Re: AR in 6.5 Grendel
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Acc371</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The licensing issue held off it's momentum at a critical time. It is still a good caliber for extended range at steel & paper.
The 6.8 is about the same out to about 400. When The Grendel/.264LBC's BC takes over. The 6.8 does have more industry support.
I would mention, I wouldn't chance either at deer past 400 yards +/-.</div></div>
The licensing was one of the best moves AA did to keep the chamber standard, rather than let everyone and their brother make their own variation of it, which screws over compatibility and potential safety in everyone's guns. It really helped when Hornady submitted the cartridge to SAAMI, with the correct chamber drawings, and no confusion about what a Grendel chamber is.
The 14.5" Grendel overtakes the 16" 6.8 at 200yds for energy, and starts out with superior wind drift from the gate. You can see this especially with the 6.8 120gr SST (a great bullet/load BTW with a .400 G1 BC) and the new 6.5 123gr SST (.510 G1 BC). When both are fired from 16" barrels, the Grendel starts off with the advantage across the board.
Of course, the 16" Grendel has been doing this from the get-go with the 120gr class hunting pills in the .433-.458 BC range, like the Speer 120gr Hot Cor, Barnes 120gr TTSX, or 120gr NBT.
A Grendel owner shot an antelope this season at <span style="font-weight: bold">752yds</span> with the 123gr AMAX from a 22" Lilja-barreled upper that shoots 1/2 MOA consistently for him. He registered the shot on a 4" rock at 727yds before the antelope heard came along. It was a spine/lung shot DRT.
You also have Mark LaRue's Elk hunt from 2007 I think it was, where he dropped a nice bull at 405yds with the 120gr Barnes.
I'm actually enjoying all the selection of factory loads available now for the Grendel. The PPU 120gr MPT in brass cases is $12.95/box from Aimsurplus. Both Hornady and Precision Firearms are offering factory 123gr SST loaded ammo, with PF's load using Lapua brass.
The 123gr Silver Scenar load from PF has produced 7fps ES in my button-rifled AA 16", and is a very accurate load for me at .79" at 100yds for 4 rounds. 123gr AMAX has grouped into 1.69" at 200yds for me as well, best group. I'm happy, seeing how I spent $269 on the barrel/bolt combo.