Both 5.56 NATO / .223 Remington and 7.62 NATO / .308 Winchester are commonly suppressed calibers. They perform well and shoot great. But what if you want something that fits comfortably between the two? That’s where the 6.5 Grendel comes in. You get a cartridge that offers wonderful ballistics and is a joy to shoot suppressed.
Understanding the 6.5 Grendel
Back in 2003, a competitive shooter and a ballistician put their heads together in an effort to create a new cartridge that could fit in the standard AR-15 magazine, generate minimal recoil, and outperform other cartridges on the market out to 800 yards. What they came up with was the 6.5 Grendel.
The 6.5 Grendel Cartridge
While it may bear the name of a mythical monster, the 6.5 Grendel and its performance are all fact – no fiction. The case head is similar in size to the 7.62×39 cartridge with a case diameter that’s larger than 5.56 NATO. This means that you can use regular AR mags, but they’ll only hold 26 rounds instead of 30.
Benefits of Using a Suppressor with the 6.5 Grendel
There are a number of benefits to using a suppressor with the 6.5 Grendel cartridge, but these are some of the biggest ones
Noise Reduction
Obviously, the biggest benefit of a suppressor is the decibel reduction. Being able to shoot quieter is awesome, and it’s something that you can’t duplicate without a suppressor.
Because of the way suppressors dissipate escaping gases, it means that you’ll also experience less felt recoil when shooting suppressed.
Improved Shooter Comfort
Even though the 6.5 Grendel isn’t a cartridge that’s known for being super loud or having punishing recoil, it can still benefit from being suppressed. Less noise and less recoil makes for a more comfortable shooting experience which means that your range time is more enjoyable and you’ll want to shoot more often.
Considerations for Choosing the Best Suppressor
The majority of the suppressors that you’ll find that handle 6.5 Grendel are also perfectly suited to a variety of other similarly-sized calibers. This is a good thing because you’ll more than likely end up with a can that is capable of use on a number of different firearm hosts that you own.
Make sure, too, that you consider your host gun when buying a suppressor. Look at the host gun’s weight, overall length, and what you’ll be using it for. A suppressor of one weight and length might be fine for bench shooting, but might be a bit much for humping through the countryside all day on a hunt. Remember: ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain.
Once you’ve got a ballpark weight and length in mind, then you can consider other things like mounting options, accessory compatibility, and, of course, price.
Category
Name
Caliber
Weight
Length
Price
Overall Best
TBAC ULTRA-9
6.5mm
10 oz
9"
$1,290
Best Premium
BANISH 30-GOLD
.308/7.62
13 oz
8.2"
$1,699
Quietest
SilencerCo Hybrid 46
Multi
14.1 oz
7.61"
$939
Best Value
YHM Resonator R2
Up to .300 RUM
16.802 oz
7.825"
$769.95
Best Hunting
BANISH Backcountry
Up to .300 RUM
7.8 oz
5.5"
$1.099
Top Suppressor Models for the 6.5 Grendel
Without further ado, here is a detailed look at our top picks for the best 6.5 Grendel suppressors on the market today.
Overall Best 6.5 Grendel Suppressor: TBAC ULTRA-9
When someone starts shopping around for a suppressor and asks the opinion of other owners what brand they should get, there’s one company that gets mentioned more than any other: Thunder Beast Arms Corp, or TBAC.
Each product in the ULTRA series from TBAC has a number with it. Usually, it’s a 5, 7, or 9, and this indicates the length of the can. In this case, we’ll be talking about the ULTRA-9, which is their full-length precision rifle suppressor.
Available in multiple configurations, the ULTRA-9 is a titanium, fully-welded tubeless suppressor. This means that it is not designed to be taken apart and the baffles are joined directly to one another instead of being stacked in a separate tube.
Available as either a direct thread can or with a compact brake (CB) mount, it is available in a variety of different thread patterns. The weight of the can will vary slightly depending on which kind of mount you use.
Simply put, this is a solid suppressor that is lightweight, rugged, and quiet – tests show decibel ratings of 131 dB. You can’t go wrong with the TBAC ULTRA-9.
Advantages:
Made of lightweight titanium
Choose from direct thread or compact brake mounting
Disadvantages:
TBAC products are very popular, so it might be hard to find
Cannot be taken apart by the user
TBAC ULTRA-9 Specs
Caliber: 6.5mm
Weight: 10 oz
Length: 9”
Price: $1,290
Best Premium 6.5 Grendel Suppressor: BANISH 30-GOLD
If you’re going to go all out and spend the big bucks, you might as well splurge on the BANISH 30-GOLD. Now, this can is specially made for us at Silencer Central, but there’s a good reason for it taking this spot on the list.
Made of lightweight titanium, the BANISH 30-GOLD has 11 baffles in a tube that’s just barely over eight inches in length and weighs just 13 ounces. This means you’re getting a suppressor that is as light, short, and quiet as possible, and will make your range day with a 6.5 Grendel rifle one of the most pleasant you’ve ever had.
This QD suppressor is rated for full-auto fire and can be completely taken apart by the user for cleaning. Yeah, we know you’re not supposed to have to take a rifle suppressor apart for cleaning, but it’s nice to know that you have the option to really get in there and get it super clean if you want to.
To round out the BANISH 30-GOLD, it also comes standard with accessories that normally cost extra from other companies. Along with the suppressor, you’ll get two muzzle brakes – 1/2×28 and 5/8×24, a limited-edition gray Devour suppressor cover, BANISH suppressor pouch in black, BANISH baffle removal tool, a Silencer Central t-shirt, and a Silencer Central vinyl sticker.
Advantages:
Full-auto rated
User-serviceable
Comes with a premium accessory package valued at more than $500
Tests show that the SilencerCo Hybrid 46 brings the decibel rating of the mighty .45-70 Government cartridge down to just 140 decibels and the already-quiet .300 Blackout down to just 123 decibels. With numbers like that, the Hybrid 46 is your best option for a quiet 6.5 Grendel suppressor.
Made of titanium and stainless steel, the Hybrid 46 is a fully welded suppressor that is both magnum and full-auto rated, so there’s a lot of versatility with this unit.
Included with the can is a 5/8×24 thread mount, a .46-caliber front end cap, a piston housing, a multitool, and two spanner wrenches. You can switch out to other front caps and choose from a variety of pistons for whatever you’re using – 6.5 Grendel or otherwise.
If you’re looking for a do-it-all can that is stupid quiet with 6.5 Grendel, look no further than the SilencerCo Hybrid 46.
Advantages:
You can color coordinate: black, white, sniper grey, and FDE
Use it on pistols and rifles
Priced (just) under a grand
Disadvantages:
Not user-serviceable
SilencerCo Hybrid 46 Specs
Caliber: multi
Weight: 14.1 oz
Length: 7.61”
Price: $939
Best Value 6.5 Grendel Suppressor: Yankee Hill Machine Resonator R2
Most of us aren’t made of money. If cost is your bottom line for choosing a suppressor, then look no further than the Yankee Hill Machine Resonator R2 suppressor. YHM created the R2 with the intent to provide shooters of all types with a quiet and cost-effective silencer. The R2 can be used on calibers ranging from .17HMR through 300 RUM.
Making things even better, YHM redesigned the Resonator that we tested, and this is the Resonator R2, which is even better than before. This suppressor uses a tubeless design made of stainless steel with an Inconel blast baffle, which means it’s also rated for full auto performance.
Compatible with other YHM mounts and QD adapters, you won’t have to buy extra accessories if you’ve already got a YHM suppressor. Plus, it’s an extremely affordable suppressor for what you’re getting.
Advantages:
Recently redesigned for even better overall performance
Fantastic sound suppression
Great price for what you get
Disadvantages:
Minimum barrel length requirements of 10.5” for 7.62×39 (of course, not an issue with 6.5 Grendel)
Yankee Hill Machine Resonator R2 Specs
Caliber: Up to .300 RUM
Weight: 16.802 ounces
Length: 7.825”
Price: $769.95
Best Hunting Suppressor for 6.5 Grendel: BANISH Backcountry
The two most important factors for picking a suppressor for a hunt are sound suppression and weight, and the .30 caliber BANISH Backcountry suppressor was built with those factors in mind.
The Backcountry is a fixed-length suppressor that measures 5.5” in length (5.7” with QD mount) and weighs just 7.8 ounces. That’s a full 1.3” shorter and 2.2 ounces lighter than the BANISH 30 in its short configuration. That may not sound like much, but it makes a world of difference for backcountry adventurers who carefully pack their gear with size and weight in mind.
Rated for calibers up to the .300 Remington Ultra Magnum (RUM), the BANISH Backcountry utilizes six baffles that drop the decibel level down to 135 dB for .308 Winchester, 137 dB for .300 Win Mag, and 138 dB for .300 RUM at the ear – all of which fall below the hearing-safe threshold.
Utilizing a 1.375×24 Universal Mount, the BANISH Backcountry is a direct-thread suppressor designed to eliminate any extra weight associated with a muzzle device method of attachment, but it is also available with an optional muzzle brake attachment.
When size, weight, and sound suppression are of the utmost concern, the BANISH Backcountry suppressor allows you to pack in ounces, shoot at hearing-safe levels, and pack out pounds.
Advantages:
Quick-detach and direct thread options available
User-serviceable
Lightweight titanium construction
Disadvantages:
It may be out of the budget for some people
BANISH Backcountry Specs
Caliber: Up to .300 RUM
Weight: 7.8 oz
Length: 5.5”
Price: $1,099
Enhance Your Hunting with a Quality Suppressor Today!
Whether you were an early adopter of the 6.5 Grendel or you’re a recent convert to the cartridge, you know that it has tremendous potential and is a ton of fun. Really, the only way to improve upon it is to quiet it down.
If you’re ready to suppress your 6.5 Grendel rifle, let us know. We’ve been in this business for more than 15 years and our top-notch staff can help you pick the right can for your needs. We’ll walk you through the super-easy ordering process of any of the picks on this list – or a different one altogether if that’s what you want – and even set you up on an interest-free payment plan. Even if you don’t see the suppressor you want on our site, we’ll help you get it. Plus, once your stamp is approved, we’ll mail your new suppressor right to your door!
