My Dad is interested in buying a CZ 527 in 6.5 Grendel.

Any experience with this rifle?
Any good/bad experiences with this cartridge?

All Good!

Outstanding combo. I haven’t looked, but good luck finding one. They have been discontinued and I think people who have them know that and like them.
The Grendel was a revelation for me. It knocks stuff down.

Did find one.

Dont discount the Howa 1500 Mini actions. They are very lightweight. The Carbon stalker is several ounces less than 5 lbs.

Buy it!

Yes.

Though I already had and sold off one of those, I absolutely recommend you buy it immediately, and grab some magazines while you can. The sale of mine was prompted by a number of things, but it was a very nice rifle, unlike almost anything remaining on the market anywhere near the price.

I have one of the Howas, tricked out with custom bottom metal and stock, and a Carbon Stalker .223, and those are great options if the CZ eludes you. Great round, all almost anyone needs in the East.

My old high school buddy (from the 60s) builds uppers and had several laying around in 6.5 Grendel. I thought I might enjoy fooling around with it so got one. The only bullets I had available were 129 grainers and only had 4 pieces of brass. So, after the dies arrived, I reformed a bag of 7.62X39 R-P brass that had small primers. The first 3 shot group was well under MOA and almost every group since has been as well. The confounded thing just wants to shoot well with anything I put in it.

I have decided that I need to take my first deer with it this year. I look forward to seeing if it kills as well as it shoots. From everything I've read, it should!

BTW, that CZ 527 should be a doozie!

You need to PM Rockchucker. He's been slaying the deer with a 6.5 Grendel this fall.

think I have four chambered in 6.5 Grendel all for different reasons if you understand the cartridge you'll be just fine. if you try to make it into a big Magnum well don't. appreciate it what it's for low recoil and high performance in its own area of usage.
chambered in the correct weapon can be very accurate also after all it's pretty much a big bore 6 mm ...PPC

One of those gun writers published an article on the 6.5 Grendel in the past year or so....

I took one myself. 120gr Gold Dot.

The combo certainly gets style points. I love my 527 Grendel, glad I bought it. The right load should be good to about 400 yards on deer per ballistic calculations... unfortunately I don't hunt often enough to give validation of that.

Yeah, that's why my Dad bought the rifle, he's a bit recoil shy, not interested in using a big boomer for hunting

I have a CZ 527 American chambered in 6.5 Grendel. I like it a lot. It’s a sample of one and the only round that I’ve shot in it is factory Hornady 123 SST. It isn’t a tack driver. Probably 1.5” five shot 100 yard groups are the norm. It’s a nice old school bolt rifle IMO. I was lucky enough to buy it shortly before the closeout and before prices went up. I wish that I had bought a few more in other chamberings.

That mirrors my 527 Grendel experience. Very nice rifle, but not a tackdriver with either factory or handloads. Tinkered with the barrel bedding, but when the Fieldcraft appeared, I bailed for that. Even sold my stash of Accubond LRs, which I had to replace when I dove back in with a $359 Howa that outshot the CZ straight out of the box, by a good bit. That Howa earned some pricey upgrades.

FWIW, I was poking about on GB and GI yesterday and found a lot of 527s. Left-handed ones are still pretty cheap, but the rest start at around a grand for the most part, and go up. I have some renewed interest, kinda-sorta in them as I just bought a unit that allows 527 mags in a Howa mini. Works well, and unlike the real 527s, you can drop one on the top and close the bolt on it.

That's too bad I'm up in Canada, their isn't many 527 LH around.

A couple of things to look for accuracy-wise for the 527.

I’d start by bedding the recoil lug and the tang.

Second, when you remove the barreled action from the stock, the magazine release just floats inside its little space between the magazine and the stock. It can move out of wack just a hair when you reassemble, which is kind of a PITA, and put pressure on the magazine. If that happens you can expect some associated effect on accuracy.

Mine was about 1.5 MOA out of the box. Those two changes/points of concern were addressed and the rifle is easily sub-MOA for 5 shot groups now.

The Jefferson Outdoor CZ mag conversion unit I have in my Mini has a captive release, far better than the one in the 527.

I have two 527 Grendel’s and I was shooting them the other day and was able to just drop the rounds on top and close the bolt no issues. I’ve got a 22 and 17 Hornet as well and those I have to load in the magazine.

Lucky you. Mine most definitely wouldn’t.

Don’t think I’ve seen any Grendels for sale. Others seem priced based on the cartridge they take.

Just looking Honey, honest!

Its simple. Its a 6.5 ppc. Thats how Arne started it.

If a gun won't shoot it accurately its either a bad gun or ammo not put together very well at all. PPC are accurate.

I"ve shot a lot of them. Did some of the initial testing for Arne at 600 yards as a target round it it worked well for its application.

I only own one, a horrible cheap bear creek upper that cost 209 dollars. Its been 100 percent reliable and I've not shoot anything through it at 100 so far thats been over 1.25 inch group.

I look at mine as a modern replacement for the 30/30 niche...

bullets from 85 grain HPs to 140 SPs, instead of just a 150 or 170 grain bullet...

last 3 seasons I've found myself grabbing that rifle when I head out the door...

a 100 grain Ballistic Tip, is a flat shooting game getter out of the Grendel..

we can only take on deer a season here, but I've had one fall to a 100 grain Ballistic Tip and one to a 140 grain Speer SP..
both under 150 yds, but the same rifle and scope combo will ring steel at 300 and 400 yds, over at the local range quite easily...

How do the 6.5 140s perform in the Gendel?

I have not hunted with them in the Grendel, but I have used the old 140 Sierra Gameking for fireform loads and it appears capable of duplicating the 6.5 Mannlicher-Schoenauer's performance. And a read of the history of that round indicates pretty good hunting results! I bet that bullet holds together pretty well at Grendel speeds - getting it to expand would probably be the greater concern.
Interesting thread,
Rex

I’d been curious as well - great thought to ponder Rex. I’m sitting on some 6.5/140 NPT and wasn’t sure if they’d be a fit in the Grendel…rethinking that now.

for me 130 Sierra game changers have very good ..

3 down with 123 eld-m so far

Several questions asked on the 140s...

Figure an equivalent of a 30/30, but using much more aerodynamic bullets.. MV was about 2150 fps out of a Ruger Predator barrel. Deer taken down was a big bodied Blacktail, that was running away from me... but when it stopped to look back to see where the does were, that had been near him, that is where I put the crosshairs on him just behind his shoulder. He was at a slight uphill incline from where I was....

Distance was 125 yds approximately. Bullet hit right behind shoulder, and him being uphill from me, it came out on the lower side of its neck.
The hit was immediately DRT. Funny, he was standing by a track made by a skidder ( think tractor tire). He fell over into that, about a 6 inch deep track. So instant DRT, and he landed on his back... so he was a cartoonish, 4 hoofs sticking straight up in the air.

Test of one.. but it had no question of its lethality.. plowed thru about 11 to 12 inches of deer anatomy, and exited, and dug itself into the hillside.

Im my mind the appeal of the Grinner is length and fitting a AR, or a short BA. The 6.5 is a great bullet and as of late getting the appreciation it deserves, but if your going to make the leap to a 3" long cartridge, then why not the 6.5 x 55? Certainly much better performance than the Mannlicher.

I was well on the way to a 6.5 G, however it came to light and I am under the impression the short fat case does not lend itself to the heavier bullets that are available in a 6.5.

I suppose it really depends on what you have in mind to hunt with it, personally I don't think I would hunt a moose with a 6.5 Grendel, but I would use a 6.5 x 55.

I ended up building a 6 arc as I think i can use the full range of 6mm bullets and 108g should be fine for deer.

Nice thing is I have a 6.5x55 A lefty zastava. Dad isn't worried about shooting large game, he likes how the grendel doen't have much recoil.

What is the parent case on the 6 ARC ?

As a general comment, I pointed out in the last sentence of my Handloader article that "based on considerable hunting experience with mild .25s and 6.5s—including the .250 Savage and 6.5x54 Mannlicher-Schoenauer—the 6.5 Grendel will make some meat."

This is because the 6.5 Grendel can duplicate the basic ballistics of those cartridges--and several others in between.

all started with the 220 Russian from which the PPC came then the Grendel and now the ARC ,

Thanks.

Picked up a Grendel upper a few weeks ago and have had a ball playing with it. I've worked up a good load with it using 129 gr bullets (all I had on hand to start with) and have been chomping at the bit to kill a deer with it.

I had it out a couple of days ago to check out the new Brass Goat I bought to keep from having to chase brass and chose to pull out my 1903 M-S to check the zero while out at the range. I mainly wanted to see if my 6.5X54 loads using 156 gr Norma and 160 gr Hornady bullets shot to the same POI.

The Goat worked beautifully and the Grendel shot a group just under MOA which it does much of the time. The Mannlicher-Schonauer put four shots (two each of the different bullets) into almost exactly one inch. Couldn't help but think of your comment in the article, and again above, about the closeness of the performance of the two even though they were created 100+ years apart. If my M-S would feed pointed bulets so I could use 129s or 140s, their performances would be even closer!

With my Ruger Predator, I picked up some synthetic 10 round 223 mags, meant for an AR. They work just fine with the Grendal case.

With a 140 grain SP, I use 29 grains of W 748, and seat the bullet to fit the mag. I do crimp it so that the powder doesn't slowly push the 140 gr bullet out of the case. But it feeds just fine in the bolt action Ruger Predator, just as easily as a 100 grain bullet would. I use 29 grains of W 748 for that load also....

Late to the testing game, but a stiff charge of AR Comp also works real well, and even turns in tighter groups...

With almost any bullet & powder combination, the Ruger is giving me 3 shot groups much smaller than an inch.

the smallest groups, seem to come with RL 7, 3031, AA2015, AR Comp, W 748, H 322, Benchmark, IMR 4198.. other powders still yield under an inch.. seems any small rifle primer, it also digests those making little tiny groups...

The Ruger is more accurate than almost any cartridge you'd usually take out hunting deer.

With the right scope and reticle, Steel plates at 400 yards are no real problem.

It does a lot and without much recoil. a 243 recoils more than the Ruger Predator in the Grendal...if I use standard factory loads
which I usually don't use... 30 grains of RL 7 or 4198 is my most common charge I use on my handloads for the 243s. with bullet weights from 70 TNT to 100 grain Hornady or Sierra SPs...30 grain of powder in the 243, recoils about the same as the Grendal does. regardless of bullet weight.

I also have a cheap BCA 6.5 Grendel upper that is the host for my thermal. Killed a bunch of hogs with it, some with 123 grain ELD-M but I've switched to 95 gr V-max over Benchmark. The V-max has done fine on the hogs and I've swapped to a regular scope to try it on deer this year.

Hey Guys, we use a grendel and hand loaded 100G Barnes TTSX with awesome results on hogs and deer. They are like hens teeth to find!

Get some here if you want:

100g TTSX Barnes

You're welcome

From a Canadian perspective, you will probably find Hornady bullets easier to find here right now. You said on another thread that you were reloading for this and that your father was recoil shy. As the others have said, this cartridge works and is gentle on the shoulder.

A couple of suggestions. If you can, stick with the 100 to 120 grain bullets. Personally, I'm happy with the 120 gr. Sierras, but am always on the lookout for whatever is out there . I found the 140s to be a bit long, but you will know what works for you. Unfortunately, with the current supply shortages, you pretty much have to use what you can get. Higginson Powders is a good source. They are the Hornady distributor for Canada.

http://higginsonpowders.com/index.html

Normally, they have a good supply, but this business has been suffering with the same supply issues as everyone else. You can pick from their product menu, but it's best to email for availability. They accept credit cards and EMTs.

I have only used four bullets from mine. The Sierra 120 gr Pro Hunter, and three Hornady offerings. Two years ago, I managed a whitetail with the Sierra. A few coyotes with the 95 gr Hornadys. I am not using a CZ. I have a single shot TC Encore with a 24 inch barrel.

You might want to check in with Budget Shooter Supply as well. https://budgetshootersupply.ca They have good prices and sometimes will surprise you with what is in stock.

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the links. The prevous owner of the rifle had worked up a load using 120 gr. Nosler BT, see how those work?

Yeah, pretty much buy when you have the chance right now.

Which is closely related to the 7.62x39 short Russian.

No problem. I cannot wait until these shortages are over.



You bet. I think the Grendel is an improvement on the 7.62x39 and fun to shoot!

Cut down a Howa Mini for my 10 year old grandson, he has fired twice, taken two deer. 100 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips in front of Benchmark. Does not slap him and he shoots it lights out. No tracking so far, not huge deer but for a slight build youngster it seems to be the perfect choice.

He wants to go shoot every time he can, and that I think is the operative reason to keep him using this rifle for the time being.

Ringer hooked me up with some 129 gr. ABLRs, they have been unobtanium for me but I now have a 100 to work with when the current production stash of BTs run out.

i would think the 120 bt at grendel velos would be the stuff. i have some factory loaded 120 bt,123 sst and 123 eldm to try out once my scope comes in for the CZ. if i handloaded i know what bullet i'd go with.....it'd be a 100 grain bt.
Big Ed

If you could find the 100 gr BT! I looked for the 120’s for months before I found them! I wouldn’t mind trying the 100’s myself. Hunting at Texas hill country distances sure doesn’t require a ballistic coefficient!

I had the exact same experience with mine using the Hornady 123g SST's. Switched to Nolser 120g Ballistic Tip and it IS a tack driver. Shoots well under an inch with the Nosler ammo. My new shop will be finished out this spring and I'll put the virgin Star Line brass to use then. Gonna try the Speer 120g Gold Dots. I hear good stuff about those.

So far this season I’m 3 for 3 on white tails with my CZ-527 6.5 Grendel. I hunt in south west Mississippi which lends to closer shots typically less than 100 yards. Each deer required only one shot, 2 had a short death dash of ~ 30 yards, 1 DRT collapsed in their track. The bullet exited on all three. No tracking required when that white belly is so easy to see from where you shot them at. I find it a joy to shoot, very effective and can’t imagine needing more gun for where and what I’m hunting. I highly recommend the CZ-527 6.5 Grendel combination for a pleasant, effective deer hunting combination. I can’t speak to using it on heavier game. I have been using it for 5 seasons now and can’t imagine needing more gun. I do occasionally use other rifles since I have them but keep coming back to the little CZ as my favorite hunting rifle.

My daughter has taken several deer with her Howa Mini 6.5 and the Federal Fusion 120 grain factory ammo. No complaints at all.