5 Grendel makes it into that recovery plan. What made it so nice was Bill Alexander apparently flew to Russia, convinced them to make Grendel, and worked with them on the best design and techniques to make it (or so the lore goes). It was tidy because it was made on the same 7.62x39 lines, using the same shell-holders and such, but with just a few die-changes; so it was easy for them to do Grendel runs - once they figured it all out and had the systems and expertise in place to do so.
One likely silver lining (well, we'll call it grey) is that 7.62x39 shooters will have to switch to brass. Which means you'll be finding more 7.62x39 brass laying around. For the reloader, those turn into 6.5 Grendel brass for essentially no extra effort (I just turn my standard die down a bit, and that's it, no annealing, no fireforming special runs. Just run and go).