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I noticed that ballistic advantage no longer lists 6.5MM Grendel barrels on their website. I reached out and got the following response:
Yes, at this time we have made the decisions to put them on hold. As we wrap 2020, we are focused on high-demand SKUs to ensure we offer a variety of products people have come to expect. Any of the non-high-demand SKUs may be re-introduced in the next year.
I feel fortunate to have snagged one from a third party seller a month or so ago.
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I wonder if they were getting more interest in 6 ARC so decided to switch to that. Or they perceive that market to be underserved, given its youth and figure there is a bigger piece of the pie there than with all the other Grendel sources.
Right now their website lists 556, 223 Wylde, 300 BO, 9mm, 6mm ARC, 6.5 Creed and 308
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I actually asked them that very question, which they didnt respond to directly.
The 6mm ARC certainly is promising, I think in a couple of years it will take most of the Grendel market. Ill likely jump on board at some point, but Im waiting for that market to expand further.
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Interesting. I'm sure they are focusing on the intense demand all things .223 have right now; which is the smart business play. As to 6mm ARC; I seriously doubt that's overtaking Grendel and their new focus. I have no interest in 6mm ARC, as the point of Grendel is to be the jack-of-all things round. A thinner lighter bullet means a less effective bullet on game. 6.5 Grendel is the 1000 yard capable / deer and hog capable / AR15 small frame do-all general purpose round. 6mm ARC is a longer range round at the expense of hard-hitting game-dropper, IMHO. If I want that, I'll just get a .224 Valk; which has a smaller head and runs higher pressure like 6.8 SPC does.
When I'm at the distance gong-range and pick up left-over brass; I pick up more 6.5 CM than anything short of .223; even .308 is outcounted by 6.5 CM. After that, it's 6.5 Grendel (far far distant 4th place), then .224 Valk, then 30-06, then 6.8. After that the random mix of 7.62x39, .300 BO, .260, 6mm Creed, 6.5x55, and others depending on the day. I have never seen a 6mm ARC casing on the ground, nor a 6.5 Grendel casing necked down to it.
6mm ARC is not overtaking Grendel. And as long as the Wolf Steel continues to make <$0.30 ammo for Grendel and only Grendel, then Grendel will remain the king of specialty AR15 non-5.56/.300 BO rounds.
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I think Bill Alexander was wise to partner with Barnaul to market the steel cased 6.5 Grendel ammo. The 6.8 SPC was generally more popular in 2010 when I bought the 6.5 Grendel. The Wolf steel cased 6.5 Grendel ammo really helped the sale of the 6.5 Grendel. The cheapest 6.8 SPC ammo was S&B plus the sale of Silver State Armory to Nosler hurt the 6.8.
Without other manufacturers adding 6 MM ARC ammunition to the market its hard to say if the 6 ARC can surpass the 6.5 Grendel in popularity.
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Can't really find any Ballistic Advantage barrels in stock. I'm not surprised that they are pausing on the 6.5.
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Eye_guy Wrote:I noticed that ballistic advantage no longer lists 6.5MM Grendel barrels on their website. I reached out and got the following response:
Yes, at this time we have made the decisions to put them on hold. As we wrap 2020, we are focused on high-demand SKUs to ensure we offer a variety of products people have come to expect. Any of the non-high-demand SKUs may be re-introduced in the next year.
I feel fortunate to have snagged one from a third party seller a month or so ago.
At least they responded to you. I asked the same question about a year ago when they'd been out of stock for a few weeks. They never answered, but I got an automated email several weeks later saying the inquiry had been closed... so thanks for that.
Like their products, but that CS could use some help.
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Mehta there is other rack grade barrels on the market to take their place.
I would buy a sixfivearms barrel before I would buy a BA, faxon or odion if I needed a rack grade barrel.
