Should I Convert My AR15 to 6.5 Grendel?

Hello Everyone,

I need your recommendation. I currently own this AR15 https://www.smith-wesson.com/firearms/mp-15-sport-ii 223/556 16" barrell 1:9 twist.

Future Plans:
I would like to hunt hogs and deer in Texas. I live in Houston.
I am first time hunter and need some practice.

Previous Plans
1. I was going to use the AR15 for hog and deer hunting, but after research and asking some questions to experienced hunters, I decided the 223 was not enough and not good for me to hunt with.
2. Then I decided well, I will use the AR15 for home defense, but over penetrations through walls, etc etc. I don't wanna do that. So I have a shotgun now and I am fine and practice with that.
3. So, AR15 just sits there for now and I shoot it once a month for fun, maybe I upgrade to 6.5 Grendel next year or eventually.

Current Plans:
1. Buy hunting rifle, ammo, go practice within 50-300 yards. After researching (thank you all for the help) for a few months/weeks, I am all set to go buy this rifle https://www.savagearms.com/firearms/centerfire/trophy/11-trophy-hunter-xp (.308 caliber) at Academy for about $500. It comes with good trigger and decent scope for now. Buy some factory ammo in 150 and 165 grade and go see what the rifle likes. The 308 rifle can shoot up to 230 grade which is plenty power for what I need. Planning to go buy it this weekend coming.

So I started watching a few videos of hunting and notice hunters shooting with AR15 6.5 Grendel and having good results. I do some research and see 6.5 Grendel can be used to hunt deer and hog with a ammo grade up to 123gr.

Questions

1. Would you recommend converting my AR15 to 6.5 Grendel and use this as primary hunting rifle? If I buy the .308 Savage rifle, I really don't see any use for the AR15. Maybe convert it later, use as home defense (if major home invasion or if a group of people want me dead), fun shooting with family and friends, or just practice.

2.Should I just get the 308 rifle, get to practice and hunting, and upgrade the AR15 later and use a second hunting rifle? It wouldn't hurt to have 2 rifles.

2. Is the 6.5 Grendel and 123gr ammo enough for hunting hogs (of all sizes) and deer in Texas? With the .308 caliber I was going to practice with 150,165,168 to see which one rifle likes. But the 6.5 Grendel does have less recoil.

The major advantages of 308 is availability of factory ammo and I can shoot up to 168gr and higher.I believe 6.5 Grendel stops at 123gr I believe.

From what I see the 6.5 Grendel would be good for hog hunting for follow shots.

I appreciate your recommendations or thoughts. Just curious on your opinions

All comes down to your budget. Either have enough grains to take any deer or hog in TX. I would personally rather have two guns. Use the shotgun for home protection and just keep the ar because you have to have one.

Some of the combo gun scopes aren’t that great. I would maybe find you a gun, then find a quality optic even if used. You will come out ahead in the long run with better optics and mounts hopefully.

The Grendel will take care of hogs and deer or at least has for all I have shot with it.

I have killed deer and hogs with much less powerful rounds as well as much more powerful rounds. Comparison of the 6.5 Grendel and 308 happens and I expect it to. If you hve shot enough critters and dressed them for food or to see what the bullet did you will be able to tell the difference as to if it were shot with a 308 or a 6.5 Grendel but if the shot is in the vitals the critter will not know the difference.

Thanks Brother in-law for the comments.

Yes, your right and make sense. I will stick to my current plan and get the 308 rifle and keep the AR15 for now. I am ready to shoot and don't really feel like the hassele of upgrading that ar15 to 6.5 Grendel for now.

Thanks,

I second this. The AR is nice to have if you want to plink or punch paper at the range. Buy the bolt gun, keep the AR and shotgun. Side note, not sure what shot or slug you’re using in shotgun for HD but you’d be surprised how many layers of sheetrock 00 buck or a slug will go through. Not too far off from what a 223 soft point or a 9mm will do, in terms of sheetrock penetration.

Thanks kmon1

I will put a scope on the AR15 for now and just use it as practice. I stick the 308 bolt action for now.

1) Hornady TAP ammo for the AR to prevent over penetration for home defense.

2) There is a good Bushnell Extreme Trophy scope for sale in the classifieds that would be much better than what comes on that Savage.

3) Good choice with a Savage Rifle, and a 308.

4) Dad bought a 6.5 Grendel upper for around $325 at a gun show. He has yet to kill anything with it. He is very recoil conscience, and says the 6.5 kicks more than his AR308. Food for thought.

Thanks 68A,

I appreciate the comments. Yes, i will just keep the AR with the 223 Hornady Critical defense for now for the "just incase moment".

I agree, i was very suprised how much the 223 penetrated less through walls. I use #6 birdshot for home defense.

Thanks BigPig,

1. Agree with you. After alot of research on 223 home defense ammo, I got the 223 Remington 55 gr FTX® Critical Defense. The TAP was not for sale by Hornady

2. I will check it out.

3. Thanks and very interesting.

Better off just buying ammo and practice as opposed to getting more guns

Buy the bolt gun for hunting. There’s nothing wrong with using the .223 for what you want, but a .308 will do everything MUCH better.

Keep the AR for targets, turkeys, riding around in the pickup, and general use and abuse. Buy good ammo if you want to use it on deer.

In my experience, multiple uppers for an AR seems like a good idea, until you realize an upper costs about as much as a whole rifle, and the cartridge you get is an underperforming compromise.

++

Thanks Cleric,

Are you suggesting putting a scope on the AR15 and buying ammo and practice? Or getting the 308 and practice practice practice? Or both? I will be doing both and believe me, after the 308, am not buying no more guns for along time to come. Maybe never.

If you have the creed just use that... 500-800 will buy a great scope for your creed.

Thank you Tactical Cowboy,

Yes, I agree with you. I will keep the AR for target shooting and get the 308 for hunting. I will look into upgrading AR upper later on. Its best I keep it simple for now. The rifle bolt action will work for now.

6.5 creed will kill them just as dead as a .308. Just saying.

I'm going to be the only one on this forum to say this, but I like my .357 Rossi lever action trapper the most. It's the carbine that goes with me everywhere. It sleeps in the corner next to my bed. It goes downstairs with me once I get up. I grab it almost every time I'm leaving the house. I have a huge load variation from 38 Special to full-house 357 that I can handle a lot of different situations. I practice with it a lot and can feel confident in a defensive or hunting situation within is't ballistic limits. I feel it's the most versatile rifle I own.

On a second point, my 2nd favorite rifle is a Ruger Scout 18" .308. I know I can kill out to 200+ yards and the target will be DRT-ish. However, I'd never consider it for home defense. However, it is a great hunting or "long-shot" rifle.

As far as AR-15 rifles. I think they are sort of pointless in most situations. Don't get me wrong. I have four of them and love them for plinking and run-and-gunning. They just aren't as handy for "everyday use" as some people may dream. They sure are fun at the range, and if things ever to wrong, would be a great thing to have. I just don't find them practical for most situations.

I love hunting with my ar15 6.5 grendel. I use it year round for deer and pigs. I have plenty of other guns too but that's the one I pick up the most. My bolt 308 is great too. I take it out sometimes. But coming across a sounder of pigs, the AR is much quicker for taking multiple pigs. I've used the .223/5.56 hunting and I've never been a fan. Had too many run off and poor to no blood trails.
You could get a complete 6.5 upper for the AR and have both uppers work on the same lower. Keep the other one for plinking.

Or...you could get a 6.8spc upper and be done. Great round that will kill anything you need, low to no kick and you already have a lower for it. The Hornady 120gr sst has killed countless thousands of hogs and deer are no challenge for it.

from a practical standpoint, you would be way better off selling the AR and putting that money towards quality optics for your bolt action.

Thank you okstatefan for your comments.

Thanks Crews, this is a good recommendation as well.

For sure-what I would recommend. Eric @ Blackstone Arms builds a quality 6.8 upper.

I start deer season with a bolt 25-06 or 6.5 Creed, If I get a good buck I then carry my AR15 with either a 6.8 SPC or a 7.62 x 39 upper concentrating on hogs and/or a spike buck.Takes less than a minute to 'convert' the AR. I also have a .300 OSSM upper (.25 WSSM necked up to .30 caliber bullet) that I am carrying more and more for its ballistics in the AR but you can only get the factory loads from Olympic if you do not reload.

Get a bolt action rifle. I have a .25-06, .243, .270, & 6.5 cm. I have shot mule deer in Wyoming with my .25-06 and it drives nails, Just recently got the 6.5, but whatever you choose to get learn it, shoot it, and put some good optics on it. I don,t like these package deals with gun and scope together I think the optics are inferior. Buy a gun that you can get ammo for easyly get some good mounts and use loctite blue. on everything once you get everything you want. Build you a wepon over time if you like just practice, practice and then practice some more so that when you pull that trigger you have the confidence that the bullet is going where you want it. Unless you are mounting an animal theres nothing wrong with an ear shot, and a buddy of mine has a sign that says " do you know how many guns you have..... Then that not enough" A hog shot with a .223 in the ear will far right there, no tracking, if you are the type to settle for a shoulder shot you may need a bigger gun.