Howa Mini re-barrel or caliber switch?

[Ruwhitsum]

The 6.5 Creedmoor will use more powder and usually use the heavier 6.5/.264 bullets. Your going to a heavier rifle but are getting a significant step up in velocity/range. If I was going to rebarrel the Howa I would look seriously at the 6 ARC. Going to a 24” 6.5 Grendel barrel will only give you 75-100 more FPS than a 20”. At least with the 6 ARC your staying with same size rifle and chassis, same amount of powder per cartridge and same basic case as the 6.5 Grendel.

Howa has plans to introduce the 6 ARC but with the current supply interruptions it might be next year before rifles hit the market. Unless you really intend on shooting further than 800-900 yards regularly your 6.5 Grendel is doing pretty good. For competition there are better cartridges with higher velocity and less wind drift than the 6.5 Grendel.

If you go with the 6.5 Creedmoor and don’t like it you can always sell it. I have a 24” Cz American 6.5 Grendel and the 24” barrel wouldn’t be first choice in a precision rifle course where your moving from one position to the next under the clock.

I guess the crux of the matter is I hold this cartridge in such esteem that I’d like to maximum effort the hell out of it just to say that’s what’s possible for it. My budget and skills being the limiting factors, obviously.