6.5 Grendel Load Recommendations

[rybu0305]

I've got a 6.5 Grendel Howa Mini that I primary use for my young kids. It is a great rifle and has taken many deer. I have only used factory ammo (mostly Hornady ELDX) for hunting to date but I started hand loading other cartridges recently. What do you recommend and use for whitetail deer hunting within 100 yards? I was thinking 115-120 grain bullets are about optimal weight. Which powders and bullets do you prefer?

 

[Steve300xcw]

As good and cheap as the 123gr hornady stuff is. I gotta ask. Why bother?

 

[N2TRKYS]

If I had a 6.5 Grendel, I would load the 129 grain ABLR.

 

[menhaden_man]

Only 70 yards at camp but that’s one hole. Howa 6.5G. CFE and load long.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

As good and cheap as the 123gr hornady stuff is. I gotta ask. Why bother?

I’m in this camp. Mine shoots the Hornady 123-grain loads so well that I haven’t bothered to reload any yet.


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“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Steve300xcw]

I do wonder about the AAC grendel stuff. As cheap as that stuff was last time I looked....

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I do wonder about the AAC grendel stuff. As cheap as that stuff was last time I looked....

I just ordered a couple hundred rounds of it. I should be shooting it on June 30th. I’ll let you know.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Steve300xcw]

I just ordered a couple hundred rounds of it. I should be shooting it on June 30th. I’ll let you know.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

I stocked way up when the American gunner stuff was $0.75 and the black was $1....But have been eyeballin that stuff. Just because I gotta know

 

[rybu0305]

Thanks for the input.

I don’t find the hunting ammo to be all that cheap.

Reloading is fun and I can hand load more rounds for the same money or less and shoot more.

As I said my kids mostly hunt with this rifle and more rounds means more practice for them.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Thanks for the input.

I don’t find the hunting ammo to be all that cheap.

Reloading is fun and I can hand load more rounds for the same money or less and shoot more.

As I said my kids mostly hunt with this rifle and more rounds means more practice for them.

The hunting ammo isn’t all that cheap? You mean the 123-grain ELDM? I am not questioning the value of your time, just trying to figure out if I am looking at this properly.


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“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[glennjones]

I use the 120 ELDM over 29.0 gr of varget. It has worked in both an AR and a mini action for me. My wife shoots deer with it and that rounds has created some of the nastiest wounds I've seen on deer.

 

[HandgunHTR]

If you can get your hands on some IMR 8208 XBR it has been the most consistent powder for me in both of my Grendels (TC Encore and Ruger American Gen 1) with 100-123 grain bullets.

AA2520 is also a good choice for the 120-123 grain bullets. One of my best loads using that powder is 28.5 grains of AA2520 under a 123 grain SST, Starline brass, and a CCI 400 primer. It produces 2499 fps out of my 23" TC Encore barrel with a SD of 9.6.

 

[Natebonebusta]

I use 120-123gr projectiles. Mainly 123sst, 120eldm, 120nos bt, 120tgk. I typically look for lowest cost per bullet.

Powders that have shined for me are H335 and Ramshot Tac. I load both of them at 28gr which is in the 52,000 psi spectrum. Bolt gun data is a grain or two higher than published book data for gas guns.

Most of my woods shots are within 100y. All my Howa Grendel loads make this rifle a 400y gun with muzzle velocities out of an 18.5” barrel at between 2379-2507fps.

Great choice for practice, and very kid friendly.

 

[menhaden_man]

I need to try TAC. Have an 8 lb jug and it just doesn’t cut the mustard in 308 (not like Varget anyhow )