what would be better 6.5g or 6.8 for texas deer and hog ? and why ?

6.8 has better terminal ballistics

6.5 shoots flatter.

Both will kill deer and hogs.

What range?

If inside 200yds or so I'm gonna say neither and suggest 7.62x39 instead. Beyond that 6.5grendel

250 yards max mostly 100 to 150 yards . why 7.62 x 39 , because heavier bullet ?

actually many reasons

heavier projectiles are nice, if you handload you can work up some thumper loads that are great for tough hogs. 170 to 180 grn RN or FP bullets at 2000fps

probably the biggest benifet is the additional trigger time sub $5 a box ammo will get ya. IMOP this extra practice is worth way more than the slight improvement in ballistics you see with 6.x inside the ranges you cite


We like to get caught up in ballistics searching for the best possible arrangement but in the end you can only kill critters so dead, and a 7.62x39 will make deer and hogs pretty darn dead, these other rounds won't allow you to kill game any deader inside the range you mention

i do reload so bullets are not that big of deal if i can get good brass for 7.62 x 39 . i will not buy from model1 or m&a , i was looking at buying a barrel and bolt . whats wrong with 7.62 ar mags ? never shot ar in 7.62 x 39

Finding quality 7.62x39 AR mags can be difficult.

Not any more difficult than calling c-products and ordering 2 of their 10 rounders, or 5.56 mags I tried worked fine up to 7 or 8 rounds, which is more than a huntin upper needs anyhow.





Lapua 7.62x39 brass is relatively inexpensive and widely avalible, I prefer the recently discontinued small primer pocket R/P cases for all my loads. For handloads I shoot .308 diameter bullets, so the sky is the limit for bullet selection. My favorite is the 125grn Nosler ballistic tip for deer. For hogs in January I'm gonna use a 170 Sierra FP at 2000fps

i use the 6.8 fro deer and hogs.  Farthest shot so far was 185 yds.  no problem at all.  I us the SSA  110gr Pro hunter.

I like all three but,

IMO the 6.8 spc with a 20" slow twist barrel with a spc II chamber is the way to go for hunting. Spits out a 110 gr Barnes TTSX bullet at 2850-2900 fps over RL 10x handloads.

Also the 6.8 barnes 110 gr TTSX is a sledge hammer for pigs.
Actually all the tipped TSX bullets are great. They are coming out with a new TTSX bullet in 6.5mm. I think its a 100 grainer.

The 110 gr accubond bullet is a good one too.

If you run the numbers neither a 6.5G or a 7.62x39 can match that 6.8 load out to 400 yards considering a 20" barrel.

The 6.5G finally does catch up past 600-700 yards or so due to better bullet BC, but by then not enough FPE is really left for big game.

If I was shooting at targets, and if Bill did not have such a death grip on the 6.5G I would go for one of those. Had 2 so far and sold them.

If you want to shoot heavy bullets or subsonic get a 7.62x39.

Like above any of them will do inside of 200 yards.
If you want a real hammer, try out some tipped TTSX bullets in any caliber.
Unfortunately they dont make tipped bullets in .311

I like their SS mags (5.56 and 5.45) but do not trust their 6.8, 6.5, or 7.62x39 mags...

At least, for 6.8, there are a few other options...

Since you came here asking:

1) the 6.8 has evolved quite a bit and as Tammons has said, the TTSX bullets have really made this load shine.  I have killed many deer and hogs with the TSX, TTSX, Accubond, and the SPH.  I am very impressed with the killing power of the 6.8 out to 300 or so ( I have not yet killed anything farther, except prairie dogs out to a confirmed 407 yards ).

2) I actually like the 6.5 Grendel a lot, but I saw more limitations in the number and types of uppers available... most notably absent are the "superlights" as you can get in the 6.8.

3) 7.62 X 39 affords cheaper ammo, but not as many good hunting bullets available as in 6.8 SPC or 6.5 G.  I feel this was a deal maker for me, and I almost went with a Grendel, but I wanted the lighter smaller, gun to carry on foot, so I got the 6.8

Hope this Helps

thanks guys . im going with 6.8 if i can or when i can find a 16 inch barrel and bolt instock

"IN STOCK" that's the problem right now. If you find a barrel you like you might as well get in on a backorder list. Anything AR is scarce right now.

I disagree, with 7.62x39 you have a wider selection of the most modern bullets than 6.5 or 6.8 combined. You just have to move beyond the silly notion that .002 actually makes a difference. Once you do that you can pretty much shoot ANY 30 caliber bullet your heart desires. from 85grn hornady's to 220 a grain thumper round nose load.

Now if by "bullets" you're referring to as loaded in factory ammo I'll concede the point

boy you aint kidding , im looking for one in ss or cl 16 inch but may have to settle for cm and wait the 4 to 6 months to get it