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6.5 cartridge question

Im looking for short range cartridges with in (200yards), game, targets, self preservation
What would be the advantage of one cartridge over the other here.
6.5x40mm or the 6.5 grendal.
What would you build.
Ive also thought about rifle builds, the state of our economy, and the state of my wallet.
I could spend a fortune to have something built or simply build or buy a new upper for my AR and bam! Im in business..i like that idea.
Hell i already spent a small fortune on my ar build i can never sell because i put to much money into it..and is collecting dust.
So it seems practical to just buy a cool upper and enjoy what i already have even more.
My AR is pretty dang sweet its more of a bench, or prone position rifle.
Also how do these cartridges perform with short barrels and how short can i go and still get proper dwell time
Thanks folks..
 
You’ve mentioned self preservation as one possible way to utilize the cartridge you ultimately select. Grendel. From a liability position, best to use factory ammo for self defense which (unfortunately) limits your options.
 
You’ve mentioned self preservation as one possible way to utilize the cartridge you ultimately select. Grendel. From a liability position, best to use factory ammo for self defense which (unfortunately) limits your options.
In the bigger picture of events that you would really use this rifle for self preservation, you’re really not going to have to worry about your hand loads being used. IMO.
 
I did a double take to reconfirm that this wasn’t a 2018 thread that accidentally got revived :)

6.5 x 40 is based on a 6.8 SPC case. Based on an article the selection of the 6.8SPC case for the 6.5x40 was to ensure case feeding (AR15/M16 and heavy machine gun). The 6.8SPC geometry is similar to 7.62x51 as compared to stubby design of Grendel case.

The 6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC are very close in performance out to +400 yards. You can buy store ammo for either cartridge. I doubt there is any meaningful performance improvements by hybridizing these cartridges to create the 6.5x40. If it’s a SHTF rifle then you want ability to find ammo anywhere. I would simply pick either 6.5 Grendel or 6.8SPC.

The Grendel’s case geometry/length allows it to handle long bullets without having to seat them down inside the case below the neck. The 6.5 Grendel has wide industry support, and with the addition of 6ARC and 22ARC this cartridge isn’t going away.
 
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6.5-GT......Dave Zimmerman won the Ridgway VBR championship with one.
and that's 850 to 1000 yards. Should be sweet in a decent upper !!
The GT cartridge would require an AR10. I think the OP is looking at cartridges that will fit in AR15.
 

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