Youth Bolt Grendel

[Stinky Coyote]

Ruger didn’t chamber the 6.5G until last year which puts them behind CZ a year. Ruger does this a lot, dipping their toes in the market water to gauge the response. They did it with the 6.8 for a couple years with the Mini 6.8 & M77 compact then pulled out when customers wanted it chambered in SPCII. Ruger refused since it wasn’t a SAAMI cartridge, (not that I blame them since 95% of commercial loads are not SPCII). But the hand loaders wanted it. So the response from Ruger was to abandon the 6.8 entirely, and because it probably wasn’t selling too well back then. They don’t listen well to customers historically; it took years to get standard capacity mags commercially for the Mini 14 & 30. It took years to address the Mini accuracy issues and thicken the barrels (only in front of the gas block) and they still haven’t addressed the awful iron sights or the fragility of their firing pins so folks can fire steel cases ammo and not void their warranty in the Mini 14 & 30. But they at least provide a picatinny rail from the factory, a mere 10+ years after they became a thing and customers wanted it.

I don’t think Ruger is going to invest in making more Grendel platforms unless the market explodes for them overnight. They are just on the 350 Legend bandwagon right now and offer over 10 different options between the scout and American rifles in just that caliber. And I don’t blame them, it a popular round for the straight-wall states and young/small shooters everywhere. It’s been out only a couple years and is dominating. If the Grendel were this popular, you’d see more bolt action options from more than just three manufacturers. I’m willing to bet that the 6mm ARC will have more bolt options by June of 2021 than the Grendel does. It’s all about marketing and Hornady and Winchester nailed it with the 6mm ARC & 350 Legend. Rounds like the Grendel, 6.8, 30 RAR are victims of either poor marketing and investment or not enough of it because the people who created it didn’t have the bankroll that the big guys do. I’d love to see more Grendel (and x39) bolt action options. I just don’t think it’ll happen unless their is more market demand. But in the meantime, if Ruger doesn’t listen to customers about the issues with the American rifles in 6.5G, or possibly offer a compact option for young shooters, then sales will dry up and they’ll abandon the round. Which is stupid, because the fix is with Ruger, not the customers.

ruger didn't even start making these ar cartridge length american ranch's until 2015...the ruger amercian was launched in 2012, the cz 527 had already been making 7.62x39 bolt actions before the Grendel was even released in 2004, it took cz 14 years to grab a reamer and throw a 6.5 grendel barrel on something the aftermarket guys were doing to those rifles for well over a decade....ruger chambered the grendel within 5 years...well done

how long did it take sako/tikka to recognize the 6.5 creedmoor and start chambering it? also an unusually long time, i don't have the exacts on that but the creedmoor was released in 2008 and i was checking sako/tikka sites for chambering a couple years ago and not seeing it so a good 10 years i'd have to say there....ruger is WAAAAAY faster than that and faster than anyone else to embrace newer cartridges so i have to applaud that

we will just have to agree to disagree

if sako ever chambers the 6.5 Grendel on the xs action 85's that might be my final Grendel and the pinnacle goal...i won't hold my breath, eventually it may happen as good cartridges never die and the 6.5 Grendel falls into that category