Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles QL, 6.5 Grendel, 100 gr Partition & CFE223

Looking for a good load for the 100 grain partition in my little 6.5 Grendel. Tried H4895 (didn’t chrono) first. Accuracy was not what I was looking for. One charge weight did yield a 1” group, or a touch over. Hoping for better….

I have some CFE223 on hand and it seems to be be of the better velocity producers n the Grendel, according to QL, so decided to try it. After some deliberation, I decided to bump max pressure in QL from SAAMI of 52000 psi to 55000, whether wise or unwise. Anyway, that appeared to enable 2800 fps with this bullet up around max, again, according to QL.
Loaded up 3 each of 4 different powder charges, hoping to SAFELY find accuracy around 2800 fps.

I go to the range and shoot lightest powder charge, about 2 grains below my max, expecting to see 2700ish, and the chrono reads 2948 fps!! That corresponds to nearly 10000 psi higher pressure than expected from QL. No sticky bolt, or any concerning signs on brass. I decided to shoot the other 2 and average of the 3 was 2925.

I’ve worked with QL a enough that I was comfortable with what I loaded. However, this was easily the largest difference I’ve seen between measured and QL prediction.

I guess the good news is that should be able to get to 2800 without blowing anything apart, but I’ve got work to do to try to get QL calculations aligned with results.

I have a CZ 527 in 6.5 Grendel and I've found that Leverevolution generates slightly better velocities than CFE223.
Like you I've pushed pressures on my 6.5 Grendel loads, but nothing too crazy according to simulation programs.
33.0 grains of LVR and a 100 gr. Nosler BT will get you to 2900 fps.

The Hornady 123gr. Amax factory ammo clips along at just under 2600 fps in my rifle.

You’ve got more barrel length then me. The factory 123 SST was 2450 out of my rifle.

I keep looking for LVR & H322 but haven’t scored any yet. I’d prefer to find an accurate load with one of Hodgdon’s extreme powders.

I've gone as far as 29.5 gr. of Benchmark for 2750 fps with a 100 gr. Nosler BT.
According to Hodgdon 29.9 gr. is the max load at 2739 fps @ 50K psi
I've also tried 29.0 of IMR 8208 which pushed the 100 gr. NBT out at 2730 fps.

This is where I got my data mostly loaded 120-123 gr with AA 2520

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

a 100 grain Partition is a great bullet to shoot out of a Grendel for deer hunting...

had a batch of 10 loaded up for this past season, with 28 grains of 3031..

sadly no volunteers to test it out.. but no doubt it would be great...

same bullet sure worked great out of a 260 Rem, at 3350s fps MV

the Grendals 3031 load was chronographed at 2700 fps.... so a reliable 250 to 300 yd load.

Good info. Thanks for sharing.

My niece killed a nice buck with mine using the factory 123 SST. As I said above, it was ~2450 fps at the muzzle n my rifle. She hit the deer almost perfectly, just behind right shoulder, at 115 yards with deer here slightly quartering away. The bullet separated, and the core exited near back of ribs on the opposite side. That was almost a 90 degree change of direction from the shot path. The deer went maybe 70 yards and died. Still, that didn’t give me the warm fuzzy for bullet performance.

I agree and I’m motivated to shoot something I trust a little more after the 123 SST experience noted above.

Hoping I can find a volunteer before our season is out also.

I'm getting 2806fps using the 100gr Partition and A2520 in my 22" Howa Grendel.

I’ve killed two deer - buck & a doe - using 100 gr. Partition out of 24” barrel CZ-527 6.5 Grendel. No issues - got complete penetration with exists through chest cavity and two dead deer. I was using 8208 with muzzle velocity ~ 2800 fps.

If you need a heavier bullet load...

I took a nice buck in 2020.. Ruger Predator Grendal....

140 grain Speer SP, 29 grains of W 748@ about 2200 fps ( so 30/30 speeds, but with a pointed SP bullet)

from the angle ( 100 to 125 yd shot), hit right shoulder.. came out lower left side neck... DOA....

Same load with a 129 gr Hornady SP is also a real capable load, deadly under 200 yds....