Is 6.5 grendel dead?

[teufel]

I like the idea of getting a larger caliber upper for hunting. Am I going to waste my money if I buy one? Will companies still be making bullets so I can reload? I've been searching quite a bit on the net, it seems a little odd that most of the forum posts are a few years old on 6.5 and 6.8. I am guessing you guys have seen things come and go so history might have a few lessons for me on crazy new AR ideas. Does anyone have experience hunting or shooting with these calibers? Any sage like advice?

Oh and I put this in build your own because I'd like to build as much of this as possible from my own list of parts. It was nice having a free rifle issued to me but there are a few things I will change. Stock, pistol grip, trigger, add a scope, better iron sights, long barrel. I'll add questions as I find parts. If anyone has experience or preferences please let me know. My main goals are to be able to shoot 500-800 if possible and hunt animals bigger than prairie rats.

[Colorado Osprey]

The 6.5 Grendel is far from dead, in fact I believe it will end up more popular than the 6.8SPC.
I see a lot of 6.8SPC upper for sale used; not many at all of the Grendal.

Wolf has started to produce ammo for the Grendel and I believe that there are 2 other that are toying with the idea.

5-800 yard shooting huh?

I'm guessing you will reload to be able to shoot at these distances accurately. So it really shouldn't matter what caliber you choose if you are going to reload for it. Ammo availability won't be the issue, brass and projectiles will be.

The 6.5 has ballistic advantage over the 6.8 so it will have more evergy and less bullet drop at the distances mentioned. If these were the only choices I would choose the Grendel.

A possibility is to open up you choices a little.
With C-Products now making reliable mags for the 7.62x39 and the availabilty to load them a with a little longer COAL in the stainless mags another caliber choice for you might be the 6mmPPC. This cartridge is a proven performer for accuracy out to 1000 yards.

In that same class if you wanted factory ammo availability there are factory produced 243WSSM rifles and you could handload as well to get a pet load with low drag bullets.
The man who started the WSSM loadings in the AR is Mike Milli in Minn. and developed the product with Olympic Arms. He sells these rifles as well as Olympic Arms ready to go. http://www.dtechsuperstore.com/
He also does 6x45 and 6mm PPC. He'll score you right on a PPC as far as $$ goes.

If you want to see lots of testimonials on his work check out the forum here:
www.predatormastersforums.com
There are also a lot of Grendal users there.

He can also make a 6.5 version of the WSSM, as well as a .25 cal version of the .223 or large cal WSSM cartridges like the 7mm, .308, .338 and .358 which are not available commercially.

I have 2 of his rifles that are outstanding. One in 243 WSSM and one in 6x45.

I have thought about getting a 6mmPPC but it does nothing for me that the WSSM won't do.

Good luck with your choice.