6.5 grendel for deer???

http://www.65grendel.com/


http://www.65grendel.com/graphics/grendelballistics.pdf

for deer to varnmits that is...

kinda like a 260 rem

p.s. has anyone done a 40mm version of a 284 win? or other cals on a 40 mm 284??? the shorter 284 would be even better than the grendel with the power of the 308

They don't call it the Grendel for nothing.

The 6.5x47 Lapua = same results, easier to find an action.

KB

6.5x47= 95% or better any 260 or 6.5x55 in a short action and the difference is less the shorter the barrel.

Great brass, and is likely what I build if I do another 6.5, and I plan to do so.

Rumor re: Winchester mfg brass for Black Hills, if it happens, I may rethink, cheaper GOOD brass and dies. Rem 260 brass may be sub par for top accuracy as is.

6.5BR,
It's my understanding that the 6.5x47 uses a small rifle primer, perhaps the Grendel too. Is that correct?

If so, what effect does that have on the use of the cartridge as a hunting rifle for deer hunting?

KB

Good question, it has been asked if the small primer is a negative for cold weather, no downside from all reports.

Grendel is a good round, very close to 6.5BR, within 1.5 gr if not mistaken, BUT, uses PPC head on bolt face vs 308 size like the x47.

The x47 in a bolt gives much more range and flexibility and still good barrel life unlike the hot 264 mag, 6.5-06, and 6.5/284.

To me, a Grendel is what you want in an AR, DPMS is doing 260's in their AR platform, larger gun/heavier too.

BUT, in a bolt, the 260 and 6.5x47 would shine in short action, virtually duplicating the legendary reputation in the field that the 6.5x55 has on game. Use a 8 or 7.5 twist to shoot everything from 85's-160gr.

A grendel will do very well to 250-300 as far as trajectory, energy ok up to deer to 400 with shot placement. Add about 100 yds with x47 or larger 260 and 6.5x55. More speed, less error in field, esp. w/o ranging.

BTW, I too was contemplating the Grendel, until the x47 came out. Now, there is no decision for me, a no brainer, it's a x47 Lapua for what I want to do. Sure won't see many in the field!

see these sites, also keep in mind that wildcatters are necking 6.5x47 down and getting a great 6mm round....aka 6/6.5x47.

http://www.6mmhot.com/

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek073.html

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek072.html

These should answer most of what you need/want to know about what I feel are the next wave advancing beyond the 6mmBR. The 6.5x47 was designed to outshoot the 6BR (which has a GREAT reputation to 1000 yds) past 300 yds.

Heavy bullets in the 6mm version may better it yet. I love the 6.5, but the 6 is a great option, but for me, unless factory 6mmx47 Lapua were made, I'll do the 6.5 version.

Currently I use a 6BR and have taken deer to 400 yds with 105's. VERY accurate, and an amazing performer downrange with VLD bullets ie. Amax. Shot a .498 group at 330 yds, and that is with a Ruger #1 which many people on the board say won't shoot! Ha.

There you go Boomie. I think 6.5Br just about answered your question, plus some you didn't ask.

I became somewhat interested in the 6.5x47 Lapua when I discovered Lapua was making brass for it, but I was also skeptical, since Lapua also makes 6.5x284 brass, which I can not understand why it exists.

Anyway, I have a short action - push feed Winchester that I have been trying to decide what to do with. Since it's a push feed I sort of thinking I'll use the Rugers I have for the 308s, and use the Winchester for something unusual. Also, Shilen started making barrels in what they call Ratchet Rifling. I think it's 4 grove. I can't remember all the bores they make it in, but I know they offer .264 in 8" twist, and .308 in 13" twist.

I want to try one of each. I want to chamber in the 6.5x47 or perhaps the 260, and the other in 308 Winchester to use 165 gr bullets.

That remindes me of another question for 6.5BR. On the Winchester action, with the 6.5x47 obviously I'm not making it to compete with, but certainly I want as much accuracy as I can get - just to show off if nothing more. So my question is should I go with a moderately heavy barrel, say #6 or #7 contour, or a standard sporter contour such as a #3. Also, what length?

Thanks,
KB

Me personally, if not building a bull or heavy barreled gun, I want 20-22 for a short handling gun, in 6.5 bore, I'd go 22 or 23 with a taper that mikes .675 muzzle minimum, .700 very good, or up to a .725. Just depends on the weight you can get away with due to how much carrying you do if it is a hunting rifle. I Do like heavy barrels and use them when I know I am stand only hunting, but a good weight sporter above can give you some 'hold steady' weight, and if you are shooting from the bench, not heat up as bad as lighter guns, not that it is an issue in this round, but heavier equals less recoil as a side benefit, again NOT an issue ( I had a 6.5/308 aka 260, years ago, miked .750 at 23") call it med heavy, pleasant, accurate, did not heat fast, and could carry, but it was a little heavy for lots of carry, so

all that said, an all around in short 6.5 would do well with 23-24" as smaller bore with faster twist can gain some speed with a little more barrel, and still be portable. Love my 7mmBR .700 at 21", but I think I would do a 22.5-23.5 at between .675-.700 in 7.5 twist, could accept 8 twist, in 6.5x47, no qualms 8 twist in 260.

I can tell you that although many people want 'light guns' that I have never complained about the accuracy of my guns that had barrel contours at what you could call 'magnum contour sporter' or a tad larger. They heat slower, steady well and recoil less. BTW, a 23-24 will put blast a little further from your ears, and it will be a little less loud from burning a little more powder. If you bench shoot much, less blast, recoil, and cooler barrels will make you happier.

Last thought, IF you stand hunt only, a bull barrel in 24" would be very steady for long shots if you get them, and a good 260 or 6.5x47 pushing a 120-140gr at good speed will get you 400 yds or more on deer if you place your shot, read on longrangehunting.com guys using 260 with 140 amax to get 500-600 yds, but they use range finders, PRACTICE lots, and do so under ideal circumstances, with SOLID rests I am sure.

The 6.5's are plenty for most any deer hunting with decent bullet and shot placement. The 6.5x47, 260, and the grande ole 6.5x55 are very good rounds. The 260 I think is more peculiar with accuracy due to quality consistent brass availability and that may change. Necked down WW or Lapua 308 will get you good brass for that, as I myself don't and don't care to have to neck turn brass and sort. The 6BR above had no case sorting done, Lapua is that good, at least has been for me in that round.

It looks like you are really wanting that Win action (short), and honestly, a 6.5x47 being a tad shorter, will allow you to seat further out of the case, utilizing your powder capacity for feeding out of the magazine, and I think it will max the potential w/o OAL being an issue to fit and feed in magazine.

Let us know if you do one and how it turns out, I'd be surprised if you get a quality gunsmith to do it, that you don't easily get 1/2moa or better, which will make a SOLID hunting rifle. One you can enjoy, SQUEEZE w/o flinching, and make shots with ease. Good luck.

I have a 6.5 Grendel in a bolt gun. It is a CZ527 that used to be 7.62x39. Brockman's rebarreled it with a 19" Lothar Walther barrel that was free floated, set the trigger at 2.5 pounds, and then I topped in with a Burris 2X to 7X compact scope. It shoots nice, and is a dream to carry.

Regarding the 6.5x47 and the 260 (6.5x51), what would be the difference in rifles in each caliber? Don't they have the same bolt face, which would require the same size action, and hence the same size rifle? That is one difference the Grendel has, as it uses the PPC bolt face. I'm not trying to knock someone's choice of cartridge, but I don't see the difference between the 6.5x47 and 260 as being worth the trouble, especially if they have to use the same size action.

But, if Lapua brass, a small primer, and having something the next door neighbor does not are desirable traits, then fire away!!

Sounds like a nice set up! Tell us about the accuracy you get if you will, and the speed.

Also, yes both other 6.5's use same bolt face and fit in short actions, but the x47 can run the bullet out further and still fit in the action and magazine, so performance potential is not compromised as much, again, if there were QUALITY brass options for 260, then unless shooting matches, the only reason to use a x47 would be for having something different.

And I do that anyway...6BR, 7BR both in rifles.., 338/06, 41 mag, etc.

6.5BR, I've only shot factory rounds with 120 grain Nolser BTs as the projectile, and as I needed to conserve my ammunition for hunting season, once I got the rifle sighted in I quit shooting. I did not measure it, but of my last three shots, two were touching, and the other one was right there too, so I guess I had three shots in about an inch. I don't have a chronograph, so I can only assume the rounds met factory velocities for a 19" barrel.

The brass that I have for my Grendel is stamped Alexander Arms but is made by Lapua with a small primer. I hear Wolf is producing the 6.5 Grendel with a large primer, but i don't have any of that. I've always heard that Norma, Lapua and RWS make the best brass, and if the 260 brass that is available is crappy, then I hear you about going with the 6.5x47. And I also like having something that is not that common, which is why I have the Grendel and a 9.3x62. My German Shorthair is named Grendel, and when I found out there was a rifle cartridge with the same name, I had to get one...

6.5BR

Yes a longer barrel would be a little quieter but thats because the blast is farther away from your head. Its proven that all powder is burned within several inches from the chamber, so a longer barrel will do nothing for complete powder burn.

I shoot the venerable 6.5X55 and i love that round. Will put em down quick and efficiently and have only shot one deer where the bullet did not completely penetrate. That was a 140gr Speer hot-core, needless to say i wont be shooting that bullet any more. The 129gr Hornady S.P. is a good all around bullet for cartridges of the swede's velocity range.Now im shooting the 130gr TSX and cant wait to see what that will do on tough shots.

Sir: I respectfully have to disagree, I have heard the same about all powder burned.....BUT, velocity goes up as the bbl gets longer, and whether the barrel is closer to your ears or not, I think the guns are louder with shorter barrels measured at the muzzle......someone jump in and give me some facts....

Johnyreb, I have heard mixed feedback on 260 brass.....but I think either it is inconsistent OR results have been inconsistent from lot to lot, some say its not bad from Remington, others say different. I have had some good results with Rem, but often WW brass has been much better, and Lapua just rocks.

If the Grendel, x47, OR 260 ever become widespread in military use, you can bet the brass supply for 'plinking grade cheap brass, and ammo for that matter' would be plentiful, and more ammo choices available. The 260 is home grown, and too good to die....I hope, but the INDUSTRY is going to determine it's fate in my opinion. It and the 6.5/284 not counting bore life, should be the standard sniper round in my opinion, light recoil, flatter than 308, and highly penetrating with correct ammo. But it will take a lot of doing to unroot the 223 and 308, as it would be a massive transition.