short range terminal performance 6.8 SPC or 6.5 grendel?

[atek3]

looking at these cartridges and focusing ONLY on the terminal performance with JAG legal bullets at sub-300 m, which is the winner? Every grendel vs. SPC arguement I've seen breaks down into "grendel is better at range" and "SPC has better terminal performance sub 300 m". are there really 'non-linear' effects that make a 6.5 mm 108 gr. OTM at 2700 fps a substantially worse performer than a 6.8 mm 115 gr. OTM at 2700 fps? I guess what I'm asking is does 0.013" make the the grendel catagorically inferior in terms of its terminal performance.

thanks,
atek3

 

[sumpnz]

AFIAK, the only gel tests done so far with the Grendel were invalid becuase the blocks used were designed for pistol bullets, rather than rifle bullets. Also, the bullets used in the 6.8SPC test were (IIRC) not what the military would actually use, perhaps becuase they fragmented too easily or something such. Since neither tests are really representative I don't think valid conclusions can be drawn from either.

One other thing, I don't remember the numbers off hand, but I believe the 108gr 6.5mm bullet is launched at a higher velocity than the 6.8mm. Could be wrong, but though the 108's were at more like 2900fps.

Bottom line is, so far as I can tell there is not any really good, valid data for either at this time. What data there is seems to me to be in the "apples and oranges" catagory.

 

[atek3]

i'd agree w/ you sumpnz. If JAG legality wasn't a concern I bet the 129 gr. 6.5 mm Hornady SST propelled by the grendel would be pretty tough to beat for the 6.8 SPC with any bullet.

atek3

 

[Tony Williams]

The issue really boils down to bullet design, plus the relationship between the bullet and the rifling. As I understand it, the 6.8 was designed for maximum terminal effectiveness and the bullet both tumbles and fragments reliably out to at least 300m. Whether the bullets used in the 6.5 Grendel do that I have no idea.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum

 

[Grendelizer]

Tony, on a different but related topic, please check your PM from me.

John