6.5 Grendel

[Lone Hunter]

Looks like primarily an AR-15 load guide. I don't currently have an AR-15 in the 6.5 Grendel.

I think what he is trying to say that there is a lot of loading data in these books for the 6.5 Grendel. The data is for AR’s but can generally be used in a bolt action but you can go higher in a bolt gun on pressure but also hence the disclaimer “start low and work up”. But, then again, I’m not speaking for anyone but myself….
You can find data for the Grendel online for Nosler Bullets too. Do a search for Nosler Reloading Data and they will give you powder options and starting points

 

[284winner]

I think what he is trying to say that there is a lot of loading data in these books for the 6.5 Grendel. The data is for AR’s but can generally be used in a bolt action but you can go higher in a bolt gun on pressure but also hence the disclaimer “start low and work up”. But, then again, I’m not speaking for anyone but myself…. You can find data for the Grendel online for Nosler Bullets too. Do a search for Nosler Reloading Data and they will give you powder options and starting points

Thanks

 

[searcher]

I use 450's in my ar's. I use 400's in my Contender. I am near max listed loads so should I look for signs of pressure on the primers?

That is always a good idea. If you developed your load in hot weather, primers look O.K. - you are likely just fine. If you developed your load in cold weather, need to keep an eye on the primers when it warms up and shooting - as you might find a warm load to become a bit too warm. If that happens, just back off powder 1 1/2 grains or a bit more if needed.

 

[rockhound78]

My AR likes the 90 Speer and Benchmark

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Best speed load is Power Pro Varmint with 120g class pills. As it's hard tofind and expensive, I use 8208. Just got some 108g Lapua match for some development. Shoots "OK" with 100g Hornady match too. Howa/MDT combo,

Sierra load data is pretty good for starters.

 

[mayday1648]

Best speed load is Power Pro Varmint with 120g class pills. As it's hard tofind and expensive, I use 8208. Just got some 108g Lapua match for some development. Shoots "OK" with 100g Hornady match too. Howa/MDT combo,

Sierra load data is pretty good for starters.

Perhaps look at 65Grendel.com for extensive list of loads, etc Thanks Rich

 

[284winner]

Perhaps look at 65Grendel.com for extensive list of loads, etc Thanks Rich

Says site can't be reached.

 

[284winner]

Anybody have 100 rounds of grendel brass they'd like to part with ? Used is fine. Like to use some used brass for load work.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Are you guys satisfied enough with the Howa mini’s plastic mag and bottom metal? I read different reviews on it and Brownell’s just got some 223’s back in stock.

 

[Oso]

Looks like primarily an AR-15 load guide. I don't currently have an AR-15 in the 6.5 Grendel.

Yes... The information is primarily compiled from AR15, because +90% of all Grendels are chambered in AR15's. This should have no effect on your ability to use the load data for a bolt rifle. The only difference is that ammunition for AR15 is loaded at or below 54K PSI to prevent straining the bolt. However, when loading Grendel for a bolt rifle you can run at higher psi levels because of more robust bolt and lugs (i.e. top of the powder load is still safe).

My bolt rifle in 6.5 Grendel didn't seem to care that AR15's might also use similar ammo. I didn't worry about loading toward the upper range of powder.

A different perspective - Reloading Manuals and SAAMI are based on Bolt Action Rifles. People having been successfully using this data to load ammunition for use in AR15's.

 

[Intell]

I’m using H335 with the Sierra 85 gr HP and STOMP442 is correct that it shoots real small. Don’t understand why bullet manufacturers discontinue such good bullets.

I use the same load in my AR Grendel and it shoots outstanding. I found a few boxes of 85s from the discontinued section at Sierra a couple three years ago.

 

[Oso]

Are you guys satisfied enough with the Howa mini’s plastic mag and bottom metal? I read different reviews on it and Brownell’s just got some 223’s back in stock.

I know that there was a huge issue with the Howa factory polymer magazine for the 6.5 Grendel, and it was hit or miss whether the factory magazines would work. I don't know if this was also an issue with their 223 magazines so do a search specific on the 223 magazines.

There are three (3) work arounds for the Grendel magazine issue:

(1) Oregunsmithing LLC offers an aftermarket replacement bottom metal with hinged floor plate/internal magazine ($185). Offered in two configurations: .223 and 7.62x39/Grendel/ARC.
Oregunsmithing - Howa Mini Bottom Metal (Hinged Floor Plate with Internal Magazine)

(2) Jefferson Outdoors offers an aftermarket replacement bottom metal with either a Hinged Floor Plate with Internal Magazine ($175) or a replacement bottom metal that fits a CZ 527 magazines ($125). Offered in two configurations: .223 and 7.62x39/Grendel/ARC. You will need to purchase the CZ Metal Magazines separately.
Jefferson Outdoors - Howa Mini Bottom Metal (Hinged Floor Plate with Internal Magazine)
Jefferson Outdoors - Howa Mini Bottom Metal for CZ Magazine

(3) MDT is now offering a replacement bottom metal ($180) and also a hybrid magazine (10rnd) that appears to have a metal upper half (ensure consistent dimensions and feed) with the lower half being a Howa polymer mag ($120 mag). Offered in two configurations: .223 and 7.62x39/Grendel/ARC.
MDT Howa Mini Bottom Metal
MDT Howa Mini Magazine

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I know that there was a huge issue with the Howa factory polymer magazine for the 6.5 Grendel, and it was hit or miss whether the factory magazines would work. I don't know if this was also an issue with their 223 magazines so do a search specific on the 223 magazines.

There are three (3) work arounds for the Grendel magazine issue:

(1) Oregunsmithing LLC offers an aftermarket replacement bottom metal with hinged floor plate/internal magazine ($185). Offered in two configurations: .223 and 7.62x39/Grendel/ARC.
Oregunsmithing - Howa Mini Bottom Metal (Hinged Floor Plate with Internal Magazine)

(2) Jefferson Outdoors offers an aftermarket replacement bottom metal with either a Hinged Floor Plate with Internal Magazine ($175) or a replacement bottom metal that fits a CZ 527 magazines ($125). Offered in two configurations: .223 and 7.62x39/Grendel/ARC. You will need to purchase the CZ Metal Magazines separately.
Jefferson Outdoors - Howa Mini Bottom Metal (Hinged Floor Plate with Internal Magazine)
Jefferson Outdoors - Howa Mini Bottom Metal for CZ Magazine

(3) MDT is now offering a replacement bottom metal ($180) and also a hybrid magazine (10rnd) that appears to have a metal upper half (ensure consistent dimensions and feed) with the lower half being a Howa polymer mag ($120 mag). Offered in two configurations: .223 and 7.62x39/Grendel/ARC.
MDT Howa Mini Bottom Metal
MDT Howa Mini Magazine

That’s kind of my hold up on it. Barreled action and a stock are already getting close to a Tikka factory rifle price, then if you have to start replacing stuff on the Mini.

 

[Lone Hunter]

My gripe is the plastic magazine and bottom PLASTIC. I hate plastic. To me you make plastic milk jugs and chemical jugs, etc, not something on a firearm. I replaced the plastic bottom metal and magazine release with aluminum ones. Not cheap but better. I am going to get rid of my Howa Mini as I don’t like the feel of it. It feels like a small child’s gun to me and I don’t like that The Rifle shoots great. I put it in a Boyds AT-1 stock. I wish now that I had gone with a CZ. How I could have done things different and made it a much better weapon system in my opinion.

 

[Oso]

I bought a barreled action from Brownll's in 2018. I sat on the rifle build until there was a satisfactory stock. B&C solved that with mini-tactical stock (nice vertical grip). Yet, there continued to be feeding issues. I stuck my project build back in the closet for another year until Oregunsmithing and Jefferson Outdoors both came out with aftermarket solutions. I bought the Oregunsmithing's bottom metal with hinged floor plate ( 4-round internal magazine). I bedded the action and all of the excess space around the internal magazine well.
Since then I have also acquired a Jefferson Outdoor's bottom metal/adapter for CZ Magazines. It is sitting in a box on the shelf with a few CZ527 magazines (Grendel) for a future build (maybe 6ARC) for my son.

I am a big fan of MDT. Their gear and customer focus is top notch. As compared to MDT's AIC pattern metal magazine ($75), the Howa Mini magazine at $120 is High Cotton. I have no doubt that it is a fair price for the work/tooling cost to do a small batch run of specialty, one-off magazines. My sense is that the 10-round Magazine is geared toward PRS.

The Howa Mini is a great compact field rifle that is light-weight and easy to maneuver around an ATV/vehicle or inside a small hunting blind. The Howa Mini is not what I would select for building a competition rifle (benchrest or PRS). It is too small and has limited options for stocks and fitting accessories. This is also my opinion on the CZ527. Both are a lot of fun and fit a nice niche.

 

[284winner]

I bought a barreled action from Brownll's in 2018. I sat on the rifle build until there was a satisfactory stock. B&C solved that with mini-tactical stock (nice vertical grip). Yet, there continued to be feeding issues. I stuck my project build back in the closet for another year until Oregunsmithing and Jefferson Outdoors both came out with aftermarket solutions. I bought the Oregunsmithing's bottom metal with hinged floor plate ( 4-round internal magazine). I bedded the action and all of the excess space around the internal magazine well.
Since then I have also acquired a Jefferson Outdoor's bottom metal/adapter for CZ Magazines. It is sitting in a box on the shelf with a few CZ527 magazines (Grendel) for a future build (maybe 6ARC) for my son.

I am a big fan of MDT. Their gear and customer focus is top notch. As compared to MDT's AIC pattern metal magazine ($75), the Howa Mini magazine at $120 is High Cotton. I have no doubt that it is a fair price for the work/tooling cost to do a small batch run of specialty, one-off magazines. My sense is that the 10-round Magazine is geared toward PRS.

The Howa Mini is a great compact field rifle that is light-weight and easy to maneuver around an ATV/vehicle or inside a small hunting blind. The Howa Mini is not what I would select for building a competition rifle (benchrest or PRS). It is too small and has limited options for stocks and fitting accessories. This is also my opinion on the CZ527. Both are a lot of fun and fit a nice niche.

Like to see that B&C mini tactical stock. I only see the M40 stock for the mini. Stockys has the best stock for that Howa mini. Carbon Next Gen 20oz vertical grip hunting stock. Not cheap but very nice stock.

 

[martinakl]

6.5 Grendel - Rifle Brass - Metallic Reloading - Graf & Sons

www.grafs.com

 

[martinakl]

I know that there was a huge issue with the Howa factory polymer magazine for the 6.5 Grendel, and it was hit or miss whether the factory magazines would work. I don't know if this was also an issue with their 223 magazines so do a search specific on the 223 magazines.

There are three (3) work arounds for the Grendel magazine issue:

(1) Oregunsmithing LLC offers an aftermarket replacement bottom metal with hinged floor plate/internal magazine ($185). Offered in two configurations: .223 and 7.62x39/Grendel/ARC.
Oregunsmithing - Howa Mini Bottom Metal (Hinged Floor Plate with Internal Magazine)

(2) Jefferson Outdoors offers an aftermarket replacement bottom metal with either a Hinged Floor Plate with Internal Magazine ($175) or a replacement bottom metal that fits a CZ 527 magazines ($125). Offered in two configurations: .223 and 7.62x39/Grendel/ARC. You will need to purchase the CZ Metal Magazines separately.
Jefferson Outdoors - Howa Mini Bottom Metal (Hinged Floor Plate with Internal Magazine)
Jefferson Outdoors - Howa Mini Bottom Metal for CZ Magazine

(3) MDT is now offering a replacement bottom metal ($180) and also a hybrid magazine (10rnd) that appears to have a metal upper half (ensure consistent dimensions and feed) with the lower half being a Howa polymer mag ($120 mag). Offered in two configurations: .223 and 7.62x39/Grendel/ARC.
MDT Howa Mini Bottom Metal
MDT Howa Mini Magazine

I'm putting together a 6mm ARC now. Brownells Barreled action. I have the B&C stock. Will try cutting a bit of the trigger spring off before going custom trigger (see YouTube on how). Just need bottom metal upgrade. Factory stuff is going on ebay (or similar). I don't like plastic mags (any/all of them for any gun).

Unfortunately, all the bottom metal options I'm interested are out of stock. I want to go BDL and/or the CZ magazines.

What I've done in the last couple of weeks:
Called Oregunsmithing and placed an order for his BDL bottom metal. He said he builds them in batches every few weeks. Nice guy. Took a little bit of phone tag but it all worked out.

Emailed Jefferson Outdoors to get notified when the BDL and CZ Magazine models come back in stock. Reviews seem to say this is the nicest of the two (Oregunsmithing vs. Jefferson Outdoors BDL).

I placed a backorder on some CZ 527 6.5 Grendel Magazines (just happened to get filled this week). Very hard to find in stock. Seems a shipment came in but everyone is out of stock again. *Luckily, I can easily sell for what I paid for them if I go BDL.

I'm going to build out a couple of these (all threaded, 20", Heavy Barrel builds). 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 223. Now I see they have some carbon fiber barreled actions at Brownells. Pretty big price difference so we'll see.

 

[Oso]

Like to see that B&C mini tactical stock. I only see the M40 stock for the mini. Stockys has the best stock for that Howa mini. Carbon Next Gen 20oz vertical grip hunting stock. Not cheap but very nice stock.

Sorry - the mini-tactical is the B&C M40. I bought the B&C M40 from Stocky's. At that time Stocky's wasn't offering any other stock for the Howa Mini. In fact there was only a couple of options: factory stock, Oregunsmithing's custom Pendleton stock, B&C, and MDT offered a chassis. Until now, all the MDT chassis for the Howa Mini used the factory Howa magazines and were forced to keep the mag release placed in front of magazine. I assume that MDT's new Howa Mini Mag and bottom metal eliminates these two design failures.

Here is side by side of Howa Mini (Beige) in BC M40 stock and CZ527 (Black) in BC Varmint stock.

 

[Oso]

I'm putting together a 6mm ARC now. Brownells Barreled action. I have the B&C stock. Will try cutting a bit of the trigger spring off before going custom trigger (see YouTube on how). Just need bottom metal upgrade. Factory stuff is going on ebay (or similar). I don't like plastic mags (any/all of them for any gun).

Unfortunately, all the bottom metal options I'm interested are out of stock. I want to go BDL and/or the CZ magazines.

What I've done in the last couple of weeks:
Called Oregunsmithing and placed an order for his BDL bottom metal. He said he builds them in batches every few weeks. Nice guy. Took a little bit of phone tag but it all worked out.

Emailed Jefferson Outdoors to get notified when the BDL and CZ Magazine models come back in stock. Reviews seem to say this is the nicest of the two (Oregunsmithing vs. Jefferson Outdoors BDL).

I placed a backorder on some CZ 527 6.5 Grendel Magazines (just happened to get filled this week). Very hard to find in stock. Seems a shipment came in but everyone is out of stock again. *Luckily, I can easily sell for what I paid for them if I go BDL.

I'm going to build out a couple of these (all threaded, 20", Heavy Barrel builds). 6mm ARC, 6.5 Grendel, 223. Now I see they have some carbon fiber barreled actions at Brownells. Pretty big price difference so we'll see.

The CZ527 magazines will continue to be difficult to find. CZ discontinued the CZ527 rifle a couple of years ago. They were extremely popular. The rifle used to sell new for $600ish, now a used one is 2x and one chambered in 6.5 Grendel, 221 Fireball or even 300BO are listing at $1800-$2300. Crazy

I am surprised that they have continued to manufacture the magazines for a bolt rifle that they no longer manufacture. Aside from CZUSA, you can periodically find new magazines on Ebay, Gunbroker, etc. Cautionary Tale: If you need one then buy two, and don't make the mistake of price shopping for $5-$10 cheaper.