6.5 Grendel?

[David4516]

So I've decided to give the 6.5 Grendel a try. Just ordered an upper, it should arrive early next week. I wanted a rifle for shooting at 500+ yards to replace (or at least to add to) my current 'long range rifle' (a Ruger No. 1 in .223). More on that in another thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=803118

So now I need to figure out how I'm going to reload for this thing. I am under the impression that the .264, 123gr Hornady A-Max was designed with the Grendel in mind, and that factory ammo is loaded with this bullet? If that is the case I'm thinking it's the bullet I'll want to use for my reloads as well.

Looking at MidwayUSA, I see that the Hornady brass sells for about $0.70 each, and that the loaded ammo is about $1.00 per round. Normally I just buy brass and reload all my ammo, almost never shoot factory. But in this case I'm wondering if it makes more sense to buy factory at first and then reload the brass. If I can find a way to duplicate the factory load with my hand loads I won't even need to change the zero on the rifle.

Is this a dumb idea? Is the Hornady brass even any good? Should I spend the extra $$$ and get Lapua or something?

If this isn't a dumb idea, does anybody have any recipes for the 6.5 that will match factory ammo?

Really any info or recipes for this cartridge at all would be helpful, I'm totally starting from scratch on this one, have zero knowledge/experience with 6.5

I have some H335, some IMR 4198, and some CFE-223 already (been using them in .223), and I'm told that powders suitable for .223 work in the Grendel too. I know that the powder that gives you the best accuracy, and the powder that gives you the best velocity, are not always the same powder. I'm making accuracy my priority for this rifle, but velocity would be nice to have too.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

You are in luck my friend...LOL I'm trying to do the same thing you are doing. I have a 20" Grendel upper and it shoots ridiculously well with the factory 123 Amax load(5 shots under 1/2 MOA). I shot it at 500 yards and was very happy with my results.

I'm reloading also and am working with 123 Amax for paper and 123 SST for hunting. I'm currently working with the Amax and IMR 8208 powder. I basically copied the Ogive measurement from the factory load and with 27.3gr of 8208 it has the same POI at 100yds as the factory load.

I have not chrono'd either load yet, but the results are promising. Hope this helps

 

[ArchAngelCD]

With such a small price difference between the virgin brass and loaded ammo I would buy the ammo. Hornady brass is good brass, no need to pay for Lapua brass.

As for matching factory ammo, even if we could get the powders they use we would have no way to test pressures of the loaded ammo. Add that each company's ammo will be different you will need to send the factory ammo over a chronograph and try to match the velocity with a like weighted bullet to try and duplicate it. Sorry, no shortcuts available in this job lol.

 

[David4516]

CarJunkieLS1, what upper did you get? Was it a complete one, or did you built it yourself?

I bought one of these:

http://shop.redxarms.com/20-RXA15-65-GRENDEL-TACTICAL-FLUTED-SS-UPPER-2065GRENDELUH.htm

Hope its OK. I'd never heard of Red X before so I am gambling a bit by going with an unknown brand. It was one of the better prices I'd seen on a 6.5 upper and I liked that it had a "real" 6.5 bolt instead of a 7.62x39 bolt

you will need to send the factory ammo over a chronograph

That's my plan. I guess I was just hoping that somebody else had already figured this out so I didn't have to re-invent the wheel...

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

I have a Radical Firearms 6.5 upper I bought it complete and put it on a PSA lower. Looks like a decent upper I haven't heard of Red-X before either but I'm sure you are gonna be pleased.

 

[rg1]

I've bought Lapua brass and Hornady brass but the best deal is buying Hornady 123 A-Max factory rounds. It shoots great in my Grendel, a 24" heavy barrel J&T upper. Cheaper than buying components and you end up with good once fired brass. Lapua brass is definitely great brass but I still prefer Hornady. I get approx. 50-70 fps more in Hornady brass with the same load? I believe it's the small flash hole in Lapua brass compared to the standard flash hole in Hornady. Work up to this level as it's near maximum but I load 30.2 grains of AA2520 powder with the Hornady 123 A-Max to equal Hornady's 123 factory A-Max loads in Hornady brass. I use RP 7 1/2 primers and load to Hornady factory oal at 2.244"-2.246". My 24" barrel with Hornady factory 123 A-Max gives about 2660 fps in my rifle at 90 degree temps. Only powders I've tested are BL-C2 and AA2520. Sierra's 123 gr. HP shoots well also in my rifle. For strictly hunting you might want to try some Hornady 123 gr. SST bullets. Loads and shoots about the same as the A-Max but the A-Max will barely edge the SST in accuracy. Hopefully you can find AA2520 powder? Buy factory 123 A-Max. It's the better deal.

 

[Poper]

Hope its OK. I'd never heard of Red X before so I am gambling a bit by going with an unknown brand. It was one of the better prices I'd seen on a 6.5 upper and I liked that it had a "real" 6.5 bolt instead of a 7.62x39 bolt[/QUOTE]Really?

the Grendel designers decided to use a shorter, larger diameter case for higher powder volume while allowing space for long, streamlined, high ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets. Firing factory loaded ammunition loaded with bullets ranging from 90 to 129 grains (5.8–8.4 g), its muzzle velocity ranges from 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s) with 129- and 130-grain (8.4 g) bullets to 2,900 ft/s (880 m/s) with 90 gr (5.8 g) bullets (similar in velocity to a 5.56 mm 77-grain (5.0 g) round).

The case head diameter of the Grendel is the same as that of the parent case( the .220 Russian), the 7.62×39mm, and PPC cases.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6.5mm_Grendel

 

[Poper]

Hope its OK. I'd never heard of Red X before so I am gambling a bit by going with an unknown brand. It was one of the better prices I'd seen on a 6.5 upper and I liked that it had a "real" 6.5 bolt instead of a 7.62x39 bolt[/QUOTE]Seriously?

the Grendel designers decided to use a shorter, larger diameter case for higher powder volume while allowing space for long, streamlined, high ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets. Firing factory loaded ammunition loaded with bullets ranging from 90 to 129 grains (5.8–8.4 g), its muzzle velocity ranges from 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s) with 129- and 130-grain (8.4 g) bullets to 2,900 ft/s (880 m/s) with 90 gr (5.8 g) bullets (similar in velocity to a 5.56 mm 77-grain (5.0 g) round).

The case head diameter of the Grendel is the same as that of the parent case( the .220 Russian), the 7.62×39mm, and PPC cases.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6.5mm_Grendel

 

[David4516]

Poper, the 6.5 bolt is not the same as the 7.62 bolt. They are the same diameter but different depths. Some manufacturers use the 7.62 bolt in the 6.5 uppers they sell (I assume as a cost saving measure?) but this is bad, can goof up headspacing. Thus my comment about being happy that my new upper doesn't have the 7.62 bolt...

Check out the attachment...

 

[David4516]

Rifle is now put together, only thing I need before I can hit the range is ammo...

 

[Potatohead]

From what Ive read it's a real sweet round. Im interested in getting one some day.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Rifle is now put together, only thing I need before I can hit the range is ammo...

Well, get to it!!! lol

 

[David4516]

Looks like I'll finally be able to shoot this thing on Monday. I just moved and all my shooting/reloading stuff has been in storage. I'm finally able to unpack it and want to try out my new rifle ASAP. I'll post a range report with some chornograph data for anybody who might be interested...

 

[LoonWulf]

cool, ive been shooting my grendel for a while, like it alot. hope it shoots good for you, let us know

 

[David4516]

Took the rifle out yesterday. Was very pleased with the results. I had it zeroed in 4 rounds (well 3 actually but the 4th was to confirm).

I then fired a 5 round group at 100 yards. I "flinched" on one of the 5 rounds. The group size (if I include the bad round) was 1.2 inches, but if I only count the 4 "good" shots, the group was 0.4 inches.

I then took it to 500 yards shooting at steel targets (roughly the same size/shape as an IDPA cardboard target) and hit every time. Then moved on to a steel target at 525 yards, this one was a coyote silhouette (about half-scale, roughly the size of a house cat). I fired several rounds at it, and hit it every time.

I was shooting factory Hornady 123gr SST, and they chorno'ed at 2480FPS out of my 20 inch rifle.

My goal now is to find a reload that will match this factory ammo... I will keep you guys posted on my progress. I'm going to start with H335 I think...

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Good job! Keep us posted on the progress!

 

[David4516]

Found a reload that almost exactly duplicates the factory load, using CCI #41 primers and 31.0gr of CFE-223 powder. It's funny my .223 rifles didn't like CFE-223 but the Grendel seems to love it.

 

[LoonWulf]

Found a reload that almost exactly duplicates the factory load, using CCI #41 primers and 31.0gr of CFE-223 powder. It's funny my .223 rifles didn't like CFE-223 but the Grendel seems to love it.

Yeah mine too. I'm running 31.5 at 2.365 and it shoots really well

 

[farmerboy78]

I grendel likes that factory ammo. I have reloaded using the 123gr amax and I think 27.4gr of tac. I also have bought 200 of the 100gr amax to try. Just use the amax for hunting, there's no need to the sst. I took 2 whitetails with amazing results @ 278 & 326.

 

[LoonWulf]

Agreed, Amax performed well at the velocity my grendel launches at, which is just over 2500.

 

[Rickt300]

You may find it not that easy to match the factory AMAX and SST ammo in accuracy. In my Grendel the SST factory load is a lazer! My reloads are mostly 3/4 inch or so. Could be me though, not as young as I used to be. Haven't shot anything with it yet other than paper and some water filled milk jugs. The SST ended up in the fourth jug and the AMAX in the third jug. This at 100 yards. I have played with CFE and BLC(2), my rifle seeming to prefer the latter but more testing to come, focusing on ARComp powder.

 

[4565950shooter]

Owned an Alexander arms 20" upper and it was super accurate. Killed an antelope buck at 315 yards in my belly and an antelope doe on my butt at 125 yards in one hour in Wyoming on opening day October 2014. Super round. I use the Hornady sst factory loads. I used wolf ammo for plinking. Mine burnt up in a fire but I will get another as soon as possible.

 

[David4516]

Mine burnt up in a fire

Bummer

You may find it not that easy to match the factory AMAX and SST ammo in accuracy.

Still have alot of load development to do but so far this has been my experience too. The factory SST ammo is very consistent, more so than my reloads. I might try different methods for weighing my powder or maybe a different kind of primer and see if that helps...

 

[LoonWulf]

In my experience handloads won't always out perform good factory fodder, and (also in my experience) hornadys custom line tends to be very good factory ammo.

Couple things ive found in my grendel. I got better accuracy in the 31.2-31.8 range with cfe223, but at the same time i used the recalled ppu brass to work those loads up, which had the large primer pocket.

Also seating depth can differ from factory, ive foumd my amaxs shot best pretty well touching the lands, and the sst ammo sat significantly off but still shot as accurately. From hornadys literature both bullets should be very similar.

 

[Rickt300]

Just ordered 6 boxes of the 123 grain ELD Match ammo from AmmoLiquidator, $15.95 a box. I will buy this way instead of reload just to get brass.