Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles 6.5 Grendel loads for deer sized game

Out of the hundreds of 6.5 Grendel loads people have shared, what's you favorite handload and factory ammo for deer sized game?

David, you've probably seen me mention the 129 ABLR for this, I like that one over a healthy dose of Lever. The operating range of that bullet is pretty ideally suited to the Grendel.

I have not killed deer with any of the 123's yet but would be willing to use either the ELDM or SST, but others can report more accurately on those. I have not worked with the 100 or 125gr Partition at all but would consider them if the 129 ABLR were not available.

130gr Berger, 129gr ABLR, 123gr ELD-M and SST.

I like them all terminally.

I haven't shot a deer yet with mine, but it shoots the Nos 120 BT better than anything I've tried and is what I'd use. BL-C(2) and TAC are the powders that work best for me.

I've shot 2 deer last year using the 123gr Hornady SST and 29gr of 748. It chronographed at 2450 fps out of a 20" barrel. The range was less than 100 yds, but the results and tissue damage appeared comparable to my 7mm-08 I have used for years at that distance. Very consistent and accurate with or without my suppressor, but had to adjust gas block and rezero when I added the suppressor. Accuracy was the same maybe a little better. I used 748 powder simply because I had a lot I wanted to use up, worked well enough I didn't really see the need to try anything else. I was curious about CFE-223, but haven't tried it yet, really like it in the 5.56/.223 cartridge. One of the deer was a 190 lb field dressed buck, didn't go far after the shot. This is becoming my favorite deer gun and caliber.

Those LRABs are spendy!

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010504851?pid=137565&cm_vc=S014

As opposed to the Sierra 130 Game Changer

I am liking the 120 grain bullet of your rifles choice with a 31.5 grain charge of leverevloution.

We have used this combo in 3 rifles 18 in.and 2 20 in.

I might use the 120 grain Gold Dot this year.
It really hangs together on 200+lb.hogs.
Even when shot in the shield.

When picking your bullets, remember you are limited to COL in the AR magazine. Not so much maybe in a bolt gun I guess. My max COL is 2.275" in the magazines I'm using and that is all I can get. That's one reason I settled on the SST 123s.

I get the seconds or overruns from Nosler's Shooters Pro Shop, usually about half price.

I wouldn't consider any other tipped bullet a substitute for the ABLR; it's designed to work in a lower velocity range (hence the LR part of the name) than other more conventional bullets, which fits the Grendel perfectly, especially the short barrels.

I have never fired a single 6.5 Gren factory round. But I had the very best results in killing antelope and deer with the 125 grain Nosler Partitions. I used various powders and weights depending on the gun and the barrels I used, but on game the results were as good as I could ask for.

Have seen what you ask for. LOL. But it does work.

My experience with my 6.5 Grendel is limited to Hornady 123 gr .ELDM. Though they are a match bullet, I would not hesitate to shoot a deer or similar thin skinned animal with them. I'll be honest, thou my time with my 6.5 Grendel has been limited, it's quickly becoming my favorite gun to shoot.

Hornady Black 123 ELD performs great on deer.

Hornady 129 GR SP is about as reasonable price as 6.5 projectiles come & is one of the most impressive Grendel bullets I Have tried. Again over a Healthy compress load of LVR. Fastest Grendel load of any bullet weight I have seen or tried load in the Grendel. I feel this bullet and LVR were made for the Grendel. The flat base bullet allows for more fuel in the furnace.

I abandoned the 6.5 Grendel for the 6mm version before I could ever put the 6.5 to work, but this is how I saw the problem also. The 129 ABLR seems to be taylor made for the Grendel.

After seeing how the 120TTSX works at 2,800 from a lightly-loaded 7mm-08 carbine, I'd be tempted to try the 100gr 6.5mm at roughly that same speed from a 20" Grendel, if I owned one.

Damn, you guys are going to keep on till I rebarrel my 6.8 over to 6.5 and do the associated other changes. I have regretted not picking the Grendel from the git-go. My 6.8 has killed a few deer though...

Whitaker's has the Howa Mini youth 6.5 Grendel again...

^^^

Which is actually where the Grendel makes the most sense to me.....small, handy bolt gun with some extra mag space.

I shot this sow last Sunday with the Howa Mini 6.5 G Youth Model. Used a factory 90 Gr Federal TNT at 25-30 yards and dropped her. Estimated 250 # plus. Damage in neck was significant. I think it would work on deer but definitely under 100 yards.