6.5 Grendel, what would best deer bullet be?

ZX10Aviator · January 31, 2012, 11:27 AM

Going to start reloading for my Grendel, not sure what would be best, I know not many people know this round but Im torn between the 100gr and 120gr bullets, I prefer barnes TTSX, but if there is something better I can go with that.

Ill be using it for coyotes and deer, up to 300+yds

I already have the primers and powder 8208XBR

Thanks

hodaka · January 31, 2012, 12:19 PM

I don't have a Grendel but for a 6.5 deer bullet, Hornady's 129 SP Interlock has worked pretty well for me in the past. I have used a Swede, a 6.5-06 and a 260 Rem. A Grendel is on the list.

jason75979 · January 31, 2012, 01:17 PM

I recently loaded some 130 accubonds and 120 TTSX for my 6.5 mag and was pleased with the TTSX but not so much from the Accubonds. This was the first loading, bit I expected better from the Accubonds.

this was the accubond group with the high left hole being the foul shot from a clean bore.

this was the 120 TTSX with the lowest shot being the foul shot from a clean bore. I will tinker with the Accubonds to try to bring them in a bit, bit see no reason to change much with the TTSX bullets.
Shot a doe this past weekend and didn't see a little 1" diameter limb between her and me. Shot right through it with the TTSX and the bullet left a 1" or so diameter entry and exit wound. Very impressed.

oldscot3 · January 31, 2012, 07:58 PM

try some berger hunting bullets

ZX10Aviator · January 31, 2012, 08:01 PM

ordered some 100gr Barnes TTSX, I really wanted to go 120gr, but some searching says the bullets are too long to get the powder in?

603Country · January 31, 2012, 08:12 PM

I spend a lot of time hunting pigs and coyotes with my 260, and deer season was a good one also. So far all I've used is the Nosler 120 grain Ballistic Tip, though I've bought some 100 grainers to test. Except for one glaring miss (the sun was in my eyes....

) on a nice buck on an otherwise cloudy day, everything I've shot has gone down fast. Just this afternoon (45 minutes ago), I took down a hog at 350 yards. It's a great bullet. On shots from 50 yards to 390 yards, I haven't had anything that needed tracking, and I'll admit (just between you and me) that not every bullet was perfectly placed. It's a deadly bullet.

mehavey · January 31, 2012, 11:23 PM

Quote:

ordered some 100gr Barnes TTSX, I really wanted to go 120gr, but some searching says the bullets are too long to get the powder in?

The 120-TTSX's shouldn't be any problem at all, as they are exactly the same length at the 123gr Lapua Scenars considered to be the cat's meow for the Grendel.

steve4102 · January 31, 2012, 11:43 PM

The 6.5 Grendel is much slower than the 6.5 Mag, 260, 6.5 x55 mentioned above. Bullets that work well in these cartridges are not the best in the slow moving 6.5 Grendel.

I thought the 120gr Nolser BT would be the perfect bullet for the anemic velocities of the 6.5 Grendel. I was wrong, at 160yards the 120gr BT exploded on impact causing very poor terminal performance. Shot placement was perfect and I still had half a day search for a wounded MN Whitetail. No more "Blow-Me-Up" Ballistic tips for me.

This year I ran with the 100gr Barnes TTSX powered by H-322 with a muzzle velocity of 2700fps. My son shot two MN Whitetails and I shot one with this load. All were DRT, but I have to admit none were over 100 yards.

Until Sierra comes out with a 6.5 Hunting bullet in 100-115gr, I'll stick with the Barnes TTSX.

ZX10Aviator · January 31, 2012, 11:48 PM

not a fan eh Steve? Ive seen people take down deer at 3-500yds with a 123gr bullet out of a grendel. It aint the fastest, but it works.

Im excited to play with this thing.

steve4102 · February 1, 2012, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Ive seen people take down deer at 3-500yds with a 123gr bullet out of a grendel.

The only 123gr 6.5 bullets I am aware of are Match/Target bullets. I personally will not hunt Whitetails with a paper puncher. I owe it to the animal to get the best possible terminal performance I can and paper punchers ain't it. YMMV.

603Country · February 1, 2012, 09:34 AM

So the 120 gr Ballistic Tip blew up, eh? Well, I've shot a couple hundred deer with the 130 grain in my 270 and quite a few pigs and more than a few deer, coyotes, and hogs with my 260 and I have not had even one failure that I could blame on the bullet. One thing that does have to be considered is that quartering shots might not exit a deer, so in that case you may not have much of a blood trail. I have also learned that 22 caliber Ballistic Tips for varmints are best used on small critters and not on deer and hogs.

January 31, 2012, 11:27 AM	#1
ZX10Aviator Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2008 Location: NW. Washington Posts: 345	6.5 Grendel, what would best deer bullet be? Going to start reloading for my Grendel, not sure what would be best, I know not many people know this round but Im torn between the 100gr and 120gr bullets, I prefer barnes TTSX, but if there is something better I can go with that. Ill be using it for coyotes and deer, up to 300+yds I already have the primers and powder 8208XBR Thanks

January 31, 2012, 01:17 PM	#3
jason75979 Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2009 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 137	I recently loaded some 130 accubonds and 120 TTSX for my 6.5 mag and was pleased with the TTSX but not so much from the Accubonds. This was the first loading, bit I expected better from the Accubonds.this was the accubond group with the high left hole being the foul shot from a clean bore. this was the 120 TTSX with the lowest shot being the foul shot from a clean bore. I will tinker with the Accubonds to try to bring them in a bit, bit see no reason to change much with the TTSX bullets. Shot a doe this past weekend and didn't see a little 1" diameter limb between her and me. Shot right through it with the TTSX and the bullet left a 1" or so diameter entry and exit wound. Very impressed.

January 31, 2012, 08:12 PM	#6
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	I spend a lot of time hunting pigs and coyotes with my 260, and deer season was a good one also. So far all I've used is the Nosler 120 grain Ballistic Tip, though I've bought some 100 grainers to test. Except for one glaring miss (the sun was in my eyes....) on a nice buck on an otherwise cloudy day, everything I've shot has gone down fast. Just this afternoon (45 minutes ago), I took down a hog at 350 yards. It's a great bullet. On shots from 50 yards to 390 yards, I haven't had anything that needed tracking, and I'll admit (just between you and me) that not every bullet was perfectly placed. It's a deadly bullet.

January 31, 2012, 12:19 PM	#2
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	I don't have a Grendel but for a 6.5 deer bullet, Hornady's 129 SP Interlock has worked pretty well for me in the past. I have used a Swede, a 6.5-06 and a 260 Rem. A Grendel is on the list.

January 31, 2012, 07:58 PM	#4
oldscot3 Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2007 Location: texas Posts: 997	try some berger hunting bullets

January 31, 2012, 08:01 PM	#5
ZX10Aviator Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2008 Location: NW. Washington Posts: 345	ordered some 100gr Barnes TTSX, I really wanted to go 120gr, but some searching says the bullets are too long to get the powder in?

January 31, 2012, 11:43 PM	#8
steve4102 Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,952	The 6.5 Grendel is much slower than the 6.5 Mag, 260, 6.5 x55 mentioned above. Bullets that work well in these cartridges are not the best in the slow moving 6.5 Grendel. I thought the 120gr Nolser BT would be the perfect bullet for the anemic velocities of the 6.5 Grendel. I was wrong, at 160yards the 120gr BT exploded on impact causing very poor terminal performance. Shot placement was perfect and I still had half a day search for a wounded MN Whitetail. No more "Blow-Me-Up" Ballistic tips for me. This year I ran with the 100gr Barnes TTSX powered by H-322 with a muzzle velocity of 2700fps. My son shot two MN Whitetails and I shot one with this load. All were DRT, but I have to admit none were over 100 yards. Until Sierra comes out with a 6.5 Hunting bullet in 100-115gr, I'll stick with the Barnes TTSX.

January 31, 2012, 11:48 PM	#9
ZX10Aviator Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2008 Location: NW. Washington Posts: 345	not a fan eh Steve? Ive seen people take down deer at 3-500yds with a 123gr bullet out of a grendel. It aint the fastest, but it works. Im excited to play with this thing.

February 1, 2012, 09:34 AM	#11
603Country Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2011 Location: Thornton, Texas Posts: 3,998	So the 120 gr Ballistic Tip blew up, eh? Well, I've shot a couple hundred deer with the 130 grain in my 270 and quite a few pigs and more than a few deer, coyotes, and hogs with my 260 and I have not had even one failure that I could blame on the bullet. One thing that does have to be considered is that quartering shots might not exit a deer, so in that case you may not have much of a blood trail. I have also learned that 22 caliber Ballistic Tips for varmints are best used on small critters and not on deer and hogs.