As time goes on, the AR platform and its piston variants have steadily improved, including in 7.62x39 / 6.5 Grendel calibers: better metallurgy of the bolts and better magazines (e.g.: C-Products, Elander) are pretty bleeped reliable now and getting better.
Unfortunately, even the top of the line CSA Vz58s are dependent on used surplus internal parts. Nice as the Vz58 is, future development is effectively dead at this point, production confined to one boutique manufacturer (CSA). Century, et al? Too sketchy.
Don’t get me wrong, my CSA Vz58 is a great, handy rifle, especially as a brush gun with a 3x PA prism scope, but there are other, IMO, better options for self defense as technology advances.
And with the 5.56 AR15 spec magwell, the significant taper of the 6.5 Grendel is, for instance, why the military is looking at 6mm ARC, 6.8 SPC, etc., instead of that caliber, as well as .300 BLK instead of 7.62x39 which has taper similar to 6.5 Grendel, etc. Trying to force banana mags into the straight AR15 magwell is square peg round holing it in a variety of ways. The AR15 magwell being designed for thin disposable aluminum mags, also limits the extent of improving mag durability.
Actually, though conceptually just a 7.62x39 necked down to 6.5mm, Bill Alexander redesigned the 6.5 Grendel cartridge case specifically to fit the AR15 platform. No “banana clips” for the 6.5 G. The 6mm ARC is basically a necked down 6.5 Grendel. Which is better? Time will tell, but the 6.5 G has a significant jump start in popularity and affordability, at least in the commercial market. Serbia has adopted the 6.5 G in the DMR role, so I’m sure their ammo plants can fill the gap left by Russia, if they want to make some money. From what I’ve seen, the 6.5 G holds a slight edge ballistically over the 6.8 SPC.
Actually, I would have loved the x39 simply necked down to 6.5 so that I could use all my AK mags for an improved caliber.
The US Military definitely needs an upgrade over the diminishing effectiveness of the 5.56. They already looked hard at the 6.8 SPC — and dropped it. Expect them to do the same with the 6mm ARC. US Military small arms ordnance — always expect them to do the stupid thing (stick with the 5.56) and waste billions of taxpayer dollars in the testing and re-testing process. Thanks
