I have been reading about the 6.5 Grendel and I want to try an AR for my daughter. She has been using a 300 blackout, but we’ve passed a couple bucks over 100 yards because I’m concerned about bullet performance. I am all ears on recommendations on a 6.5 Grendel upper or complete rifle. I don’t want spend more than $1k. An ar works great for her because I we can adjust the stock to fit her.

I bought a complete upper from Palmetto a while back. It shoots 10 shot groups with scenars under an inch consistently. Function is great. If I had to do it over again I think I would opt for an 18" over the 20" but the 20 was in stock on sale. I'm sure there are better barrels and uppers out there but I'm pretty happy with this one.

Thanks for reply, I will probably go that route. I’m wanting an accurate, reliable, low recoiling rifle that she can use another year or so until we move to a bolt action.

What bullets are you shooting out of the blackout? 125 ballistic tips have worked very well on deer out to the low 200s. CNS with subs prove quite effective as well, though the ELDs are atrocious fragmenters even at low velocity.

Last year we used 125 grain Nosler ballistic tip factory ammo. It is very accurate, but her rifle would “hang up” on the second or third shot. She killed her first deer with them. Her gun cycles all Hornady ammo ranging from 110-208 perfectly. I’ve shot quite a few hogs with subs and they are great for head shots, but suck anywhere else unless you can pump several into them before they run out of sight. She’s killed two bucks this year with Hornady 110 vmax with great results, just no blood trail. I’m liking my 9 year son’s tikka 6.5 cm, every deer he’s shot has been a complete pass through except for a Texas heart shot he made a week ago on a trophy buck. Those .264 bullets dig. So that’s why I’m interested in the Grendel, plus I can adjust the stock on an ar to fit my 7 year old daughter perfectly. I’m going to buy her a bolt gun just like her brothers, but I’m going to get a Grendel too. I made my daughter pass a pretty good buck this year at 240 yards. I think the extra juice with the Grendel and the sectional density of the 6.5 will handle a 250 yard shot.

I may buy a barrel, gas block, tube, and a couple magazines and swap parts on what I’ve got. But, I don’t know much about them when there are problems, so a good reliable factory upper is probably better for me. I’d like any info I can get on the Grendel. Thanks.

Yes, easily with the right bullet. As with any lower powered round, bullet selection is key. Something like the 129 Accubond Long Range will do everything you want in the Grendel, even from a short barrel. Only downside is the cost, but you can use other bullets for most of your/her practice.

There's not a whole lot more to say about the Grendel that hasn't already been discussed here recently. A few key points to summarize:
- Use Grendel magazines, not 5.56 mags.
- It works well out of 12.5" barrels or 26" barrels, and anywhere in between. The short barrels work just fine for deer hunting.
- The ballistics start out similar to 7.62x39, but retain a lot more down range due to very streamlined bullets.
- Modern sleek high-b.c. bullets are part of the Grendel's magic, using more traditional blunt nosed soft points loses some of that.

I shot an antelope this year at 278 yds with a Nosler 125gr BT. It was a longer shot than I wanted to take, but she went down none the less. The first shot was thru the back part of the right lung. She did get up about 4 minutes later and a shot thru the neck finished her. I overcompensated for the wind on the first shot and hit too far back. No bullets were recovered as they both went thru. Mine is a 16" Alex Arms.


I can't figure out how to reduce the picture size to get it to post here.

You can build a nice Grendel AR platform by purchasing all the parts and it is a good round for deer out to 300 yds without a hitch. I have both a Ruger Grendel bolt and AR. Now I’m able to push the bolt action a bit faster than my AR. You can get into group buys on the 6.5 Grendel forum. For the 300 BO it’s hard to beat the 110 grain Barnes and is pretty flat shooting out to 200 yds.

A CZ 527 6.5 Grendel has been my deer getting rifle for the last 4 years. Lots of other fine calibers to choose from and the 6.5 Grendel has become my favorite caliber for pursuing deer. As for loads all Hand loads - 123 gr SST, 100 gr TTSX & 123 gr Lapua Scenaro have all got the job done. The 100 gr TTSX may be my favorite bullet that I have tried yet.

My next build will either be a 243 LBC (6mm Grendel) or a 6x6.8 SPC. I like the 6mm's better.

Dan

I bought a complete upper from Grendel Hunter last year and am happy with it. It averages around MOA or better - the Nos 120 BT shoots the best of what I've tried so far. TAC and BL-C(2) have been the best powders in mine.

The wife and I both shoot AR-15's chambered in 6.5 Grendel. Hers an 18" 1-8 twist stainless and mine a 20" 1-9 twist chrome-moly barrel. Both rifles are easily sub MOA. We use the 100 gr. Nosler BT and Benchmark powder. Works good on deer. Also load a 90 gr. TNT on top of Benchmark for coyotes. Very accurate and put coyotes down quick. I think you will like it.

This is an awesome cartridge IMHO

I started playing with a cheap upper and am waiting for a Ruger Pred
I have lots of 6.5 bullets and another cool way to use them

Hank

If you want to shoot heavier match bullets, go 6mm Grendel for sure. I went with a 24" 243 LBC, and am pushing 95gr VLDs @ 2900 and 105 BTHP @ 2800, both seem to work really well.

Get a bolt and 20" barrel via the group buy section of 65grendel dot com. Have it swapped into the 300BO. Tools to assemble ARs ran me about $100, but I wouldn't expect to pay that much to have smith do the work since it is so quick and simple.

I purchased the 20” and bolt on that group buy and it is showing a lot of promise! Sub MOA groups at 100yds, will be taking it out to 300 yds this weekend. It’s a fun gun to shoot. Have RAP also and that one is very accurate.

Bought a 6.5 Grendel barrel , upper , and components from site below, put it together on my lower very accurate and reliable.

https://www.ar15part.com/6-5-Grendel-Upper-s/1908.htm