Anybody have a good comparison of a 6.5 Grendel vs 6.5 creed out of 18 inch barrels. I know the creed will be better but just trying to see how much better ballistically.... Drop, wind energy etc.
- Thread starter Texaslongshot
- Start date
That is the Grendel velocity from a 24" so an 18" will be apx 150fps slower or 2430fps. From Hornady's website-
Test Barrel (24")
Muzzle
2580
1818
-2.4
The Creedmoor reaches 2900 out of a 24" so 2750 out of an 18" apx 300fps difference.
I had an 18” ba grendel barrel on an upper for a bit. I could have sworn ~2500 is what I got with Hornady American gunner, 123sst and 123eld. A 12” upper gives my ~2325fps with the same ammo.
The Creed will be apx 300fps faster shooting the same weight bullet from the same length barrel.
I get 2475fps with my 18" Larue UU upper and a 123gr ELD-M over 28.5gr of 8208XBR. The same upper got me 2425fps with Hornady 123gr American Gunner.
My only 6.5C is a 22" AR-10 and I've only loaded 130gr projectiles for it, so no help comparing apples to apples with that one, sorry.
I have owned 3 Grendel uppers and 2 Grendel bolt rifles. I aint never seen thise kind of numbers on velocity. If I would have I would have still owned them!!
I regularly get 2550 from several 20” Grendel barrels with 120 Scenars and AR Comp-would expect 2500 very doable with a correct chamber and good reloading process. These are from an 18” JP barrel. 
My 18" 6.5 Creed is getting 2665fps with 140gr ELD-M over H4350. Also have a 16" getting 2612 with the same round...
So if you drop bullet weight 20grains you should pick up 200fps making it a touch over 2800, and that is what most people see. My CM barrels are 22" but I know chopping them to 18" I lose apx 25fps/inch or 100FPS.
I would add that a lot can go into that "etc." at the end of the OP's question.
What is the application?
My 12" grendel gets lots more time afield than my 18" grendel, and only because of how much easier/faster it is to maneuver. It is absolutely slower, no question: but if the application requires maximum temporary wound channel, I am doing it wrong right from the beginning.
Different application, different tool. My AR10s stay in the safe when it is shoot-n-move, and at that, the 12" grendel goes out with me every time.
I mostly agree with the numbers above, but without knowing the application, the numbers don't mean much.
What is the task for which you need the tool?
What is the application?
My 12" grendel gets lots more time afield than my 18" grendel, and only because of how much easier/faster it is to maneuver. It is absolutely slower, no question: but if the application requires maximum temporary wound channel, I am doing it wrong right from the beginning.
Different application, different tool. My AR10s stay in the safe when it is shoot-n-move, and at that, the 12" grendel goes out with me every time.
I mostly agree with the numbers above, but without knowing the application, the numbers don't mean much.
What is the task for which you need the tool?
IMO there is zero reason to buy a 6.5Grendel today. Its an obsolete cartridge. (i have one by the way).
The 6.5CM stomps the piss out of it. Yes you need a large frame AR, but honestly the grendel has alot of recoil in a small frame AR and its really not that much of a difference with a well braked 6.5CM. With 120/130 class bullets which is all you are getting out of a grendel, its about a 500 fps difference. These are LOW BC 6.5 bullets. They do not perform well when going slow. The 130 Berger hybrid is a good bullet when pushed over 2800 fps, you aren't getting that with the grendel. The 140 class 6.5 bullets are that much better, such as the 144 hybrid, which is a monster in the creed.
If you HAVE to go with a small frame AR, the 6 ARC is easy mode. Its optimized for case capacity and bullet weight. You can shoot HIGHER BC bullets, much faster that weigh 20 grains less. The hit probability at extended ranges is significantly better, and the Higher BC and speed means it retains more of its energy, whereas the 6.5 grendel just bleeds energy off.
5-15 years ago, the Grendel was a good options, since options are limited. Today, with the 6 ARC, its not even debatable IMO.
The 6 ARC in the small frame AR compared to the Grendel is what the .260/6.5CM was to the legacy .308 bolt guns.
The 6.5CM stomps the piss out of it. Yes you need a large frame AR, but honestly the grendel has alot of recoil in a small frame AR and its really not that much of a difference with a well braked 6.5CM. With 120/130 class bullets which is all you are getting out of a grendel, its about a 500 fps difference. These are LOW BC 6.5 bullets. They do not perform well when going slow. The 130 Berger hybrid is a good bullet when pushed over 2800 fps, you aren't getting that with the grendel. The 140 class 6.5 bullets are that much better, such as the 144 hybrid, which is a monster in the creed.
If you HAVE to go with a small frame AR, the 6 ARC is easy mode. Its optimized for case capacity and bullet weight. You can shoot HIGHER BC bullets, much faster that weigh 20 grains less. The hit probability at extended ranges is significantly better, and the Higher BC and speed means it retains more of its energy, whereas the 6.5 grendel just bleeds energy off.
5-15 years ago, the Grendel was a good options, since options are limited. Today, with the 6 ARC, its not even debatable IMO.
The 6 ARC in the small frame AR compared to the Grendel is what the .260/6.5CM was to the legacy .308 bolt guns.
I have zero problem disagreeing with you entirely based on usage, experience, and priorities. That is the great thing about freedom, we both get to do what we want and not give a shit about what other people tell us is better.
Let freedom ring...
Do you just fill the case with H4350 all the way to the top and then somehow seat a bullet? If a man ain’t loading to 85k psi, he ain’t doing it right.
