I have been looking into the 6.5 grendel round and got curious.  Those with experience with the round, how do you feel about it as a home defense round or defense round in general?

You can get a heavier round going pretty fast so it should be great.

You shoot a bad guy with a 6.5 Grendel and his criminal days end immediately.

My son and I have hunted with ARs for a couple years. This last year I kept coming on spots to hunt that offered longer shots than I would want to take with the 556. A smoking sale came up on a 243 Mossy that I picked up for my son. I sighted in my 30-06 but I started toying around with building an upper for the AR....between the 6.5 and 6.8.... The Grendel has been around for several years and from what I have read, is better out further and equal up to that. So I went 6.5.

I would not dump 556 for it but it does outperform 556 in the same sized package. If SHTF I would still carry 556 though. It is strictly a hunting gun for me. If you are looking to get one...learn from my mistakes. Aim and Bear Creek have good prices on some complete uppers. I went the build route

Right now I have both the 5.56 and .308 rifles.  I was looking for something maybe between.  That could span hunting and defense.  I know there is less worry with "over penetration" in 5.56 but wonder if the 6.5 grendel would pose such a problem.

I did a test using two 16" AR-15's set up just a like to test the viability of the 6.5 Grendel in the CQB role.  Both AR-15's weighed the same but the 6.5 Grendel was loaded with 24 rounds whereas the 5.56 was loaded with 30 rounds.   I used a Pact timer and with me shooting the difference in times was insignificant.  I used factory ammo in both rifles.

To be honest I had not run many CQB drills since retiring and my rythem was a little off but improved the more I shot.  I think some of the lighter 6.5/264 bullets would make good defensive rounds.  I really like the 100 grain Nosler BT in my 6.5 Grendel as well as the 95 grain V-Max and think either would make good CQB defensive rounds.  I have shot both rounds into water from my 16" 6.5 Grendel at 50 yards and I like their performance qualities.


http://www.65grendel.com/forum/showthread.php?12193-6.5-Grendel-vs-5.56

Which is exactly why went 6.5. I have 2 308 ARs and a 30-06...wanted something in between.

Byt if you are talking about carrying it over 556 for SD then it would not be a bad choice with standard mags available and steel cased ammo available in bulk at decent prices...


https://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=AW65FMJ100&name=WPA+(WOLF+Performance+Arms)+6.5+Grendel+100grn+FMJ+20rd+Box&groupid=247

Would make a great HD gun,  the 123 sst will end shit quick.

Well Mr. Larue dropped an elk at 400 yards with a grendel. I'd have to say a human at point blank aint havin a good day......

I'd have zero reservations about using 6.5 Grendel to defend myself against a lethal threat.

Much better than 5.56

First I like the round.  I think of it as a baby 308, with performance similar to a 243.  If using for home defense I would use the 90 grain tnt load from federal.  I don't think you need the penetration provided by the 120 grain class of bullets.

Yeah, there would be nothing good about that - except for the end of a criminal.

We're talking about a round that can kill an elk at 400 yards.  Put a proper 6.5mm bullet into a guy at 50 feet and he's done.