6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

[groundhogbuster]

Not trying to start a caliber war here, but I love my 6.8's in AR config, so running the ballistics(Which I know you guys have) and know much more than me. I have seen it argued till people get ticked off. Has anyone bought, or built a 6.8 bolt gun?, and what twist would you run to shoot the 85' to 110's. This would be a 16/18" build. Would the 6.5 have that much of an accuracy advantage? (I had a 7mm08) just trying to do something a little different.

 

[lwrkeysfisher]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

Check out 68forums, there are a couple bolt action threads going on over there. I know one member (HTR) has killed dozens (maybe hundreds) of deer and hogs with his 6.8 bolt gun. I've spoken with GAP a few times about a custom 6.8 bolt (which they were willing to build), but I think the caliber really shines in a light-weight semi-auto rifle and haven't ordered anything yet. I'm not sure the 6.5 has any accuracy advantage, just higher BC and a better selection of match bullets. I would probably stick with something like a 7mm-08 in a bolt gun.

 

[Red_SC]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

I'd lean towards a 6.5 personally for the bullet selection, but if you already have semi 6.8's then you're set.

Or if its legal there, just hunt with the AR, they hunt just fine.

 

[ker2222]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

The real question (imho) is how much more accurate will a 6.8 botl gun be over your 6.8 AR? If you love the cartridge and are going to stick with a shorter barrel length why give up the speed and other advantages of the AR platform?

I have a grendel in the ar platform that i use for hunting...... Wouldnt want a bolt, it would never get used.....lol. I imagine i would have more accuracy potential in a bolt, but how much? More importantly, how much of that potential could i realize in hunting field conditions and how much would it matter given hunting ranges?

Now, having said all that...... Lord kniws i have rifles with no earthly practical purpose cause i just had to have them..... So if ya want it...... Get it!

 

[groundhogbuster]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

Yea I have 5 6.8 AR's, and 2 are super light weight, a middy DD with a Vais Brake (S2W brrl) and an RRA 16". The others are 18"s. They do hunt great, but I was wondering if you could squeeze any more accuracy out of a bolt gun.

 

[lwrkeysfisher]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

I think the answer to your accuracy question is unequivocally yes. A bolt gun also opens the door to significantly more bullets for the 6.8 (including excellent match bullets) as you don't have to worry about loading to mag-length. This is somethingI have thought about significantly over the last 2.5 years; it's just hard for me to overcome the weight and money issue. I mean, I can build a 7mm-08, 6.5 Creedmore, etc that weighs and costs the same as a 6.8 in a bolt gun---in an AR its a different story. Now if you are looking for a lighter recoil or just to expand your collection don't let me talk you out of it, just have fun.

 

[F224]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

I have built one around a Ruger 77MKII, using a Remington M700 stainless 270Win takeoff Mountain Barrel. It now sits in a Ruger AllWeather black stock, has a Williams Shorty Front sight base and XS blade and a Dayton/Tracer trigger.

It finished out at 20" on the barrel length and with Hornady 110gr V-max ammo it shoots 1/2 moa groups at 2600 FPS. With almost no recoil it is a deer killing machine.

I will post some photos when I get home in a few days.

 

[groundhogbuster]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

Thanks I would appreciate that, it sounds like a very nice stick. Are you not running a magnified optic? and what's the total weight of the rifle loaded up?

 

[346ci]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

I'd love to have a Savage 10PC with a 16" barrel in 6.8 for a deer rifle.

I've contacted a few barrel makers to see if they would make one for a Savage and no dice. I don't want to go full custom, just assume use my AR in 6.8. As mentioned, using a 6.8 bolt gun could allow longer OAL loads.

 

[cjgemm]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 346ci</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd love to have a Savage 10PC with a 16" barrel in 6.8 for a deer rifle.

I've contacted a few barrel makers to see if they would make one for a Savage and no dice. I don't want to go full custom, just assume use my AR in 6.8. As mentioned, using a 6.8 bolt gun could allow longer OAL loads. </div></div>

PACNOR lists the 6.8 as a standard chamber. I'm sure they'll make you Savage barrel.

 

[346ci]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cjgemm</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 346ci</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd love to have a Savage 10PC with a 16" barrel in 6.8 for a deer rifle.

I've contacted a few barrel makers to see if they would make one for a Savage and no dice. I don't want to go full custom, just assume use my AR in 6.8. As mentioned, using a 6.8 bolt gun could allow longer OAL loads. </div></div>

PACNOR lists the 6.8 as a standard chamber. I'm sure they'll make you Savage barrel. </div></div>

They were the first I contacted. I wanted the same specs as my 6.8 ARP upper with a PacNor has, not sure why but no dice..

 

[groundhogbuster]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

I know their brrl making, and specs are different, but I have a Pac-Nor (Noveske) 6.8 barreled upper, and it shoots better than all my others except Wilson Combat, and they use Wilson 416ss barrels, just like RRA, just not same twist/groove. A buddy of mine sent his Rem 700 to Pac Nor for a re barrel/Action Truing, it's in .223 with 1/7, but it's a smoker with 77's and 80's loaded single shot.

 

[shaman]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

I have to ask why? The 6.8 was designed to fit the parameters of an AR. Unless you have 50K brass, and enough reloading stuff to keep your grandchildren's grandchildren shooting, why limit yourself? I would love to have a target Grendel, but for the same price I can get a Tikka or two Savages in 260 or 6.5C. The bolt should be more accurate, and can have a better trigger, but why not go to a .270 or .270 WSM, or other caliber better suited for a bolt action?

 

[cjgemm]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 346ci</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: cjgemm</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 346ci</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'd love to have a Savage 10PC with a 16" barrel in 6.8 for a deer rifle.

I've contacted a few barrel makers to see if they would make one for a Savage and no dice. I don't want to go full custom, just assume use my AR in 6.8. As mentioned, using a 6.8 bolt gun could allow longer OAL loads. </div></div>

PACNOR lists the 6.8 as a standard chamber. I'm sure they'll make you Savage barrel. </div></div>


They were the first I contacted. I wanted the same specs as my 6.8 ARP upper with a PacNor has, not sure why but no dice.. </div></div>

I see, PACNOR doesn't offer a 5R @ 11.25 twist. They do offer 10 twist in 3,5,6 and polygonal rifling.

 

[tylerw02]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

I don't see much point in a 6.8 SPC bolt-action, but that's just me. Meanwhile, the 6.5 Grendel is an odd bolt-head that you won't commonly see. If you intend to go that route, you may look at CZ 527s. I really don't see a point in doing it to be "different". Pretty much anything .223 up is going to kill a deer so there's no advantage to picking one over the other for close-range shots most deer are killed at.

 

[346ci]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tylerw02</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I don't see much point in a 6.8 SPC bolt-action, but that's just me. Meanwhile, the 6.5 Grendel is an odd bolt-head that you won't commonly see. If you intend to go that route, you may look at CZ 527s. I really don't see a point in doing it to be "different". Pretty much anything .223 up is going to kill a deer so there's no advantage to picking one over the other for close-range shots most deer are killed at. </div></div>

.223 for deer will work, a 6.8 or .264/6.5 would be much better.

PTG makes Savage bolt heads for the 6.8, not sure on the .264

 

[F224]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

Here is a photo of the Ruger with it's original boat paddle stock and NEGC rear sight. The rifle now has a Trijicon Accupoint 3-9x scope.

Total weight with the Ruger standard synthetic stock it now wears and the Trijicon stock is 7.75 pounds.

Light, short, cheap (less than $600 in the rifle with iron sights) and durable.

 

[fdkay]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

I am always amused at folks that say they don't see a need for a bolt gun in 6.8, yet would have no problem owning a bolt gun in .223.

Basically, the 6.8 SPCII has all of the benefits of the .223 while not suffering from the problems associated with the .223.

When using bullets of similar BC's, for example the 75 grain .223 vs the 110 grain 6.8, the 6.8 has virtually identical exterior ballistics but hit with half again the energy. For example, if the .223 load hits with 800 ft lbs, the 6.8 hits with 1200.

 

[fmsniper]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

I own both 6.8 and 6.5G. the 6.5 out performs the 6.8 every time, I get 1.2 inch groups at 400 yards and 8 inch groups at 975 yards out of a 18 inch barreld AR with the grendel

 

[FAL1123]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

fm, who built your grendel and what barrel are you using?

 

[fmsniper]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

I build my own guns for the most part, barrel is a Stainless Adams Arms.
my Grendal on top

 

[tylerw02]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fdkay</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am always amused at folks that say they don't see a need for a bolt gun in 6.8, yet would have no problem owning a bolt gun in .223.

Basically, the 6.8 SPCII has all of the benefits of the .223 while not suffering from the problems associated with the .223.

When using bullets of similar BC's, for example the 75 grain .223 vs the 110 grain 6.8, the 6.8 has virtually identical exterior ballistics but hit with half again the energy. For example, if the .223 load hits with 800 ft lbs, the 6.8 hits with 1200. </div></div>

Who says I own a bolt-action .223?

What "problems" are associated with the .223 Rem?

Yes .223 and 6.8 have similar trajectory, with the 6.8 having marginally more energy. And what is the big deal here? Both have more than enough terminal energy to kill deer and other thin skin game at reasonable distances.

The entire reason the 6.8 SPS and 6.5 Grendel exist is an attempt to provide the energy attainable in a bolt-action to a small-fram AR platform. Again, what is the purpose of working backwards---using small cartridges in a bolt-action? The guns aren't going to be any lighter than what is capable from the other centerfire cartridges. Then you've not got to worry about the odd bolt in the case of the 6.5 G.

What does the 6.8 do that the typical bolt-action cartridges such as .308, .243, 7mm-08, .257 Roberts, .260 Rem,6mm Rem,.223, .22-250 etc don't do? Why stop at gaining a couple hundred FPE to chase a unicorn rifle? Why not just use a .243 Win if you want more than a .223 Rem but not as much as a .260 Rem or .308Win?

In the end, you're going to save yourself headache. I've been down the oddball and wildcat path before. I've not killed game any deader or had more accurate rifles. Again, if deviating from the semi-autos they were intended for, why give up so much to a normal bolt-action? What does the bolt-action 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel gain over a traditional bolt-action cartridge? The same argument holds true...the .308 will have more energy than the 6.8 SPC at the same ranges. What makes the 6.8 magical?

 

[nhm16]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tylerw02</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The entire reason the 6.8 SPS and 6.5 Grendel exist is an attempt to provide the energy attainable in a bolt-action to a small-fram AR platform. Again, what is the purpose of working backwards---using small cartridges in a bolt-action? The guns aren't going to be any lighter than what is capable from the other centerfire cartridges. Then you've not got to worry about the odd bolt in the case of the 6.5 G.</div></div>

I kind of agree with you (even though I have a 6.8 SPC bolt head for a Savage from PTG sitting around). That said, I think if you built off a compact action like the CZ 527/mini-Mauser or Remington Model 7, it'd make a great gun and those two calibers would be a more compelling choice. Something like this CZ-527 re-barreled in 6.5 Grendel.

 

[Tactical_Tom]

Re: 6.8SPC v/s 6.5 Grendel/ Super light whitetail bolt

There is a really neat Remington Model 7 stock a guy is working on which takes ar 15 mags has a folding stock and integrated atlas biped it would be nice in 6.5 Grendel.