One of the things often not portrayed well in all these discussions about cartridges etc. is the cruising altitude perspective, 40,000'. So here's why I like the 6.5 Grendel vs something that's really well known right now.
Parameters. Factory Eld-M loads compared at rated velocity. 123gr vs 140gr, .252 vs .287 SD, .506 vs .646 BC, 2580 vs 2710 fps.
The Creedmoor is:
4.8% faster
12% deeper penetrating (12% more SD)
21.5% more BC (less wind drift/drop loss)
28% more powder
38% more recoil (in 8.5 lb rifle)
34% more range (up to 210 yard 2000 fps impact velocity advantage peak, 20" barrels and up)
26% more range with short 16" barrels
Barrel life in the 6.5 Grendel is known to be nearly unlimited in semi-auto AR's in the USA which see magazine dumps etc. In a bolt action you may not be able to wear one out beyond useable hunting accuracy (1-1.5 moa). So while the 6.5 Creedmoor has excellent 308 like barrel life, you can wear them out, you probably can't with the 6.5 Grendel.
And so I've seen commented on and some chrono vids online the 140 may be more optimistic on velocity than the 123. To clarify further on the short barrel data, this is actual, my 16.1" ruger Grendel averages 2386 fps with 123 eld-m and I found a vid where a guy with 16.5" howa creedmoor average 2422 fps with 140 eld-m factory (95 yard advantage for 2000 fps impact velocity), so the Grendel is more efficient in the extra short barrels.
I can add 110 yards to my 2000 fps impact distance with 24" in Grendel but I'm still getting 1800 fps at 420 yards with the shorty which is enough. Have become far more realistic about hunting set up and something you can't wear out, watch impacts due to light recoil checks more of those subjective boxes these days. If you have a mindset that values versatility and maximum efficiency it's tough to beat the 3 new 21st century 6.5's, you basically have a 400-600-800 yard choices between the Grendel, Creedmoor and PRC.
The big thing lacking that people have a hard time seeing is that the harder you push things the less efficient you get, ie; the recoil levels don't go up linearly with the velocity increases and distance potential, you simply have to eat much more in the shoulder to go a little further down range. So you have to find the balances that make most sense for your goals. The 6.5 Creedmoor is probably the ultimate 'do all' in versatility and efficiency going for North American hunters but now you can see some of the perspectives I've gone to as a little more niche set up and super realistic hunting limitations and rules. We don't plan on playing past 300 very often.
Anything with SD over .25 will be adequate for the larger ungulates like moose/elk for penetration. .25 SD is basically same as a 168 gr .30 cal bullet, and no one will argue that's not adequate for the bigger game. All 6.5's have unusually high SD (heavy for caliber) so have always been over achievers compared to the other calibers we have all hunted with. To equal the penetration of the 140 gr+ 6.5's in 30 cal you need to start going north of 190 gr bullets etc.
Anyhow, hope y'all enjoyed that cruising altitude perspective and why I tweaked onto this cartridge bullet combo not long after I learned about it in the earlier 2000's.
Parameters. Factory Eld-M loads compared at rated velocity. 123gr vs 140gr, .252 vs .287 SD, .506 vs .646 BC, 2580 vs 2710 fps.
The Creedmoor is:
4.8% faster
12% deeper penetrating (12% more SD)
21.5% more BC (less wind drift/drop loss)
28% more powder
38% more recoil (in 8.5 lb rifle)
34% more range (up to 210 yard 2000 fps impact velocity advantage peak, 20" barrels and up)
26% more range with short 16" barrels
Barrel life in the 6.5 Grendel is known to be nearly unlimited in semi-auto AR's in the USA which see magazine dumps etc. In a bolt action you may not be able to wear one out beyond useable hunting accuracy (1-1.5 moa). So while the 6.5 Creedmoor has excellent 308 like barrel life, you can wear them out, you probably can't with the 6.5 Grendel.
And so I've seen commented on and some chrono vids online the 140 may be more optimistic on velocity than the 123. To clarify further on the short barrel data, this is actual, my 16.1" ruger Grendel averages 2386 fps with 123 eld-m and I found a vid where a guy with 16.5" howa creedmoor average 2422 fps with 140 eld-m factory (95 yard advantage for 2000 fps impact velocity), so the Grendel is more efficient in the extra short barrels.
I can add 110 yards to my 2000 fps impact distance with 24" in Grendel but I'm still getting 1800 fps at 420 yards with the shorty which is enough. Have become far more realistic about hunting set up and something you can't wear out, watch impacts due to light recoil checks more of those subjective boxes these days. If you have a mindset that values versatility and maximum efficiency it's tough to beat the 3 new 21st century 6.5's, you basically have a 400-600-800 yard choices between the Grendel, Creedmoor and PRC.
The big thing lacking that people have a hard time seeing is that the harder you push things the less efficient you get, ie; the recoil levels don't go up linearly with the velocity increases and distance potential, you simply have to eat much more in the shoulder to go a little further down range. So you have to find the balances that make most sense for your goals. The 6.5 Creedmoor is probably the ultimate 'do all' in versatility and efficiency going for North American hunters but now you can see some of the perspectives I've gone to as a little more niche set up and super realistic hunting limitations and rules. We don't plan on playing past 300 very often.
Anything with SD over .25 will be adequate for the larger ungulates like moose/elk for penetration. .25 SD is basically same as a 168 gr .30 cal bullet, and no one will argue that's not adequate for the bigger game. All 6.5's have unusually high SD (heavy for caliber) so have always been over achievers compared to the other calibers we have all hunted with. To equal the penetration of the 140 gr+ 6.5's in 30 cal you need to start going north of 190 gr bullets etc.
Anyhow, hope y'all enjoyed that cruising altitude perspective and why I tweaked onto this cartridge bullet combo not long after I learned about it in the earlier 2000's.
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