after checking my needs (which mostly consist of hunting rabbits), I have no choice but to go with .50 BMG.

"Guys in funny jackets, shooting groups to win matches." Words of wisdom

A few years ago, a friend let me bust a few rounds from his AR in 6.5 Grendel (6.7 actual!). It was love at first ring of the steel for me! 5 for 5 at 500 yards! The more research I did into this cartridge, the more I had to have one. I chose a 20" HBAR, as Grendel likes a longer barrel. NO REGRETS!!! With Grendel, I feel the AR has finally grown up. A true Rifle with the capability to reach out several hundred yards. And with less than half the recoil of a .308! Grendel is now my GO TO platform.

Im probably the only person here, but i shoot the 6.5 Grendel in a bolt action rifle. And i really love the cartridge. Huge performance in such a small good looking package. Plus no recoil. Im a bolt gun fanatic.

6.5 Grendel!

I knew I made the right choice on my Grendel.

Your mock ups really helped illustrate your points, thanks for sharing

6.5 Grendel all the way

Really enjoy the deep discussions like this. It makes you think.

It's only been a little over a year, but remaking/updating this video might make sense. Your suggestion for folks to first get a well functioning 223 rifle is excellent. We know there are hundreds of thousands of first time gun buyers who just bought a decent 223, but they want to know what else they can do with it. Buying a quality upper for varminting (22 Nosler) or deer hunting (6.5 Grendel) or long range precision (6mm ARC) is very appealing for folks with limited budgets. An expanded comparison with Hornady 6mm ARC and 300 Blackout would be very helpful. I notice you've been gone for 5 months now, I hope everything is good with you and your family. Take care,

Johnny, that was some outstanding information. Your like a walking encyclopedia. Very knowledgeable. Thanks for caring and sharing......

I've been reloading since '86 and I love your technical analysis of reloading... I'm still learning new stuff!

One of the best thought out and information backed cartridge/ reloading video's I have ever seen. Your knowledge coupled with experience+time+testing=trustworthy, dependable, and knowledgeable data. A formula rarely found on KZfaq. Your channel will be shared with many. Thank you for your dedication and time invested in these video's.

A great video Johnny, it really gets to the meat of what's the better caliber for the AR platform based upon needs. I really appreciate the detailed pros and cons concerning bullet weights and case longevity for the new offerings. Thank you.

One of my favorite channels hands down. Great job putting out some great info for the shooting community!!!

For the money it's hard to beat Faxon barrels but I also like Ballistic Advantage. Thanks Johnny!👍👊🇺🇸🇺🇸

I love the wealth of info that you and your channel are. Thank you for sharing.

Love how you mentioned the backyard commando and “tactical” scam. So crazy how people buy the “cool factor” and will buy anything with a “tactical” stamp on it.

Very interesting. Thanks for the info. This makes choosing a round much easier.

Took me about 400 rounds to figure out the 224 Valkyrie. I really like the way it shoots, but I only shoot steel and paper with it so far. Settled on the 88 ELD and RL-19. The secret for me was overall length. Once I loaded to magazine length, the groups shrank to sub MOA. Built a 6.8 SPC 16" light barrel and love it. Way more energy for Hogs and Deer over the 223. And yes, I have shot and killed deer with the .223 Wylde, but I shoot 70 gr Barnes bullets and they do a very nice job on deer and hogs here in Texas. I am building a light barreled 6.5 Grendel this weekend and expect good things from it as well. I finally got on the AR band wagon a few years back and now I am fully bought in. I have set up all my AR's essentially the same to accept the clip on night vision as well. Very little recoil, magazine fed, reliable...all are great guns to take in the woods or punch holes and ring steel. Johnny's channel has also inspired me to hand load for all my rifles.

How about 6.8 SPC? Works great on this platform and is a great hunting round. It's supersonic out to about 600 yds. and ballistics are pretty good!

Best info on ammo choices and reloading by far!! Thanks man!!

For the first time ever I've thought I might like to pick up an AR-15 (not a knock, just haven't picked up shooting with a carbine is all): Alexander Arms 6.5 Grendel Hunter. Dunno, the 6.5 Grendel Hunter from Alexander Arms has caught my attention, and I'm somewhat fascinated with the Grendel round that can turn an 18" barrel rifle into a 1000-yard shooter. I'm a complete novice mind you, but it seems there's something to a round that stays supersonic at 1,200-ish yards I think it is. Anyway, thanks for the vid.

I've said once and i will say it agian, Johnny your sir are my hero. Great info and outstanding for anyone who was on the fence about what caliber to go with. The Grendel all day and Twice on Sunday. Truly the most versatile cartridge for the AR15 platform. Love my 6.5G laod with the 130gr Berger AR Hybrid moving out at around 2500fps the Grendel is a great 1000-1300 yard round. Would love to see you get into the 3 big bore AR15 ( 50 Beowulf, 458 SoCom and 450 Bushmaster) rounds at some point. But whatever content you put out is always gold!!!

Great point of view and summary from previous experience. Watching your 22 Nosler, 224 Val, and 6.5 Grendel videos my pick of the three is leaning towards 6.5 Grendel for the next upper. This video also gave me a lot to consider when deciding which cartridge to pick, other than 308, in a large frame AR. 260 Rem, 6.5 Creed, and 7mm-08 are in mind. More and more it seems like the mindset needs to be pick what bullet you want to shoot first and for what purpose then pick the cartridge best suited to shoot it.

Johnny. I gotta give ya 2 thumbs up! I have been listening and watching your vids about 2 months now. Mostly at work on company computer 😵😵 anyhow you know your stuff and give a lot of great info. Thanks for your time amd effort.

Great no nonsense, right to the point video. Absolutely fantastic

I always learn something on Johnny’s channel. Great videos!

My next upper will be in 6.5 Grendel, but love shooting the 223 and Johnny’s 223 videos are the best

Excellent presentation Johnny!

Johnny, I have just recently started with 6.5 Grendel, and it's your channel that I reference for most of my information on this clambering. The hardest thing about the Grendel is that it is not as popular as the Creedmore, but I didn't want to get into an AR10 rifle. Thank you for all of your videos on the Grendel. Very mild shooting cartridge, and as soon as I can get a supply of brass, I'm hoping to show a lot more reloading and shooting videos on my channel. Good stuff, sir

Great video with excellent information ! Thanks for sharing !

Thank you for the great info. After watching I feel I made a good decision going with the 224 Valkyrie over the 22 nosler. And limiting the 223 to 77 grain. I have a bolt AR with 24" barrel 1-7 twist and plan on shooting 62gn to 77gn bullets. and shooting > 77gn in the 224 Valkyrie, also 24"barrel.

Love the video! I would like to also say that I've had really good luck with Faxon barrels. They are reasonably priced as well.

Oh man, great video! Thanks Johnny!

Awesome advice in the beginning about getting a good .223 barrel that shoots small groups.

My 3 best AR15 cartridges: .300BO, 6.5G, and .458 SOCOM. With careful shopping you can have them all for a grand. A single, reliable acting lower, and no lack of compromise if unlawfully confronted. And the .458 can be subbed as well. I'm avoiding the 223/556 due to potential chambering issues with the BO. So, one becomes three. Subtle to devastating. Minimal spare parts requirement. :-)

Lovely vid J Man. Cheers.

As usual a great video Johnny thanks for all the information! I have built both, a great shooting 223 with a 16 inch Wyld barrel, and a great shooting 18 inch Grendel. So glad that I didn't jump on the 224 Valkyrie or 22 Nosler band wagon. I love reloading and buying cases all the time can get expensive. I also got an 18 inch 300 Ham"r barrel from Wilson Combat and love shooting a 30 caliber with ballistic comparison to a proven 30/30 cartridge, like a 300 Blackout on steroids just no sub sonic loads, but I have my 300 Blackouts for that.

Love the Grendel. I'm getting 1/2 moa out of mine out to 400 yds with several different loads including my whitetail load that pushes a 105gr MKZ over 2700 fps. It's did a great job on Indiana whitetail this year.

I loveeeee theory of operation videos like this. Thank you so much.

Thanks Johnny! Very well explained!!

Great information, Johnny. Thank you.

Great work. Excellent presentation.

Just finished my .224 Valkyrie build with a Wilson Combat 20" barrel with 1-6.5" twist, and first 10 shot group with factory Federal 90g smk had 8 of 10 shots inside 1" Number 8 landed 1" out of the group, right where my crosshairs were when I let it go, and shot 9 landed 1/8" low of the main group and pretty sure it was me. So far I am pleased, especially with almost everyone else having issues. I'll know more this spring when I can put more rounds through it.

Does a great job explaining.

Great videos! Keep up the good work!

I put together a ar recently and have been nothing but happy with it, seems to shoot good regardless of the bullet weight i load for it!

I have hunted Elk and Deer with my Grendel,a great round,with long range ability.

Great content! Thanks for posting!

Thank you for making this a separate video. I may not have watched one on the 22 Nosler or 224. They are not solid hits on my radar. I am working on a 223 Wylde, 300 Blackout and a 7.62x 39 builds and am really interested in the 6.5 Grendel, maybe next. And since I reload, your input on the brass issues really solidified my choices. Thanks again.

Great information, as usual!

Good stuff as always. I enjoyed the comparison. I agree that is all depends on what you want to do. I think they all have their place in the lineup somewhere. I am shooting and reloading for the .224 Valkyrie. Also agree with the brass life issue, hoping at some point that will get sorted out. Only time will tell.

Great video as always.

I own a 20", 16", and 10.5" Grendel. Built the last two myself. Love the 6.5. Next build is going to be a 22 Grendel, just because I can. Heard it gets better results than the 224 Val, and isn't having the accuracy issues folks are seeing with the 224 Val. I never shoot my 5.56 or 7.62x39 anymore. The Grendel does it all well. Keep up the great work Johnny!

Your idea about how people should use the pictures on the company website to determine who you're going to buy a barrel from is great, Really spot on! Guess I've thought about that subconsciously, but never put it in those words. Definitely going to plagiarize the term.

Fellow Kentuckian here who just stumbled upon your channel. I subscribed.

Solid video Johnny.

THE BEST cartridge comparison EVER!

You got me curious about the 6.5 Grendel. Thanks, just subscribed to your channel.

That was the best explaination of ogive I've ever heard. Thanks for that. And I like Grendel a lot as well.

I really recommend this guys mentality when looking for different rifle caliber modular rifles to choose from.

I love my Rock River AR15 .223 wylde .25" 100 yds three round groups out of the box. Full disclosure they were my own personal handloads. Oh yea great video first time watcher

Great summary!

Great descriptions

Great vid. Best I've come across. New sub.

Thank you for the explanation. Most other just foamed in the mouth and talking about things that don't even matter. Or just making up stuff. But you are the best !!!

Thanks Johnny!! Great video. I always learn so much from your videos. Keep up the excellent work. I do, however, take issue with your "goofy shooting jackets" comment... :D

Excellent video, Johnny you did a great job explaining the differences and the pros and cons I would have to agree 223/556 is definitely the way to start out.

Spot on, 223/556 first... Now I understand what you were saying about the 22noz, and the 224v being different animals. thanks... the confusion over the 6.5g type 1 or 2 bolt face, along with the type 1 or 2 chamber/throat, (chaos), being all but over, seems like it's really a better choice. all that confusion didn't do the 6.5g any favors with peoples opinions. I like that I can buy cheap, bulk, Wolf ammo for the 6.5g for plinking while hand loading the good stuff for hunting and accuracy. not much different than the 223/556. excellent vid, thanks.

You've made up my mind. My next upper is gonna be 6.5 Grendel . Thanks

Thanks for the video brother

Helll yesss another reason to do my faxon 6.5 grendel pistol build

Thank you Johnny

I love my 300 blackout. I also have a 6.8 AR. If it was not so expensive to shoot. Awesome and accurate.

I agree with your cartridge choice and Kentucky is a great state for nice deer. My age and CWD has put a damper on my hunting. Thanks and have a good one 👍

We should add an addendum of listing the awesome cartridges of .223, of course we have the .300 blkout and the awesome 22TCM! I recently learned of .22TCM while shopping reviews of the new Ruger 5.7. This awesome little pistol cartridge based on the .223 case cut and re-necked to .22 fires a 40 grain round out of a 17 shot 1911 at 2100+ FPS! Basically nearly the same as the 5.7! This smokes .22WMR by 250 FPS and 100 FtLbs! (it has roughly 400ft lbs of energy!) I have just found my next pistol that can be reloaded for cheap! There are rifles made for this amazing little caliber also. I will even get over my disdain for the poor politics of Illinois,Rock River Arms Co.who makes them. I see 1000 rounds .22TCM loaded are 149.95 or 200 rounds loaded sell for 31.99! Also we can reload it ourselves cheap! Lee and Hornady make dies! How did I miss this .22TCP ? I nearly bought a crappy trigger, expensive ammo, and hard to reload 5.7 cal Ruger. The 2 calibers handguns are about the same price, but the savings will continue forever with .223 based .22TCM! As a bonus the Rock River Arms 1911 handguns also come with a free 9mm barrel and a decent trigger that can be made like glass! Something FN and Ruger will never have with the 5.7.

Awesome!! Thank You for the information

To really make the right decision on what rifle calibers are the best choices for you is to be completely honest about what is it that you are going to used it for and want to accomplish . Know what is the maximum range you can shoot where you live , how often are you going to go out and shoot and be completely honest with yourself about your goal ( AND A SUPER IMPORTANT POINT IS TO MENTION HOW MUCH MONEY YOU ARE WILLING TO INVEST IN THIS PROJECTS) could be hunting, sports, plinking, self defense, etc. I own almost all the ar15 platform rifle calibers just missing a couple (I really don't think I'm going to get them [ shot them plentiful and if I own them they wouldn't be shot that often ].... I own all kinds of rifles ( new and old. Ww1 ww2 and present times, bolt action, long barrels , short ones. Ar10,,, in different calibers, etc.) I have shot almost all calibers available in the gun world. Accuracy is my passion , every shot counts.... pushing the limits and learning how to place a shot right where you want it or need it to hit is my SPECIFIC goal!!! Is fun to learn about ballistic performance and accuracy along with the new technology that is becoming available to own!!! also own quite a few pellet rifles and let me tell you that is quite a challenge to really understand the perfomance of these guns which by the way they are no toys, some of them are as expensive and deadly ( at 10 to 15 yards) as an ar15. AND JUST LIKE ANY GUN JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE EXPENSIVE DOESN'T MEAN THEY ARE GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY ACCURATE OUT OF THE BOX. And yes the ones that are not so expensive can be amazingly accurate as well. But u have to find the pellet that you barrel likes. MOST IMPORTANTLY OF ALL IS: UNDERSTANDING THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE CONSTANTLY HITTING ON TARGET U NEED TO FIND THE BULLET WEIGHT AND BRAND YOUR RIFLE LIKES. UNDERSTAND THAT A WELL PLACED SHOT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN PRACTICING:AND UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU AND YOUR RIFLE BECOME ONE.... BREATHING , TRIGGER PULL, KNOWING HOW USE YOUR SCOPE (IF YOU USE ONE) OR IRON SIGHTS . AND UNDERSTANDING BALLISTICS AND HOW THE BULLETS THAT YOU CHOSE PERFORM IN YOUR RIFLE. there is lots and lots of talk about bullet performance out there.... realistically any caliber is potentially deadly for hunting. Shot placing is specially important, distance, etc. In reality the great majority of hunting kills happens between 30 to a 150 yards away from the shooter.

I use starline in 224 Valkyrie and I have not had any problems with the primer pockets.. although I did when I started this cartridge o 5 moths ago but now no issues at all.. great fun...

Great information. Thank you

So my first ar15 was 556 bushmaster Carbon15, it has a pencil barrel with a 1/9twist and coasted 500 bucks. And it shoots better then expected. However i recently bought a 300 blackout with a 16inch barrel that have fallen in love with. So now i got me a silencer and a new saint spring field armory pistol in 300 black oht and i love it. I may be building a ar10 pistol soon

The 6.5 Grendel and 300Blackout are my favorites.

Great Information ! I have a good 5.56, looking to 6.5 Grendel and rock the 120-123gr for bigger game.

I'm looking at a 6.5 grendel. Washington state doesn't allow hunting with a 5.56, .22 nozler or the .224 valkary. So looking to replace my 5.56 with a general purpose rifle I can hunt with and be a defense rifle. 6.5 meets this.

458 socom with the 325gr Hornady FTX. In WI we rarely shoot over 50 yards.

Great subject great content great video thanks for the info

i like shooting the heavier .224Val for varmints and medium to large game also have hunted with my 125gr 7.62x39 on hogs at 150 to 250yrds.i also have two M4s in different twists with 1-7 and 1-9 twist rates and have a lot of fun with those.I 5think u sold me on a 6.5Grendel! LOL thats my next AR i want one in every caliber lol. Then ill start on AR 10s lol my wife was wonder i bought a 14gun gun cabinet....At the time my long guns were spread around my den in gun socks.I filled it 1/2 way when i finally put them in it!LOL and im still going strong i just added the 76.2x39 and havnt even had a chance to shoot it yet? lol great video keep it up bro!

I also really like the 300 blk for the shorter barrel length that allows a much handier lighter and smaller rifle for an easy carrying option in the field and for hd. I know this was about bullets and cartridges but just wanted to add the other benefits for that round besides the sub sonic suppressed factor.

Lots of good info.

Great channel - I've also watched most of 224 Valk videos. I use CCI #41 primers and found primer pocket enlargement problems in 224 V and 6.5 Grendel near max loads. If I back them down I still get max velocities with lower charges. I think it's the nature of the "magnum" primer. I use QL and adjust the burn factor until the velocity matches my LabRadar - and if that velocity shown is not over max pressure - primer pocket failures seem to subside. It's close. I usually go down .2 or .3 less to accommodate warmer temps. I also noticed this issue with #34 CCI in 6.5 Creedmoor. Just my 2 cents and theory. I use a pocket primer Gage to check.

Well covered in the discussion but cover the H2O case capacities.

This video has got everyone talking in the comments. I love the 223/556 and thrive on pushing it out down range. I also shoot 308 the same way. Have always been curious about the middle ground between 223/?/308. The Grendel seems to be that cartridge, and will be a build for me in the future. Thanks Johnny for your videos, it would take me way longer with more expense to get where I need to be.

I wasn't planning on a 223 AR after I made one in 6.5 but I guess I should get one now.

Love your vids👍

Good take on things.

Try blowing out the .223 case to a straight walled case to .355--.358 diameter bullet diameter that can be saboted back to use a .243 diameter bullet centered into the bore and check out the internal ballistics which will also gain a lot of external ballistics while still using near stock magazines. The stock formula is easy to find to predict how much better than the 30 caliber blackout

I found this fascinating and I don't even shoot rifles, and certainly don't re-load. Learnt a lot in this one video. One thing that perplexes me is that for YEARS I thought .223 and 5.56 were the exact same thing - just one expressed in inches (civilian) and the other metric (military). But recently I discovered that there are differences, like 5.56 slightly more powerful. Maybe Johnny has a video on this.

Great information.

What a wonderful video.