Short barrel 6.5 hunting rifle
- Thread starter 65BR
- Start date
What type of hunting and at what distances will you be shooting at most of the time? I hunt mainly in Georgia and Alabama. The max distance on the farm I hunt is 500 yards but I very seldom hunt that stand. Most of my shots are 200 yards and less. This year I went to 6.5 Grendel in an AR-15 platform with an 18 inch barrel and suppressor. Absolutely love it! Shooting the 123 Hornady SST at 2575. Longest shot so far was 171 yards on a small 8 pointer. Blew through the shoulder, clipped the top of the heart and exited at the base of the off side ribs. I also have a short 6.5 Creedmoor but haven't used it because I like the Grendel so much. It's more than enough for any deer where I hunt. Take a look at the Grendel, it might surprise you. Howa also makes it in a mini bolt action rifle.
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I have a Model 7 with a 20" #3 8 twist Shilen in 6.5 Creedmoor. I love this rifle, and is probably my most accurate hunting rifle I own. I only use it when I hunt the stand where my shots are about 250 yrds or less. I have taken a few hogs with it. My 13 year old son hijacked it and thinks its his. He has shot more animals with it than I have. The load he shoots is a 120 TTSX Barnes and H4350. This load is a hole burner. His first load was a 120 Pro Hunter whith H4350. Great deer load, but the Barnes seems to be better hog medicine.
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I’ve been interested in the G and like the Howa, but always felt a BR case gave one an extra boost. Grendel is a good round but not looking for an AR for hunting. They are great but I want a light simple bolt. Finn Aaggard wrote a piece on a ULA 7BR in 1992. It had a 16 11/16 bbl weighed 4lb 14 oz - bbl contour sporter mag at .660. Inspired a former SS M7 in 7BR with .7 OD at 21” using a Deluxe wood stock - was a fave and unfortunately sold. Probably should have made a 6.5 on that project as 120-130’s have a higher BC/SD. The CM has such huge variety of bullets in affordable accurate ammo and will reach further than a Grendel if needed. I’ve shot deer dead at 400 yds LRF in open country with a 6BR Ruger #1 I had and put the 6.5G as equal in terminal performance. My 47 is a 20” fluted Light Palma in a LTR stock w a 4-14x40 it makes for a stand rifle that has all the reach needed in a rifle for stand hunting. Max range is 200 but 90% will be 100. Ballistics a non issue. Killed them with a 1894 Marlin running 158’s at 2050. The 6.5’s for me are the right balance. Nothing to speak bad about 6’s as I’ve owned many! I’d do another M7 but lighter, in 6.5 BR as the last fed like glass, but having a great round available in factory ammo is convenient. So I’m leaning on a CM as it makes sense for me No doubt a Grendel is very capable.
A 120 TTSX and perhaps a 100 makes great sense especially on Hogs where you might want extra penetration. I dumped a nice one about 240 yds via a former #1 Ruger 243 with 85 TSX. DRT. Mono’s expand better as speed goes up. My 7BR shot 120’s at 2878 and 139’s at 2544. To me a good 120-130 is great place to be in 6.5’s - no doubt heavier bullets that expand at the speed on impact also work well. I see a rage of users of 140-147’s and believe me the old Swede is what started my 6.5 affair long ago due to high BC/SD but nothing to sneeze at with current 120-130s. From Ballistic tips to Berger, Barnes and even old classic 129 SP’s. All are poison on deer in a 47 or CM. I’ve run 6.5-308 and many 260’s but blast goes up as barrels are shorter so the CM seems to be the balance of ballistics, blast, and performance.
Many holiday sales on cheap Winchester, Browning and others in CM but the stocks, etc seem lacking in the economy priced rifles. Otherwise I’d chop an OEM and call it good. The best OEM config I owned was a M7 XCR in 243. I just couldn’t love a short 6 over a 6.5 and the stock was not the best in quality and feel, not bad but not a MCM. The Tikka chopped has been a thought. Not sure I’d run the stock as is or want a custom.
It isn't a 6.5, but my Brother has a Ruger compact (16" barrel) in 243, and other than the muzzle blast, it is his favorite deer rifle. Likes it as much as his Win .270 Featherweight.
The Ruger compact is a shorty for sure, not real light in factory trim. Blast is one thing I want to hear about in the 47 and CMs that are under 20" - years ago ran a 7/08 M70 syn/matte carbine with 20" - was not too bad. A 6.5 needs more barrel to burn, but a CM also uses less powder, so there is that. Not a rifle I will use with a can, nor extensive range work. Just mostly to hunt. Thanks all
I know this sounds crazy but I hunt with a 16" 6.5 Grendel AR-15 with a suppressor. Use 123 SST AMAX box ammo.
Fantastic accuracy (1/2 MOA) and deadly. Crows, squirrles, hogs, coons, deer - nothing gets by it. No hesitation out to 500 yards with a 20x Leupold.
Absolute hammer. I leave the .270 30-30, and .308 at home in the safe.
Fantastic accuracy (1/2 MOA) and deadly. Crows, squirrles, hogs, coons, deer - nothing gets by it. No hesitation out to 500 yards with a 20x Leupold.
Absolute hammer. I leave the .270 30-30, and .308 at home in the safe.
My grandkids hunt with a Winchester Model 70 from about 1986, when they made some 6.5 x 55 Swedish Mausers. These have a 22" barrel, and are very accurate if you can find one. I have to 'fess up that I borrowed it this year, and loaded 120 gr Sierra or Speer pointed soft-point bullets, out the muzzle at 2720 using IMR 4064. Light recoil; DRT on the one I shot. Good out to 300 on deer, and farther if you crank up the load, or use the 140 gr boattail soft-point.
JBT47
Silver $$ Contributor
THINKING OF A 6.5 GRENDEL IN A BOLT GUN MYSELF FOR 300YDS AND IN
I’ve been wanting to build a 6.5 Grendel bolt gun as well. Not sure why...just want to. I think it would be a nice little whitetail cartridge.
Built a Bullpup .260...600 action Pistol grip semi tactical stock made from oak hobby boards from walmart,Shilen barrel 8 twist originally 2" straight 28" long now 2" at receiver with Mauser taper to 1" at 20" long. Stock and barrel painted with Rustoleum green and black hammer finish. Good camo but butt ugly. Have not shot anything.
Toolbreaker
Gold $$ Contributor
There was no tracking this fella. The taxidermist tried his best
"Anchoring" a chicken? Lol
Howa and CZ build a 6.5 Grendel. My son uses a CZ 527 in 7.62x39 for deer hunting here in upstate NY. That 527 is one handy little shooter. I have been thinking of a Grendel bolt gun for a while also. Howa or CZ, who knows?
Mike
Mike
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