How many 6.5Grendel AR shooters are on this forum?

[Laurie]

SWMR did but it had pressure, ejector marks in the brass at 29.1 and 29.4gns, I backed it off to 29gns no pressure signs but it only shot in the 2380 range, A2520 showed ejector marks at the same charge weights and didn't break 2400fps,

Although from completely different sources and manufacturers, Accurate-2520 and SW Match Rifle have similar performance and characteristics.

Until 2003, what is now SW Match Rifle (Czech company Explosia 'Lovex' brand D0-73.6) was sold in the US as Accurate Arms - 2520. After Western Powders bought the old Accurate Arms, it ditched Explosia as a supplier and sourced its tubular propellants from General Dynamics in Valleyfield, Canada (the company that has made most IMR tubular grades in recent years) and its 'ball-type' grades now came from the General Dynamics plant in St. Marks, Florida (which makes Hodgdon 'sphericals' and Winchester 'Ball' powders) if sold under the Accurate brand name. (Western's Ramshot grades come from Belgium.) Obviously, Western found a St. Marks powder that has very similar characteristics and performance to its predecessor '2520', but the Western website advised European shooters not to ever use its 'Accurate' loads data for Lovex powders.

Since then, Shooters World has restarted distributing Explosia powders again in the US, or at least part of the range, but gives them its own names.

Now that Hodgdon has in turn bought Western Powders and its Accurate/Ramshot brands, everything may of course change again over time.

 

[5spd]

My go to night coyote rig is a ruger predator in a heat seeker chassis, 6.5 Grendel, 95vmax, thermal scope. Pop on a day scope for deer, antelope last season, 100g nosler 1 shot kills on all of them.
Built several on the ar15 frame, but sold them and went back to a bolt rig

 

[Turpentine]

I for 1 am a happy camper with what I have been able to accomplish with my AR Grendel, I purchased about 7 or 8 different powders just to find what works best in my gun, to date I have tried Shooters World Match rifle, A2520 A2495, AR Comp, H4895, H322, I have yet to try H335 TAC, A2460, RL15, which I have them all, But I probably won't waste my time, AR Comp has outperformed all the powders I have tried! The good thing is all the powders I purchased that won't be used in the Grendel's I have will work in my 308's and 5.56 rifles! none of the powders I have tried would reach 2450fps, from my 18'' barrel, SWMR did but it had pressure, ejector marks in the brass at 29.1 and 29.4gns, I backed it off to 29gns no pressure signs but it only shot in the 2380 range, A2520 showed ejector marks at the same charge weights and didn't break 2400fps, all bullets weights were the same in my testing 120 and 123gn ELDM's and some 120gn SMK's, and same primers and all new Hornady or Starline brass, with CCI#41's, AR Comp so far is hands down winner from my 18'' barrel!

I got better speed with cci 41s. But much better SD and ES from Fed 205m’s. AR comp has bested any powder I tried in my gas 308 and Grendel’s It’s not bad in bolt guns either

 

[Mark611]

My 27.1gn load of Comp gave an average of 2495fps an ES 21.62 and a SD of 7.28, with the 120gn SMK, new SL brass using CCi#41's, 1.25'' group @208yds, I'm pretty happy about this, I do have other primers I could try, like CCI400, CCI450 and WSR, I've used the Winchesters in the past, but I haven't gotten the consistency like the load I recently put together, I guess I could blame the other powders I've used, my understanding is that the CCI#41 primers are supposed to a little hotter than CCi450mag primers, this info is from other forum members, I have not personally looked it up, this combo works well in my 18'' tube, I'm hoping this same load will work in my 24'' tube? I have not found the magic for my 24'' yet, Factory Hornady Black and the hand loads I have tried are not terrible, but not good enough for me!

 

[bobke]

More fodder for the cannons:

6.5 Grendel

Post your loads

www.snipershide.com

M611-You’re right in the same sweet spot I’ve found for a handful of Grendels. 27.0 with CCI 450 and 120 Scenars is right at 2550 in several 20” barrels. And depending on bullet ogive-123 Scenars, 123 Sierras or 123 Nosler CC’s, have used up to 27.4, but throttled back to 27.2 to spare my brass the unnecessary abuse. Accurate, low SD’s and very forgiving. Have used a bunch of 8208 and CFE223, but have migrated almost entirely to AR Comp for simplicity’s sake, though it has been scarce. Keep up the good work.

 

[Mark611]

Thank you brother!

 

[Turpentine]

My 27.1gn load of Comp gave an average of 2495fps an ES 21.62 and a SD of 7.28, with the 120gn SMK, new SL brass using CCi#41's, 1.25'' group @208yds, I'm pretty happy about this, I do have other primers I could try, like CCI400, CCI450 and WSR, I've used the Winchesters in the past, but I haven't gotten the consistency like the load I recently put together, I guess I could blame the other powders I've used, my understanding is that the CCI#41 primers are supposed to a little hotter than CCi450mag primers, this info is from other forum members, I have not personally looked it up, this combo works well in my 18'' tube, I'm hoping this same load will work in my 24'' tube? I have not found the magic for my 24'' yet, Factory Hornady Black and the hand loads I have tried are not terrible, but not good enough for me!

In my first barrel it was blatantly obvious I needed something different as soon as I looked at the chrono. Groups were pretty tight but stats were not. Tried the Federal 205 and the numbers were amazing And the groups were good. My other barrels haven’t had as dramatic a difference but honestly I tried the Fed 205 first and didn’t have to look elsewhere in many of those.
my understanding is the 41 is pretty much a mil spec cup hardness version of the 450. I am not sure on that. Admittedly, Federal primers are generally my default in rifles. Winchester in 209s.
The 41s are certainly hotter than the 205s. So it makes sense that your finding success at 27.1 while I see about the same performance in the 27.7-27.8 range with 123s. I only load 123s or 129s.
i have no experience with 24” barrels. Just 18s and 20s. Due to my experimental nature I just ordered a Harrel’s tuner brake to try on some Grendel’s. Just want to see if it makes any difference. I normally don’t use brakes period but just something I wanted to try. I’ll certainly let y’all know how it does and if it makes any difference. If I get good groups from factory Hornady in my first gun I’ll know for sure there’s something happening. Birds in flight generally poop better groups than I can get with factory 123s in that barrel.

 

[Mark611]

Were goanna find out soon, I hope to get to the range next weekend, I'm going to start off with the 120gn SMK at 27.1gns of Comp, if that works in my 24'' tube without pressure signs I'll be happy, then I'll try the 123gn ELDM's to see if my barrel likes them but maybe not this trip? one step at a time, I have other rifles like my NM M1A I'm trying new loads and added a new scope to as well, so will see, due to my pet powders mainly Hodgdon not so much available anymore without serious cost! I've had to start my load data with other powders I have available to me, The H powders I still have will only be used if nothing else can be had that work in my rifles I have, but I have found some Alliant and Accurate powders that are a close match for all my needs, with my other cartridges I load for, This is just as important as my 6.5GRR, I do not have a lot of time on my hands, I normally work 7 days a week 10hrs a day, right now things have slowed down to where I can go out and shoot and do some reloading to test new powders, But I will post any new loads and the results I find from my rifles,

 

[bobke]

AR Comp will shoot in 308 with 155’s with 11.25 twist, if you’re willing to share your Grendel’s AR Comp.

 

[Turpentine]

Were goanna find out soon, I hope to get to the range next weekend, I'm going to start off with the 120gn SMK at 27.1gns of Comp, if that works in my 24'' tube without pressure signs I'll be happy, then I'll try the 123gn ELDM's to see if my barrel likes them but maybe not this trip? one step at a time, I have other rifles like my NM M1A I'm trying new loads and added a new scope to as well, so will see, due to my pet powders mainly Hodgdon not so much available anymore without serious cost! I've had to start my load data with other powders I have available to me, The H powders I still have will only be used if nothing else can be had that work in my rifles I have, but I have found some Alliant and Accurate powders that are a close match for all my needs, with my other cartridges I load for, This is just as important as my 6.5GRR, I do not have a lot of time on my hands, I normally work 7 days a week 10hrs a day, right now things have slowed down to where I can go out and shoot and do some reloading to test new powders, But I will post any new loads and the results I find from my rifles,

I wonder how the AR comp will work in the M1 A. I have some really good AR 10 data with AR Comp and 168s. That powder brought my DPMS g2 7.62 x 51 to life. I’ve been closely guarding my AR comp stash but was recently able to get enough. I’d really like to simplify even more. AR comp for all the gas guns. Varget and imr 4064 for the 700 Varmint 308. H 4831sc for the 6.5-06. Then I always keep some 4895 for reduced loads and because it’s so versatile.
Here are some really accurate AR comp 7.62 x 51 for me. 20” barrel, DPMS g2
Sierra GK 165, LC 85 Match brass, Fed 210, 41 grains. 2620fps
Nosler 168 BT, LC 85 Match, Fed 210, 40.6 grains. 2620
Nosler 165 Accubond, 85 Match, 210m, 40.6 grains. 2620
Hornady 168 Amax, LC 85 Match, Fed 210, 40.6 grains. 2620
Hornady 168 Amax, Winchester Brass, , Fed 210m, 42 grains. 2650fps
Hornady 168 Amax, Remington Brass, Fed 210m, 41.7 grains 2650 fps.
I tried all the usuals and groups were 1.25“ or so tops. I considered rebarelling until I tried AR Comp. under .5 MOA to to 400 yards or more. Very consistent stats. Of course I would work up to these in M1A and watch port pressure but the powder behaves very well.

 

[topsail86]

I have 4 AR Grendels and 2 bolt guns.

 

[gatormagoo]

I have one

 

[Mark611]

I Have not tried AR Comp in my 308win loads, but I have started experimenting with A2495 and A2460, the 2460 with 41gns out of my 25'' 1&10 Brux, custom built bolt gun pushes a 175gn SMK 2660 to 2680! too much for me, I like to those bullets @2550ish, I backed the charge off to 39.5gns and it's right where I want it! 41gns of the 2495, were spot on as well, both powders 2460 @ 39.5 and the 2495 @41gns gave almost identical results in velocity and accuracy, the 2460 is supposed to be usable in the M1A, I have not tried it yet, it's a double based ball powder, the few limited loads I tired seemed very consistent from my bolt gun, I think from what I have seen the 2460 will probably produce very good numbers from NM M1A, the 2495 is a single based extruded powder, this is probably my new replacement for the H4895, for use in my bolt gun, I've only fired a hand full of rounds my last time out, 20mph winds kind of limited my testing, @200+yds,

 

[Turpentine]

I Have not tried AR Comp in my 308win loads, but I have started experimenting with A2495 and A2460, the 2460 with 41gns out of my 25'' 1&10 Brux, custom built bolt gun pushes a 175gn SMK 2660 to 2680! too much for me, I like to those bullets @2550ish, I backed the charge off to 39.5gns and it's right where I want it! 41gns of the 2495, were spot on as well, both powders 2460 @ 39.5 and the 2495 @41gns gave almost identical results in velocity and accuracy, the 2460 is supposed to be usable in the M1A, I have not tried it yet, it's a double based ball powder, the few limited loads I tired seemed very consistent from my bolt gun, I think from what I have seen the 2460 will probably produce very good numbers from NM M1A, the 2495 is a single based extruded powder, this is probably my new replacement for the H4895, for use in my bolt gun, I've only fired a hand full of rounds my last time out, 20mph winds kind of limited my testing, @200+yds,

I forgot to give you velocity in my loads above so I’ll go back and edit for simplicity.

 

[john 800]

Before reading this I had planned to develop loads with TAC. After reading thos I scored a couple pounds of ar comp from brunos, we will find out how both work in the next few weeks hopefully

 

[Mark611]

john. according to the Western Powders edition 8.0, Tac with a 123gn SMK, they list a start load @25.4gns @2206fps and a max of 28.2gns @2424fps, their test barrel was a 20'' 1&10 twist,

 

[Mark611]

Turp, I don't shoot the 168gn pills, but I do have over 1k PPU match line loaded with their 168gn match bullets, they seem to be very accurate from my M1A, I'm trying to develop a lighter 147 or 150gn load, I'm 60yrs old and the M1A is a heavy beast for me now, and the recoil is a bit harsh for me with anything over a 155gn bullet from this platform, but I have had to recently add new optics which has added more weight and added a military slip over recoil pad, so I may revisit the 168gn pills, my buddy Jon at M14.com totally hooked up this rifle with a tune and MElONITED the barrel and action also timed and tuned the action and gas port, custom NM op rod guide, so will see,

 

[john 800]

john. according to the Western Powders edition 8.0, Tac with a 123gn SMK, they list a start load @25.4gns @2206fps and a max of 28.2gns @2424fps, their test barrel was a 20'' 1&10 twist,

Nice to see them using short test barrels for this cartridge, alot of the data I found comes from 24 test barrels, I don’t think many rifles in this cartridge use 24 barrels, but 20 sounds closer real world

 

[Turpentine]

Turp, I don't shoot the 168gn pills, but I do have over 1k PPU match line loaded with their 168gn match bullets, they seem to be very accurate from my M1A, I'm trying to develop a lighter 147 or 150gn load, I'm 60yrs old and the M1A is a heavy beast for me now, and the recoil is a bit harsh for me with anything over a 155gn bullet from this platform, but I have had to recently add new optics which has added more weight and added a military slip over recoil pad, so I may revisit the 168gn pills, my buddy Jon at M14.com totally hooked up this rifle with a tune and MElONITED the barrel and action also timed and tuned the action and gas port, custom NM op rod guide, so will see,

My DPMS G2 20” 1 in 10 twist just would not play ball with 150s at all. I tried hard to make that happen.
165/168s have been a different story but you are right, they do recoil more. Even so, the loads I listed are more of a push in my rifle. It weighs around 11 pounds. The 6.5-06 I just built weighs 14 pounds. After breaking my back, dealing with the recoil to me is much tougher than dealing with weight.

 

[Mark611]

John, I also have a 24'' tube in 6.5Grr, and to be honest I'm not sure I really like it compared to my 18'' I'm probably going to replace that 24'' with another 18'' or buy another upper, longer is not always better LOL!!!! I'll be waiting on this 1 LOL!!