AR15 in 6.5 Creedmoor?

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  • noddaz

    bonehead
    Jan 9, 2014
    529
    Arnold
    My Google-Fu is all over the place with this. The question takes me to AR-10 builds in 6.5 CM and sometimes complete AR-15 rifles in 6.5 CM. So it looks like "Yes, you can build that". I guess I should ask my FLGPS and if so, just buy the stuff. But I want to know. The why is because I want pow pow instead of pew pew.

    noddaz
     

    Hit and Run

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 15, 2010
    1,435
    Prince Frederick
    My Google-Fu is all over the place with this. The question takes me to AR-10 builds in 6.5 CM and sometimes complete AR-15 rifles in 6.5 CM. So it looks like "Yes, you can build that". I guess I should ask my FLGPS and if so, just buy the stuff. But I want to know. The why is because I want pow pow instead of pew pew.



    noddaz
    AR-10 for 6.5CM
    AR-15 for 6.5 Grendel

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    DavidA

    The Master of Disaster
    Dec 6, 2013
    371
    Annapolis
    As noted 6.5 Grendel AR15 . These cartridges have COAL lengths of 2.26 to 2.29 or so. AR10’s 2.8 to 2.9 with some magazines. 6.5 Grendel is. Boom Boom rifle. I have one with @ 20” barrel can shoot out to 1,000 yds max effective range at sea level using 1,300 FPS as a yardstick is 1,030 yds using a 130 gr RDF. getting a 24” barrel any day now will give it a max effective range of 1,160 yds. I have a AR10 in 260 Rem 22” barrel. With 130 RDF it give a max effective range of 1,300 yds. So the Grendel is no joke. It definitely goes BOOM .


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    Hit and Run

    Ultimate Member
    Oct 15, 2010
    1,435
    Prince Frederick
    As noted 6.5 Grendel AR15 . These cartridges have COAL lengths of 2.26 to 2.29 or so. AR10’s 2.8 to 2.9 with some magazines. 6.5 Grendel is. Boom Boom rifle. I have one with @ 20” barrel can shoot out to 1,000 yds max effective range at sea level using 1,300 FPS as a yardstick is 1,030 yds using a 130 gr RDF. getting a 24” barrel any day now will give it a max effective range of 1,160 yds. I have a AR10 in 260 Rem 22” barrel. With 130 RDF it give a max effective range of 1,300 yds. So the Grendel is no joke. It definitely goes BOOM .


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    This!

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    I got my 20" AR in 6.5 Grendel tuned in quite well. The group below is at 200yds. According to Hornady, the bullets were still traveling @ 2247fps w/1379ft/lbs energy.
    I haven't taken it out far yet, but would be inclined to say the ballistics would be pretty good out to 800-1000yds. I believe the 6.5 Grendel is the only AR15 cartridge that can remain supersonic beyond 1000yds.
    The Grendel could be an accurate and humane deer killer out to 600yds or so.
     

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    DavidA

    The Master of Disaster
    Dec 6, 2013
    371
    Annapolis
    I got my 20" AR in 6.5 Grendel tuned in quite well. The group below is at 200yds. According to Hornady, the bullets were still traveling @ 2247fps w/1379ft/lbs energy.

    I haven't taken it out far yet, but would be inclined to say the ballistics would be pretty good out to 800-1000yds. I believe the 6.5 Grendel is the only AR15 cartridge that can remain supersonic beyond 1000yds.

    The Grendel could be an accurate and humane deer killer out to 600yds or so.



    There are two 224,s that can make it to 1,000 yds. 22 Nosler with 85 gr RDF at 2,750 get to 1,000 yds just as it goes transonic. Supersonic to 1,170 at sea level. The other is 224 Valkyrie it shoots a 90 gr SMK at 2,700 taking it to roughly the same numbers as the 22Nosler. 6.5 Grendel kick both their asses.


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    DavidA

    The Master of Disaster
    Dec 6, 2013
    371
    Annapolis
    I got my 20" AR in 6.5 Grendel tuned in quite well. The group below is at 200yds. According to Hornady, the bullets were still traveling @ 2247fps w/1379ft/lbs energy.

    I haven't taken it out far yet, but would be inclined to say the ballistics would be pretty good out to 800-1000yds. I believe the 6.5 Grendel is the only AR15 cartridge that can remain supersonic beyond 1000yds.

    The Grendel could be an accurate and humane deer killer out to 600yds or so.



    Nice grouping. Love the Grendel . What a great round out of the AR15 platform.


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    babalou

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 12, 2013
    16,016
    Glenelg
    thanks for this

    There are two 224,s that can make it to 1,000 yds. 22 Nosler with 85 gr RDF at 2,750 get to 1,000 yds just as it goes transonic. Supersonic to 1,170 at sea level. The other is 224 Valkyrie it shoots a 90 gr SMK at 2,700 taking it to roughly the same numbers as the 22Nosler. 6.5 Grendel kick both their asses.


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    I built a 22 Nosler when it first came out in a SOTAR class then the Valkyrie came out. :( Have a large Athlon scope on it. Was afraid I was poo-poo tray platter on it since the Valkyrie. :) Have not even shot it yet. will attach pics. Not trying to disrupt thread. Glad it can reach. It does have a 6.8 size case, although it is not the parent. Will look at a Grendel for one of my next builds.
     

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    outrider58

    Eats Bacon Raw
    MDS Supporter
    Jul 29, 2014
    49,815
    I built a 22 Nosler when it first came out in a SOTAR class then the Valkyrie came out. :( Have a large Athlon scope on it. Was afraid I was poo-poo tray platter on it since the Valkyrie. :) Have not even shot it yet. will attach pics. Not trying to disrupt thread. Glad it can reach. It does have a 6.8 size case, although it is not the parent. Will look at a Grendel for one of my next builds.

    I was all in on the Valkyrie at first. Then started seeing vids on cutting faces on 5.56 mags to extend OAL of ammo, and the problems that arise from that, I'm back on the Grendel bandwagon...for now.
     

    babalou

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Aug 12, 2013
    16,016
    Glenelg
    I remember out conversation on the Valkyrie. I hope that and the Nosler don't end up as some wildcat offshoot like the Neanderthal. CAnnot use normal 6.8 brass for the Nosler, although I need 6.8 mags. Have to have Nosler 6.8. I feel the Grendel will end up being more future proof.

    Saw that a guy came up with a 6.0 Grendel with necked 6.5 case and .243 booletz. Not really up to speed on the Grendel but seeing the 6.0CM I looked to see if there was a 6.0G


    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6mm_AR
     

    DavidA

    The Master of Disaster
    Dec 6, 2013
    371
    Annapolis
    Thought a real long time about building a 6 mm AR , Yes the 6 mm AR can shoot a hair further and with a little less drift but it does not carry the energy the Grendel does l At 1,000 yds a 130 RDF retains 619 ft lbs of energy. A 6 mm AR shooting a 115 gr VLD hunter has 514 ft lbs.

    With a 10 mph 90 EDG wind 300 yd zero, Grendel with 130 RDF has 7.7 mils drop 1.81 mils drift. The 6mm AR out of with a 115 gr VLD same data 7.9 mils drop 1.93 mils drift. 24” Grendel vs 22” 6 mm AR. So I just stuck with the Grendel. Actually my chambering is 264 LBC. A Less Baer Custom 6.5 Grendel with a different throat.


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    Biggfoot44

    Ultimate Member
    Aug 2, 2009
    32,877
    There are a plethora of Wildcats that are very capable.

    The .220 Thunderbolt stomps over both .22Nosler, and .22Valkyre .

    The weak link is availability of Hagar brass ( bassed off of .30Remington ) . At the moment is available, but there are long dry spells between batches .

    The .240 Tomahawk ( using 6.8 brass) come close to the 6mmHagar .
     

    V-tac

    Active Member
    Industry Partner
    May 8, 2018
    151
    Just built an AR in 223 WYLDE and an extra upper in 6.5 Grendel.
    Have not fired it yet but building another with a 24 inch barrel.
     

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    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,678
    I was all in on the Valkyrie at first. Then started seeing vids on cutting faces on 5.56 mags to extend OAL of ammo, and the problems that arise from that, I'm back on the Grendel bandwagon...for now.

    Come to the dark side, 6.5 grendel has cookies.

    I love my 18” 6.5 grendel hunting build.

    .224V can our range grendel by a slight bit 90gr vs 123gr. But 130yr grendel edges out 90gr Valkyrie slightly IIRC. For wind drift, even 123gr grendel is a fair amount better than 90gr Valkyrie.

    For hunting, better sound channel and more energy at all distances for grendel.

    Also from all that I’ve seen 6.5 grendel cases have significantly more life and easier to reload for compared to Valkyrie. Lastly much better barrel life for grendel.

    I want to like Valkyrie, but I just don’t see it doing much, much better than Grendel and grendel is certainly superior in many ways.
     

    DavidA

    The Master of Disaster
    Dec 6, 2013
    371
    Annapolis
    Yep that pretty much the story which Is why I went with a second 6.5 Grendel. My first is a 20” my second is a 24” barrel which has yet to come.

    The biggest advantage for the Grendel is reloading and hunting. With the right bullet (high BC) say a 130 RDF at 600yds you are still carrying 1,055 ft lbs. the Valkyrie only 619 ft lbs. At 1,000 yds drift in mils is 1.81 for the Grendel and 2.34 for the Valkyrie with 90 gr SMK. They both go transonic around 1,250 yds. So while the Valkyrie is a great long range cartridge as far as versatility, easy of loading Grendel wins hands down


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    DavidA

    The Master of Disaster
    Dec 6, 2013
    371
    Annapolis
    Oops my bad the Valkyrie using 90 gr goes transonic at 1,025 yds. which is 110 yds before the Grendel with the 130 RDF. I did find a 88 gr Hornady ELD Match. It goes transonic at 1,100 from the Valkyrie. So hands down Grendel with the right bullet wins. I’ve also thought of using Warner tool 121 gr flatlines which show they could achieve 1,300 yds if I can get 2725 FPS at muzzle but the bullet is long and with. 1*8 twist it would only offer marginal stability. So the BC would degrade and there is just not advantage for cost.


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    calicojack

    American Sporting Rifle
    MDS Supporter
    May 29, 2018
    5,348
    Cuba on the Chesapeake
    Come to the dark side, 6.5 grendel has cookies.

    I love my 18” 6.5 grendel hunting build.

    .224V can our range grendel by a slight bit 90gr vs 123gr. But 130yr grendel edges out 90gr Valkyrie slightly IIRC. For wind drift, even 123gr grendel is a fair amount better than 90gr Valkyrie.

    For hunting, better sound channel and more energy at all distances for grendel.

    Also from all that I’ve seen 6.5 grendel cases have significantly more life and easier to reload for compared to Valkyrie. Lastly much better barrel life for grendel.

    I want to like Valkyrie, but I just don’t see it doing much, much better than Grendel and grendel is certainly superior in many ways.

    Are you happy with an 18" barrel or do you wish you had gone to 20"? I have read that for longer ranges, 6.5 Grendel reaches its full potential with a 20" barrel. I have a 6.5 Grendel but don't really shoot long range so I went with an 18". Still - a 20" barrel is not that much heavier and the long range range potential is there if you ever need it.
     

    lazarus

    Ultimate Member
    Jun 23, 2015
    13,678
    Are you happy with an 18" barrel or do you wish you had gone to 20"? I have read that for longer ranges, 6.5 Grendel reaches its full potential with a 20" barrel. I have a 6.5 Grendel but don't really shoot long range so I went with an 18". Still - a 20" barrel is not that much heavier and the long range range potential is there if you ever need it.

    18” for 123gr ELD-M should still be 1000yd capable so long as it isn’t a humid day at sea level. It’s a difference of like 40-50fps. Nothing to sneeze at and useful/needed if you are shooting long range. Even at 600yds it makes a big difference. If it is a hunting rifle that maybe a couple of times you’ll take it to a range with 500 or 600yd targets, go 18”. Handier more than the reduced weight.
     

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