Rebarrel .223 to 6.8SPC/Grendel

[Religious Shooter]

I have an existing AR15 upper in .223. If I want the change it to either 6.8 SPC or 6.5 Grendel what parts would I need?

Is it just the barrel and appropriately sized comp and bolt?

I can use the existing bolt carrier, extension and gas block (assuming the barrel diameters are the same)?

Thanks.

[Chills1994]

Not to taint this thread so early with post #2, but... what do you plan on using this upper for?

I will leave it at that, for now...

but yeah, I think you need a new barrel, a new bolt for sure, new mags...heck... I dunno... you might need a new buffer too.

Back not too long ago, when the Kotonics website was up and running, I could swear I saw complete uppers going for about $1K.

[Religious Shooter]

Not to taint this thread so early with post #2, but... what do you plan on using this upper for?

I need something with more pop than .223 to move/smack steel from 300-700 yards. I want to go with a factory round where I don't have to do any case-forming.

[Chills1994]

I asked a local shooter that when he posted on another forum that he couldn't get a DPMS .308 AR to run...he said that the brass and the bullets were either too hard to find or too expensive for the 6.5/6.8...so he went with the .308 instead. I guess he sent the DPMS .308 AR back and got an FN AR instead, and it just runs and runs and runs.

[Dan Sierpina]

At those distances the Grendel would be superior to the 6.8. I would first try the 75-77 grain bullets first, the Grendel brass is pricey to leave on the ground.

Oh, you forgot to include appropriate mags.

[AlamoShooter]

I don't know but what most printed material says , is that the 6.8 spc is not well suited past 300 yards , but the 6.5 is

and yes the mags for 6.5 are twice what the 223 mags cost

the Lapua 6.5 brass is $1.00 each

[GentlemanJim]

Wolf gold 6.5 brass seems to be pretty good stuff

I saw it available in a 120gr load for $315.00 per 500 rounds.

the barrel, bolt and mag are the only special parts.

Makes a real nice Deer gun

Jim

[00bullitt]

The 6.5 bolt is the same as the 7.62x39.

But thats all that is really needed. A new barrel,bolt and muzzle device. Everything else works.

With a long enough barrel.....the 6.5 is great to 1000. I like a 24" to poke way out there but a 20 will do what you want well.

[ken hebert]

6.5G for me. And I just happen to know where you can score a extremely high quality barrel and bolt combo....

Little place out in Mountainair, NM

[Risasi]

For 6.5Grendel you need new barrel, bolt and magazines. And while the 7.69x39 bolt head will work, there are some minor differences in dimension on the bolts from AA. I'd recommend you get directly from them.

Also, regarding brass; on the 6.5, you can use 7.62x39 that has been necked down to .264 caliber. Problem can be finding any that is boxer primed and worth reloading, but it's out there.

If it isn't already obvious, I fall into the 6.5 crowd. But my fairly unbiased opinion is this;

If you predominantly reload consider the 6.5mm. If you want to shoot factory ammo go 6.8mm.

Out to 400-500 yards terminal performance isn't enough to matter. Beyond that there is an edge for the 6.5.

Inherent accuracy and BC seems to tip in favor of the .264. But they keep improving both both calibers. It's debatable which one is better right now. Longer range I think there is still a slight edge to the 6.5, mainly because there are plenty of bullet options out there and a little more case capacity.

Enough to matter for your intended use? Probably not.

Option 3, shoot .308. (Or I'm leaning .260 remington, but that's just because I want to keep with the .264 theme )