Grendel at 850 yards

hounddawg · December 25, 2021, 07:37 AM

First time with the 6.5 Grendel at long range.

Rifle- Sanders Armory upper with 20 inch barrel, Rock River Match lower, Sig Sauer BDX @ 15X, no name Ebay bipod

Ammo - Starline once fired cases, Federal AR Match primers, 26.6 H322, Nosler 123 CC's

Weather was 70 F , sunny with medium mirage, 7 - 10 Mph winds, full value from 3 - 9 oclock

velocity was a bit low for my Shotmarker target but overall I was impressed with how the Grendel shot. I am normally a bolt rifle guy however the local club has a few guys who shoot in the new NRA tactical prone class in the F Class matches so I decided to get a load worked up for my Grendel and give it a try. It was fun on the SM, pull the trigger, 2 seconds follow through, look at the phone and a few seconds later see the impact.

Missed wind calls on shot #7 and shot #8 and I shot a tad low overall but for my first time ever shooting my AR farther than 300 yards I was pleased

stagpanther · December 25, 2021, 10:19 AM

Very impressive! I believe forum member Mel80 has had great results well past 1000 yds with her grendel, might want to look at her results (somewhere on the forum, sorry I don't remember where). I've thought about 322 but IIRC it doesn't get up to the velocities other powders can.

hounddawg · December 25, 2021, 11:59 AM

If you want velocity try Leverevolution or power pro varmint.

For target work as long as it stays supersonic out to 800 and is accurate I am happy, if I were hunting with the rifle that would be different. The 322 is plenty accurate enough and is a Hodgdon Extreme so it is very temp stable. Yesterday it was 70 F and the morning of my next match is predicted to be in the low 40's. I will probably keep the ammo in a cooler with a hand warmer just as a precaution. Our range uses Kronenberg ( sp ?) electronics and I am not sure how velocity sensitive they are but I should be around 1200 FPS at 800 and be fine.

Wildernesshunter · December 26, 2021, 09:28 PM

hounddawg.... I have had a long-distance, love affair with the 6.5 Grendel for at least 6 years and two things happened today....

#1. I stumbled on your post above and am blown away by your shooting and the cartridges performance. (Of course I have also seen a 400 yd shot on a Bull Elk that the Grendel took down.)

#2. I walked into a local gun shop and they had a little Howa Sporter 22" in 6.5 Grendel... and 8 boxes of Hornady SST ammo on the shelf. (I've probably been in 50 stores in the last 6+ years looking for a Grendel on the shelf and NEVER found one.... until today. Finding Elf on the shelf was easier.

Your report above about how the little Grendel performs in ELD shooting is just phenomenal. I can read the ballistic tables like any experienced shooter, but its amazing to see this tiny case push a pill beyond 500 yards. That is.... until.... you see a .5 BC on a 123gr bullet and put 2 and 2 together.

I walked out of the store... and didn't buy the gun. I told myself.... I don't need that gun. I only want it really bad. My .243 and my .270 do the jobs just fine.

Ugh... now I am pondering driving back tomorrow and blowing my dough.

hounddawg · December 27, 2021, 12:00 PM

Thanks for the kind words Wilderness. The actual group size was 10 inches vertical and 16 inches horizontal. My point of aim was at 2 o'clock on the 10
ring or just about the where #1 shot landed. On a calm day I think I could get real close to a 1 MOA or 1.25 group even with those telephone pole crosshairs.

Not to add fuel to your fire but I have read good things about that Howa mini on the 6.5 Grendel forums. With a decent scope you should be able to get close to 1 MOA groups @ 800 with with premium factory ammo and for definitely get them with handloads.

If you do handload and want to get higher velocity for hunting I would recommend Power Pro varmint and LeverEvolution combined with any good 120 - 130 gn hunting bullet. The elk story is impressive but if it were me I think I would stick to mule deer and coyotes with the Grendel. This little cartridge would truly shine on those.

Wildernesshunter · December 27, 2021, 02:32 PM

I hear ya on the Elk story.... but there are a lot of women and old men who have take a lot of Elk over the decades with a .243 and really good 100gr pills (which is usually legal for Elk hunting in the Western US).....

The Grendel, with its .264, 123gr bullet should be more effective than the .243.

But yeah.... I would choose my Aught Six out of my gun safe, loaded with 180's for Elk season.... personally. ....Busting that front shoulder is sometimes an issue.

Still.... the dinky, little Grendel is incredibly versatile!

..............

hounddawg · December 27, 2021, 05:05 PM

No argument from me on the versatility of the Grendel. I have one necked out to .30 cal for shooting in score BR contests and a 6 ARC which is a the grendel necked down to 6mmm and the shoulder kicked back .030. I am thinking about putting together a 6mm Grendel which would give me a couple of grains more powder than the ARC. I was thinking of a Grendel bolt gun but I have a pair of 6BR's so it would be redundant

mel80 · January 11, 2022, 04:20 PM

power pro varmint and 130 rdf and or 135g a-tip is a killer long range combo
i never did try the 130 eld-m combo out but it should also be a nice combo

it took me going from a 20 inch barreled grendel to a 28" inch barreled grendel to beat my best distance of 1800 yards which is now extended to just over 2000y with the lil 6.5

hounddawg · January 14, 2022, 04:47 PM

I have a new 22" barrel on order from Wilson Combat, and new upper parts in the mail from Wing Tactical so I can get a couple more FPS. Next month I am think of replacing the 20 inch barrel on this upper with either a 22- 24 inch 6 ARC barrel or ordering a 6 Grendel.

850 is as far as I will ever shoot so will probably end up with a ARC. I stay close to home in my old age and it's a 3+ hour drive each way just to get to a 1000 yard range. Now if I were a bit younger.........

Rapidrob · January 15, 2022, 10:08 PM

When the 6.5 Grendel cartridge came out many of the arms makers jumped on the "new" cartridge. Being an avid fan of anything 6.5 I bought a upper with a 20" barrel.
Running a long distance shooting club, I had to try the rifle at 800 yards.
As expected the rifle shoots very well. Once zeroed in, ten rounds in calm winds hit the target in a row.
This rifle became my go-to rifle for hog hunting. It is just fun to shoot.

Bart B. · January 20, 2022, 10:43 AM

Why are the Grendel target shots 4 and 16 not scored as Xes like all bullseye ringed targets are in competition?

Rules state shots touching scoring rings are given the higher value.

hounddawg · January 20, 2022, 09:11 PM

@Bart- those are not the actual bullet hole sizes. The center of the dot is where the actual bullet hit. Plus or minus less than .1 inch

Not perfect but good enough for long range practice which is what I bought the unit for.

dvdcrr · February 14, 2022, 08:33 PM

at 850 out of a grendel I am sure you could or did go recover the complete bullets after they bounced off the target.

Wildernesshunter · February 14, 2022, 08:52 PM

Fantastic results!!!

I shoot at 5-8,000 feet elevation and bullets really fly well.... If the calculators are right, I am getting 1,000 fps at 1,600 yards with my Grendel out of my 20" barrel. If I shot it that distance, I would have to deal with 1,380" of drop.

The point is... The Grendel is incredibly capable, heck it still have 1,000 FPE at 500 yards. That will kill a deer and do it with very, very little recoil. The "Lil-G" is so pleasant to shoot.

.........

December 25, 2021, 11:59 AM	#3
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	If you want velocity try Leverevolution or power pro varmint. For target work as long as it stays supersonic out to 800 and is accurate I am happy, if I were hunting with the rifle that would be different. The 322 is plenty accurate enough and is a Hodgdon Extreme so it is very temp stable. Yesterday it was 70 F and the morning of my next match is predicted to be in the low 40's. I will probably keep the ammo in a cooler with a hand warmer just as a precaution. Our range uses Kronenberg ( sp ?) electronics and I am not sure how velocity sensitive they are but I should be around 1200 FPS at 800 and be fine. __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

December 26, 2021, 09:28 PM	#4
Wildernesshunter Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2016 Location: Western High Desert Posts: 168	hounddawg.... I have had a long-distance, love affair with the 6.5 Grendel for at least 6 years and two things happened today.... #1. I stumbled on your post above and am blown away by your shooting and the cartridges performance. (Of course I have also seen a 400 yd shot on a Bull Elk that the Grendel took down.) #2. I walked into a local gun shop and they had a little Howa Sporter 22" in 6.5 Grendel... and 8 boxes of Hornady SST ammo on the shelf. (I've probably been in 50 stores in the last 6+ years looking for a Grendel on the shelf and NEVER found one.... until today. Finding Elf on the shelf was easier. Your report above about how the little Grendel performs in ELD shooting is just phenomenal. I can read the ballistic tables like any experienced shooter, but its amazing to see this tiny case push a pill beyond 500 yards. That is.... until.... you see a .5 BC on a 123gr bullet and put 2 and 2 together. I walked out of the store... and didn't buy the gun. I told myself.... I don't need that gun. I only want it really bad. My .243 and my .270 do the jobs just fine. Ugh... now I am pondering driving back tomorrow and blowing my dough. __________________ John

December 27, 2021, 12:00 PM	#5
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	Thanks for the kind words Wilderness. The actual group size was 10 inches vertical and 16 inches horizontal. My point of aim was at 2 o'clock on the 10 ring or just about the where #1 shot landed. On a calm day I think I could get real close to a 1 MOA or 1.25 group even with those telephone pole crosshairs. Not to add fuel to your fire but I have read good things about that Howa mini on the 6.5 Grendel forums. With a decent scope you should be able to get close to 1 MOA groups @ 800 with with premium factory ammo and for definitely get them with handloads. If you do handload and want to get higher velocity for hunting I would recommend Power Pro varmint and LeverEvolution combined with any good 120 - 130 gn hunting bullet. The elk story is impressive but if it were me I think I would stick to mule deer and coyotes with the Grendel. This little cartridge would truly shine on those. __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek Last edited by hounddawg; December 27, 2021 at 12:11 PM.

December 27, 2021, 02:32 PM	#6
Wildernesshunter Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2016 Location: Western High Desert Posts: 168	I hear ya on the Elk story.... but there are a lot of women and old men who have take a lot of Elk over the decades with a .243 and really good 100gr pills (which is usually legal for Elk hunting in the Western US)..... The Grendel, with its .264, 123gr bullet should be more effective than the .243. But yeah.... I would choose my Aught Six out of my gun safe, loaded with 180's for Elk season.... personally. ....Busting that front shoulder is sometimes an issue. Still.... the dinky, little Grendel is incredibly versatile! .............. __________________ John

January 14, 2022, 04:47 PM	#9
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	I have a new 22" barrel on order from Wilson Combat, and new upper parts in the mail from Wing Tactical so I can get a couple more FPS. Next month I am think of replacing the 20 inch barrel on this upper with either a 22- 24 inch 6 ARC barrel or ordering a 6 Grendel. 850 is as far as I will ever shoot so will probably end up with a ARC. I stay close to home in my old age and it's a 3+ hour drive each way just to get to a 1000 yard range. Now if I were a bit younger......... __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

December 25, 2021, 10:19 AM	#2
stagpanther Senior Member Join Date: March 2, 2014 Posts: 12,967	Very impressive! I believe forum member Mel80 has had great results well past 1000 yds with her grendel, might want to look at her results (somewhere on the forum, sorry I don't remember where). I've thought about 322 but IIRC it doesn't get up to the velocities other powders can. __________________ "Everyone speaks gun."--Robert O'Neill *I am NOT an expert--I do not have any formal experience or certification in firearms use or testing; use any information I post at your own risk!*

December 27, 2021, 05:05 PM	#7
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	No argument from me on the versatility of the Grendel. I have one necked out to .30 cal for shooting in score BR contests and a 6 ARC which is a the grendel necked down to 6mmm and the shoulder kicked back .030. I am thinking about putting together a 6mm Grendel which would give me a couple of grains more powder than the ARC. I was thinking of a Grendel bolt gun but I have a pair of 6BR's so it would be redundant __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

January 11, 2022, 04:20 PM	#8
mel80 Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2019 Posts: 365	power pro varmint and 130 rdf and or 135g a-tip is a killer long range combo i never did try the 130 eld-m combo out but it should also be a nice combo it took me going from a 20 inch barreled grendel to a 28" inch barreled grendel to beat my best distance of 1800 yards which is now extended to just over 2000y with the lil 6.5

January 15, 2022, 10:08 PM	#10
Rapidrob Member Join Date: January 15, 2006 Location: New Mexico Posts: 49	When the 6.5 Grendel cartridge came out many of the arms makers jumped on the "new" cartridge. Being an avid fan of anything 6.5 I bought a upper with a 20" barrel. Running a long distance shooting club, I had to try the rifle at 800 yards. As expected the rifle shoots very well. Once zeroed in, ten rounds in calm winds hit the target in a row. This rifle became my go-to rifle for hog hunting. It is just fun to shoot.

January 20, 2022, 10:43 AM	#11
Bart B. Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Posts: 8,927	Why are the Grendel target shots 4 and 16 not scored as Xes like all bullseye ringed targets are in competition? Rules state shots touching scoring rings are given the higher value. Last edited by Bart B.; January 20, 2022 at 11:03 AM.

January 20, 2022, 09:11 PM	#12
hounddawg Senior Member Join Date: March 1, 2009 Posts: 4,232	@Bart- those are not the actual bullet hole sizes. The center of the dot is where the actual bullet hit. Plus or minus less than .1 inch Not perfect but good enough for long range practice which is what I bought the unit for. __________________ “How do I get to the next level?” Well, you get to the next level by being the first one on the range and the last one to leave.” – Jerry Miculek

February 14, 2022, 08:33 PM	#13
dvdcrr Senior Member Join Date: July 5, 2010 Posts: 665	at 850 out of a grendel I am sure you could or did go recover the complete bullets after they bounced off the target. __________________ "All warfare is based on deception. Hence when we are able to attack we must seem unable....when using our forces we must appear inactive. When we are near we must make the enemy believe we are far away."Sun Tzu The Art of War.

February 14, 2022, 08:52 PM	#14
Wildernesshunter Senior Member Join Date: October 31, 2016 Location: Western High Desert Posts: 168	Fantastic results!!! I shoot at 5-8,000 feet elevation and bullets really fly well.... If the calculators are right, I am getting 1,000 fps at 1,600 yards with my Grendel out of my 20" barrel. If I shot it that distance, I would have to deal with 1,380" of drop. The point is... The Grendel is incredibly capable, heck it still have 1,000 FPE at 500 yards. That will kill a deer and do it with very, very little recoil. The "Lil-G" is so pleasant to shoot. ......... __________________ John