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Appreciate feedback on thoughts for a new platform

Contemplating acquiring a new system - appreciate feedback, words of wisdom, alternate options. Goals are mid / close range work sub-250 yrds and putting venison in the freezer … would never be going after anything larger than whitetail and otherwise casual stuff. Might see a coyote now and then.

First, thinking of a top shelf .30 can. Would that get into the $1000 ~ $1200 range? What's best? And probably need to be working on that first to have available for next deer season (but hasn’t that process has been speeded up in the past couple of years?) Next, a solid scope, so maybe into the $400 ~ $600 range? There’s flexibility here because scopes can always be switched out later, but just something acceptable to get started. Tying it together a long-barreled AR in 6.5 Grendel in the medium / good quality range. Don’t want to get into the thousands but maybe what would work would be in the $1000 ~ $1400 range? There’s one at PSA now that looks like it would work for $925.

Why a .30 can? Because if the day came it would be possible to have a .30-06 threaded to use it with it and of course same for a .243. And why the top of the line? Because would want it to perform as well as possible and be usable on multiple platforms and last indefinitely into the future.

Why 6.5 Grendel? Why not Creedmore? Because I’d rather have a surgeon’s scalpel than a hammer; if it will never go beyond about 250 yards and if Grendel can take down what I’m after it’s seeming like the good compromise. What might be better? I’m a big .243 fan but can’t get that in AR, right? For my goals I just don't need a small cannon - have never fired a 6.5 Grendel but read good things about them. Read something here that really made a point with me, lighter recoil translates into being able to continue to see what's happening downrange.

What say ‘ye, forum? Casual plinking work and modest hunting with a light and flexible platform with a nice can and scope in a pleasant cartridge? Thoughts, suggestions? And remember, I’m not going to be out there trying to keep up with you guys so my needs are relatively modest and don’t want to break the bank. I appreciate you guys could go into fantastic sums on something like this but I might only be putting a few dozen rounds through a year, so although good / solid quality is desired nothing exotic. Thanks for any chit-chat on this idea, suggestions for components, or alternative ideas.
 
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If hunting is your primary application, I would ask myself if factory ammo is available for the caliber in question. In Europe you can get plenty of premium ammo in 6.5x55 (Norma, RWS, Sako, Lapua) and 6.5 Creedmoor (RWS, Lapua, Hornady). There are no ARs in 6.5x55 so I personally would go with the creed.
 
I like your thought process. The 6.5 Grendel is more than capable for deer sized game at the ranges you describe. That being said I absolutely love my Howa mini in 6.5 Grendel. I am running the 85gr Sierra Hollow point in mine (no longer made) damnit, and it handles coyotes extremely well. I wouldn't even hesitate to use it on deer but I would more than likely go to the 120 class bullets for that. Pick up one of the barreled actions from Brownells throw it in a B&C or even better one of the new Stockys carbon fiber stocks and top it with a VX3 Leupold and you would be set for anything.

My Grendel is set up with a Silencerco Harvester .30cal suppressor and it works fantastic. Super quiet and one of the more reasonably priced options.
 
Thanks for replies ... I guess I didn't mention in my original post that I have the availability of a CF bolt action in .243 and have been happy with that. So the idea for this new system is that it wouldn't be a precision rifle or first rifle - just exploring the possibility of plinking/hunting with an AR platform, and it looks like 6.5 Grendel is a good option (with the other possibility being 6.8 SPC in a lightweight AR-15 style). Would appreciate hearing pros/cons of whitetail harvesting with an AR in your favorite cartridge. Thanks -
 
Doug if you wasn’t 125 miles south of me I would let you try my AR Grendel.
Like stomp the 85gr sierras are scary accurate out of my rifle too.
But my rifle will shoot anything quite well.
I built my Grendel using a 18” Alexander arms barrel, mega arms HD upper receiver and a Aries arms billet lower.
Velocity trigger matrix arms rail and magpul stock.
Sorta heavy but sits right on my GGG bipod.
There’s no reason to have a 22-24” barrel go with a 16-18”.
You can easily make brass using 7.62x39 brass just anneal it.
XBR8208 is THE Grendel powder but there’s a lot that works.
Good Choice.
 
Doug if you wasn’t 125 miles south of me I would let you try my AR Grendel.
Like stomp the 85gr sierras are scary accurate out of my rifle too.
But my rifle will shoot anything quite well.
I built my Grendel using a 18” Alexander arms barrel, mega arms HD upper receiver and a Aries arms billet lower.
Velocity trigger matrix arms rail and magpul stock.
Sorta heavy but sits right on my GGG bipod.
There’s no reason to have a 22-24” barrel go with a 16-18”.
You can easily make brass using 7.62x39 brass just anneal it.
XBR8208 is THE Grendel powder but there’s a lot that works.
Good Choice.
125 miles is very minor. We have to drive that far just for normal shopping. It would be worth the drive to check something out, before spending the money on your own build. I have a 6.8spc that I put together years ago, for deer and silhouette. I haven’t shot it for many years. It’s not as interesting as it was when I put it together.
 
Thanks for replies ... been reading and finding some insights.

Looks like going oversized on a suppressor is all the rage nowadays. In fact many models are advertised as "multi-caliber" so no novelty there. Seems like the suppressor market is red hot and with lots of offerings research could be never-ending.

Scope is a wash because could simply use something existing and save that research / expense for later.

6.5 Grendel? In the world of light-framed ARs looks like for my potential purposes the two contenders are 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel. There are many excellent articles on that comparison and looks like 6.5 Grendel comes out on top. However came across this, "For inside 300 yards, they are functionally the same". Now, for this forum, I can see how 6.5 Creedmore will be more highly considered. But the physical reality is I can never go beyond about 250 yrds and there's a certainty I'll never go out west hunting so for my modest purposes a lighter recoiling 6.5 Grendel still sounds like the compromise.

I guess the original question boils down to, do you want to plink / hunt with a light-weight AR platform ... and number one, this isn't a hunting forum, and number two, this isn't an AR forum so that question will remain for future research / pondering. Thanks for reading, replies appreciated -
 
Suppressor: I have a Sandman-S that I swap about various rifles. I've been very pleased with it and it has good ratings and reviews. Easy on-off, not too long/big, pretty effective. I have adapters on most of my rifles so that I can swap the suppressor out quickly. ETA: 223, 6x45, 22BR, 6BR, 308, etc., the can goes on them all.

As stated above, hard to beat a Savage for your needs, and a lot of them come with muzzle threads on them. Venison won't know the difference. Of course, an AR would also work as well, just whatever you want.
 
The SPC uses a different bolt face so there's that. The Grendel is decent in a bolt action platform. Nothing wrong with AR's but it might cost more to get the accuracy you want out of one and you'll be chasing brass. Rrealistically there are many chamberings that will do well for what you want. "It's not how fast you can go; it's how fast can you afford to go" or something to that effect.
 
Why not keep it simple and effective and choose a standard caliber?

If deer hunting and an occasional predator hunt is your game, I can't think of a better choice than the old 243 Win. Rifles - the absolutely near perfect Tikka T3X lite. You don't need a semi-auto for deer hunting.

The 243 Win is a true multi-purpose caliber. The one qualifier I must add is that I've never shot a deer beyond 200 yards with it, most being under 150 yards due to the terrain where I hunt.

I've been shooting the 243 Win since the late 60's and have taken deer, varmints and predators with it. It has never let me down if I do my part. With deer hunting like all hunting, it's all about shot placement and having the proper bullet with enough energy to make a humane kill.
 
When I bought my suppressor I focused on the suppressor as I should have. But I did not know that it is also important to consider the mounting system for the suppressor. I bought a Silencerco Hybrid 46 and I think it's quiet. On an AR with a 16" barrel, it makes it a 23" barrel. It's long and unwieldy in a tree stand.

But back to the mounting system. I though I could live with direct thread, then I started switching it around on a number of rifles and direct thread is not too handy when switching a lot. I went to Silencerco's ASR mount. With experience, I can say do not go with the ASR, it's not secure. They fail unless you re-tension the mount's springs from time to time.

The industry is moving towards quick attach mounts that will work with multiple brands of suppressors. But a mounting system can cost 100's of dollars if you outfit multiple rifles. Bottom line is this, I would put just a much time in selecting a mounting system as I did in selecting a suppressor.

Last - suppressors are addictive. Buy all you can the first go around. I thought one would satisfy me. Now I have 3 and waiting on ATF approval.
 
Contemplating acquiring a new system - appreciate feedback, words of wisdom, alternate options. Goals are mid / close range work sub-250 yrds and putting venison in the freezer … would never be going after anything larger than whitetail and otherwise casual stuff. Might see a coyote now and then.

First, thinking of a top shelf .30 can. Would that get into the $1000 ~ $1200 range? What's best? And probably need to be working on that first to have available for next deer season (but hasn’t that process has been speeded up in the past couple of years?) Next, a solid scope, so maybe into the $400 ~ $600 range? There’s flexibility here because scopes can always be switched out later, but just something acceptable to get started. Tying it together a long-barreled AR in 6.5 Grendel in the medium / good quality range. Don’t want to get into the thousands but maybe what would work would be in the $1000 ~ $1400 range? There’s one at PSA now that looks like it would work for $925.

Why a .30 can? Because if the day came it would be possible to have a .30-06 threaded to use it with it and of course same for a .243. And why the top of the line? Because would want it to perform as well as possible and be usable on multiple platforms and last indefinitely into the future.

Why 6.5 Grendel? Why not Creedmore? Because I’d rather have a surgeon’s scalpel than a hammer; if it will never go beyond about 250 yards and if Grendel can take down what I’m after it’s seeming like the good compromise. What might be better? I’m a big .243 fan but can’t get that in AR, right? For my goals I just don't need a small cannon - have never fired a 6.5 Grendel but read good things about them. Read something here that really made a point with me, lighter recoil translates into being able to continue to see what's happening downrange.

What say ‘ye, forum? Casual plinking work and modest hunting with a light and flexible platform with a nice can and scope in a pleasant cartridge? Thoughts, suggestions? And remember, I’m not going to be out there trying to keep up with you guys so my needs are relatively modest and don’t want to break the bank. I appreciate you guys could go into fantastic sums on something like this but I might only be putting a few dozen rounds through a year, so although good / solid quality is desired nothing exotic. Thanks for any chit-chat on this idea, suggestions for components, or alternative ideas.

Carefully reading your post made me think that your choices in the AR15
platform, since you stated a long barreled rifle is in your mind are 3 chamberings.

I believe you have decent cartridge choices, (not necessarily in this order) in the 6MM ARC, the 6.5 Grendel and the 6.8 SPC.

There are pros and cons to all three but I would lean toward cost and availability of ammunition.
 
CZ or Howa mini action in 6.5 Grendel add can never look back. no need for semi-auto and big magazine for a hunting rifle KISS
 
Thunder Beast ultra Can. 5 or 7 inch. Thunder beast has a very good quick attach mount. You can get a timed brake mount or a general brake mount. You can have a .243 but needs to be in larger LR platform.
Go with 6 ARC, in case that Wiley Coyote is out longer.
 
Thanks for the great replies ... every comment appreciated ...

And so the question, why an AR in a hunting capable cartridge? Yep, thanks for helping me explore this, the answer is not decided, just trying to get ideas and exploring options. Already have two bolt-action .243s and very happy with them, no problems whatsoever, far as I can see, they can outshoot me, they've put food on the table. Was just thinking, would something else be interesting / fun? I've posted here before that I often walk our property and if going out for example feed the barn cat, it's common for a whitetail to pop out. So if having a lighter, compact AR style platform in a round approved for harvesting venison might I be more likely to have that with me? And of course if getting familiar on paper and whitetail with a more capable cartridge than 5.56 wouldn't I be better prepared for zombies? :oops: It's all just thinking out-loud. Thanks for chit-chat and replies -
 
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Nothing wrong with AR's but it might cost more to get the accuracy you want out of one and you'll be chasing brass.
Yes, having recently rekindled my interest in this recreation have put through through a few dozen 5.56s and it's like the brass has teleported to another dimension. Gone!
 

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