Reloading 6.5 Grendel Bolt Gun?

[CaptnC]

I'm fairly new to the Grendel but very impressed with it. I'm impressed enough I swapped barrels on two of my existing AR that were nearly useless to me 20" bull barreled 5.56 and a 20" heavy barreled 7.62X39. The 7.62X39 had seen action in the field, but it didn't impress me much past 100yds like the 6.5 Grendel has.

A shooting/gun buddy were talking today about keeping an eye open for a bolt gun. If I find a decent deal I might jump on one.


Ok...the gas 6.5 G looks to be a bit picky. I've ready nearly every post of the reloading sticky and every one seems to jump from powder to powder looking for some magic combination to get below MOA at 100yds. I've got both of mine shooting MOA out to 400yds so I'm very happy with it.


Is the 6.5 G as picky in a bolt gun. I know one guy who owns a bolt Grendel but I just helped him get started reloading. His results so far are just over MOA at 100yds.

So I'm wondering if pushed up closer to 60,000psi is it capable of sub MOA without trying every different bullet/powder/charge combo?

My 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5X284 were both very easy to load for, so just wondering if it's as picky in a bolt platform?

Thanks in advance!

[Frontier Gear]

Is the 6.5 G as picky in a bolt gun.

I haven't reloaded for the Grendel yet, but my Howa is actually less picky with factory ammo than my AR Grendels are.

[PA452]

My only Grendel experience has been with my CZ 527 that I had rebarreled to Grendel years ago with a stainless Bartlein barrel. My Grendel has never seen a factory round through it. I've never had issues getting good accuracy out of mine, though some bullets certainly shoot better than others out of my rifle. I mostly use 100-107gr range bullets. I think the only match bullets I ever tried in mine were 107gr SMKs and 100gr AMAX. It shoots both great. It was a good hunting bullet that I had a harder time with, but I was a little limited as I was looking for a 100gr hunting bullet as well. I finally discovered the Nosler 100gr BT and I'm getting great accuracy out of that bullet. I just hope the terminal performance is good too. I've shot a few raccoons at long range with them, but haven't had a chance to try one on a deer yet.

[Sticks]

The only pickyness that I am aware of is getting the SST bullet to shoot well, which even factory ammo is hit and miss if the barrel likes it.

Most of us are trying to match factory velocities and accuracy. I have 4 powders now that I have tried to get the 123 ELD to get 2475 fps out of my 18" and just can't get there safely or accurately. Plenty of nodes to work with in the low 2400s and mid to upper 2300. Then we start playing with non factory type ammo. 100, 107/108, 129, 130, 136, 140...

I would not say that gas gun reloading is picky regarding Grendel. Likewise with my Howa Horde. It's just when you start using the myriad of different 6.5/.264 bullets out there you are in new territory.

[cwlongshot]

I could have been one of those you read about Cap...

BUT I don't feel that my gun is picky. I simply had one problem, and a couple issues I created.

First My trigger guard cracked. A good soul here offered me a replacement and just after DIP Group buy was created so I bought a DIP trigger guard.

Second was BEACUSE the gun showed promise.



I wanted a "better Scope" so while waiting for the Nikon 4.5x14 I installed a Leupold 2x7. The Leupy was a improvement in quality but not much in zoom. When Nikon came in, I mistakenly mounted it in crap rings. (I did not realize they where crap, when I mounted them...) I swapped rings to Warne. THEN, found that the scope was real super critical up at 10+ power for head position. Not like my 6x18 or 12X Leupold... (Yea I know The Nikon wasn't 500$ + scope like they are either...)

Lastly I switched back to same "power" range as I first had on the rifle. This is a Primary Arms 1x6x24 W/ACSS reticule. This ret is one I like a lot, but I must admit it is not a good one for precision tiny group shooting.



BUT Now I seem to be doing better as I have found a great load with benchmark and a 123 SST.




CW

[ricsmall]

Capt

Both my Grendel bolt guns shoot sub moa, one Howa and one rem 700 I put together with a BHW barrel blank. I was trying out a more cost effective alternative to the higher priced cut rifled pipes. Shoots great but I like my bartleins, Kreigers, Brux, etc.

[grayfox]

Accuracy does not come with increasing pressure to 60k psi, nor does increasing pressure reduce any tendency to "pickiness". Barrels must speak for themselves as to what they shoot well and what they don't. The Grrr is a mild load round, your best bet and best results will come by adhering to that. True a bolt gun could go up in pressure as compared to an AR, but brass life will suffer. I don't think you should stray much from normal MAP's even so.
I have a howa bolt that shoots sst's and eldm's in the low 2500's, that's a node for this barrel, but even it it were at 2475 I'd get great range, 1000 ftlbs out to 375 yds here in VA.

[CaptnC]

Great info guys!

Thanks everyone who took the time to reply. I suspected there was not going to be a lot more velocity to be had out of the bolt guns because a lot of powder charge nearly fill the case already.

My two gas guns were not real picky.

[Javman]

Have RAP and shoots sub MOA with factory ammo and especially with 335 and 100BTs. I am very pleased with it so far.

[CaptnC]

One very interesting thing I noticed is most of you guys are staying with the lighter bullets.

Pretty much my thinking in most of the guns I reload for. The bulk of my hunting doesn't require a high BC bullet so I tend to use a little lighter bullet so it shoots flat out 300yds.

Javman...both of my gas guns like the H335 too. Don't see a lot of guys here using that powder.

Thanks

[rickt300]

I have played with two HOWA bolt rifles and can only say that those two rifles shot so well it was a chore to pick out an especially outstanding load. My rifles shot well with a variety of powders the standouts being BLC-2, AR Comp and AA 2520. Very Honorable mention went to Leverevolution and the heavier bullets giving very good velocities with 129 to 140 grain bullets. CFE 223 has a big following here but in my rifles the other powders beat it generally.

[CaptnC]

Howa rifle have a decent reputation of shooting very good for their price point. So I'm not surprised you guys are seeing good results with them. I will keep an eye out for one myself.

From what I've read here, CFE 223 is temp sensitive so it surprises me so many use it. If you stay comfortably below a max load and use it at normal hunting yardage's it might not be much of an issue.

Here in Houston we can have 100 degree days at the range. Then two months later be hunting in 32 degree...even at 100 yards it's not worth it to use a known temperamental powder.

[roor]

So far using virgin brass, my howa has shot a couple of 5 round sub moa groups. This is all using 123 &108 scenar with 8208 xbr. I’ve seen h335 as a viable option but I’m still need to fire form all my brass and find a recipe first before going on to different powder.

Latest range report

https://imgur.com/gallery/tHvCgFX

[CaptnC]

rickt300 if your guns shot like roor's Howa I can see how it would hard to pick which bullet /powder combo to use. His targets are show very obvious nodes with all three bullets. Any one of the three bullets would be easy choose. And to have plenty of confidence to take into the field.

I guess I would take the one with the best velocity, ES and SD...don't see that on your target. One quick range trip would put the final piece to the puzzle in place.

[Msalm]

I don't think it's the round that is picky, I think it's the rifle. How many guys shooting the Grendel use a top quality barrel? I used to build quite a few Grendel AR's with shot out high power barrels (6.5-284's). Cut 6" or more off the chamber end, contour for a 20" standard weight ar barrel and chamber it up. Mostly Krieger barrels I'd get for $50-$75. Without exception those rifles shot 1/2 MOA with Nosler BT's and 3/4-1 MOA with the Speer 120 sp. Most AR barrel manufacturers are NOT using even average quality barrels. They are button rifled blanks that get drilled, reamed, and a button pulled through. No lapping or honing going on with them. The fact that they still shoot MOA speaks well for the cartridge IMO. There are a few guys making quality barrels, but I wouldn't expect precision with a barrel that cost less than $200.

There are good cheap barrel BLANKS, Green Mountain typically shoot very well, but even with a $75 blank, there is still machine work and a $25 extension to add to that.

Right now Brownell's has the Howa Mini barreled action in 7.62x39 on sale for $219. Take that action, have a quality featherweight 6.5 blank fit and chambered in the Grendel pick up a take-off stock or another aftermarket one and you'll have a very UN-picky rifle that will shoot 1/2 MOA or better after properly bedding in the stock.

This is just my thoughts on it.