6.5 Grendel loads

Sprinkman

Sprinkman

Well-known member
I've been working up some new loads for the Grendel. These losds are rifle specific for a 16" barrel.
I'd been using H335 because it was all that I could find at the time. It worked, but to get good groups I had to load it a couple of grains hotter than Hodgdon specs. That made me nervous.
So, I found CFE 223 and Leverevolution. Both powders have given really good results.
CFE 223 has given me consistent groups of 3/4" at 100 yards. Velocity of 2548 or close to that, don't have it in front of me.
The Leverevolution produced a 5/8" group at 100 yards. The velocity was less than the CFE, but I don't remember what it was. It did shoot about 3/4" lower than the CFE.
Based on all this, I worked up some additional loads with the CFE and this is what I got:
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I wasn't able to get to the gun range, so these were shot at 50 yards. All pretty good results, but the 30.6 load seems to be the ticket. This is the thrid time the 30.6 load has been used with the same result each time.
I'm pretty new at reloading, but this looks like the load to go with.
Any comments, snide or otherwise, will be apprecited.
 
I tried CFE223 but stopped using it due to its temp sensitivity. It was ok for ballistics.
Given that you test & shoot near the same ambient temps, it shouldn't be a problem for you.

My goto for 6.5G and several similar volume cartridges is 8208 XBR, which is much better for temp sensitivity.
One of my 6.5G loads for 16" brl,: is Nosler BT 100 gn, 28.9 gn 8208, 1.515 2.240" COL => 2510 fps, ymmv
 
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8208 XBR is my go to for 6.5G as well. What bullet are you using? I switched to Sierra 130gr TGK. I had decent results with 123 sst and 90 varmageddon but those 130s seemed to group at every charge.

130gr TGKs, 25.8 gn 8208 same trim length as Bob, COAL of 2.260, CCI 450 primers. I shoot these out of my AR and bolt gun so it is a fairly mild load. I’m averaging 2268fps from a 20” barrel.
 
Another vote for Sierra 130gr TGK.
They group well from a 6.5G Howa Mini as well as a 6.5 CM Savage 10.
( corrected the typo above to COL 2.240" , tks rce77)
 
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There is a set of books dedicated to reloading the 6.5G, kind of handy "6.5 Grendel loading handbook Vol 1&2".

I shoot a 20" Mini Howa with 90gr Speer TNTs and Nosler 100gr Custom Competition HPs.

I also swage the Speers down to .260 for a 6.5x58 Rimmed Sauer and sohn.
 
I ordered those several months ago. They sent volume 1 and backordered volume 2. They told me the other day that it's still weeks out, no date given.
 
I prefer 8208 for almost all of my grendel loads, i have loads for 90gr varmageddon (shoots good 50/50 on being "fur friendly), 95gr vmax (shoots good, usually pretty fur friendly) 100gr nbt (shoots good, good all purpose load) 100gr barnes ttsx, (shoots ok, good round for deer killed one coyote with it) and 123 amax/eld shoots good, does good on deer.
Only one that doesn't use 8208 i think is the barnes, i use cfe223 in that one
 
I run a stiff load of XBR8208 behind 123 SMK's in my 12.5" at 2350 fps. I originally loaded it for my 20 BHW P3 and it get 2550 fps in that. Its 1/2 minutes accurate in both rifles.
 
The first powder I tried was TAC since I had an 8 pound jug. The results were good enough that i didn't try anything else. Excellent velocity and accuracy with Hornady 123 SSTs and Speer 120 gold dots.
 
Locally I haven't been able to find any 8208, so I went back to the LEVERevolution.
The CFE 223 gave me really good results and was consistent, but the temp sensitivity is a thing.
I loaded 123 grain SST's with 29.4 grains of LE and was able to get really nice groups with it. The best group was 7/16" at 100 yds. I haven't chronographed it yet, but the fps difference between the powders is minimal. I think I'll still be able to get 2400 fps or better. For coyotes, I'm good with that.
Once I run the crono I'll post those results.
 
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