Bill Alexander and Janne Pohjoispää built the 6.5 Grendel in 2003. The idea was to make it a high-performance hunting option for the AR-15. It was designed to shoot accurately and hit hard. The 6.5 Grendel has succeeded so far despite the competition.
Twenty years in the market and the 6.5 Grendel still holds its head high among other newer hunting ammunition. There is so much you can do with the 6.5 Grendel Hunting rifle. You can use the AR-15 to hunt and even some Eastern European countries have adopted it for military roles. The fact that it is affordable makes it more in demand than other hunting rifles.
Is it better than other hunting ammunition?
First, you will have to consider the fact that the 6.5 Grendel has reached a ripe old age. Other hunting rifles like the 6.5 Creedmoor are newer models. When you compare 6.5 Grendel with the Creedmoor rifle, you will notice that they are built for different purposes. The 6.5 Creedmoor shoots at a longer range and is well suited for people who are interested in shooting at a distance.
Creedmoor comes in the AR-10 range. It is larger and more expensive than the 6.5 Grendel. If you look at the size as a reason to buy it, you will be losing out on the benefits 6.5 Grendel offers. When it comes to hunting, the 6.5 Grendel is your best option. For instance, in some states like Colorado, you must have .243 caliber or larger for a big game. Also, the rifle must deliver 1,000 ft-lbs. of energy at 100 yards. With the 6.5 Grendel, you can easily hit these marks.
Unlike the Creedmoor, the 308 Winchester ammunition is much older than the 6.5 Grendel. It was designed in 1952 and is great for hunting. The 308 ammunition has a short shell that makes it very quick. It is quite bulky compared to the 6.5 Grendel and uncomfortable if you were to carry it around for hours.
If you are planning to get something that will give you balance when deer hunting, it would be best to go for the 6.5 Grendel. The AR-15 is shorter and the balance is much better. In terms of price, the 6.5 Grendel is less expensive than most of the 308 ARs in the same range. The 6.5 Grendel gives perfect penetration on game animals.
Another reason why this hunting rifle performs better is its low recoil. The 6.5 Grendel has lower recoil than the 308 Winchester.
Experts would say that if there’s a competition between 6.5 Grendel ballistics vs 308, they would totally be incomparable in the hunting field. The Grendel ballistic terminal is way better than the 308. The 308 rifles cannot strike its target, the way a Grendel will.
The 6.5 Grendel is better than the 308 Winchester. The 308 will work better for camp hunting compared to the 6.5 Grendel. It can shoot only within the range hunters shoot but if your target is to shoot at a long-range, the 6.5 Grendel is better.
Verdict
Even though the 308 Winchester or 6.5 Creedmoor rifles are great for games, they can’t still match the performance of the 6.5 Grendel. The 6.5 Grendel gives more accuracy and even though it won’t shoot as far as the Creedmoor, it has excellent ballistics. It hits even harder than other AR-15 options. It offers a smooth shooting experience with its low recoil and over time has proven to be the best option in hunting fields. If you are in the market for hunting ammunition, you will need the 6.5 Grendel.