The Accurate Reloading Forums
Re: 6.8SPC vs the 6.5 Grendel

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16 September 2004, 10:25
B17G
Re: 6.8SPC vs the 6.5 Grendel
Bob ,

that combo sure caught my eye also. Have you posted about it before?

Cheers
seafire
16 September 2004, 10:19
Bob Mehaffey
I have a CZ 527 carbine rebbled to 6.5 Grendel. I'm going to try it on Texas whitetails using 110 gr GS Custom bullets in Dec. Sure is a handy little rifle.
16 September 2004, 10:38
Bob Mehaffey
Seafire, Sure have, about two years ago when I got the idea and again three or four months ago when it was finished. I also had one rebbled to 6 mm PPC. The 6.5 was originally a PPC but when Alexander Arms standardized the 6.5 PPC and called it the Grendel they moved the shoulder forward a little so I sent it to the guy they recommended and had it rereamed to the Grendel. I'm working a contract out of the country and haven't shot it yet so my son will be working up a load using the GS Custom 110 grs. I put a Leopold compact 2 X 7 on it with Conetrol rings and mounts.
16 September 2004, 10:45
B17G
Bob,



That sounds like one sweet little rig. I have never been into the Model 7 size rifles, but I sure did like the handling of that little CZ 527 when I shouldered one.



I will have to check out Alexander Arms. They are located up in Arlington Washington aren't they? I go up that way on business fairly frequently.



A 100 grain Nosler partition in that would be a nice load or even the 125 partition.



That and a 22 cal and 6mm version would be a sweet trio of rifles for roving long distances on foot in rough terrain with.



Cheers

seafire
16 September 2004, 10:58
Bob Mehaffey
Seafire, I shot the 6 mm PPC some last time I was home and it is sweet. I put a 3 X 9 Leopold compact on it. They both have 20 inch bbls instead of the original 18 but are still light and handy. A lot of my time hunting is following Grandkids around and they are great for that. I've got too many projects going right now but as soon as one is finished I'm going to do a 22 PPC.
15 September 2004, 12:46
rescue
does anybody know of any side by side comparison of the two...

From what I understand is the 6.8 has better knock down power at mid range and the 6.5 is more accurate at longer ranges???


Any help please



Thank you

LT
15 September 2004, 12:58
ASS_CLOWN
For all practical purposes I would say they are a draw. The Grendel may be slightly more efficient.

ASS_CLOWN
15 September 2004, 12:58
Paul H
I think you are splitting hairs! They are both mild recoiling 250 to possibly 300 yd whitetail rounds, no more, no less.

If you want something flatter shooting, or harder hitting, there are plenty of fine choices.
15 September 2004, 14:13
lawndart
Rescue,
Both rounds were designed to give enhanced long range performance to the M-16/M-4 weapons platform. I think you analysis is sound. There is a decent chance that the military will adopt the SPC round for some Spec Ops units. Probably not for the whole military though. If I were back in I would still carry an M-14 for mountain and desert work, but would be tickled to use the SPC in MOUT (Military Operations in Urban Terrain) work.
The 6.5 Grendel will likely find a niche as a mid range (out to 500 meters) target round. It is essentially a 6.5 PPC/6.5 Norma BR.

Either round is available as a "plug and play" upper to slap on an AR platform. Lapua makes the brass for the Grendel, so that would definately get my nod for the target role. I have a 6 PPC that I am thinking about making into a switch barrel rig for 22PPC, 6PPC and 6.5 Grendel. Just something to do.

Feeding a 6.8 SPC will likely be a lot cheaper with Remington brass, and Sierra bullets. You could turn an AR (with a shortened mag of course) into a serviceable short to medium (200 yards) deer rifle.

Enjoy!

JCN
16 September 2004, 14:44
TX65
Hi Bob,

Glad to see Scott got your rifle done and back to you. For your hunting pleasure,,, here is a load

Nosler 100 Ballistic Tip
Western TAC 31.0 grains
CCI 450 Primer
2.255 Seating Depth
Mean Velocity 2849 fps
ES 14
SD 4

The 100 Grain Nosler Partition,, same powder charge, primer, etc
Mean Velocity 2840 fps
ES 22
SD 8

For 1,000 yard target use,,, Norma 130 VLD moly'd, seated to touch the lands,,, VV530 starting load 25.0 grain and work up using safe practice... Nothing like a .600 BC bullet for long range work...

FYI - Alexander Arms is located in Radford, VA at the US Army Arsenal in a high security area... They generally do not have visitors due to the security restrictions.

Arne
16 September 2004, 16:36
B17G
Arne,

Thanks for letting me know that it is at the Radford Arsenal.

I am originally from that area of Virginia and have an uncle that works at the Radford arsenal. I'll have to check to see if Ronnie knows anything about it.

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire
16 September 2004, 18:27
lawndart
Bob,
What was your turn around time from Scott Medesha? I have a Sako Varmint single shot in 6mm PPC that I would like to turn into a switch barrel rig with additional barrels in 22 PPC and 6.5 Grendel.
JCN
17 September 2004, 01:53
Bob Mehaffey
Arnie, Thanks a lot for the load info. I'll tell my son about this thread and he can use it working up the loads for deer season. Scott was easy to work with.

John, He didn't do the rebbl. I had that done in Hurst Texas and that was a mistake. The guy took two years. Scott only took about six weeks to reream it to the Grendel.
17 September 2004, 06:17
loud-n-boomer
I have been in contact with Jim Brockman, and he is working with Alexander Arms and Woody at Lothar-Walther Barrels on a semi-custom CZ527 in 6.5 Grendel. Jim starts with a CZ527 carbine in 7.62x39, rebarrels it, beds it, and works the trigger. Apparently, they are consitently getting around 0.5 MOA groups. The complete setup including the parent rifle is around $1,000.00 and delivery is supposed to be about 6 to 10 weeks. I am looking at one as a walk-about rifle for varmits and our California coastal blacktails.

Dave
17 September 2004, 06:18
TX65
Scott Medesha and Jim Brockman both can do conversions of the CZ527 into a 6.5 Grendel.

For a SAKO, Scott Medesha can do a conversion and I believe Speedy Gonalez (SGY Rifles) is getting set do work as well.
17 September 2004, 06:20
Bob Mehaffey
Wonder if Brockman would consider doing some in 6.8 SPC? Might as well have both.
17 September 2004, 07:28
Bob Mehaffey
Hey Arne, I see on the competitionshooting site that I can now buy loaded ammo without buying an upper. Do you still expect to be selling the brass by November without buying an upper? I'm ordering dies in the morning. Thanks
17 September 2004, 07:33
lawndart
Thanks for the info. I'll send that rifle down to Scott for a winter project.
JCN
15 September 2004, 16:14
rescue
That is what I had in mind...( Building another AR-15...) but wanted to do something different... I could always go with a .308 build up... but was wanting to get more information on the 6.8 and the 6.5... But have not been able to find any backed by paper side X side comparisions...



I am not going to take it deer hunting but target and pinking to see what can be done... 200-1,000 yards maybe... I was wanting some information other than the few articles that I have found in mags... Both seems like they are good rounds, but I have heard that the 6.5 has a slight edge over the 6.8 in long distances...

I reload all my ammo, so finding loaded rounds is no use to me...