09-02-2011, 06:51 AM
Here's another reason why I think there should be comparison testing with the Norma 120gr FMJ.
The logical evolution of this project is the conversion of a belt-fed RPD to 6.5 Grendel. That will likely require financial support, either a lot of money from a few backers, or a smaller amount from many individuals.
Now, I can't speak for others (like Bill W, who's expressed an interest), but I know that before I'd commit my hardly earned cash to such a project, I would want to see evidence that it had some chance for successfully achieving the goal. That's why my OP stipulated two prerequisites: (a) Buy an RPD belt and see how well 6.5 Grendel rounds fit in it; (b) Do comparison testing of 6.5 FMJ vs 7.62 FMJ.
The rationale for (a) should be obvious. If the cartridges don't fit in the belt properly, there's no point in buying an RPD.
My reasoning for (b) is that it'd show relative performance with bullets of the same type. If terminal effects of 6.5 Grendel with lead-core projectiles isn't close enough to that of 7.62x54R with lead-core bullets, it'd be illogical to expect relative capability to be any better with steel-core bullets in each caliber, so again there'd be no point to buying an RPD.
However, if 6.5 Grendel rounds appear to fit okay in the 7.62x39 links, and if terminal effects/barrier testing showed at least the promise of near-7.62x54R performance, then it would be worth proceeding.
Rick has gambled $30+ of his own money to check (a). We can wait to see how that turns out, before taking the next step.
The logical evolution of this project is the conversion of a belt-fed RPD to 6.5 Grendel. That will likely require financial support, either a lot of money from a few backers, or a smaller amount from many individuals.
Now, I can't speak for others (like Bill W, who's expressed an interest), but I know that before I'd commit my hardly earned cash to such a project, I would want to see evidence that it had some chance for successfully achieving the goal. That's why my OP stipulated two prerequisites: (a) Buy an RPD belt and see how well 6.5 Grendel rounds fit in it; (b) Do comparison testing of 6.5 FMJ vs 7.62 FMJ.
The rationale for (a) should be obvious. If the cartridges don't fit in the belt properly, there's no point in buying an RPD.
My reasoning for (b) is that it'd show relative performance with bullets of the same type. If terminal effects of 6.5 Grendel with lead-core projectiles isn't close enough to that of 7.62x54R with lead-core bullets, it'd be illogical to expect relative capability to be any better with steel-core bullets in each caliber, so again there'd be no point to buying an RPD.
However, if 6.5 Grendel rounds appear to fit okay in the 7.62x39 links, and if terminal effects/barrier testing showed at least the promise of near-7.62x54R performance, then it would be worth proceeding.
Rick has gambled $30+ of his own money to check (a). We can wait to see how that turns out, before taking the next step.