The 6.5 Grendel
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- Опубликовано: 23 сен 2021
- Our smallest 6.5mm punches well above its weight class in extra short rifles with pussy-cat recoil. Details on why and how the 6.5 Grendel came to be and perform.
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Who is Ron Spomer
For 44 years I’ve had the good fortune to photograph and write about my passion - the outdoor life. Wild creatures and wild places have always stirred me - from the first flushing pheasant that frightened me out of my socks in grandpa’s cornfield to the last whitetail that dismissed me with a wag of its tail. In my attempts to connect with this natural wonder, to become an integral part of our ecosystem and capture a bit of its mystery, I’ve photographed, hiked, hunted, birded, and fished across much of this planet. I've seen the beauty that everyone should see, survived adventures that everyone should experience. I may not have climbed the highest mountains, canoed the wildest rivers, caught the largest fish or shot the biggest bucks, but I’ve tried. Perhaps you have, too. And that’s the essential thing. Being out there, an active participant in our outdoor world.
All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely.
Produced by: @red11media
Disclaimer
All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not modify any cartridge or firearm beyond what the manufacturer recommends. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely. 
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Thanks for the video
Your welcome WHO_TEE! Glad you found it useful.
It was a real fun video!
Just watched you shoot your 6.5 and Ron's video was next lol. Love having all of this good content to watch.
Ron & WHO_TEE_WHOO are two big reasons RUclips is still worth watching!
@@foxcm2000 🙏🙏🙏
A few years ago I changed to 6.5 Grendel for deer hunting. 20 inch AR really gets the job done on deer. Light weight package with lots of thump. My shots are 100 or less .... Love me some 6.5 Grendel
100 yards. Dude you can get by with a 300 dollar Marlin 336.
Try to find a marlin 336 for 300 dollars that isn't a parts gun.
30-30 doesn't fit in an AR. The 6.5 Grendel does. Seems like a neat set up for him.
Can you send me a website link or a brick and mortar address where they’re selling $300 Marlin 336’s? I’d like to have about 10 at that price.
Natalie, what barrel are you using for 6.5 Grendel? I have my lower all setup and am ready to get a barrel and start the upper. Same purpose for deer.
There is a lot to be said for a small compact and very efficient deer cartridge that will allow me to pop a couple of pins on my AR and go from varmiting to big game in less than a minute! The older I get the more I appreciate the more efficient rounds and the less I suffer from "Magnumitis"!
I got my 6.5 Grendel upper for my AR lower just for fun. Then I began to notice how accurate and predictable it was!
I grew up shooting 30.06 and 7mm Magnum, and never considered anything less for game. But after shooting the Grendel, and getting to really know the cartridge, I completely trust it to do what's necessary.
I also fell in love with the .243 around this time. Very flat shooting, and seemed to deliver enough energy for deer.
In 2019 I took a bad fall down a mountain, and damaged my scope on my .243. I found out how bad when I came across a nice buck, but completely missed him with 2 shots. Turns out the scope was 2 FEET high/left at 100 yards!
The next day I took the 6.5 Grendel AR on the hunt. Took my buck at 150 yards (Hornady 129gr SST). The buck took a dozen steps and folded.
Since then, I take 3 rifles to deer camp; my .243, Marlin 336 30-30, and of course the 6.5 Grendel AR! One for open country, one for brush, and the Grendel for general use.
Thanks for introducing folks to the little cartridge that could, Ron 👍🇺🇸
Watch your footing in those mountains, Jerry. Glad you're ok. And good shooting (after switching rifles.)
6.5 Grendel is my favorite round and it isn’t even close. It’s so versatile and easy to shoot. I find hunting with a 16inch AR much easier than any other rifle. Especially if you staying within that 300 yard mark.
Ron, YOU THE MAN! I too am an old bolt gun hunter but I must admit I do love the compactness of the AR platform . I would say you and I are close in age. Go play with some AR platform guns and I think you would love them too and just see why these younger hunters love them. Being a .264 cal guy, many years behind a .264 win mag, I have to say I love the 6.5 Grendel in the AR, and a 6.8 spc is deadly out to 300 yards on deer sized game. Will I ever give up my blue high polished steel and wood guns, NEVER, BLASPHEMY I TELL YOU! 😂(yeah I have some high dollar fiberglass stocked lightweight bolt guns, also remember the Remington 700’s AS and RS stocked guns? Yeah I have several of both in several calibers and all of them are sub MOA guns it I load for them right and do my part. My most favorite of the .264 rounds has got to be the .260 Remington. Build one today with the right twist rate and it just waxes the 6.5CM. Thank you sir for always being objective in all your videos. Would love to meet you someday.)
I've always loved the Grendel since it's inception decades ago.
Love my 6.5 grendel. Put a PSA 18 inch upper on my lower and now I have an awesome hog and deer gun. Kind of worried about it becoming an obsolete cartridge, so I hope people keep on buying more of it!
It won't become obsolete any time soon, too many AR's out there being used as deer rifles with this chambering, and its perfect for the job, and self defense
It’s been around for like 20’years
More and more people are coming over to the 6.5 side, I even know people that have built AR's in 6 ARC and are coming back to the Grendel.
@@hardball107 yeah but for some reason I can’t find ammo anywhere for it. Hornady even stopped producing some of their popular loads like the amax which worries me.
@@hamhocks We defiantly have been in a drought. I stopped by one of my favorite gun stores yesterday and they had 5 different loadings for it, over 100 boxes on the shelf from FMJ to Hornady SST's. I think Hornady dropped the A-Max because it's a very tough a bullet for the reduced velocity's of the Grendel and they performed more like FMJ's with almost no expansion. IMHO the SST's and Interlock's are the ticket. Taken quite a few deer with them and bullet performance was excellent, DRT.
I love the 6.5 Grendel. The cartridge drops deer in its tracks. Furthest I have had a deer run was ten yards. I took my 600 yard range certification at Aurora Sporsmans club seven years ago. I Had set up a third size steel siloute plate at 600. When spotter arrive he asked me my scope settings. When told fire first round I hit the plate three inches low of center. Spotter said should again I said im coming up three clicks. I hit plate dead center. I had three rounds left he said fire at will can it repete? All five on target. This was with 123 g lapua Sceanars and worked up hand loads. For hunting i use 123 g hornady ssts
The 95gr Vmax in 6.5 Grendel smacks groundhogs HARD!
Being a disabled person and a burn survivor having skin grass from my knees up, I could no longer tolerate the recoil of my 308. Talking to my spinal doctor and my burn doctor that are both Abbot hunters they recommended the 6.5 Grendel so I built a rifle chambered in that. All I have to say is that little round is indeed the little engine that could. I ethically harvested just about every game you could in the state of Florida up until 3 years ago when I became physically unable to walk without assistance anymore and it is such a joy to shoot. I miss going out and harvesting my own game and bringing my family substance but more than that I actually miss firing that beautiful little round. Such a pleasure to shoot, hyper accurate and such low recoil that you cannot emphasize that point enough.
6.5 Grendel is my go-to rifle cartridge in my ARs. I have 2 deer from last season, I do tactical shooting drills with it, and at a 16" barrel I can take it out pretty far for target work.
It shows flat and softly with a good bc and excellent terminal ballistics at shorter ranges.
I really liked the Hornady 123 gr. SST.
I just got back from a deer harvest in south Texas. I took my HOWA 6.5 Grendel I’ve been playing with. Took a buck at 115yds with a Hornady SST. Low neck shot and that deer was dead before it hit the ground. 120lbs field stripped. I’m looking forward to field testing again.
I’ve used both 243 and 6.5 grendel on deer and hogs. Couldn’t tell a difference on performance. The advantage I’ve seen is the Grendel in a 16” AR platform makes a excellent choice for using in the thick brush.
The only problem I’ve experienced with the .243 is pass through using 95 grain loads having very little expansion on whitetail deer. It’s not really a problem considering less damage loss of meat. I had better luck with heavier loads for better expansion. I have a Grendel on order and don’t have any experience with that cartridge yet. I’ll be trying it out on hog eradication.
@@scubasteve3032 what 95 grain bullet were you using. 95 lrx from barnes will open up at 243 velocity
@@scubasteve3032 the 6.5 grendel with 123 sst 115 ttsx 110 ttsx Even 127 lrx is makes great hog/deer loads.
@@tylarhaugan7908 that was thirty years ago and I can’t remember which brand it was. I was new to hunting and may have picked up the wrong type for deer hunting. The shots I’m talking about were taken within fifty yards so, to be fair, a lot of the lack of expansion was more my fault due to my inexperience at the time. The best round I found for that rifle (Sako Forester) was Federal Premium and I believe it was 105 grain. I sold that gun and am now kicking myself for it.
@@scubasteve3032 oh ya no worries s co worker of mine picked up some bergers and they just blew up like there designed to his brother put down the elk with 160 swift a frame in 7 rem mag.
Thanks Ron for this article. In my case I am old and shaky and wouldn't consider a shot beyond 200yds. The Grendel has worked out well for me on hogs and probably will use it for deer this season in place of my 260 Rem. Two thumbs up.
I love my 7.62 x 39 because it does a fantastic job at taking deer and hog with such a little powder capacity and light recoil. When I heard about the 6.5 Grendel, I just had to have one. I bought an A.R. 15 with a 20 inch barrel in 6.5 Grendel and I am loving it. Good thing I’m a reload because I cannot find brass for it. I am fire forming some of my 7.62 x 39 brass in to 6.5 Grendel.
Ron I have a 6.5 Grindel that I built with the Adams Arms piston actuated upper. With a 123 grain SST this AR is a sweet shooter and a tack driver.
I love the SST's. They open up at any speed 👍
Where's the dog? the brains of the operation...no only joking, very honest, no bs videos. Great info for shooter's in general and all the best from Sydney Australia. Regards...
Very happy with my Grendel. It's built up on an 18'' barrel and shoots nice. I used it last Deer season to take a Northern Michigan Whitetail. No issues, solid performance from the 123 grain ELD-M bullet.
same here with 16", dumped a 200 lb NY buck at 200 yards. Hornaday black eld-m
6.5 Grendel is a awesome little gun! I have it on my AR platform. My 7 yr old grandson shot his first buck ever this year and it didn’t go 20 yards. Great video .
Funny you bringing up the 6.5 SWEDE; It was when I bought a 1904 Swedish Mauser M96 in 6.5 SWEDE back in the 90's that not only got me hooked on 6.5mm's, but a major part of the people who were shooting Silhouette Matches like me with their 6.5 Swedish Mausers too! That's when I decided to re-barrel my ARMALITE AR10T in 260 REM with a 1/7 twist for the Sierra 155 HPBTMK's they used to sell back in the late 90's for competing in both Silhouette Matches (out to 500 meters in the standing position) and CMP High Power Rifle Matches (typically out to 600 yards, and out to 800 - 1000 yards from field positions only for special matches).
My favorite deer rifle is my Palmetto State Armory 20" AR15 in 6.5 Grendel. Works great on hogs too! Federal Fusion 120 grain is my go to round. Proper penetration with the heavy (for caliber) bullet, and a perfect mushroom every time. Love the gun and the round.
I have never seen them on the shelves.
I bought 2 boxes 3 years ago pre pandemic. I CANNOT find Federal Fusion 120 Gr SP ANYWHERE online or at any store.
@@NathanSimms Yeah, mine is all pre pandemic purchases too, back when it was 85 cents a round!
@@NathanSimms try PewPew
I agree, Federal Fusion 120 grain bullet is a great performer. I bought several boxes before the shortage occurred. I also reload for the Grendel and the Sierra 120 grain Pro Hunter has also done very well for me. Hope you have a Happy New Year.
The advantage of the Grendel is that it fits in to smaller, lighter platforms and performs well out to 400 yards. The. 243 requires an AR 10 platform with consequent weight penalties.
I had an AR set up for my grandson to hunt at my farm because of the adjustable stock. I first started him out with a .300 Black out when he was 11 years old. He started taking shots a bit farther out of the point-blank range, so I set him up with the 6.5 Grendel which worked out really well. Now he's 16 and nearly as big as his father and myself he hunted with a .308 bolt action so if he gets a shot at a really big buck. And he keeps wanting to shoot something bigger. The 6.5 Grendel is a great little cartridge for light recoil hunting for sure. But if one is shooting a big buck, I like more than that for cleaner quicker kills. Another great video and yes that 123 grain bullet is the sweet spot for sure.
Love the 6.5 Grendel for short range and I use the 6.5-300wby for long range hunting
I love my Sanders Armory 24" 6.5 Grendel upper. Mine shoots under 1/2" moa with hand loads. Hornady factory 123gr SST gives me around 3/4 moa right at 2600 fps. I went with a 24" barrel because I like to "plink" at 400 and 500 yds. I took a decent buck (dressed out at 175 lb) at 295 yds with a 105 gr MKZ hand load which shoots over 2800 fps for me. He was quartering away heavy. The monolithic hollow point went through the front of the heart, and gave a clean pass through. This was the 5th deer I've taken with this combination, and the results have all been the same. This bullet has a .490 BC, and shoots close to 1/4 moa for me, so I took it along on my first a prairie dog hunt last summer. Connected on an adult PD at 600 yards with it. A couple of my buddies are hunting with 6.5 CM and are getting less accuracy, and hardly any better speed or BC. If you hand load and hunt with a 6.5 Grendel, I would highly recommend the MKZ projectiles from Cavity Back Bullets.
6.5 Grendel isn't a 1,000 yd hunting cartridge, but it will far exceed the capabilities of most hunters. The sweet spot for the Grendel is in the 120 to 125gr range for standard lead core projectiles, but with a monolithic HP its more like 105g to 110gr because they are lighter and longer, and because they will penetrate deeper all else being equal. Having said all of that, if I were going to go with a barrel that was 18" or less, I'd go with a 6.8 SPC. The Grendel is better at utilizing longer barrel lengths, where as the 6.8 SPC doesn't loose velocity as quickly on the shorter barrel lengths. It's only a minor difference either way. Both are ideal whitetail cartridges for most hunters.
Thank you, Ron
Was a 257 Roberts fan way back..love those fast calibers
Kind Sir due to some wisdom you gave me, I am now looking to get the 6.5 Grendel. Thank you.
I love my grendel!!! I've taken it out to 420 yards so far. I shoot crows all day long at 300 yards with wolf 100gr steel case. Cant wait to hunt deer with it this year!!!
Well I shot a doe last night at 250+ yards with a Barnes vor-TX 115 gr TAC-TX BT and it destroyed the front left shoulder and she didnt run more than 80 yards. I could hear the bullet hit her. I'm really happy with this little cartridge with a 20 inch barrel in my ar15! I am now building an ar10 in 6.5 creedmoor with a 24 inch Wilson combat super sniper barrel!!!😏 I might start a second RUclips channel called 6.5 long range experiments?
Love the Grendel, it fits well for my needs. Keep up the good work.
Love your work Ron, thank you!
The 6.5X55 is my all time favorite ctg. I've owned several Swede Mausers & the Lungman AG42B plus a Winchester Model 70 featherweight in 6.5X55. IMO the finest WW2 era sniper rifle was the Swede. I've heard that even though Sweden was neutral during WW2 several Swedish snipers "volunteered" complete with their issue rifles too aid the Finns.
"The Finns cause is our cause" was the call to help the Finns.
The People aided the finns. The government helped the nazis.
@Mr. Yes, the Finnish government helped the Nazis, because the Nazis helped the Finns against their biggest enemy, the Russians! It was called "The Continuation War"! It was that age old" The enemy, of my enemy, is my friend! " thing!
@@Greyzonecompliant Yeah, didn't mean the Finns supported or even knew what they were doing in Germany. 🤷🏻♂️
Sweden was officially neutral during WW2 but had a long standing relationship with Germany and provided vast amounts of high grade steel to the Third Reich. Norway on the other hand enjoyed no such relationship.
The 6.5x55 is an amazing cartridge. Loaded for a modern, quality rifle, it will outshoot pretty much every non-magnum rifle out there, and gives up very little to most of the magnums. Not bad for an 1890's cartridge ;)
Watched this before and now looking into a little 6.5 and know that you are always good for solid info.
Thank you Ron still good stuff.
It’s great to know with all the different cartridges, there is enough of a demand to keep producing them as well as improving the BC’s, bullets, and ballistics. Ron, somehow you make a case for every cartridge produced. Thanks again!
Every cartridge has a sweet spot where it excels (mainly due to design parameters)
If you want a 6.5 for thumping deer, the Creedmoor or .260rem have you covered if you're ok with a bolt action, but if you just really love an AR and you want a more effective round that fits in that package the Grendel is the way to go. (And on the "tactical" side, you can push the Grendel out to 800~ish yards and still be hitting substantially harder than long range 5.56 options like 77gr OTM)
If you like the tactical AND hunting sides to shooting it makes a heck of an argument for both if you already have an AR, because all you need is a new barrel and bolt to change calibers (I have a second upper with its own optic and bolt carrier so if I want to hunt or dabble in long-ish range all I have to do is swap uppers and confirm my scope's zero and I'm off to the races) and for about half the cost of a complete second rifle I can swap between 5.56 and 6.5 in about 20 seconds.
Thanks for the info Ron, been looking at this cartridge for a while and your video really helped!!
G'day from Australia.
Excelent content mate.
I transitioned from the .223 to the Grendel for night hunting hogs and the numbers don't lie.
the Grendel is simply accurate and efficient. No fuss and I can move through the paddocks without disturbing the whole area.
This video got me to buy a Ruger American cambered for the 6.5 Grendel. Thank you Ron, I absolutely love these type of videos, so much info and you keep it moving and not boring at all. I’m going through your library of content and having fun on the way. 👍🏼
I really want to try one of these out some day. The numbers are very impressive!
I own the Howa mini action in 6.5 Grendel and it's a sweet shooter from all aspects...light recoil, accurate, smooth. Thx for the comparisons.
Wow, great video, sir. Answered all my questions about the 6.5 grendel. Earned my like and sub.
I've been shooting the 6.5 Grendel for a lot of years. Of course I started with an AR15. I also have a wildcat 6mm Predator, that's a necked down grendel. It shoots a 103gr bullet really well. It's pretty much the same as the new 6mm ARC.
I bought the Howa mini in 6.5 Grendel when it first came out. It's an outstanding hunting rifle for young people and people with injuries. I use the 123SST and 120 Gold Dot bullets in mine. Out to 200 yards it'll drop a Texas deer with no problem. The Grendel is a low recoil and very accurate cartridge. My friends 6yo son shot his first deer with my Howa 6.5 Grendel. One shot at 110 yards and the deer dropped.
I've used the 123SST bullet in my 6.5-06 and 6.5CM too. The old 129SP works too.
How have you been Tex?
Great video! Really like your enthusiasm and knowledge!!
I have some grendel loaded with 140 grain nosler accubonds (all I had at the time). It grouped super well at 100 yds. Smoked a coyote last year with it at 100 yds and I was definitely surprised at the destruction it caused.
Thanks Ron
Thanks for posting, Ron. Appreciate all your content! Also love my 6.5 Swedeismore! Fantastic! Keep them coming!
Thanks, will do!
Great video Ron love my two Grendel's
What a great video!
Great video Ron! There are so many great choices for starter deer rifles for younger/smaller shooters and the 6.5 is a solid choice. Like my New Testament professor used to say, "You pays your money and make your choice until it doesn't work for you any more."
Another great video. Cartridge history and comparison will never get old
Right on. It's fun.
I really wish they would start making more Grendel ammo.
6.5 Grendel with Hornaday black in a 16" AR-15 destroyed a 200 lb NY buck for me at 200 yards. .243 absolutely dumps deer too, very underrated.
i was very reluctant to get into this cartridge. did not really know much about 'long range energy'. until about 2010 or so. started loading 175/185 bullets in the 308 and studying down range ballistics. wish i stocked up on more components before the pandemic. but it is a fun little cartridge. even from a short 12.5 or 16 in barrel it shines at range. cheers.
Ron, I would like to see you do a video on the 6.8 SPC. History, specs and comparisons.
I bought the 6.5 Grendel because I could get it in a nice CZ527 and I don't really have access to game larger than deer and I am not a good enough shot to hunt game at over 250m.
Makes the little cartridge good enough to do the job and I get to keep my nice rifle for thousands of rounds so I can practice with it more often.
My cz527 I am using 90gr tnt with over maximum load of AR2207 and getting just under 3000fps. Goats , Red and fallow deer and pigs to 60kg this combination works so well out to 250m.
The lack of recoil is great and reduce noise compared to the 300wm is another bonus of the Grendel
I always feel smarter after watching your videos Ron.
Thanks.
Glad to hear it, Spit. Thanks.
A buddy of mine picked up one of those Howas in 6.5 Grendel and he loves it. A really nice shooting rig.
When I built my first AR, I decided on the 6.5 Grendel. First time taking it out hunting, I dropped a deer on its tracks with Federal Fusion 120gr. I fell in love because of the lack of recoil and accuracy. Then I started thinking "It would be the best of both worlds if I could have this cartridge on a proven reliable platform with similar accuracy". Oddly enough, I stumbled onto a website (K-VAR) that was selling Russian made AK variants with heavy barrels called MOLOT VEPRS. I bought one and after some testing I found out that it likes the Hornady ELD 123 Match very much (1MOA) consistently. I couldn't be happier. Now I have a light semi-auto rifle that is the best compromise between the 5.56x45 and the 7.62x39 that I can also hunt with.
First season I hunted with my grendel I used 120gn fusion ammo as well. Got two that year. Worked well.
Same here 16" barrel but i use the Hornaday 123 black ammo on my deer. although its classified as a "match" ammo there's plenty ballistic tests on you tube and you may wanna try it if your gun likes the 123 match.
Ike Yeet I’ve used the “black” ammo with 123 eldm with success on deer also. Also 168eldm in 308. It’s not a deep penetration weight retention style bullet but does the trick if you put it in the right spot.
@@DrewEdwardBacklas good to know, I have a pile of interlock bullets loaded for .308 this year and have always has success with them.
Thanks for the comparison.
Great video. Thank you.
currently using a howa mini 1500 in 6.5 grendel. running it suppressed. its an excellent little deer round, taken 4 with it so far, from 30 yards all the way out to 340 yards, started it out as a chuck rifle, suppressed theres almost no recoil, i put mine in a boyds laminated thumbhole stock and just love the little bugger, using the 123 hdy, excellent performance on critters so far. i couldnt agree more with ya ron, its a perfect gun to start a kid or recoil shy person on.
Amazing vid. Thx Ron!!
Sir, THANK YOU for your GREAT content! I have subscribed and hit like 👍 on every video before watching! What a treasure trove! Thanks again, Sir!
Much appreciated!
When I was researching calibers for my first AR build, I wanted something "deer-capable" at 200yds... 6.5 Grendel was the winner, hands down. I've since taken a few deer and have zero regrets. It certainly doesn't reach out or hit like my 7mm Rem or .300 Wby, but for the AR platform, it's a fantastic deer option.
Are you using Federal Fusion also?
@@338federalshooter8 I use the Hornady 123gr SST for hunting and Black ELD for sighting in or plinking.
Excellent presentation! I moved to 6.5 Grendel (Howa and AR) for deer a few years ago and love the 123 SSTs.
Right on. Thanks.
Glad to hear you mention the Howa bolt actions in your video, I've been very impressed with the ones I've owned especially at the price point.
30-06, 7mm Rem mag and 6mm Creedmoor I own and haven't had to fiddle with them at all, just a high quality base, rings, and scope. All are magnificent shooters.
Same here. I like to get the Howa barreled action from Brownells and "build" em. You end up with a Weatherby Vanguard (built by Howa) for $100 less than the Vanguard.
That's why I'm here. The 243 m70 compact I want is sold out, Win said it'll be a 10 month wait list and I just happened to come across Howa Mini action 6.5 grendel in stock
Howdy Ron! I really have been enjoying your videos lately ESPECIALLY the book reviews at the beginning. I have both Horn Of The Hunter and A Hunter’s Wanderings and it’s great to hear someone else talk about them! Keep it up!
Glad you like them!
I went with the cz527 in 762x39. I am not a sharp shooter and most deer in my area are taken under 100yds here in PA. Plus I like a lot of target shooting. The 6.5 is definitely a pretty neat little round. Just wish like most things its was cheaper.
You made a very wise choice, in my estimation! I'll add that the Ruger American Ranch in the same round, while not so pretty or classy, is amazingly accurate, eminently useful, and an incredible value.
6.5 Grendel ammo could be had for really cheap at one point.
Wolf made some stuff that worked just fine & was super cheap.
Buy a case of that for plinking & find what hunting round works best for you & get a few boxes of that.
I'm sure the Wolf stuff is 3x what it was before
The 'Russian 30/30' is a great round especially in a bolt action!
At least there are subsonic factory loadings for 7.62x39. My CZ527 really likes the 182gr PPU.
Reloading is the only way I've been able to find and afford it. Along with all my other weird calibers
Great video and explanation!
I was curious about building my next AR in 6.5 Grendel. I knew just who's videos to turn to for some solid ballistic info. Thank you.
Love the channel.
Great content as usual Ron. I’m a huge fan of the 6.5 Grendel for deer; it does a great job in my experience.
thanks Allen.
6.5 Grendel and 6.8 SPC II are great compact mini length actions or AR15s with an adjustable stock for small shooters..
The 6.8 SPC II looks like a great cartridge on paper. However, Remington really screwed the pooch on its introduction. Hence the “II” for the newer chambering. Sadly I think that the cartridge is more or less DOA because of that. 6.5 Grendel also had some growing pains because Mr. Alexander wanted to make mo’ money off of it. That cartridge is becoming relatively mainstream now.
@@chipsterb4946The 6.8 SPC is alive and well I handload the 27 GPC with 120 gr bullets, getting 2635 fps out of a 16” barrel..it’s deadly on deer.
The main aspect of the Grendel that makes it appealing to me is the fact that it uses small rifle primers. Having a solid deer cartridge that uses small primers is a major plus when LRPs are so hard to come by.
I hadn’t thought about small rifle primer vs. large rifle primer. You have a point for now, but I seem to remember the opposite situation after the Obama reloading component drought. Regardless, I want to stick with the most mainstream cartridges possible today. .223 Remington, .308 Winchester, and .270 Winchester. I can find brass, bullets, and powder for those cartridges today. #44 taught me not to run out of primers. 6.5 Grendel brass? All I could find was over $2/case 🤯
BTW just found out that Starline makes 6.5 Creedmoor brass that uses small rifle primers.
Starline makes 6.5 G and 6mm ARC now, and small primers help with higher pressure if you load it for a bolt gun. See Hornady No. 11 6mm ARC load data. They have a section for 6mm ARC bolt action that's+10k PSI and 300+ fps over SAAMI for ARs. That data was built in a CZ 527,, a mini action.
I’ve found a CZ527 American (because of the longer barrel) loaded with 100grn Partitions has been deer medicine for a few years now. I’ve even used it on black bear several times. The 100-107 grn bullets “mimic” .308 ballistics. Fantastic cartridge.
I have a howa mini action that I and my kids have taken deer with and it’s a fantastic little rifle and cartridge. Has became one of my favorites! So much of a favorite that when I saw cva came out with a scout pistol chambers in the Grendel I snatched one of those up as well as fast as I could!
I have two Grendels, very different but I like them both.
First I bought a Grendel Overwatch upper with a 24" barrel from Alexander Arms, put it on a Rock River lower with a two-stage trigger, replaced the Rock River stock with a MagPul PRS, put a Harris bipod on it, and put a good long-range scope (a Shepherd 6-18x42 dual reticle) on it. That rifle is heavy and cumbersome, but it's great for long range shooting.
Then I put one together from components, trying to make it as light and handy as I could. Standard upper, polymer lower, Alexander Arms 18" lightweight barrel, carbon fiber free float tube, skeleton stock, Geissele SSA trigger, red dot sight with polymer BUIS. Like a similar project rifle I did in 5.56mm, that one feels like a toy when you pick it up. That would be a great tactical rifle if I was still tacticalling (I retired from the military in '96.)
I like the Creedmoor too, but for me that AR-15 platform is ideal.
For another option in about the same size cartridge as the Grendel that's less expensive to shoot, although also less impressive ballistically, I got a CMMG Mutant - AR-15 chambered for 7.62x39mm, and it uses standard AK magazines. Unlike some ARs adapted for that round, they made the bolt face considerably beefier for the Mutant. That's a lot of fun too.
Love the Gerndel.
That's a beautiful looking book
I have the 6.5 Grendel one upper is the Daniel Defense 18 inch upper and the other is the bill Alexander Saturn 16 inch upper with a Rainer lower nice set up the 16 inch combo is super light .
I’ve been hunting in my home state of Alabama all my life, I have a bolt action 270 that has served me well for the last 15 years. I have taken several deer with this rifle at 200 yards or less. ( in Alabama I have only taken a deer at 300 plus yards once)
I am thinking about building a 6.5 Grendel on an AR pattern rifle, for the quick follow up shots.
So thank you for this very information packed video.
I have a Grendel in an AR, it's a dandy coyote rifle. I'm shooting 95gr Vmax over 30.5grs of 8208XBR with good results. Works good on prairie dogs too out to 325yds. Hope to take it on a hog hunt some day.
I have a 6.5 Grendel upper, a CZ-527 and a Howa mini. I load 129 grain Nosler ABLRs using H335. I get 2580 out of the CZ and 2500 out of the AR and Howa. All are extremely accurate. I shot a nice 8 point Coues whitetail last deer season in AZ about two miles from the Mexican border at 505 yards. He was quartering facing me standing on a large flat rock. The bullet traversed the body from the front shoulder exiting in the kidney area on the off side. The deer walked 15 yards and fell over into a ravine. The damage was extensive with the lungs blown to pieces. You can get really awesome performance out of this cartridge but it will take handloading and patience.
Thanks Ron and thanks to the Patreon folks for suggesting this. I built an AR in the 6.5 Grendel a couple of years ago with a 16 inch barrel and never could get it to hold a group. I shot all different weights and brands of ammo, lapped the upper receiver, swapped optics multiple times and even changed the barrel and still the same issue occurred. It would walk each consecutive round up and left. I finally bought a 20 inch complete upper and it grouped perfectly fine with no issues. I wanted the shorter barrel as I built this specifically for deer hunting in the 200 yards or less range, but I am so happy with the new setup that the longer barrel does not bother me one bit. Now I'm finding it a little difficult at locating ammo, but I have a hundred rounds of the Hornady 123 SST to work with and have the reloading equipment to start making my own loads. I really like this little round and can't wait to take it hunting. Thanks for making this video on this round.
What was the twist rate in your 16” barrel, and the 20” barrel?
I suspect either too slow of a twist rate and/or just couldn’t utilized all the powder burn in 16” to properly speed up the bullet to stabilize. Once you start reloading you might try that 16” barrel again and use one of the faster powders listed in some load books and see if you can up the velocity out of the 16” for proper stabilization.
@@chevyon37s, thanks for the info. I got to believing the barrel was just too short, but then I know a lot of others that have the 16" Grendel and have had no issues. Both 16" barrels were 1:8 twist and the 20" is a 1:8 twist as well. I sold one 16" barrel and I just sold the 16" upper (at a bargain price) to help offset the cost of buying the 20" complete upper. You know I even tried different lowers on those and they still shot the same. I'm wondering now if maybe the bolt or BCG could have played a role in it. I don't know, grasping at straws as I tried all kinds of things trying to get it to shoot. Maybe it's the shooter in the end.
We have a howa mini action 6.5 Grendel with tally extra low rings & leupold 1.5x4x20 pig plex scope. What a fantastic little ultralight rifle . So far only used American gunner bulk ammo & had fantastic results. Have 2 magazines, one loaded with std out the box target ammo for close range on pigs & the other mag has the same ammo with 1mm filed off the tip . That creates a larger hollow point & works fantastic on all the other smaller pests . Wounds seems very similar to the 243 with 80 gr soft points.
Hands down my favorite rifle caliber. I had an AR upper built with a custom match grade barrel. It's the most accurate rifle I've ever owned and every factory load I've tried has been gangbusters. It's not uncommon for me to get .45 inch groups at 200 yards with AA 123gr Lapua Secnar. Even the Wolf steel case shots .5 inch groups at 100 yards. I've never had a dear take more than 3 steps with my 6.5 Grendel.
Where did you purchase your barrel from? You are getting some impressive groups.
@@stephenhair5501 it's a custom turned piece by dtech out of Minnesota. With factory ammunition my 200 yd groups are still only .81 inches with that upper's preferred load. But I spent a ridiculous amount of time developing my own hand load which is what gave me the ungodly accuracy that it has. As soon as I can lay my hands on another Lancer systems carbon fiber handguard I'm going to have him build me a 350 legend upper.
Very informative. Awesome👍🏿
Glad you liked it
Marketing Ron, Pure and simple.
My 16” ar grendel build is sub 6.5 lbs with a 3-9x40 and a 5 round loaded mag built on a gwacs polymer lower. Sweet little whitetail rifle.
Friday is now complete got a new Ron Spomer cartridge video
Ok Ron, I will take issue with you, someone has too I suppose 😆, I started of my AR hunting experiment with a 24” AR Grendel. You only get those velocities you posted with a 24” barrel. Shorter barrels, like most cartridges, suffer velocity lost that can make them less effective. I took only one deer with my Grendel at 156 yards. It worked but the tissue damage was so insignificant that I questioned it’s ability in anything but a neck shot. By the way my deer was a neck shot. I’ll make it short, I rebuilt the gun in a 16” 300 Hamr and can tell you in a 16” gun the Hamr’s effectiveness on game is significantly greater than what I saw with my Grendel.
Yeah, I was looking to see if anyone else noticed that barrel length issue. It would help to post the barrel lengths used when showing bullet velocities and energy.
You are 100% correct. The whole point of an AR is to have something short and handy with less than a 20 inch barrel otherwise no point in not getting a bolt gun with a long barrel. With a normal 16-18" barrel the 6.5 is not any faster than 7.62x39 which is doing about 2200-2300 with a 123gr. Thats just not fast enough for most bullets to adequately expand even just past 100 yards forget about 3-400 you might as well be shooting an fmj. Most hunting bullets like the eldx, accubond, sst, etc claim they need 1800 fps to open but in reality they need 2000 to expand past the body diameter and even more will get you much better expansion/performance.
Bruh, your trying way too hard @ those obscure calibers. 243 or 3 oh hate and call it done.
One of the best reasons to use the 129 ABLR is that it is designed to open up as low as 1300 fps! Most other bullets need a minimum of 1800 fps. An extra 500 fps in the Grendel is huge!
Thanks a lot for your video.
Great episode Ron. Recently assembled a 6.5 Grendel but haven't fired it yet.
The CZ in 6.5X55 is my favorite of all time.
Looking forward to building up loads for the Gredel! Thank you for this episode!
Thank you and good luck.
6.5 Grendel seems to fit the bill perfectly for a sweet shooting deer rifle. 30.06 Springfield is my go to, and favorite, but I’d love to have a 6.5 Grendel & Creedmoor as an alternative for Blacktail Deer and Antelope hunts. I also really like the idea of the CZ 527 in 7.62x39mm for the same role. There’s just so many fantastic options, at the end of the day though I just want to stock the freezer with some healthy venison. 🥩
I started out a few tears ago with the 6.5 Grendel with a 24 inch barrel, picked up a 20 inch barrel with 5R rifling. the 20 inch wasn't as speedy as the 24 but it was more accurate, so I looked around and found X Caliber and got a 24 inch barrel with 5R rifling and went with a 1:7 twist for the heavier bullets. 129 grain is the heaviest I use and the 24 inch barrel is about all I use anymore with my 6.5 Grendel shooting. It is very accurate and I am getting 2630 FPS MV with it, 123 grain, and not scaring the brass. A R Comp, TAC, H335 seem to work very well with it. Alexander Arms prescribes SRPMagnum primers with it so that's what I use. The 20 inch is 85 FPS slower than the 24, so I have it when hunting in heavy timber.
I have used the 120 Gold Dot out to 720 yards and have made .83 MOA at that range. The Gold Dots are not made for steel and pretty much disintegrate when they hit face on at that range, a lot of fun. The 129 grain rounds I get right around 2490 FPS with the 24 inch barrel.
I love my BCA 6.5 grendel uppers! Best load Barnes tsx 115g- 2875fps 20" barrel have taken dozens of deer&hogs always DRT- no tracking involved, the Fort Scott tui load is deadly accurate & wicked on deer! Capt J
Just got a Howa mini in 6.5 Grendel! Can't wait for my son and I to get to take it out for whitetail this fall
I heard "The little engine that could" & I tuned in. Have a Ruger bolt & its a tack driver. 3 lug, 70° throw awesomeness.