6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by sungazer » 03 May 2018, 10:33 pm

The fad jokes about the Creedmoor are getting a little thin the cartridge has been around 10 years and it is performing well. On the range in F class it has always been the *47 the guys that are starting to shoot the Creedmoor just like in the PRS are proving its worth. I really think it has a lot going for it being based on a 308 case is also just one huge tick in the box for longevity as well.
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by SCJ429 » 25 May 2018, 8:50 pm

People probably said the PPC was a fad in the 70s or that the 6mmBR would not amount to anything. Who in 1889 thought the 22LR would be the worlds most popular round 130 years later.
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by duncan61 » 26 May 2018, 1:34 pm

Lets be honest we enjoy playing.I tried to build a subsonic hornet years ago and loaded 80 and 90 grain Sierra Matchkings on 4gns AP70N. I had a brand new H and R single shot and the same barrel is bored for 45/70 so with the tiny hole for hornet I figured it would be good to handle my testing.I pulled it with a piece of string 20 feet away behind cover anyway.The first load the bullet stayed in the barrel and I had to push it out.At 6.5 gn of powder the bullet hit the target and made a perfect sideways hole,It was quiet but useless.Now we have Trailboss all our problems are solved.
.22 winchester .22hornet .222 .243 7mm rem mag cbc 12g
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by duncan61 » 26 May 2018, 1:39 pm

I have a lot of .224 80 and 90 grain Matchkings if someone can use them
.22 winchester .22hornet .222 .243 7mm rem mag cbc 12g
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Cal-ApeR » 29 Jul 2018, 10:49 am

So in the end, which way did you go? I've thought about the 6.5 debate and tossed Up between the creedmore, 6.5x55 and Grendel. In the end, something just kept pushing me to the Swede. Good brass in any is pricey though.
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Bill » 04 Nov 2018, 9:05 am

Hey Cooper what sort of velocities did you end up getting with you 95gr Vmax 6.5 CM up to ?? from what I can see the Grendel is only 200-300fps behind the 6.5 CM which is not alot when you consider most game is shot under 200m

I've had a Grendel since it the Howa Mini was launched and its a sweet round. Am playing with the 123gr Hornady Black ammo at the moment and it reasonably accurate, thou not overly fast at around 2600fps.

Ive just bought some 100gr TTSX and a bottle of 8208 so pretty keen to see if I can stock it up to around 2900fps or so.....

And where the Grendel really shines is the lack of recoil, SWFA, Ive had 6.5 swede's and 260 rems and the Grendel is miles in front hen you stick it out the ute window.
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Cooper » 04 Nov 2018, 3:10 pm

Bill wrote:Hey Cooper what sort of velocities did you end up getting with you 95gr Vmax 6.5 CM up to ?? from what I can see the Grendel is only 200-300fps behind the 6.5 CM which is not alot when you consider most game is shot under 200m

I've had a Grendel since it the Howa Mini was launched and its a sweet round. Am playing with the 123gr Hornady Black ammo at the moment and it reasonably accurate, thou not overly fast at around 2600fps.

Ive just bought some 100gr TTSX and a bottle of 8208 so pretty keen to see if I can stock it up to around 2900fps or so.....

And where the Grendel really shines is the lack of recoil, SWFA, Ive had 6.5 swede's and 260 rems and the Grendel is miles in front hen you stick it out the ute window.



Hi Bill

I don't think I actually chronographed the 95 Vmax out of the Creedmoor. I have kind of switch over to using the 90gr TNT Speer hollow point. Mainly because I can get them for 40 cents each. I have shoot a few out Grendel and Creedmoor.

My load for the Grendel was 31.0gr of 8208 in a Lapua case

Creedmoor was 42.5gr 2208 in Hornady case. I had been using 8208 with the lighter bullets. But I think 2208 seemed better for me. My Creedmoor does have 26inch barrel. I am really actually quite interested to see how fast the 90gr TNT are travelling I reckon they would be spinning quite fast with 1-8 twist.

Thanks for your post it has got me keen to get the Grendel out and do some shooting. I'll strap the chronograph on and post up some numbers.
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Bill » 04 Nov 2018, 4:54 pm

Yeah good stuff mate.
When a guy is digging his own grave, you don’t fight him for the shovel.

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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Cooper » 11 Nov 2018, 6:00 pm

Hmmm the 90gr TNT weren't going as fast as I expected. The Creedmoor was doing 3180fps with 42.5gr Ar2208 and the Grendel was doing 2800fps with 31gr 8208. I was expecting the Creedmoor to be a bit faster and I was also expecting the Grendel to be closer to 2900fps. But the Grendel is still fairly impressive within 300 fps (nearly 400 in this case) but 10 grains less powder.

To try something different I tried ar2207 in the Grendel (ADI manual has data) 25gr ar2207 doing 2700fps with respectable accuracy. Will test further.
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Bill » 06 Feb 2019, 9:52 pm

hey mate Ive done of heaps load development lately just not with a chronograph, got some good groups with the 107gr SMK but loads were a little compressed, been trying 100gr Amaxs again and found a few sweet spots, best was at 30.6grs of 8208. Also just stocked up on some 100gr NBT and some 100gr ELD-Ms which i hope to get going in the next few weeks.
When a guy is digging his own grave, you don’t fight him for the shovel.

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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Cooper » 07 Feb 2019, 8:11 am

Bill wrote:hey mate Ive done of heaps load development lately just not with a chronograph, got some good groups with the 107gr SMK but loads were a little compressed, been trying 100gr Amaxs again and found a few sweet spots, best was at 30.6grs of 8208. Also just stocked up on some 100gr NBT and some 100gr ELD-Ms which i hope to get going in the next few weeks.



Good to hear. NBT? Noslar boat tail??? I haven't being doing much with the Grendel. I've put it in a Boyds at one stock and in installed a 2lbs trigger Spring kit. I've hit a couple boxes of 100 ELD-M to try and just bought a box of the 123 ELD-M to try.

I got got a little caught out with the 120 ELD-M. The projectile has a different profile. I just seated them to roughly mag length and they were well and truely stuffed into the lands.
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Bill » 07 Feb 2019, 10:12 am

Yeah stuffing into lands is wee bit of a problem LOL.

Ive just shot off 5 boxes of the 123gr Hornady Black match ammo (123gr ELD-M) and had no trouble shooting 5 shot groups around 0.6-0.75 moa. So im hopping to replicate with the 100gr ELD-M which look exactly like the old 100gr Amax ( which shoot very small groups in my gun).

I also went with the 2lb trigger kit. great upgrade, just wish I had a decent stock....
When a guy is digging his own grave, you don’t fight him for the shovel.

Success leaves clues, Fools follow failure !

20 Hornet, 218 Bee, 222 Rem, 256 WM, 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5x55 Scan, 270 Win, 357 Mag, 358 Win, 9.3x62, 500 A Square
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Bill » 07 Feb 2019, 10:34 am

best bit of the shortish 100gr ELD-M is the .385 BC, Ive been seating my projecties outl a little bit more than recommended but accuracy hasnt suffered. Im hoping to crack 3000fps ...... lol

Image
When a guy is digging his own grave, you don’t fight him for the shovel.

Success leaves clues, Fools follow failure !

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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Cal-ApeR » 07 Feb 2019, 7:48 pm

What sort of groups are you guys getting with the Howa at the range? I've got a heap of 129gr sst. Are they too heavy for Grendel?
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Bill » 07 Feb 2019, 9:07 pm

129gr are getting a bit on the heavy side of things and speeds would suffer I reckon. I only started reloading for my grendel recently but it seems finicking with the barnes 100gr TTSX, needs to have a dirty barrel before tight groups appear.

8208 is the go to powder for the Grendel and Ive found it tends to shoot good groups when the case is full or with a mildly compressed load. Pretty easy to get it to shoot 5 shot moa groups and it can go 0.6 to 0.75 if you do your job, Ive had a few freaky small groups but the factory Howa stock and plastic floor plate mean they arent as regular as Id like. Sweet phark all recoil means you shoot 30 plus rounds and you just dont notice it.
When a guy is digging his own grave, you don’t fight him for the shovel.

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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Cooper » 08 Feb 2019, 7:52 am

Cal-ApeR wrote:What sort of groups are you guys getting with the Howa at the range? I've got a heap of 129gr sst. Are they too heavy for Grendel?


I tried some of the 129 soft point interlock projectiles early on. Just to see what they do. The velocity wasn't that impressive low 2000s but can't really remember. It might be possible to find a good load with 129gr SST. But the heavier bullet will be eating into the case capacity.

My Howa mini only has the 22 sporter barrel. It seems to throw the first cold bore shot out of the group more than my rifles. And the skinny barrel does seem to heat up pretty quick. The other problem is the stock. I shoot off a bi pod and it is pretty easy to make the stock touch the barrel. That's why I've fitted the Boyds At One stock and 2lbs trigger Spring kit.

To be fair I haven't done any real testing with the new stock and trigger Spring. I want to find a good load with 123gr protectiles either the 123 SST or ELD-M I'm hoping they are roughly the same. I've got a pretty good hunting load with 90gr TNT and I bought 800 or so. It is definelty capable of shooting under an 1 at 100 metres.
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Cal-ApeR » 08 Feb 2019, 6:22 pm

To buy or not to buy.....ha
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Gaznazdiak » 08 Feb 2019, 8:35 pm

No mentions of 6.5 in the Nowell Codex!
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by Bill » 09 Feb 2019, 10:02 am

Gaznazdiak wrote:No mentions of 6.5 in the Nowell Codex!



It's a Giant of a round and a true slayer of all lol
When a guy is digging his own grave, you don’t fight him for the shovel.

Success leaves clues, Fools follow failure !

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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by jh458 » 14 Sep 2022, 4:41 am

i know this is a very old thread but figured i'd chime in anyway. i LOVE my grendel. it is one of the best all around cartridges i've come across. from yote to large game, it can do it all, within reason. my daughters currently carry it for everything we have in CA. i would not hesitate to shoot an elk provided broadside and <250 yards. pig, deer, antelope, black bear - all of them can be dropped with this cartridge with about the same recoil as a 556.
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by madang55 » 31 Dec 2022, 11:28 pm

Howa Mini
Heavier than Sporter barrel.
Bell & C stock.
New metal Floor plate, works nice.
90gr TNT, just loves. 95 Vmax, not bad. 85gr need to be driven fast I think. 2209 powder.
Waiting to get my hands on 123SST. or something around 100-120. I have 129SST to play with in the Creed, too heavy for the Grendel I think.
Drops Fallow right there. (shot placement required of course)
But a really nice easy to shoot rifle. In fact I reckon a really good young persons starter. Will do everything a 223 will and more.
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by bigrich » 01 Jan 2023, 8:43 am

madang55 wrote:Howa Mini
Heavier than Sporter barrel.
Bell & C stock.
New metal Floor plate, works nice.
90gr TNT, just loves. 95 Vmax, not bad. 85gr need to be driven fast I think. 2209 powder.
Waiting to get my hands on 123SST. or something around 100-120. I have 129SST to play with in the Creed, too heavy for the Grendel I think.
Drops Fallow right there. (shot placement required of course)
But a really nice easy to shoot rifle. In fact I reckon a really good young persons starter. Will do everything a 223 will and more.


shot placement can be everything . the only problem is game rarely sits still ;) interesting round , i don't doubt it's accuracy ,depends on game hunted i guess whether it's useful or not :thumbsup:
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by flashman » 01 Jan 2023, 10:11 am

What"s wrong with a 308 , none of my pray haven't complained ...............LOL.. :D
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by bigrich » 01 Jan 2023, 11:08 am

flashman wrote:What"s wrong with a 308 , none of my pray haven't complained ...............LOL.. :D


yeah , well, maybe some folks like something different :unknown:
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Re: 6.5 Grendel? Thoughts?

Post by northdude » 01 Jan 2023, 7:44 pm

Dont own a 6.5 manbun but have been playing with the grendel for a while. Ive been using 80 and 90gr pills as anything heavier ill just use one of my x55s. Its an accurate little round and win 748 is good for the lighter pills. Only prob is we dont have any of those pills here at the moment so Im conserving them at the moment
22 hornets and most things 6.5
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