Welcome.
I have owned 5 different AR10-type platforms, 3 in .308 and 2 in .260 Remington. I'll never go back to a .308 AR10 unless I come a cross a collector's original Armalite AR10 from the 1950's.
The AR10 is a bit too heavy for most people's tastes when it comes to hunting, so the AR15/Grendel offers a great lightweight, flat-shooting package.
Yes, you can build or buy an upper with a top-end cut-rifled match-grade barrel for $1000. Depending on what elevation you're at, you can hunt medium game with the Grendel out to between 375 and 475yds, depending on your skills. There are quite a few members here and others who have made 400yd kills on medium and even large game (Elk) with the Grendel.
I think you made a fiscally and practically sound decision. You gave up a little extra bullet weight, a lot of recoil, and higher cost in favor of a lighter platform, lower recoil, and similar trajectory.
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LRRPF52 Wrote:Welcome.
I have owned 5 different AR10-type platforms, 3 in .308 and 2 in .260 Remington. I'll never go back to a .308 AR10 unless I come a cross a collector's original Armalite AR10 from the 1950's.
The AR10 is a bit too heavy for most people's tastes when it comes to hunting, so the AR15/Grendel offers a great lightweight, flat-shooting package.
Yes, you can build or buy an upper with a top-end cut-rifled match-grade barrel for $1000. Depending on what elevation you're at, you can hunt medium game with the Grendel out to between 375 and 475yds, depending on your skills. There are quite a few members here and others who have made 400yd kills on medium and even large game (Elk) with the Grendel.
I think you made a fiscally and practically sound decision. You gave up a little extra bullet weight, a lot of recoil, and higher cost in favor of a lighter platform, lower recoil, and similar trajectory.
Agreed. Welcome to the club!
I will have to relay to my wife, "I think you made a fiscally and practically sound decision...." According to her, this will be the first. :0
Thanks for your reply. I think the reality of what I need is more in line with this platform. I thought I would post this thread for anyone else like me new to the 6.5. Look forward to learning the ballistics/reloading nuances of this cartridge. Another point for those that do internet research like I do. There is a lot of opinon about this cartridge that is 2-3 years old. No one ever debated the performance, but the cost and availablity that was hotly discussed 3 years ago is no longer an issue. Especially with the new change SAAMI
The Grendel has the most affordable ammo right now in the form of Prvi Partizan 120gr MPT marketed by Wolf. It is brass-cased ammo as low as $12.95 a box, as last seen on AimSurplus. I've run ballistics comparisons of the Grendel vs. 6.8 and .308 out of 16" barrels with Barnes TSX bullets, and you get the most efficient performance with the least recoil from the Grendel. Of course a 150gr .308 will retain more energy within traditional hunting distances, but the Grendel has excellent penetration and concentrated energy in a smaller impact space, with longer bullets that plow deep.
Your wife will also not be as apprehensive about pulling the trigger on a Grendel, due to the low recoil. Get your rig set-up, dialed-in, and let her connect with a steel target at 300yds, then tell her most men never shoot past 100yds. When she hits the target and you hear the impact (with the electronic muffs on her head), jump up and say, "Whoa...you just nailed that sucker at THREE HUNDRED YARDS!" That should stir some interest and satisfaction response with her.
