6.5 Grendel bullets

[Larryh128]

I just picked up an AR-15 6.5 Grendel 20" SS upper and started to load up some various bullets using AR Comp powder. So far I have tried 129gr SST's, 130 gr Bergers & 127gr Barnes LRX. The SST's are OK for hunting accuracy, the Bergers produce patterns and the Barnes are unreal accurate producing groups from 5/8" to 1 1/8" at 300 yds. The Bergers have produced good accuracy in my 6.5x47 bolt gun but these have to be loaded to feed thru a magazine. My question is I'm looking for a lower cost bullet to play with instead of the LRX's @.80 cents ea. I'm thinking possibly the 123 gr Scenars. Any ideas?

 

[Sniper338]

123gr Amax is the go to for most grendels.

Then rl 15 crunching some powder
Or

Xbr 8208

 

[stroked96s10]

I'm working with 123 a max and imr 8202 brx. Only tried one ladder and towards the higher charge put 2 in 1 hole and third strayed. The stray was supposed to be the first 1st shot of the 3 but it didn't chamber right and I had a hard time getting it back out. Once I did i shot the other 2 and then tried the stubborn one. I don't think I bumped hard enough with the die. I loaded more the other day and we'll see how they do. I'm using a radical firearms 24" upper

 

[M.Stilley]

I shoot a lot of the 123 Nosler hpbt's over 8208.
Also some 123 amax and some cfe223.

Amazing little cartridge.

 

[Archis]

129's are a bit heavy for this cartridge. If not not mistaken, I thought it was designed around a 123gn bullet. As you mentioned, you're giving up considerable case capacity with the Berger 130's to get them to feed via magazine. Look to 123gn AMAX for hunting and 120 or 123gn SMK's for target.

120gn SMK's with 8208 XBR produces 3/8" groups at 100yds out of my 24" barrel.

 

[Larryh128]

I'm definitely going to hunt with the Barnes 127gr LRX's, way too accurate not to + it's a Barnes & will devastate on impact. This upper is a Radical as well that I've changed the handguard on already but definitely a good shooting barrel, whatever it is. It really looks like it could be a Wilson to me. I will try some of the 123 gr & see what they do.

 

[jimbo88mm]

As others have stated, the 120/123gr bullets work well in the Grendel. I was able to push 130 berger Hybrids @ 2500 fps with a stout load of cfe223 out of my 23 inch barrel.

My primary load uses 123 amax over Ar Comp.

 

[johnfred1965]

I shoot the 123 scenars with no complaints but I also second the Amax as a great choice

 

[JLT]

Don't pass up the 107 gr. SMKs. I've had outstanding results with this bullet and 8208XBR. 29 grains of 8208 behind the 107 produces five shot groups in the 4s out of my 20" Grendel upper, clocking just a bit over 2,660 fps.

That said, the 123 gr. A-Max is tough to beat for an all-purpose bullet in the Grendel. It's accurate enough for target work and performs very well on medium game.

 

[bobke]

Have used 123 Nosler CC's, 31.7 CFE223, CCI 41 for 2550 in 20" Bartlein and 2650 in 24" Satern. Both very accurate. Nosler CC seconds need to be sorted for ogival length, as lengths vary 005-007, in my experience. Grendel is actually very tolerant of weights from 100-123gr and as above, 107-108 class work well with 8208. Actually, 8208 a very viable alternative to CFE. AR Comp as well, but while accurate, haven't gotten velocity of 8208/CFE.

 

[barefooter56]

I just picked up an AR-15 6.5 Grendel 20" SS upper and started to load up some various bullets using AR Comp powder. So far I have tried 129gr SST's, 130 gr Bergers & 127gr Barnes LRX. The SST's are OK for hunting accuracy, the Bergers produce patterns and the Barnes are unreal accurate producing groups from 5/8" to 1 1/8" at 300 yds. The Bergers have produced good accuracy in my 6.5x47 bolt gun but these have to be loaded to feed thru a magazine. My question is I'm looking for a lower cost bullet to play with instead of the LRX's @.80 cents ea. I'm thinking possibly the 123 gr Scenars. Any ideas?

Larry,
Use our 6.5 130 grain AR/OTM/TARGET/HUNTING BULLET (#26195 =100, #26795= 500). These are a hybrid bullet design along the lines of our CLASSIC HUNTER bullets. This bullet is very tolerant of jump and made to be used at magazine length. In most cases the load work consists of loading the cartridge to magazine length and working the load up to find your highest velocity accuracy node. Also this bullet was designed with the AR STYLE .260, 6.5 Grendel, 6.5 Creedmore ETC.
Take care,

 

[wbm]

Hornady 100gr Amax

 

[shepherm]

I have had good luck with the 123 amax and 8208 too.

 

[kmon]

For a hunting bullet in the Grendel I am going with the 129gr Nosler Accubond LR with CFE223 powder. Leverevolution powder also gives good results with this bullet and the 130 Berger hybrid mentioned above, with that bullet finding an accurate load was very simple. Across a .9 gr range of CFE223 accuracy was good on a ladder then tried those loads at 100 yards at the local range and results were under .5 inch for all loads, so just went with the fastest one.

The 123gr Hornady SST and A-Max have been working great in the Grendel, for many people hunting and with the SST taking out game much larger than I would use it for with good results.

For lots of reloading data for the Grendel go to http://www.arbuildbox.com and order the Grendel reloading books. The second one is geared for the hunter with lots of bullet discussion as well as loads.

 

[JASmith]

A lot of questions about which bullets play well in the Grendel along with a ton of load data can be found in Volumes 1 and 2 of The 6.5 Grendel Reloading Handbook.

They can be purchased online at ar15buildbox.com.

 

[DARINR]

I just picked up an AR-15 6.5 Grendel 20" SS upper and started to load up some various bullets using AR Comp powder. So far I have tried 129gr SST's, 130 gr Bergers & 127gr Barnes LRX. The SST's are OK for hunting accuracy, the Bergers produce patterns and the Barnes are unreal accurate producing groups from 5/8" to 1 1/8" at 300 yds. The Bergers have produced good accuracy in my 6.5x47 bolt gun but these have to be loaded to feed thru a magazine. My question is I'm looking for a lower cost bullet to play with instead of the LRX's @.80 cents ea. I'm thinking possibly the 123 gr Scenars. Any ideas?

I see you have tried the Barnes LRX 127's ...Do you have any load data that you could share..I'm getting ready to load some now. Using RL-15 Thanks in advance

 

[Larryh128]

I see you have tried the Barnes LRX 127's ...Do you have any load data that you could share..I'm getting ready to load some now. Using RL-15 Thanks in advance

I don't have any data on RL-15 but I do have a really good load using AR Comp. Give me an email at larryh128@gmail and I'll look it up tonight. That load will touch bullets at 300 yds in an AR platform. Deer don't appreciate it as much as I do though.

 

[2506]

Some good hunting bullets for the Grendel for hogs and deer size game are 90 gr Speer TNT, 100 & 120 Nosler BT, Hornady 123 gr SST and ELD-M (A-Max is no longer made but ELD-M is basically A-Max with a new tougher plastic tip) 100 & 125 nosler partition, 120 Speer Gold Dot, 120 Sierra Pro Hunter, 130 Sierra Game King HPBT, 129 Hornady interlock or SST, 129 Nosler long range Accubond. For target 107 and 123 Sierra Match King, 123 Lapua, 123 Nosler Custom Compaction.

 

[hikfromstik]

Zombie thread back from the dead . Lots of data free online too from powder and bullet manufacturers . Luckily this caliber has stuck around and I believe it's gonna stay . Maybe be the best youth/lite recoiling deer caliber period . Fairly easy to find a load for also
The old standby is 28.5gr of 8208 for tight groups . Alliant power pro varmint is a good powder to get some speed with if you don't want the dirty soot of cfe223 .