This isn’t another article saying the 6.5 Grendel is the best cartridge ever. I”m not going to say it’s more powerful than the .308 or that the 6.8 SPC sucks by comparison.
None of that is true.
But it’s still my favorite cartridge.
The 6.5 Grendel has it’s limitations. I don’t deny that. So before I get to why it’s my favorite cartridge, lets talk about those limitations.
6.5 Grendel Limitations
A lot of people compare the 6.5 Grendel to the .308 (including me in my 6.5 Grendel vs 308 article). The simple truth is the .308 has significantly more raw power than the 6.5 Grendel. There’s no denying it. the .308 throws a heavier bullet faster, which equals more power.
The Grendel has boast very good firepower for it’s size, but it’s no 308 power-wise.
If we are comparing the 6.8 SPC to the 6.5 Grendel, it’s very close. Out to 300-400 yards, there is almost no difference in firepower, accuracy, or trajectory. Beyond that the Grendel pulls ahead, but not enough to make the 6.8 SPC look weak in any sense of the word.
For most people, the factory loaded bullet selection will make more difference than the cartridge.
Yes, they are that close.
However, They both fall FAR short of a “full size” cartridge in their respective calibers.
The 270 Winchester easily outclasses the smaller 6.8. The .260 Remington or 6.5×55 Swede achieve velocities Grendel shooters can only dream of.
The 5.56 has roughly half the recoil of the 6.5 Grendel and is more affordable to shoot. The 5.56 has plenty of firepower out to 200-ish yards with good bullet selection.
With good ammo, the 5.56’s lower recoil and higher capacity makes it more capable than the Grendel in a close quarters combat scenario.
If you want a more affordable centerfire rifle cartridge, there’s always the 7.62×39. It hits harder than the 5.56 and is effective to about the same range. It also has some of the cheapest plinking ammo available.
The Grendel is an accurate cartridge, but it’s hardly the most accurate cartridge ever designed. The 6BR and others of it’s ilk have long held that honor.
It doesn’t shoot as flat as many/most 6mm cartridges or the larger 6.5mm & 7mm cartridges. It’s a flat trajectory for an AR-15, but many larger cartridges have up to half the drop & drift at long range.
The Grendel is also fairly easy to load for if reloading is your thing. But it’s not the only cartridge that can make that claim. There are other cartridges that are easier to hand load.
Some think it would make the perfect “one size fits all” military cartridge. I suppose that’s possible. Would it be powerful enough at long range? Possibly, but I’d guess not. Only a huge amount of (military) testing would tell.
So Question.
If all of these other calibers beat the 6.5 Grendel, why is it my favorite cartridge?
The answer is versatility.
No the Grendel can’t beat – or even match – the 308 in power. However, it can take all medium game and some large game in North America cleanly. (why it can is indirectly spelled out in My Article on Terminal Ballistics and Stopping Power)
Proving the above point, one hunter killed an Elk at 400 yards with a 6.5 Grendel. And since most game is taken under 100 yards, I think it the 6.5 Grendel is certainly capable of anchoring any game the average hunter would hunt. (plus, Excellent 6.5 Grendel hunting loads are available here)
The Grendel grants that ability on the much smaller and lighter AR-15 platform versus the heavier 308 rifle offerings. Heavy rifles are fine for benchrest shooting.
Less so for hunting, combat, practical shooting competitions, and virtually any other application where you need to carry the gun for any length of time.
Then there’s the recoil.
No one would call the recoil of the 308 punishing, but it’s enough to make plenty of people flinch. The Grendel has mild recoil which is good for rapid, accurate follow-up shots and won’t cause a flinch.
Comparing the Grendel to the larger 6.5 cartridges (like the 260 Remington or the 6.5×55 Swede) is like comparing a Toyota Corolla to a Ferarri.
That said, the Corolla will take care of your everyday needs just as well as the Ferarri, in many ways better. Lighter rifles, less costly ammo, and the terminal performance on medium game inside normal hunting ranges is comparable.
Why not get cheaper and lighter when it’s just as effective?
Versus the 6.8 SPC, (including SPCII vs. Grendel II) I prefer the slight advantage of the Grendel at long range and higher sectional densities. The 6.8 shooters prefer their slight advantage at close range.
For about 90% of shooters, the difference is negligible. The 6.8 SPC is a VERY good cartridge, I just prefer the Grendel. (and btw, much of this article could be about the 6.8)
Versus the 5.56, It delivers more firepower at 2-3 times the effective range while still keeping recoil low enough for effective close quarters combat. It also make a FAR better/more lethal hunting cartridge.
The 7.62×39 is cheaper to plink with, but the cost gap versus the Grendel has closed significantly with the introduction of Wolf’s Steel cased 100gr FMJ ammunition.
That puts Grendel on par with the 5.56 cost wise.
Plus, the Wolf ammo is constructed to be highly effective even at low cost. The bullet was patterned after the highly lethal and effective “poison pill” 7N6 round of the 5.45×39.
The Grendel isn’t as flat shooting as many larger cartridges, but it bucks the wind better than the .308 with most loads, and doesn’t require a large heavy gun with lots of recoil to do it.
Are you starting to see my point?
The 6.5 Grendel is an EXCELLENT Jack-Of-All-Trades.
It’s not the best in any category, but it’s effective in virtually all of them.
There is nothing magical about the Grendel either. Other cartridges in the same class in terms of bullet weight, diameter, and velocity (like the 6.8 SPC plus a horde of wildcat cartridges) have similar Jack-Of-All-Trades characteristics.
The 6.5 Grendel (and others of it’s size) are the Multi-tools of the gun world. They can do a lot of things, but not as well as a dedicated tool. But, you’d need a lot tools to match what a single multi-tool can do.
BTW, that’s a Leatherman Charge TTI. I own one and it’s amazing.
You have to realize what you are getting with the 6.5 Grendel. It’s NOT a wonder cartridge that solves every shooting problem perfectly.
It’s simply an excellent compromise between recoil, power, weight and range. Nothing more, nothing less.
I think it’s near the ideal middle ground, but I also recognize it’s easily outclassed by more specialty cartridges
So if you have a specific purpose, pick a specialized cartridge and know you’ll easily outperform the 6.5 Grendel hands-down, no-contest every single time.
If you need a multi-purpose cartridge or aren’t sure what situation you might find yourself in, the 6.5 Grendel is a very good bet. It won’t be ideal for every situation. But regardless of the situation, you’ll have a cartridge you can count on.
That’s my $0.02.
Your mileage may vary.
P.S. to the 6.5 and 6.8 Fanboys: girls, you’re both pretty. Now can we stop bickering and move along?
Thanks for the article. This backs up my suspicions that the wolf 6.5 grendel upper made by Anderson, would be a great shtf gun. Acceptable for hunting and twice the lead for 2 legged varmints. The wolf grendel ammo would make plinking VERY cheap and was designed to be shot out of the upper they contracted to be made by anderson so no extracting problems like their .223 ammo. Just need to save up now.
I have he exact same thoughts, 6.5 Grendel is a great compromise on all fronts. It’s less common in Canada but I hope it starts to gain in popularity, and doesn’t fall by the wayside. I’ll be using it on my first Elk hunt this fall.
Abe,
Now that the 6.5 Creedmore is becoming more common, have you changed your opinion on the Grendel?
Not one bit.
The 6.5 Creedmore is a full size, full power cartridge capable of doing just about anything… Except fitting in a lightweight semi-auto. The Grendel’s strength is it’s “weakness” because it’s a good balance between firepower and size/weight. If you want better performance from a ballistic standpoint, the Creedmore is better. But from a versatility standpoint, the Grendel will do much of what the Creedmore will do in a smaller lighter and cheaper package. (especially at shorter ranges)
I am looking at the Thompson Center Contender G2 pistol as an off season shooting, varmint and predator, up to mountain lion in size, cartridge pistol combo. . I would use a 14 inch barrel and Weaver 2-8×35 pistol scope. Originally I thought of using a 223 with a fast twist rate and heavier bullets but the 6.5 just feels like it would give me more security on a big cat. What are your thoughts Abe on the cartridge in a single shot pistol?
If I was worried about something that could/would hunt me back, I would want a semi-auto rifle. I wouldn’t even consider a single shot. That said, I think the Grendel could kill a predator if you do your part. However, “kill” doesn’t mean “stop instantly”. On a mountain lion, something closer to the 458 SOCOM would be more likely to drop it fast. (If you can do the recoil, which would be unbearable in a pistol)
Abe,
What are your thoughts on the 224 Valkyrie? Do you think its performance unseats the Grendel or is the 22 cal still too much of a liability as a “jack of all trades” round? http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017/10/06/ar-15s-creedmoor-224-valkyrie-vs-22-nosler-6-5-grendel-modern-intermediate-calibers-025/
Aside from the Wolf ammo, it appears to be less expensive to shoot, but given the reviews of bimetal bullets, I’m not so sure I’d want to use use that. Any thoughts on barrel wear with bimetal bullets?
I look forward to your reviews. Thanks!
I really like the .224 Valkyrie. It’s a better design that virtually all other cartridges in its size class and the first truly exciting carbine-length cartridge since the 6.5 Grendel. I don’t think .22 caliber is a limitation when you’re shooting a 90gr bullet. It should be plenty for deer and other medium game where hunting with .22 caliber is legal. It might even displace the 6.5 Grendel as my favorite cartridge… Maybe.
My only real concern is barrel life. Time will tell.
Bi-metal jackets definitely wear the barrel faster than copper jackets. Typically though, the bi-metals jackets come in steel cases which makes it a cost savings even if you have to replace the barrel more.
Hey Abe! Recently discovered your articles. I enjoy reading the way you break down and explain in depth whatever the subject might be. I’m considering an upper in 6.5 Grendel or .224 Valkyrie. I’m torn but I’m leaning toward the 6.5. Have you had anymore experience with the .224 that might sway my opinion? Thanks!
As with most things, it depends on your intended purpose. For hunting, I would go Grendel because many states have laws about hunting with anything smaller than 6mm. For longer range shooting, the Valkyrie has a drop and wind drift advantage. If you like, please send me an email letting me know what you want it for and I’ll give you as complete an answer as I can.
Abe, I like your taste in cartridges and multi tools, the 6.5 is my favorite cartridge as well and the Charge Ti has been on my hip from the time I retired from the Navy as a SERE Instructor. I vet my tools heavily before i invest in them. I am however curious about the 6.5×40 and how that compares to the Grendel. I would think that with the smaller case head of the 6.8, you can pump up the velocity without worrying about bolt lug shearing.
Hey Abe. What barrel length do you prefer. 18vs 20. Fluted vs non fluted?
It depends on what you want. If you’re looking for walking gun the 18″ will be lighter and point better. The 20″ will give a hair more velocity – and it’s the sweet spot for barrel length on the Grendel – but will be more cumbersome. For most applications, there’s very little difference. A deer will certainly never know the difference, and over short ranges (0-300 yards) the difference in wind drift is tiny. If you plan to use it on a bench, I’d go longer (probably to 24″). If you plan to shoot offhand, then shorter will make a better balanced weapon. If you’re not sure, the 18″ is probably a good bet.
Personally, I like ’em light. My 5.56 has a 16″ pencil barrel and points like a dream. But again, it depends on what you want.
Abe, Like all the comments on the Grendel… Of course I would as I now own 5ea Grendel’s of 18 thru 24 inch barrel lengths. My favorite is the “Left” charger 24″ which makes it super handy for us old men that just do targets. Hell I’m 74 and the Grendel does 500 yards but, I can’t even see that far. This light weapon is flat at 200 yards and I can do 1.5moa at that distance with the Hornady123 ELD and Varget powder. I just wish I were younger again so I could handle the “game” strain.. The Grendel cartridge is the “Little bullet that can”. The recoil is super easy on the shoulder compared to my Creedmoor and my 260 Remington and the reloading is twice as easy with much less cost in powder and bullets. You can tell, I’m a big fan of the Grendel cartridge and it’s all I take to the range anymore. It’s just too much FUN!!
Nice allrounder indeed and the fact that it can be fired from an AR-15 is just amazing. However..
“…but it bucks the wind better than the .308…” is not a very useful statement even if it were true (which is pretty difficult to prove, given the amount of different ammo types out there). It’s easier to prove that for every particular 6.5 Grendel load, there is a .308Win equivalent that does better.
Regardless of caliber, you should buy/load ammo according to your purpose. If that purpose includes “little wind drift”, don’t buy 150gr RNSP for the 308Win – simple as that.
For someone shooting long range the fact that X% of 308Win loads currently sold in Y part of the world don’t buck the wind as well as the 123gr SST load is pretty irrelevant, seing that he will never touch those.
Even going to the rather mildly loaded 178gr ELD-X factory offering will result in the 123gr Hornady load for the Grendel having 12% more drop and 22% more drift @ 1000yards, while retaining about half of the 308’s energy. Handloads within SAAMI specs can increase velocities for both the 123 and 178 loads by roughly 60fps and 140fps respectively, further incresing the 308’s advantage.
Nowadays with gun, powder and projectile variety caliber perforance ranges overlap greatly, especially with regards to singular metrics as “drift” or “drop”.
You can make a 308Win drift less and have more energy than a full pressure 300WinMag @ 1000. Does not change the fact that in any sort of fair comparison the Magnum cartridge will win