QuickLoad request for 6.5 Grendel

[sewwhat89]

What could I expect velocitywise for a 6.5 Grendel with a 23" barrel in a bolt gun compared to 26"? I want to build a gun suitable for young hunters but will still offer me a long-range plinker. It seems a Grendel is the ticket with ballistics better than a .308 Win and right behind (I suspect) real world ballistics on a 6BR. I may end up with a 6.5x47L after all.

 

[paulnyc]

I love my 6.5mm x 47 -

 

[TonyR]

What buulet to you want results for and what is maximum cartridge OAL for your magizine if any?

 

[sewwhat89]

130 JLK/Berger/Norma

Or 123SMK. Thanks

Oal not an issue due to bolt action, but boatail seated at neck:shoulder junction.

 

[Erik Cortina]

About 2,400+ with the 130's, 2,500+ with the 123's. This is in a 23" bbl, in a 26", about 50-75 fps. faster.

You would be much happier with a 6.5 x 47 Lapua, you can always load the "47" down, but you can't load the Grendel up!

 

[15Tango]

Loaded long out of a 23" barrel you could probably get a 130 grain up to about 2500, 2550FPS. I'm getting 2460 FPS with 129 SSTs at mag length out of a 16" AR.

The Grendel can hang to 1000 supersonic but I don't know I'd really consider it competitive out there. I'd say it's a good 600 yard and under rifle though, hell, people shoot that all the time with .223. It's a silly accurate little cartridge, it's pretty much just a 6MM PPC necked up and blown out after all.

The X47 is a totally different beast and X3m has a point about downloading it for the youth shooters. Not only is the case capacity quite a bit more but it's also running around 10K more on pressure. The X47 is certainly competitive at 1000.

Wayne

 

[TX65]

In a bolt gun, you are in an entirely different world than the AR-15 and the loadings are not interchangeable given the pressure restrictions of the AR bolt system.

In a bolt gun, I was seating 108 Lapua Scenars out to 2.360" and running up to 3011 fps in a 29 inch barrel bench rest rifle.

I also shot the 130 JKL and Berger seated long and that gun in shown in the guns of week section of this web site.

In the AR-15,,, the velocity shift from 24 inches through 28 inch barrel length is 12-15 fps per inch added. The velocity shift from 24 inches to 20 inches will have you loosing 18-25 fps per inch. When you go from 20 inches down to 16 inches the velocity drop can reach 25-50 fps per inch depending on load. This is from real world testing shooting 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18 and 16 inch barrels on the same day through the same Oehler 3p chronograph. Bullets tested included everything from 81 grain flat base up through 144 grains.

Should you go Grendel or 6.5x47L?

If you have a PPC bolt face rifle, the G is a very good solution.

If you have a BR bolt face, go with the 6.5x47 Lapua.

If you still feel the 6.5x47L is too much and you have a BR bolt face action, go with the 6.5 BR.

 

[sewwhat89]

I guess something else I should consider is I already have a R700SA in need of a new barrel. If I went with a Senderoish contour with 6.5x47L what realistic velocity can I expect with 130s out of a 23 & 26" barrel? Is 2800 unrealistic?

 

[TX65]

A 6.5x47 with 130 VLD will run 2900-2950 fps using Varget or RL-15 in a 28 inch barrel. 26 inch barrel length should be no problem keeping it 2800 fps,,, dropping to a 23 inch,,, will pushing you down sub 2800 fps unless you run something like RL-17 and you will probably be able to make it.

 

[sewwhat89]

There are no free lunches! I guess I'll have to go the compact route and have a dedicated hunter so I can maneuver in stands and such or go with a more bench or F-class route and only hunt from big stands off bags.



Decisions, decisions!

 

[TonyR]

With the 130 and a 26 inch barrel, Berger VLD QuickLoad lists a number of powders including RL-17, IMR- 4895, H BL-C(2), and IMR-3031 at the top of the list. Shortening the barrel to 23 inches reduces the maximum velocity by about 60 fps.

 

[DanCarey]

"You would be much happier with a 6.5 x 47 Lapua, you can always load the "47" down, but you can't load the Grendel up!"

The best advice I could have given.