6.5 Grendel Bolt rifle

[kevinbritvec]

I consider the 6.5 Grendel a great cartridge for an AR-15 or a good deer cartridge for a young teen who is recoil shy, girls as well.

You are really limited power wise because of case capacity. Because the heavier bullets really suffer in that regard I use 95 to 108 grain bullets exclusively. I get velocities around 2700+ from 24" barrels, which is what I consider a good working range.

There are so many great 6.5 options that have longer range, more power, better hunting utility and fantastic accuracy that the 6.5 Grendel seems like the least likely candidate for a bolt action. But once I set my mind on something I tend to run with it against all odds.

Good luck.

 

[people]

The trick when shooting this round is remember what it is. It is a great round in a bolt gun. Just don't try to make it into something it is not.

You know how those who load for 40 S&W try to make it a 10mm.

 

[steve123]

The trick when shooting this round is remember what it is. It is a great round in a bolt gun. Just don't try to make it into something it is not.

You know how those who load for 40 S&W try to make it a 10mm.

So true!

Of course the improved versions when necked down are a whole different animal. Some guys getting 2900+ with 105's/6mm in a long barrel and 3000+ with 80's in 224.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

So true!

Of course the improved versions when necked down are a whole different animal. Some guys getting 2900+ with 105's/6mm in a long barrel and 3000+ with 80's in 224.

A Grendel case is a PPC that has the shoulder moved forward by .070". I have a 6mm Grendel that I can shoot 80's in at 3,400fps and 68's at around 3,700fps!...in a bolt gun. You can forget those numbers in an AR though.

 

[steve123]

A Grendel case is a PPC that has the shoulder moved forward by .070". I have a 6mm Grendel that I can shoot 80's in at 3,400fps and 68's at around 3,700fps!...in a bolt gun. You can forget those numbers in an AR though.

Yeah, sometimes one can get weirdly high velocities with a certain powders. That 3400 fps with 80's is 22 Creed speeds.

I did an experiment with 95 SMK/R17/6x47l, in a Mausingfield action with 28" barrel. At 3500+ fps the bolt was just starting to get sticky. Would I use that load, nope, but the 3300-3350 region seemed like a good zone looking at the primers.

The nice thing about the 6.5G is long barrel life, wish I could have both reasonably high performance and long barrel life. I usually shoot long range vs medium range so 6.5G fell short for my needs/wind drift. Often considered 6.5BR to find that balance of reasonable performance and above average barrel life but haven't gone that way yet.

I know 308 gets good barrel life, and I have a couple, but I like the low recoil and 30ish grains of powder concept.

 

[people]

A Grendel case is a PPC that has the shoulder moved forward by .070". I have a 6mm Grendel that I can shoot 80's in at 3,400fps and 68's at around 3,700fps!...in a bolt gun. You can forget those numbers in an AR though.

What are the stats that enable you to get such high numbers?

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

What are the stats that enable you to get such high numbers?

The 80's are with Benchmark and the 68's with n133. Barrel is 12 twist 25" Krieger or Bartlein.. I forgot. Lol! Sucks gettin' old.

The 80 gr load, I would call absolute max, very light ejector marks and noticeable difference in bolt lift, but primer pockets are tight.

The 68's with n133 showed no pressure but it has to be close. I wouldn't try to get much more out of either load. As usual, YMMV, so work up to those speeds in your gun and stop before you find pressure problems.

These are NOT AR15 loads...by a long way!

 

[people]

They could be but almost no one makes a 25" barrel for an AR. Then you have the fact that most just do not understand the AR works.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

They could be but almost no one makes a 25" barrel for an AR. Then you have the fact that most just do not understand the AR works.

Not with a standard bolt. I'd bet money that either load breaks lugs on the first firing.

 

[people]

Not with a standard bolt. I'd bet money that either load breaks lugs on the first firing.

Yes with a standard bolt. You are thinking of the generation 1 bolt. Those were a "hold my beer and watch this!" plan.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Yes with a standard bolt. You are thinking of the generation 1 bolt. Those were a "hold my beer and watch this!" plan.

Ok, but just remember before you try those loads, that I told you that it was too hot.

 

[people]

Ok, but just remember before you try those loads, that I told you that it was too hot.

I never stated I would run them in my AR's. All I am saying is you can set an AR up to take a steady diet of proof loads like you are shooting. I personally do not know why a person would want to as it would remove almost all of the benefits of using an AR over a bolt gun but, it can be done.

edit
It also goes back to what I stated before. It is a great round as long as you don't try to make it something it is not. Like the 40S&W guys who are trying to make them 10mm's.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I never stated I would run them in my AR's. All I am saying is you can set an AR up to take a steady diet of proof loads like you are shooting. I personally do not know why a person would want to as it would remove almost all of the benefits of using an AR over a bolt gun but, it can be done.

edit
It also goes back to what I stated before. It is a great round as long as you don't try to make it something it is not. Like the 40S&W guys who are trying to make them 10mm's.

Do you realize that this thread is about bolt guns and not gas guns?

How much experience do you have with a Grendel based bolt action rifle? My guess is that you have none and that your just parroting what you've read somewhere, but please give me something that supports your point.

Oh, and you can have a barrel as long as you want when you do your own chambering work. The only bolts I'll use on a Grendel based AR15 are the AA bolts. I've built several with them. They are far better than the 7.62 bolts used early....but trust me, they will break too. That's why Bill Alexander limits loads to approximately 50Kpsi. I've spent hours on the phone with him when I first started wildcatting grendel cases, in Jan. 2007.

 

[people]

Do you realize that this thread is about bolt guns and not gas guns?

How much experience do you have with a Grendel based bolt action rifle? My guess is that you have none and that your just parroting what you've read somewhere, but please give me something that supports your point.

Oh, and you can have a barrel as long as you want when you do your own chambering work. The only bolts I'll use on a Grendel based AR15 are the AA bolts. I've built several with them. They are far better than the 7.62 bolts used early....but trust me, they will break too. That's why Bill Alexander limits loads to approximately 50Kpsi. I've spent hours on the phone with him when I first started wildcatting grendel cases, in Jan. 2007.

Yes I do know this is about bolt guns. Do you? You brought up the AR first. I was simply pointing out the holes in your knowledge or lack there of about the AR-15 rifle.

I do have a bolt in 6.5 Grendel. I also have bolts in many different chambers. What is your point?

Yes you can have a tube spun up as long as you want but since almost all who are buying AR tubes just buy factory produced barrels and are not buying blanks and making their own custom tubes. So your 25" tube would be a custom option and since most just buy a off the shelf tube thus making a copy of yours basically not possible to copy. Thus not allowing a person to have the port moved or any of the other options to allow special loadings to be used.

Wow 2007! I am glad you are keeping up-to-date. So you think 11+ year old information is current? If you think that is an insult, IT IS.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Yes I do know this is about bolt guns. Do you? You brought up the AR first. I was simply pointing out the holes in your knowledge or lack there of about the AR-15 rifle.

I do have a bolt in 6.5 Grendel. I also have bolts in many different chambers. What is your point?

Yes you can have a tube spun up as long as you want but since almost all who are buying AR tubes just buy factory produced barrels and are not buying blanks and making their own custom tubes. So your 25" tube would be a custom option and since most just buy a off the shelf tube thus making a copy of yours basically not possible to copy. Thus not allowing a person to have the port moved or any of the other options to allow special loadings to be used.

Wow 2007! I am glad you are keeping up-to-date. So you think 11+ year old information is current? If you think that is an insult, IT IS.

Your reading comprehension level tells all I need to know. You can take that however you want.

 

[people]

Your reading comprehension level tells all I need to know. You can take that however you want.

It sounds like you did some research and found out I was right. Then like a child you decided to insult me. Granted I do not care anything about you so I do not proof read my posts at all.

 

[Ksmirk]

Some reason my notifications didn't tell me folks had been posting on this???? I played with a 6.5G bolt rifle and ended up going with the 243LBC and have been more than tickled with the results! the 80's at 3400 I really have my doubts about..... not calling bullshit but just seems rather high! pretty sure 3100 is doable but doubt the primer pockets would last long but I'm still learning what this thing will do and have pretty much just settled on the 95 SMK and fire forming brass.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

I guess I'll have to use video and a few witnesses next time.

I don't blame you for not believing it. This place is full of shat lately

No point in trusting a long time member here when there are obviously so many keyboard experts here to baseless counter what gets posted to try and be of help.

I guess people would rather distrust than to believe. It's more prevalent here now than use to be. Maybe people came here from another site, where that was the norm. Maybe people on those sites just randomly make stuff up to post something. I don't know, but it's much different here, now. Anyway, we're all free to believe as we wish here. Enjoy what's left of this place.

 

[people]

I guess I'll have to use video and a few witnesses next time.

I don't blame you for not believing it. This place is full of shat lately

No point in trusting a long time member here when there are obviously so many keyboard experts here to baseless counter what gets posted to try and be of help.

I guess people would rather distrust than to believe. It's more prevalent here now than use to be. Maybe people came here from another site, where that was the norm. Maybe people on those sites just randomly make stuff up to post something. I don't know, but it's much different here, now. Anyway, we're all free to believe as we wish here. Enjoy what's left of this place.

Yes please video it. You might just have a truly fast tube and can run at safe pressures. I bet your load is over pressure even if it does not show signs.

As to the trust I have been a member just 17 days less than you. I guess the 20th was the cut off.

The distrust comes from "subject matter experts" who are not experts. The reason I joined was to correct the false information that was being pumped out as fact. This place is a great place to come for bolt info not so much for the rest of shooting. What was sad is this false information was coming from the members how had been here for years.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Yes please video it. You might just have a truly fast tube and can run at safe pressures. I bet your load is over pressure even if it does not show signs.

As to the trust I have been a member just 17 days less than you. I guess the 20th was the cut off.

The distrust comes from "subject matter experts" who are not experts. The reason I joined was to correct the false information that was being pumped out as fact. This place is a great place to come for bolt info not so much for the rest of shooting. What was sad is this false information was coming from the members how had been here for years.

This will be my last comment on this with you.

Everything I have said on this subject comes from firsthand experience. Yes, by loading to the point of failure with multiple ar15 bolts, both Gen 1 and Gen 2. This was with chrono and Pressure Trace data being captured, in multiple guns.

And yes, by loading my bolt guns to the chronographed velocities that I've stated, more than once.

Like I said, you can choose to believe me or not, but you've followed me around here basically calling me either uninformed or an outright liar. I'm done with you. Bye.