6.5 Grendel recipe help

BwanaDave

BwanaDave

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Well I've done it now, went and bought a Howa mini bolt gun in a newfangled cartridge that's on the way, I have no experience with whatsoever.

Never even owned a 6.5 before so I'm perusing the web looking at recipe's for shooting anything from 600 yard paper to hogs and not much of it is terribly relevant.
The plan is to use this thing for potting little black tails on the charlottes out to a possible 300-350 yards across a cut block, no more with most shots being in the 75-100 yard range.

Here is what I'm thinking and please correct me if I'm wrong or you have a better solution. 100-120 grain ballistic tips from 2750-2500 fps, if you have a recipe/ favorite powder/bullet that would be suitable or something that would work just as well please chime in.

thanks
 
I'm pushing 130gr Berger VLD's @ 2550 fps using Lapua brass and CFE 223. I can pm you the charge if you want. Mine is a 22" bbl as well, not sure what's on the Howa. Some guys hunt with the VLD bullets although Berger makes a 130gr 6.5 hunting bullet I'm sure you could sling around the same speed.
 
SJAR said:
I'm pushing 130gr Berger VLD's @ 2550 fps using Lapua brass and CFE 223. I can pm you the charge if you want. Mine is a 22" bbl as well, not sure what's on the Howa. Some guys hunt with the VLD bullets although Berger makes a 130gr 6.5 hunting bullet I'm sure you could sling around the same speed.
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If you could pm me the details that would be great, I've got star line brass coming and haven't purchased powder, primers or bullets yet and the 130 at that velocity will certainly work for what I have in mind, the barrel on the Howa is 22" as well.
 
Also just picked up a Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel, but I've already been doing some loading for Grendel on my SLR. 123gr SST is really popular for hunting, has a nice BC and are pretty inexpensive. Had some nice results with Nosler 129gr ABLR and AR COMP powder also.

my load data;

20" BSF Barrel - MDI SLR
Brass: Lapua
Projectile: Hornady SST 123gr
Primer: Federal GMM AR
Powder: IMR 8208XBR
Charge Weight: 28.0gr
COAL: 2.24
Velocity: 2480 fps avg

20" BSF Barrel - MDI SLR
Brass: Lapua
Projectile: Nosler 129 ABLR
Primer: Federal GMM AR
Powder: AR Comp
Charge Weight: 26.9gr
COAL: 2.26
Velocity: 2420 fps avg

As a control; I get about 2560FPS average from factory Hornady 123gr SST ammo on my Chrono. In my experience so far, extruded powders like 8208XBR and AR Comp certainly can't touch CFE 223 for velocity in Grendel.
 
Anomaly said:
Also just picked up a Howa Mini in 6.5 Grendel, but I've already been doing some loading for Grendel on my SLR. 123gr SST is really popular for hunting, has a nice BC and are pretty inexpensive. Had some nice results with Nosler 129gr ABLR and AR COMP powder also.

my load data;

20" BSF Barrel - MDI SLR
Brass: Lapua
Projectile: Hornady SST 123gr
Primer: Federal GMM AR
Powder: IMR 8208XBR
Charge Weight: 28.0gr
COAL: 2.24
Velocity: 2480 fps avg

20" BSF Barrel - MDI SLR
Brass: Lapua
Projectile: Nosler 129 ABLR
Primer: Federal GMM AR
Powder: AR Comp
Charge Weight: 26.9gr
COAL: 2.26
Velocity: 2420 fps avg

As a control; I get about 2560FPS average from factory Hornady 123gr SST ammo on my Chrono. In my experience so far, extruded powders like 8208XBR and AR Comp certainly can't touch CFE 223 for velocity in Grendel.
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I'm using the same rifle with Odin barrel and 27gr AR comp with the 129 LRAB. Good accuracy and I would shoot a deer to about 400 yards with it.
 
I've got Lapua, Starline, Federal and Hornady brass. The Lapua is obviously the best, and I reserve it for my MTR as I neck size it only. The Federal stuff is junk, fired from new factory ammo and the primers fall out of half of them. I have some Starline to replace the FC for the American. I shoot the Hornady in my SLR as I picked up a 3000 bulk box and it seems decent.

I like temperature resistant powders like the Hodgdon sticks, as well as 8208 XBR. I steer clear of CFE223 due to it having the worst temp coefficient and Manitoba having huge swings. I've shot the 108's and 123's out to 800 yards and the Grendel is a LOT of fun! I could watch my bullets drop onto the steel at that distance.

Some of my Grendel loads:

20" IBI Barrel - MDI SLR
Brass: Hornady
Projectile: Hornady 123 SST or ELDM
Primer: CCI 450
Powder: H4895
Charge Weight: 28.2gr
COAL: 2.27
Velocity: 2505 SD6 fps avg

25.5" 527 Varmint MTR
Brass: Lapua
Projectile: Lapua 108 Scenar
Primer: 450/205M/7-1/2
Powder: Benchmark
Charge Weight: 28.5gr
COAL: 2.305
Velocity: 2752-SD11/2744-SD8/2744-SD9 (per different primers)

24" 527 American (accurate in SLR, don't have velocity for 20")
Brass: FC
Projectile: Hornady 95 Vmax
Primer: 450
Powder: H322
Charge Weight: 29.0gr
COAL: 2.257
Velocity: 2830
 
Thanks for the help with this guys!

I've got H-4895, 4198, 335 on hand and 2lbs of CFE 223 on the way with some 100 and 120gr bullets and the 200 Star line cases. Rifle should be here Friday and I'm off from the 22nd-5 Jan so will for sure get to the range and do some load development over the break.

Nice thing about living in the wet coast rain forest is that there really aren't any wild temperature swings and it was +9 C when I left work yesterday so the CFE 223 should come in handy if it works, there's a fair bit of chatter about lever revolution powder being used for this round with good accuracy and velocities on the web, has anyone tried it?
 
Starline brass wouldn't work in 2 SLR's using Odin bolts/barrels. It shot fine but would't eject cleanly 50 % of the time. I was driving myself nuts with gas adjustments until I just tried some Hornady and it worked fine. I'm guessing the Starline was catching on the extractor some how. I still have 500 pc of primed Starline, so I ordered a Howa Mini. :)
 
Gatehouse said:
Starline brass wouldn't work in 2 SLR's using Odin bolts/barrels. It shot fine but would't eject cleanly 50 % of the time. I was driving myself nuts with gas adjustments until I just tried some Hornady and it worked fine. I'm guessing the Starline was catching on the extractor some how. I still have 500 pc of primed Starline, so I ordered a Howa Mini. :)
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That's the spirit !!
 
A quick update on the Grendel, I have cut the mag release lever down to prevent the mags being dumped on the ground on both my mini's, sanded the inside of the barrel channels lightly to ensure no contact in the channel and cleaned them with wipe out prior to starting this. I originally thought the scope's would prove be an issue but they have worked flawlessly as well.

Out the last two days at the range with the Howa mini 6.5 Grendel, temperatures were 6 & 7 degrees on the two days tested with light winds, this morning there was almost no wind.. The 100 meter target holder is broken so am using the 150 meter (164 yards) holder. I have the Grendel shooting multiple .650-.850 3 shot groups with the starline brass, cci 450 primers and 120gr PPU hpbt over 31.9gr of lever revolution @ 164 yards. Didn't set the Chronograph up but I would imagine it must be running at or close to 2600 fps.

At the same time I have my Howa mini in 7.62x39 printing .750-.900 inch 3 shot groups at the same distance with 31.2 grains of CFE BLK, PPU cases, CCI 250 primers and the hornady 123 gr spire point at the same distance 164 yards. This load is over 2650 fps in the 22" tube

The standard disclosure applies, the loads showed no pressure signs what so ever in my two bolt action rifles. I went through a careful workup process and stopped at these without encountering any pressure signs. I would imagine both loads could be dangerous in a semi automatic platform and I don't encourage anyone to duplicate these loads.

What a bargain these little jewels are, super accurate even with cheap bullets. Thanks Clay for the opportunity to purchase them at a great price point.
 
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AR Comp is my favorite Grendel powder, shoots very well with 100gr Bergers and 129gr ABLR. I use Hornady brass and CCI41 primers

I am getting a Howa Mini too, will shoot Starline brass.
 
Gatehouse said:
Starline brass wouldn't work in 2 SLR's using Odin bolts/barrels. It shot fine but would't eject cleanly 50 % of the time. I was driving myself nuts with gas adjustments until I just tried some Hornady and it worked fine. I'm guessing the Starline was catching on the extractor some how. I still have 500 pc of primed Starline, so I ordered a Howa Mini. :)
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I'm having the same issue using Federal factory loads, I was going to try a new bolt but will try to find some Hornady factory ammo first. I want to make sure I can get it functioning with factory ammo before I start handloading for it.
 
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