Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Who here has shot deer with a 6.5Grendel?

Tell me about it; bullet, load etc.

No deer yet, but several 125-200 pound pigs, from 50yds to 185yds.

120 amax, with good performance but no exits,....currently 125 part. Good performance with exits

Trapr

Well, Trapr, looks like you're it. Posed the question on Hunting Rifles and got more resposes, but not much more data. Looks like I'm going to have to find out the hard way, on deer anyway, but your results on piggies gives me considerable hope.

Thanks.

I just did a little figuring using loads on the Hodgdon website and the 1800 fps min recommended for Ballistic Tips. If you get 2700 fps at the muzzle you ought to be good to 375 yards as far as expansion is concerned.

Figuring is why they keep you around here.

I plugged the Hornady 123 SST factory load figures into the Nosler app and came away pretty impressed with those numbers. Can't imagine any hunting situation I'm likely to encounter where I'd be undergunned.

Might have to rethink my rifle "rotation" for the coming season. For certain, the CZ will get carried if I go to the hilly nearby WMAs, as it's the only deer rifle I've got that's under 9lbs all up, kind of a modern Savage Model 20.

I kill one with a Grendel every year...at least for the last 6 years or so. I use a 123gr SST and every one has been one shot kills out to about 385 yards. I took some pics last year of the buck I killed. IIRC, this was about 300 yards. Entrance on the left, exit on the right. Caught both lungs and deer went about 50 yards and fell over dead. I am shooting about 31.5gr of CFE 223 in this load at about 2550 FPS.





Killed these two within 100 yards of each other. I believe this was the buck at about 385yds with basically exact same results as above. Shot the coyote at about 75 yards walking away from me right in the "starfish".....a tiny exit in the chest between it's front legs.

Now we're talking. Very nice.

Thanks.

Yep, that's proof of concept.

Forgot to mention, I'm getting 2500fps, with the Partition/Amax loads. The 6.5calibers just seem to work really well even starting out at what we would call low velocity these days.
I personally wouldn't have any issues shooting a 200# deer out to 250.

Trapr

And that's perfectly adequate for my purposes, as shots longer than that are very unlikely on any of the ground I hunt; most being much closer. If I find myself hunting where really long shots are possible, I have other rifles.

I compare manufacturer velocity recommendations for proper expansion with data from ballistics tables to be sure I'm not straying from the path. Based on that, the 123gr SST factory load should be good out somewhat farther than 250, if the opportunuty arises. I've started using a local range that goes to 300 yards, so I'll be able to verify trajectory and my own ability out that far, anyway.

I appreciate everyone's input.

BTW, I got a notice from Midway this morning that they have 123gr SSTs in stock and on sale. The 100 rounds of factory ammo I ordered arrives today as well, but the rifle remains in the wind until my check gets to the dealer.