Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles Anyone loading for 6.5 Grendel?

Anyone loading for Grendel here? I have a Howa Mini action on the way and picked up some brass yesterday.
I have Varget and Reloader15 on hand but may pick up some CFE 223.

Have any proven loads or suggested bullet weights to stick with?

What will be the Intent for the rifle? Or what bullet weight & construction will fit your needs. You may find loads you are happy with for a wide range of bullet weights. Guys have been happy working with bullets ranging from 85 grains up to 130 grains.

Personally I have liked 123 grains up to 129 grains CFE 223 is included in favored powders for heavier bullets 120 grain up to 129 grains. load data is somewhat limited yet. One of my favorite loads that has limited documented support is a 129 grain Hornady SP over Leverevolution. 29 grains may be a fine starting point and work up 10% or so. See a few links listed below.

http://www.65grendel.com

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/65-grendel/

I am using the 100 grain ballistic tip and 8208 IMR.


Calling rifle for coyotes.

Getting good results with H335 and 100 grain BTs.

I'd say.. powder will be in the RL 7, RL 10, 4198, W 748, BLC2 burn rates....for 100 grainers and lower weights...

Thanks for the input.
I have read about the 8208 XBR and H335

I will post back if I come up with my results.

Should you have any Ramshot Tac, on hand this will likely give good results with some of the lighter bullet options 100 grains and less.

My neighbor is buying an AR Grendel with an 18 inch 1-8 twist. He would like to come over and load some 120-123 hunting bullets good enough for hogs. I have on hand some Czech SRB 118 powder that is reputed to be the same as AA2520, also on hand is 4198, Varget, IMR and H 4895. Any suggestions on good starting loads and also max loads would be appreciated. Hog bullet recommendations too. If anyone has knowledge of this SRB 118 powder I would like to hear about your experience. It has worked well for me in .223/5.56, .30-06, and .308W.

You can look up load data on Hodgdon load data sight and Nosler on line load data as well as you can look up Ramshot load data. Do you have bullets on hand? CFE 223, AR comp & IMR 8208 have been some of the favored propellants out there, I have used H4895 with somewhat anemic yet accurate results. As for the SRB 118 propellant, I have no knowledge.

My experience centers around 24" barreled Bolt action with a 1 in a and a 1 in 9 twist. Bullets I have used include the Barnes 100 Gr TTSX along with the Hornady 123 gr SST * the Hornady 129 GR SP. followed by the 123 Gr Scenar BTHP & all have shot well.

Of these bullets The Barnes 100gr TTSX and the Hornady 129 gr SP would get the nod from me. Have don't the 129 gr SP over the H4895 and liked Lever-evolution better as a propellant.

65grendel.com is the place to research this cartridge.

I'm loading for one in an 18" barrel AR (upper purchased from Grendel Hunter). It prefers the 120 Ballistic Tip to any other bullet I've tried so far. For powder, BL-C(2) and TAC do the best for me.

Was just looking at Barnes load data and was a bit surprised to see that RL 15 is a top accuracy load for the 100 gr TTSX.

http://www.65grendel.com/forum/show...oads-with-chrono-data&highlight=TTSX

http://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/6.5GrendelForWeb.pdf

In addition to the links above:

https://www.speer-ammo.com/download...65mm_264_dia/65_Grendel_Gold_Dot_120.pdf

https://sierrabulletsblog.com/2017/11/16/sierra-bullets-6-5-grendel-load-data/

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle -- (They have data on the Grendel, you just have to select it off the drop down box.)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ7ZytKrmCQnRp9LXXxinJQ -- (This guy has extensive video's on loading different combinations in the 6.5 Grendel)

After action report: We tried AR Comp and the Nosler ABLR 129 grain with not very good results. The only brass we used was Hornady once fired fl resized and Federal primers. Switched to SRB 118 (28.5 grains), and seated the bullets a little deeper 2.235 vs 2.250 and group size shrank to sub MOA with about 3 inches lower POI at 200 yards vs 100. Factory 123 SST shows pretty decent MOA groups, but we are early in the proceess and need to shoot more groups to see if the SRB 118 remains consistent. Chrony is out of commission so the velocity is unknown.

Still shooting the SRB 118 powder load with Nosler ABLR 129 grain loads listed above. If we set for zero at 200 it is about 9 to 10 down at 300 and holds its sub moa, and with no problem will burst milk jugs shooting 300 yards from the truck hood off a bag of corn. It's a Sanders upper 1-8 and for redneck hog control it shoots the lights out. I realize we haven't proven out a benchrest quality weapon but for a good low recoiling rifle to tear into multiple swine scattering in an every hog for himself escape it is the ticket. If anybody has a supply of the SRB 118 powder for sale, let me know. Thanks and God bless.

I have been working on loads for my 18" 6.5 Grendel. If you would like to see the results, go to my website at https://theolddeerhunters.com/65-grendel-rifle/
The Grendel is a hog killing machine

Just went to the range today and got excellent results with 30gr of LVR and 120gr ELDMs! 20" barrel.

120 ballistic tip and 27.2grs H4895 from my Howa mini.

Just finishing a AR15 6.5 Grendel 18" 1/8 barrel and experimenting with X-8208 and 2520 with bullets in the 120-123 range and liking the 2520 a wee bit more.

AA 2520 ended up my powder choice also.

http://www.alexanderarms.com/images/pdfs/grendel_reloading-2018.pdf