Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 6.5 Grendel - 123-129gr but what powder?

So I picked up a 6.5 Grendel in Ruger Ranch. 123gr SST & 129gr Hornady Interlock on the loading shelf I’ve got lots of different powders but not TAC or XBR which seem to fit best.

What burn rate would work best? Looking like 3031, 4064, RL15, Varget might do ok but would enjoy opinions. It’s a new round to me that I hope to start my daughter on and I don’t know it’s sweet spot for this bullet weight

Done quite a bit of research but haven’t found any conclusive info

Thanks!

I use benchmark and H322 successfully with 120-123gr bullets

I'm getting ready to do the same thing. I think I'm going to try some 107 TMK's and the 123 SST's. I will probably try TAC, Benchmark, and maybe AA2520.

Any of the following should work for those bullet weights. I have plenty of TAC so that's what I use.

CFE223
A2520
Benchmark
BLC-2
Power Pro Varmint
H4895
Varget
AR Comp
LeveRevolution

AA 2520

I like Leverevolution a lot but I also favor a bolt action; LVR is not formally tested / posted on Hodgdon's site though. Probably whatever the 6 ARC uses and favors for a given sd (I don't think the Grendel had the money behind it as much for testing). Or just buy some Hornady custom in 123 SST- that oughta do fine though I like the idea of Fusion / Gold Dot better.

I've been working my Ruger American Predator pretty hard this past year doing load developments across the board in Bullet weights...85 Grain to 140s.

I've got plenty of candidates of powder types I have been working with.... and they all work well....

But for my top choices...in no particular order..

1. H 322
2. Benchmark
3. AR Comp
4. W 748..

The 140s shine with W 748 and then AR Comp...

The 120s shine with AR Comp and Benchmark

100s and down, AR Comp, Benchmark and H 322....

123s to 130 grains, W 748, then AR Comp....

But a Grendal is like a 223 case.... its harder to find something that won't work well in it, than it is to find what is actually THE BEST.

OH and something I learned, that Ruger wouldn't tell me.... I have found a host of After Market Polymer 10 round 223 AR Mags, work JUST FINE with the Grendal case.. feed fine and no jams.....a old Marine Buddy tossed me one from one of his half dozen ARs and told me to give that a try... it worked like a champ... and so have the 5 or 6 other ones I have picked up....

H4895 has been great in mine

H335, A2460, and 748 Win all shot well in mine with bullets from 90-123gr. Never tried anything heavier than a 123 through it.

Figure these guys know the loads that work

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