08-10-2011, 04:03 PM
I have used and owned a lot of .308's in bolt guns and AR10's, and for hunting, the AR10 in .308 is a not-starter, unless you go with a really lightweight barrel and components. All my AR10's in .308 have been "long-range" rifles with heavy barrels, until I finally got it through my head that .308 is not a long-range cartridge, even when I pushed the 155gr Lapua Scenars at 2850 fps. It's a capable 600m cartridge, but the wind blows it all over the place after that.
As a result, I only plan to build AR10's in 6.5mm from now on, like the .260 Rem I am using in one currently. That is a cartridge that justifies the weight and profile of a .308 action, whether bolt or semi-auto, and has much less recoil as well.
The Grendel allows you to have a very handy, lightweight carbine or rifle that delivers .308 trajectories and sufficient terminal ballistics to take even large game within 400yds, with half the recoil of most .308 loads. You also use a lot less powder when reloading, and there are a lot of 6.5mm bullets to choose from on the market. If you are shooting hogs or other fast-movers, the Grendel will allow faster follow-up shots than a .308, similarly-configured.
While most .308 hunting rifles are of a lightweight profile, they are not fun for younger shooters to practice on with any significant round count to develop a solid level of proficiency. Not so with the Grendel. It is a pussycat to shoot, even for the kids.
For making ethical kills with both calibers, which are usually done well within 300yds, I don't think either caliber exhibits significant advantages over the other, so I personally lean to the Grendel for its field friendliness for ease of carry.
As a result, I only plan to build AR10's in 6.5mm from now on, like the .260 Rem I am using in one currently. That is a cartridge that justifies the weight and profile of a .308 action, whether bolt or semi-auto, and has much less recoil as well.
The Grendel allows you to have a very handy, lightweight carbine or rifle that delivers .308 trajectories and sufficient terminal ballistics to take even large game within 400yds, with half the recoil of most .308 loads. You also use a lot less powder when reloading, and there are a lot of 6.5mm bullets to choose from on the market. If you are shooting hogs or other fast-movers, the Grendel will allow faster follow-up shots than a .308, similarly-configured.
While most .308 hunting rifles are of a lightweight profile, they are not fun for younger shooters to practice on with any significant round count to develop a solid level of proficiency. Not so with the Grendel. It is a pussycat to shoot, even for the kids.
For making ethical kills with both calibers, which are usually done well within 300yds, I don't think either caliber exhibits significant advantages over the other, so I personally lean to the Grendel for its field friendliness for ease of carry.