Best Second Caliber for My AR-15 - Page 2

Brotherbadger · February 10, 2015, 06:47 AM

I like the 300 blackout,and would recommend it to you if you planned to either SBR it and/or get a suppressor. To me, those are the major benefits of the caliber. As mentioned, it is cheaper to build/find parts for.

The Grendel is an awesome long range round. I do not own one, but it's popular for a reason. Both sides have been expressed in this thread. If it were me, it's go 300 blackout and get a suppressor. If the suppressor doesn't interest you, go Grendel.

Brewtality · February 11, 2015, 02:17 AM

As the owner of a 6.5 Grendel, while I love it, I somewhat regret it too.
Ammo is just too hard to get. Few shops stock it. If they do, it's way over a dollar a round. Usually something like $1.50 a round and that's for inexpensive Wolf rounds. I find it online, but it's common to enter an order at a site that says in stock, only to get an email saying it's back ordered.
If you are set up for hand loading, then it's easier to deal with.
I have found 300blk and 6.8 ammo to be easy to find at almost any LGS in my area. Accessories and parts for 300BLK and 6.8 are both getting easier to find.

If you are somebody that wants to shoot a lot, without spending a fortune to get ammo, I would steer clear of 6.5.

FrankenMauser · February 11, 2015, 03:40 AM

Quote:

If you are somebody that wants to shoot a lot, without spending a fortune to get ammo, I would steer clear of 6.5.

It's available online, in about 50 different places, for less than almost any other AR cartridge (other than .223/5.56). And, I have local shops that stock it.

6.8 SPC, on the other hand... I have only seen it in a couple stores. And it was available for quite some time. ...Right up until it went on clearance and never came back, because the $75/box price tag was ridiculous.

Shooter2675 · February 11, 2015, 06:44 AM

Not to support one side in my own thread, but I must agree with FrankenMauser. 6.5 Grendel ammo is availlable everywhere online and my local Cabelas has it for less than $1 per round. I was thinking of getting a 28 inch match barrel for my Grendel build. Becuase I'll not be using a suppressor or a SBR, I think a Grendel is the one I want. I was looking at Lothar Walther. What would be the velocity gains for a 28 inch barrel over a 24 inch barrel? Are there any disadvantages besides being longer and heavier (not really a problem since its only a range gun)?

John

tobnpr · February 11, 2015, 07:30 AM

The 6.5 Grendel is a great choice- since the weapon isn't really purpose-driven at this point, it will fit most any application that could come up, that could be served by the AR-15 platform.

Quote:

What would be the velocity gains for a 28 inch barrel over a 24 inch barrel? Are there any disadvantages besides being longer and heavier (not really a problem since its only a range gun)?

I suspect velocity gains would be minimal, but would need to punch it into a program to verify. Even a 24" barrel is long for this- many (including ours) are built on standard 20" rifle length barrels which results in acceptable velocities.

At 100 yards, it's a non-starter for you.

mxsailor803 · February 11, 2015, 09:34 AM

I'm kinda at the same point as the OP. Biggest difference is I'm a reloader and already have 5.56 and .300BO uppers. I am kinda curious about that .277 Wolverine. Is it roughly the same length as a BO? Its a simple barrel swap just like the BO right? Who has barrels?

Shooter2675 · February 11, 2015, 02:59 PM

Msxsailor,

You can buy .277 barrels from Mad Dog Weapons systems. They are $215 shipped for a 18 inch barrel. He also makes some shorter barrels.

Tobnpr,

You said you could plug it into a software, do you have said software? If so would you mind plugging in a HORNADY 123 amax load (ballistics from HORNADY's website) and tell me what the gains are from a 28 inch barrel over the 24 inch?

Thanks,

John

A pause for the COZ · February 11, 2015, 03:08 PM

300 Black out is a no brainer now that anything bigger will soon be best filled with a AR10.
Now that the AR15 market is saturated the AR 10's are going to explode.

Jayhawkhuntclub · February 11, 2015, 03:17 PM

An AR10 is fine, if you want a bulky, generally heavy, rifle. If you want power in a more compact size, the Grendel is a better option. An 18" or 20" bbl will provide great ballistics with the 6.5 Grendel.

Gunplummer · February 11, 2015, 04:56 PM

I have heard rumors of cracking bolts with the 6.5 Grendal. I can believe that. I did a 6.8 a few years back and took quite a bit out of the face of the bolt to accept the base. The 7.62x39 is kind of thinned out also. I guess if you load reasonably it will be fine.

Shooter2675 · February 11, 2015, 05:51 PM

I was looking at an AR-10, but the extra cost vs a AR-15 lower doesn't seem too good. I'm not too concerned with weight as I was thinking about a 28 inch barrel in a Grendel. Does anyone know how a 28 inch barrel with perform vs. a 24 inch barrel?

John

bedlamite · February 11, 2015, 06:46 PM

If you're seriously considering a 28" barrel and weight isn't a concern, I'd forget the Grendel and get an AR10 in 260 Remington or 6.5 Creedmore. The extra velocity makes a big difference.

Shooter2675 · February 11, 2015, 07:00 PM

Ok, I was looking at the 6.5 creedmoor, but what barrel to get? I would be buying a $475 Grendel barrel and still spending less on the gun then with a cheap barreled 6.5 creedmoor. Could you recommend a good AR-10 creedmoor barrel for under $400? I am still wondering what velocity gains could be had with a 28 inch Grendel.

John

bedlamite · February 11, 2015, 07:32 PM

I'd contact Blackholeweaponry and get a quote. They list 24" AR10 barrels in the $300-400 range, they can make longer barrel. Krieger is another option I'd consider, but they may be a little more, call for a quote.

According to Alexander Arms, the 123gr Senecar gains about 55fps when you go from a 19.5" to a 24" barrel, I would expect slightly less gain going to a 28" barrel. In comparison, I get 2950 fps from my Savage 27" 260 Rem, that would be about 300 fps more than the Grendel from a 28"

Shooter2675 · February 12, 2015, 07:07 AM

I understand the AR-10 or a bolt gun will provide much better ballistics than a 6.5 Grendel, but I can't snap any of those onto my AR-15 lower receiver or build a match grade rifle for under $600. Does anyone have data for 28 inch Grendel barrels?

John

979Texas · February 13, 2015, 12:03 AM

The 6.5 Grendel is an excellent caliber and it would be my first choice of caliber if I didnt already have a .300 Blackout.

Shooter2675 · February 13, 2015, 07:32 AM

One of the barrels I was looking at had a 3/4x24 muzzle threading. Any idea where to find a flash hider for that thread?

John

February 10, 2015, 06:47 AM	#26
Brotherbadger Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2010 Posts: 1,149	I like the 300 blackout,and would recommend it to you if you planned to either SBR it and/or get a suppressor. To me, those are the major benefits of the caliber. As mentioned, it is cheaper to build/find parts for. The Grendel is an awesome long range round. I do not own one, but it's popular for a reason. Both sides have been expressed in this thread. If it were me, it's go 300 blackout and get a suppressor. If the suppressor doesn't interest you, go Grendel. __________________ Once Fired Brass, Top quality, Fast shipping, Best prices. http://300AacBrass.com/ -10% Coupon use code " badger "

February 11, 2015, 06:44 AM	#29
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Not to support one side in my own thread, but I must agree with FrankenMauser. 6.5 Grendel ammo is availlable everywhere online and my local Cabelas has it for less than $1 per round. I was thinking of getting a 28 inch match barrel for my Grendel build. Becuase I'll not be using a suppressor or a SBR, I think a Grendel is the one I want. I was looking at Lothar Walther. What would be the velocity gains for a 28 inch barrel over a 24 inch barrel? Are there any disadvantages besides being longer and heavier (not really a problem since its only a range gun)? John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

February 11, 2015, 02:59 PM	#32
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Msxsailor, You can buy .277 barrels from Mad Dog Weapons systems. They are $215 shipped for a 18 inch barrel. He also makes some shorter barrels. Tobnpr, You said you could plug it into a software, do you have said software? If so would you mind plugging in a HORNADY 123 amax load (ballistics from HORNADY's website) and tell me what the gains are from a 28 inch barrel over the 24 inch? Thanks, John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

February 11, 2015, 05:51 PM	#36
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	I was looking at an AR-10, but the extra cost vs a AR-15 lower doesn't seem too good. I'm not too concerned with weight as I was thinking about a 28 inch barrel in a Grendel. Does anyone know how a 28 inch barrel with perform vs. a 24 inch barrel? John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

February 11, 2015, 06:46 PM	#37
bedlamite Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2000 Location: WI Posts: 1,395	If you're seriously considering a 28" barrel and weight isn't a concern, I'd forget the Grendel and get an AR10 in 260 Remington or 6.5 Creedmore. The extra velocity makes a big difference. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.

February 11, 2015, 02:17 AM	#27
Brewtality Junior Member Join Date: February 10, 2015 Posts: 1	As the owner of a 6.5 Grendel, while I love it, I somewhat regret it too. Ammo is just too hard to get. Few shops stock it. If they do, it's way over a dollar a round. Usually something like $1.50 a round and that's for inexpensive Wolf rounds. I find it online, but it's common to enter an order at a site that says in stock, only to get an email saying it's back ordered. If you are set up for hand loading, then it's easier to deal with. I have found 300blk and 6.8 ammo to be easy to find at almost any LGS in my area. Accessories and parts for 300BLK and 6.8 are both getting easier to find. If you are somebody that wants to shoot a lot, without spending a fortune to get ammo, I would steer clear of 6.5.

February 11, 2015, 09:34 AM	#31
mxsailor803 Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2010 Location: SC Posts: 1,344	I'm kinda at the same point as the OP. Biggest difference is I'm a reloader and already have 5.56 and .300BO uppers. I am kinda curious about that .277 Wolverine. Is it roughly the same length as a BO? Its a simple barrel swap just like the BO right? Who has barrels?

February 11, 2015, 03:08 PM	#33
A pause for the COZ Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2012 Location: Braham, Minnesota Posts: 1,314	300 Black out is a no brainer now that anything bigger will soon be best filled with a AR10. Now that the AR15 market is saturated the AR 10's are going to explode.

February 11, 2015, 03:17 PM	#34
Jayhawkhuntclub Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2007 Posts: 581	An AR10 is fine, if you want a bulky, generally heavy, rifle. If you want power in a more compact size, the Grendel is a better option. An 18" or 20" bbl will provide great ballistics with the 6.5 Grendel.

February 11, 2015, 04:56 PM	#35
Gunplummer Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2010 Location: South East Pa. Posts: 3,364	I have heard rumors of cracking bolts with the 6.5 Grendal. I can believe that. I did a 6.8 a few years back and took quite a bit out of the face of the bolt to accept the base. The 7.62x39 is kind of thinned out also. I guess if you load reasonably it will be fine.

February 11, 2015, 07:00 PM	#38
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	Ok, I was looking at the 6.5 creedmoor, but what barrel to get? I would be buying a $475 Grendel barrel and still spending less on the gun then with a cheap barreled 6.5 creedmoor. Could you recommend a good AR-10 creedmoor barrel for under $400? I am still wondering what velocity gains could be had with a 28 inch Grendel. John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

February 11, 2015, 07:32 PM	#39
bedlamite Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2000 Location: WI Posts: 1,395	I'd contact Blackholeweaponry and get a quote. They list 24" AR10 barrels in the $300-400 range, they can make longer barrel. Krieger is another option I'd consider, but they may be a little more, call for a quote. According to Alexander Arms, the 123gr Senecar gains about 55fps when you go from a 19.5" to a 24" barrel, I would expect slightly less gain going to a 28" barrel. In comparison, I get 2950 fps from my Savage 27" 260 Rem, that would be about 300 fps more than the Grendel from a 28" __________________ A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.

February 12, 2015, 07:07 AM	#40
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	I understand the AR-10 or a bolt gun will provide much better ballistics than a 6.5 Grendel, but I can't snap any of those onto my AR-15 lower receiver or build a match grade rifle for under $600. Does anyone have data for 28 inch Grendel barrels? John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln

February 13, 2015, 12:03 AM	#41
979Texas Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2015 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 177	The 6.5 Grendel is an excellent caliber and it would be my first choice of caliber if I didnt already have a .300 Blackout.

February 13, 2015, 07:32 AM	#42
Shooter2675 Senior Member Join Date: August 17, 2013 Location: Western Pennsylvania Posts: 382	One of the barrels I was looking at had a 3/4x24 muzzle threading. Any idea where to find a flash hider for that thread? John __________________ "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and to remove all doubt." - Abraham Lincoln