killability

[biodsl]

I'm just wondering if you guys think that the grendel kills "that much better" out to 400 yards than the 223/556?

Yes. Yes it does. Here's the account of the 400 yard elk shot by Larue. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_2_219/164444_.html&page=2

[lamrith]

Get the 6.5 hands down. hits harder, shoots farther and flatter than 556.

I thought Stoner was Midway only? Brownells has their own labeled barrels, but they are out of stock. I have one of their 18" and it is shooting ~.5MOA with factory 123g Amax.

[Wheelhorse]

And when the wind is blowing, the 6.5 shines even more. As already stated, shot placement is king.
IMHO, the little 5.56 is a joke when compared to the Grendel.

[JASmith]

I'm just wondering if you guys think that the grendel kills "that much better" out to 400 yards than the 223/556?

The answer is absolutely yes!

The Grendel throws bullets that are about twice the weight of the .223/5.56 while enjoying rather mild recoil. This combination makes shot placement a breeze and terminal effectiveness is excellent on medium game. Volume 2 of the 6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbook has excellent coverage of this topic.

There is a more technical discussion of the connection between animal size and bullet weight here: Ideal Bullet Weight. Among other things, the article explains why impact velocity is not particularly important as long as the bullet hits within its designed operating velocity.

[79inpa]

barrel

Anyone else have a barrel maker that they recommend?

[81police]

JP Enterprise/JP Rifles. my 18" shoots 1/2" groups

[am4966]

You also have Odin Works they have barrels. Radical Firearms was having a sale might still be going on for upper 419.00, underground tactical. I'm sure there are more

[1750Shooter]

I've got the Stoner 18" Grendel bbl. & love it. Got it fluted because I wanted to save a bit of weight. Go for it!

[txgunner00]

In my experience, yes. Hogs & deer with both calibers out to 400. 6.5G anchors them far better.

[lawndartmike]

I'm running the 16" AR Stoner. I don't think at 400 yards you would be loosing anything significant to the 20" barrel. I was able to get a 1.5 moa five shot group shooting A-Max 100 gr hand loads at 200 yards off bags. Can I repeat that? I don't know. That is the longest distance I have been able to shoot so far but I am liking the accuracy from this "budget" barrel.

[204 AR]

Check out Surplus Ammo and Arms for a good deal on a BHW 18" barrel.

[Dkarre]

I just picked up a 18" barrel from surplus ammo. $248.79 for the barrel with head spaced bolt and free stripped upper. I just cannot wait to get this thing put together. Every black hole barrel I've had has been a shooter so I expect nothing less from this one.

[lead chucker]

Just my 2 cents, but I would go with the 16". I have a 18" Saturn and a 12.5" BHW. This year I will be hunting with the 12.5", much lighter and I have to problems making hits at 400 yrds with it. The BHW barrel is well worth $250 and the accuracy is as good as any I have seen. I built my dad a 16" stoner a couple years ago and it shoots very accurate also, light and packs a punch. I would think any of the mentioned barrels above would fit your bill for accuracy and distance, but for hunting a 16" is hard to beat. To answer your question about the Grendel vs 5.56 at 400 yrds, I killed a white tale at 370 yrds 2 years ago with my 18". Was a complete shoulder pass though with a 123gn SST. It ran about 20 yrds and DRT. I would have never attempted that with a 556.

[1750Shooter]

Got one, fluted & love it. Under 3/4" with either 123AMax or PPU 120 gr BTHP.

[Jakal]

Not as cheap as some but not as expensive as others..

http://riflebarrels.com/product-category/drop-in-barrels/ar/ar15/65-grendel/