New upper for hogs

[603 Country]

I rolled out of bed about 3 am (with the intention to make a potty trip), and I looked out front to check for hogs under the oaks. There they were, easy to see in the full moon, so I grabbed the AR (223 with 65 gr Gamekings), eased out the front door, picked a hog, turned on the reticle illumination, and shot it. And off they all ran, with no sign of blood. That’s the third time that has happened, and that’s enough. In the short term I’ll switch to the grandson’s 6.5 Grendel, and long term I’ll have an upper built in 6.5. When I shoot a hog, I want a dead hog. Well, I probably do have a dead hog, but have no clue where he or she went, which is not satisfactory.

My usual hog gun is a bolt action in 260, with 120 gr Ballistic Tips. It works very well, but I still rarely get an exit or blood trail with hogs. In the ‘new’ Grendel, I have a choice of 95 gr V-Max, 100 gr Nosler BT, 120 gr Nosler BT, and 123 gr SST. And I have a small stash or 129 gr Hornady Interlocks. Would you folks with significant pig shooting experience with the Grendel please suggest which bullet or bullets are best suited.

I’m off to the gunshop to discuss the new upper. I’m thinking 18” barrel.

[603 Country]

A follow-up: I did indeed replace the 223 house gun with the 6.5 Grendel. That’s the grandson’s gun, since I don’t have one yet. And last night the wife dragged me out of bed at 1 AM while yelling we had hogs in the front yard/pasture. Quite a few of them were eating acorns. I picked the biggest one, at about 80 yards, and dropped him like a bad habit, using a 123 gr SST factory load. Granted, this is a one-off, but the last 3 hogs I used the 223 on have not been found. I think I have my new yard gun. And, since 123 gr SSTs are available, I suppose I’ll just continue with that bullet.

[VASCAR2]

Have you thought about a LaRue Ultimate Upper, as they get very good reviews. Alexander Arms uppers get good reviews but I’m not one to buy the cheaper uppers like BCA or Radical Firearms.


https://www.larue.com/products/larue-com...ade-upper/


If your willing to assemble your own upper it’s hard to beat BFT’s prices at 6.5 Outfitters.


https://www.sixfiveoutfitters.com/


Forum members sell a lot of nice uppers on this forum if you don’t mind buying used.


https://www.65grendel.com/forum/forumdis...l-or-Trade

[603 Country]

My neighbor’s buddy has an FFL and has offered to build me a complete AR at a discount, since he’s always using my 100 yard range. He’ll come up with a proposed build and I’ll look it over. Or, I might just go with an upper. The wife will go slightly nuts if I get another rifle, whereas a piece of a rifle (upper) will probably be Ok. Trying to keep the peace, but she just got a new couch ($1400) and is sniffing around more furniture, so I’m gonna do what I’m gonna do, and hope for calm.

I’d just have the 223 AR converted to 6.5G, but I need a plinking rifle for the grandkids and visitors, so I need a 223.

[empTshell]

I mostly use the 123 SST and the 120 ELDM for hogs. So far I have not had any runoff.

[603 Country]

And a further update…the grandson killed a nice fat buck right after Christmas. Heart shot, and the buck went 20 yards, jumped a fence and piled up on the other side. Been a while since I’ve seen a blood trail that red. He used the 123 gr SST.

[Constitutionalist]

MOr, I might just go with an upper. The wife will go slightly nuts if I get another rifle, whereas a piece of a rifle (upper) will probably be Ok. Trying to keep the peace, but she just got a new couch ($1400) and is sniffing around more furniture, so I’m gonna do what I’m gonna do, and hope for calm.

I’d just have the 223 AR converted to 6.5G, but I need a plinking rifle for the grandkids and visitors, so I need a 223.

I should use that argument. My wife bought a sectional that she hasn't told me the price of and we both agree that's probably best. When she ordered it she said it was "a little more than the ones we looked at, but it's really, REALLY nice!" and I know what those cost so its better to not poke that bear. No joy can come from it.

I'd suggest putting your $ towards a good complete upper. (And that's from a guy with 4 lowers and 5 uppers.) You can swap uppers in less than a minute so you can easily go from .223 to Grendel and back during the same shooting session. I have .350 Legend and .223 uppers that share a lower. If I'm deer hunting, I'm not coyote hunting and vice versa.

Enjoy your new acquisition- whichever you decide!

John

And congratulations to you and your grandson! Trying to remember who said it (O'Conner?), but...

"The .30-30 cartridge kills all out of proportion to its size." The same could easily be said about 6.5 Grendel.

[603 Country]

The grandson is making noises about taking his Grendel back home with him soon. And, a fellow just contacted me with a Grendel upper to sell. Timing is everything. If that gets done, I’ll have my own front yard hog gun. As I may have mentioned, the wife just spent $1400 on a small couch. She may grind her teeth a bit, but I think I’m golden. Ain’t it grand…

[Popeye212]

PM sent

[603 Country]

I got the upper, put it on the lower, moved the scope from the 223, grabbed some 95 gr V-Max reloads, and went to the shooting bench. I am pleased to say that, like the seller said, it’s a shooter. It may even be a bit more accurate than the grandson’s Odin Works Grendel. Today or tomorrow I’ll resight it for the 123 gr SSTs, and down the road I’ll work up some 100 gr Nosler BT loads. That’s the bullet I want to use long term, and I have a 100 or more of them on hand. Now, if Nosler would just make more available, or if some maker would produce a 100 gr cup and core hunting bullet for a reasonable unit cost, I’d buy a bunch.