6.5 Grendel shooters

[Don Lovel]

I have a 20" AR in 6.5 Grendel. 2nd one I have built. It shoots good. Killed 3 deer last fall with the Nosler factory 120gr Ballistic tips. Great ammo but expensive.
I want to work up a handload with 125gr Nosler Partition as close to 2500fps as I can push it out of the 20" barrel. I am not sure of what powder to try.
I want to try the 130gr TTSX too.
My gun shoots good even with Wolf steel 100gr

 

[Mobuck]

Well Don, you're well ahead of me. I have 2x 6.5 Grendels and neither of them is remotely accurate with the WOLF steel. I'm not sure what you wish to gain from the 125 Partition but I personally would not have much confidence in the TTSX producing satisfactory terminal performance except at close ranges. Why? Because I tested several of those 'expanding solid' type bullets in the 6.5 Creedmoor and saw very disappointing results.
Best results I've had on deer with 6.5 Grendel were with Hornady 123 SST factory loads. As you mentioned: both expensive AND hard to find.

 

[JCK]

2,500fps is going to be a stretch with a 20" barrel. 2,400fps is more realistic. I would direct my attention to the 100gr Partition. 1,900fps is the typically agreed to expansion threshold for the Partitions.
If/when Nosler makes another run of them, I'll actually break down and drop $1.00+ per bullet to try some.
Over at 6.5Grendel forum, there is a lot of attention to LVR for 120gr+ loads. That, and Acc2520.

 

[Mobuck]

I got lucky and scored 2 1/2 boxes of Hornady 123 SST ammo last week. Added to my previous stash, this will last me/us 4-5 years of meat deer harvest. Solid performer out to 200 yards with less meat destruction than even the 6.5 Cr or 7mm08.

 

[Mobuck]

I got even luckier(is that a real word?) and scored a CASE of Hornady 123 SST ammo from SG Ammo. Maybe I'll pick up a Ranch carbine this summer??

 

[krw]

I have had several 6.5 Grendels. Had 2 bolt Grendels. I have never got published velocity's out of them. Had 18" and 12.5" AR uppers also. Sold them too. Currently have a 20" Lilja bbl'd upper. Only reason I still own it is I can't recoup my money on it. Hard for me to shoot a Grendel when I have 2 custom 260's that will absolutely hammer 123 SMK's. When I think I gonna covey shoot deer I go ahead and break out the POF 308