i want to purchase an upper for my AR 5.56 that gives me the best hog hunting advantage at less than 200 yards. please give me your choice for performance and ammo choice

Personally I like the 6.8 using hornady 120 gr SST. I've killed multiple hogs at 200-225 yds with mine.

Just an opinion.....

6.8 II or 6.5 Grendel.

Maybe 7.62x39 with a good setup.

I'm going to poo on 300 BLK, unless you are thinking SBR+surpressed.

This. However, since I'm in suppressed SBR land, I've gone with loading 95gr Barnes for some extra speed. Highly recommend Blackstone Arms for your upper. He's a member here and uses ARP barrels and Super Bolt. I've been sub-MOA from the get-go with whatever ammo I've fed it.

https://www.blackstonearms.com/

I'm shooting 85 gr Barnes tac-x in my 6.8 SBR for the same reason SPEED

Less then 200 yards 6.5 or 6.8 almost equal at that distance. I'd base it on economy, weight, and availability of ammo at this point.

Given equal barrel lengths, 6.8 will outperform the 6.5 at 200 yards and in. Both will significantly outperform the .300 BLK for your purposes. For the 6.8, 120 SST, 95 TTSX, and 110 Accubond are all great bullet choices.

What is that based on? The 6.5 can shoot faster, flatter and farther than the 6.8 out of any standard barrel length. So how is the 6.8 better under 200 yards?

For the OP, I would look at the costs of the 6.8 vs 6.5 as far as the gun, the ammo, or reloading supplies if you reload. Then pick whichever one you want. The 300 will work, but the other 2 are better options IMO.

I've had 3 Grendels and 3 Blackouts. I'd choose the Blackout for hunting if I had to pick one. The Grendel is a pain to load for and it requires more dedicated parts than a Blackout. The Grendel smokes the Blackout for long range shooting. I don't have any experience with a 6.8, but the guys that own them, love them.

When you are comparing apples to apples (16" barrels, factory Ammo, comparable bullet weights), the 6.8 carries more energy out to 200 yards. The 6.5 is not faster at the muzzle when making a fair comparison. The high BC of 6.5 projectiles means the Grendel has the edge at longer ranges, but the OP specifically asked about 200 yards and in.

You may be confused by looking at ballistics data without taking barrel length into account. Most ammunition manufacturers use a 16" test barrel for the 6.8 and a 20" barrel for the 6.5. A lot of people don't realize this and they are comparing velocities based on significantly different barrel lengths.

Wow, outstanding info. and based on the <200 yards and 16" barrel I will be looking at more study of the 6.8. Thanks so much for your input

Thanks for the explanation, TTUhunter. You are correct that I didn't consider test barrel length.

I love my 6.5G at any distance.

200 yards and under for killing animals... I'd vote 6.8 any day of the week. My 12.5" 6.8 with Hornady 120 SST's is a hammer on animals out to 250.

I bought a 6.8 specifically for <200 yard usage, and have been happy with it. It is crazy accurate with Federal Fusion 115gr and the bullets have performed well on ~20 deer. My RRA has a 16" barrel and a 7" Omega suppressor in front of that. I may chrono it next time I shoot it at the range just to see what's happening.

Out to 200 yards 6.5g and 6.8 spc is a wash. I picked up a 6.8spc yesterday. Within 100 yards go 300BO.

Great explanation!

300 BO is not sexy to me nor does it have much punch so it is out. It is really down to the grendel and 6.8. Both are fairly similar in ballistics like everyone else has said the 6.8 is better if you are shooting 200 yards and in and the grendel is if you like to reach out and touch. I chose the 6.8 because ammo availability is better and I am like you a 200 yard and in shooter.

If you are a plinker and like to shoot a lot then the 762X39 is for you. Plenty of energy to take down hogs and deer and super cheap to shoot with ammo being half the cost of the others.

I bought my 6.8 upper from Blackstone Arms and it is a shooter.

The Grendel has wolf ammo at 25 cents a pop.

Just saying. I wouldn't put it through a $300 barrel, but it sure makes a cheaper. SBR plinker barrel interesting.

I've thought it out, and I've decided on Grendel. I'm going to buy a setup at some point, but if I run across a smoking deal, then I might change my mind. The differences are just plain small. The 6.8 has a smidge more case capacity, and the 6.5 Grendel has better SD. Both will kill deer (A 5.56 will slay deer, too).

You really can't make a mistake....just make sure and become a caliber snob afterwards and look down on the other.

Two years ago the Grendel had a much smaller following than it does now. If I were buying today, of those three it would likely be a Grendel since it's a bit more flexible than the 6.8.

Been running a 6.8 for 5 years and really like it. I now have it set up suppressed and NV. It is hell on hogs at night. Dumped a few coyotes hanging around the house as well.

The Grendel and 6.8 are so close it doesn't matter which you choose. Your bullet choice would make more of a difference at 200 yards and under than any 'paper ballistic" differences in the two.

The Blackout just has less powder capacity but lots of people use them on hogs. I would personally go with either the Grendel or the 6.8.

I handload for all my guns.
Ammo availability could be the decision maker for you.
The best caliber in the world is only as good as the ammo you can get or make for it.

The 300BO is cheaper to implement but a pretty dismal round after the first shot when they start running.
I wasted lots of time and money developing loads for it and really wanted it to work.
If you want to run subsonic suppressed and plan to take one standing shot, the 300 is OK.
Plan on one shot as they will run after the first shot, even with a can.

I have no experience with a modern 6.5 so can't really speak about that.

Like you, 99 percent of my shots are under 200 yards and the 6.8 with ARP barrel lays them down.
Standing still, running, whatever, it just works for me shooting 120gr Hornady SSTs.
If I anticipate longer shots, I switch to 85gr Barnes TSX and it shoots lazer beams out to 300.

The Barnes TXS bullets can get expensive if you shoot a lot.
I can buy a box of 100 120gr SSTs for the same price as a box of 50 85gr TSXs.

That 2x price difference is pretty much the same for whatever caliber you choose.

Also highly recommend Blackstone Arms-builds a dang good upper and uses quality parts.

Thank you very much Guys!!