6.5Grendel vs 5.56NATO as General Purpose AR15 Chambering

[LRRPF52]

When I first got into 6.5 Grendel, I was still shooting a ton of 5.56 and .260 Rem for LR. Grendel was just an experiment initially for me, and I was pretty underwhelmed with the muzzle velocities I was seeing from my first 16" build.

I came here to the forum and sought advice on load data from guys like LR1955, JASmith, and some others who were on the old forum. Tried that advice and saw that it would do 2675fps with 100gr NBT before hitting max loads listed by Hodgdon. Then Hornady 123gr AMAX started hitting the shelves, and I was really impressed with the long range potential of that factory load. It started growing on me more, and I shot my .260 Rem less and less.

Now I have a bunch of them ranging from 22" bolt gun and 22" Lilja barreled AR15, down to 12" pistol with PDW brace.

I rarely shoot anything 5.56 anymore, with the exceptions of Close Quarters Marksmanship courses that I run, and always take Grendel when doing rifle work.

If 6.5 Grendel had been around in 1955 or 1957, Stoner would have been all over it I think.