6.5 or 6.8 what to get?

[Xcountryrider]

6.8 is better bases on availability of ammo alone. Plus, its probably easier to find 6.8 barrels and mags. You won't notice the difference between the two within their respective effective ranges.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Its a toose up the 6.8SPC has more loaded ammo avaiable but the 6.5 Grendel has brass in stock more often and a wider range of powder that can be used to load. Here's a list of powders available for loading weights. They are about equal on game under 300 yards but the Grendel has more long range fun potential. No right answer its more of what fits a user more. Both are good options for a Hunting MSR on medium game. For larger game look at the 30 RAR they are back in production and plenty of ammo available.

[Jarhead]

6.8 SPC and a .300 AAC, I reload so I don't sweat the price of ammo

[darkknight]

6.8 spc with an AR Performance barrel and never look back. Moa to sub MOA accuracy. Great round for deer boar antelope and varmints. Also has been used to take animals like elk and black bears. Passes the FBI barrier test.

Plus the rounds trajectory is equivalent to 150 grain .308 and mk 262 5.56. 600 yard capable of you reload.

I didn't like the fact that 6.5 was proprietary to Alexander arms, this no one else is really making components for it. Plus it doesn't out perform 6.8 that significantly. Yes the bullets have a higher bc. And more velocity.

Just depends on what your looking for?

Ar10 will work fine just a heavier rifle to haul around and more expensive to build, plus .308 is far from optimized in a 16-18 inch barrel. 6.8 was designed for short barrel uses, 14.7 or 16 inches is all that's needed. I have .308 ARs and 2 6.8s and love both. I don't think you can go wrong with either personally.

Check out 68forums for more info

[C.G.]

I didn't like the fact that 6.5 was proprietary to Alexander arms, this no one else is really making components for it.

No longer true, it has been listed in SAAMI now.

[rusty815]

Its a toose up the 6.8SPC has more loaded ammo avaiable but the 6.5 Grendel has brass in stock more often and a wider range of powder that can be used to load. Here's a list of powders available for loading weights. They are about equal on game under 300 yards but the Grendel has more long range fun potential. No right answer its more of what fits a user more. Both are good options for a Hunting MSR on medium game. For larger game look at the 30 RAR they are back in production and plenty of ammo available.

You can usually find brass if you look around for a bit, but the hard thing to come by is powder. 6.8 also uses a plethora of powder, but since most of it is the same as what the 5.56 uses, its usually out of stock.

the problem is thinking that the 6.8 is limited to 300 yards for long range plinking, its not, with certain loads, its possible to stay supersonic at 1000 yards with a 16 inch barrel, SSA used to produce a round with 140gr. Berger VLD's that fit in ASC or PRI magazines that had a muzzle velocity of 2401fps and was supersonic out to around 1000 yards, but since they changed their site, a lot of stuff is missing. For hunting, especially with hand loads, the 6.8 has just about the same range as the 6.5, probably a bit less, but its minor.

[3lixer]

Finished my 6.8 SPC II ebr today.



PSA 6.8 SPC II 14.5" Upper
Magpul Mid Length Handguards
Aimpoint Pro
Troy Industries Di-Optic Aperture Folding Battle Sight Rear
BCM Mod 4 Charging Handle
Aero Precision lower
PSA LPK with Geissele G2S Trigger
BCM Gunfighter Grip Mod 3
VLTOR E-mod Stock

[Sutcliffe]

Ballistics will favor the 6.5

Slightly. That said, both are niche cartridges and you will have to do your part to find or load you own.

[penguinofsleep]

6.5 grendel imo. i don't have either yet, but i debated this myself a while ago. based on my looking around:

in favor of 6.8:
1. if you look at terminal ballistics, 6.5 and 6.8 hit almost as hard as each other, with 6.8 hitting a little harder.
2. better magazines if 10+ rounds.
3. better sbr performance
4. feed/perform more reliably in harsh environments

favor of 6.5
1. 6.5 has significantly better ballistics while flying. probably the best ballistics for something commonly available/no wildcat in an ar15, that i know of at least.

i dont know:
1. how each one works for game animals someone may be interested in hunting as i do not hunt (yet). however, if building a new 6.5 or 6.8 for hunting, it seems like a lighter, more accurate bolt gun in a more suitable caliber could be bought for less.
2. cost of reloading as i do not reload for these two yet. however, it seems like costs would be close with brass being the biggest cost burden.

however, when i look at the 6.8 pros:
1. neither 6.5 or 6.8 are up to a full size/power 6.5mm, 7mm, or 30 cal in terms of power anyways. if i want more power, i probably want significantly more power, not a small jump, and ill get a bigger gun.
2. we don't have many easily used/accessible/legal 10+ round magazines in CA. i don't for either. but even if we or i did, neither are as good as 223 in a 223 mag simply b/c less development.
3. no nfa items for most ppl in ca. but if i could have an sbr here, a 6.8 spc is not the first thing i'd buy but the choice between this and 6.5 would be harder.
4. we are sitting in our homes in CA, not running around in the deserts, jungles, and mountains of the world.

so with better ballistics being left for 6.5, imo 6.5 wins. small amount of extra power in 6.8 does not beat significantly better ballistics of 6.5 for me.


In the end though, both are good imo and better than 223. AR should have been chambered in something similar from the start (Stoner thought so too... military made it .223cal).

[3lixer]

Also, you can get this complete 6.8 upper from PSA including BCG & CH for $390.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/ar-15-05/barreled-upper-assemblies/psa/6-8-spcii/psa-14-7-chf-6-8-mid-lightweight-premium-upper-with-bcg-charging-handle.html

Made my decision a little easier.

[Drivedabizness]

I appreciate the link - looks like a GREAT price. What does a 14.7 inch barrel length do to muzzle velocity and overall accuracy on the 6.8? (vs. a 16" barrel)

[m16]

I had Ben at Bison Armory build me this 6.8 upper:



Whenever I go home I take it with me, it is a most excellent hog gun.

Ben is a good guy, and his prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the parts he uses.

[3lixer]

I appreciate the link - looks like a GREAT price. What does a 14.7 inch barrel length do to muzzle velocity and overall accuracy on the 6.8? (vs. a 16" barrel)

Seems negligible to me.

I had Ben at Bison Armory build me this 6.8 upper:

[ATTACH]321772[/ATTACH]

Whenever I go home I take it with me, it is a most excellent hog gun.

Ben is a good guy, and his prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the parts he uses.

Was going to go with Bison as I've only heard good things but decided to get a less expensive upper so I'd have some money to buy some expensive 6.8 ammo. 75 CPR is no bueno. Hopefully 6.8 gets more popular and the ammo prices come down a little.

[DeBo]

My vote goes to the 6.5.

Had a 6.8, still have a 6.5.

Call Black Hole Weaponry for a 264LBC Type II barrel (uses Grendel ammo just a little different in the throat). It a was a wait but the rifle shoots better than I expected.

You can get a bolt from them too.

[Changalang]

6.8/6.8/6.8. 6.5 is for pink rifle shooters. I forgot the period I have 3 ar6.8 spcs in various configurations. cqb/ pistol/ hunting.

pink rifle? ill take the rifle that shoots the round with better loading options and better bullet BCs.

i guess ill leave the 6.8 for the guys that get 3 rifles that more than likely all perform the same on paper.


the 6.5 component and load info is going to be better than 6.8 soon (if not already) and barrels for 6.5 are already being cut with the grendel II rifling, eliminating the problems some longer non-lead loads were having.

if you want to punch paper and steel gongs, go cheap and get .223

if you wanna reach out as far as you can and see what kind of long range accuracy is obtainable with an ar-15 platform and use what is becoming a very common round, (WPA has stated that 6.5 steel cased is coming soon, so it may become much cheaper than 6.8 to have fun with) get the 6.5.

[BLACK LION]

I've been down this road before. Don't waste your money on 6.8 SPC. Why?? 6.8 ammo are almost $1/round and the once fired brass is around $.45 so it's not even feasible to reload. Just get a 308 and be done with it.

Negative.
I have seen rounds between .50 and .70 cents a piece surface in the last 2 weeeks. Prices are actually going down while .22lr ammo skyrockets.
I keep all my 6.8 brass but finding it is easy and it comes fairly cheap in the E&E here.